It’s one of Apple’s most successful products of all time and revolutionizes the way we listen to music.
Apple has now announced that it will discontinue production of the iPod, more than 20 years after the first was launched in October 2001.
A spokesman for the tech giant said the iPod redefines the way music is discovered and listened to, and that its spirit “lives”.
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The original iPod shown here was the first MP3 player to pack 1,000 songs and a 10-hour battery pack in a 6.5-ounce package.
Introduced on May 28, 2019, the iPod Touch (seventh generation) features the A10 Fusion chip, which allows immersive augmented reality experiences, and Group FaceTime, along with 256 GB of storage. This is the latest iPod to ever be released
“Music has always been part of our core at Apple,” said Greg Josviak, Apple’s senior vice president of global marketing.
“Providing it to hundreds of millions of users in a way that iPod has affected not only the music industry – it also redefines how music is discovered, listened to and shared.
“Today, the spirit of the iPod lives on. We’ve integrated an amazing music experience into all of our products, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to the HomePod mini and the Mac, iPad and Apple TV.
“And Apple Music provides industry-leading sound quality with spatial audio support – there’s no better way to enjoy, discover and experience music.”
The last iPod released was the seventh generation iPod Touch, released in May 2019, while the first iPod model, with its mechanical scroll wheel and white cover, was the first MP3 player to contain 1,000 songs.
Described by Fortune as “Apple’s 21st Century Walkman,” the original iPod is said to have been developed in less than a year and was introduced on October 23, 2001 for $ 399.
Pictured is the popular iPod Mini, unveiled on February 20, 2004, which packs iPod capacity into a smaller design with just 3.6 ounces.
Introduced on July 15, 2015, the iPod shuffle (fourth generation) offers a sleek design with up to 15 hours of battery life, 2GB of storage for hundreds of songs, and a VoiceOver button to hear the song title, name of playlist or battery status
Described by Fortune as “Apple’s 21st Century Walkman,” the original iPod is said to have been developed in less than a year and was introduced by Steve Jobs on October 23, 2001, for $ 399.
Also among the most memorable iPod models was the iPod Mini, introduced in February 2004, which had a smaller design and was available in a variety of colors.
Meanwhile, the iPod Shuffle, first released in January 2005, came without a display and was the smallest model in the iPod family.
By the time the latest iPod Touch came out, the form factor was essentially copying Apple’s smartphones with a selection of handy apps.
The iPod Touch can even make phone calls, making the iPod almost redundant in the face of Apple’s all-powerful iPhone.
Watch Steve Jobs introduce the first iPod in 2001
Apple’s announcement on Tuesday sparked fond memories on social media from former iPod owners.
Dutch designer Sebastian de Wit, who goes by the name @sdw on Twitter, said: “I am infinitely grateful for the iPod.
“It put me in the Apple universe at 15. It made me buy my first Mac three years later, which began my career as a designer.”
Another Twitter user, @NikiasMolina, simply said, “Thank you for changing the world of the iPod.”
“Thank you for changing the world of the iPod”: Users went on social media to share memories of their first purchase of an iPod and their love of the Apple device
Apple said customers can purchase iPod Touch through apple.com, Apple Store locations and authorized Apple distributors while supplies are exhausted.
Fans are already grabbing the latest iPod Touch devices that are still on sale, presumably to keep them in their packaging and turn them into collectibles in the coming years.
Twitter user @EthanSteury said, “Since Apple stopped making iPods, I bought one.”
Meanwhile, user @TomGreggors said: “How long before the iPod revived in vinyl style? I will be fully on board when it happens!
THREE MILLION DOLLARS INCREASING APPLE
The company’s journey to the top of the technology industry was difficult after seeing Jobs (pictured right in 1976) leave the company in the mid-1980s after his pet, the first Macintosh computer, struggled and then he tried to displace him. CEO John Scully. Wozniak is pictured on the left
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne set up the company on April 1, 1976, when they began selling computer kits to amateurs, each created by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple launches the Apple II in June, the first computer to be mass-produced.
1981: Jobs becomes chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was unveiled during a Super Bowl commercial break and was later officially unveiled at a launch event. A year later, he was terminated and Jobs left the company.
1987: Apple launches the Macintosh II, the first color Mac.
1997: Apple announces the acquisition of NeXT software in a $ 400 million deal that includes Jobs’ return to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took over the role in 2000.
2001: Apple introduces iTunes, OS X and the first generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001 at an event in Cupertino and managed to hold up to 1,000 songs.
Steve Jobs presented the new Macintosh to Apple Computer Corporation on February 6, 1984 in California.
Apple’s then CEO, Steve Jobs, with an iPhone
2007: Apple introduces the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad is introduced.
2011: Jobs resigns in 2011 due to illness, handing over the title to Tim Cook. Pocket died in October of pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple introduces the Apple Watch. He also introduced his first larger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After buying Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launches Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs spoke at an Apple event at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.
2016: Apple returns to its roots and announces the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the company is embroiled in a lawsuit with the FBI over the agency, which is seeking access to a locked phone used by Sayed Farouk, who died in a shootout after a deadly attack in December in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was overturned on March 28 after the FBI said a third party had managed to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make room for futuristic end-to-end screen design, and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with only the owner’s face.
2018: For the first time for Apple, it introduces new features in its latest iOS 12 operating system that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was prompted by a strong letter from shareholders urging the company to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among children and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first drop in revenue and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook has partly blamed the sharp drop in Chinese revenues.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its retail stores outside China in response to the coronavirus.
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