Issued on: 11/05/2022 – 03:26
San Francisco (AFP) – Apple announced on Tuesday that it no longer produces iPods, trend-setting MP3 players that have transformed the way people get music and led to the iPhone.
The late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs introduced the device nearly 21 years ago with his legendary performance, and small, easy-to-manage players have helped the company revolutionize the way music is sold.
He collected the “mind-boggling 1,000 songs,” the company said at the time, and together with Apple’s iTunes store established a new distribution model for the music industry.
Buying entire vinyl albums gave way to paying 99 cents per piece for selected digital songs.
Industrial trackers and California-based Apple itself have long acknowledged that the iPhone will eat up sales of devices with one trick, such as iPod MP3 players.
The trend toward streaming music services, including Apple’s, has made devices designed to carry digital melodies less appealing to consumers.
Apple said in a blog post that the current generation iPod will only be available while current supplies are exhausted.
“Music has always been part of our core at Apple and has provided it to hundreds of millions of users in a way that the iPod has affected more than just the music industry,” said Greg Josviak, Apple’s senior vice president of global marketing.
“It also redefines how music is discovered, listened to and shared.”
Joswiak said the “spirit of the iPod” lives on in its product range, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and its smart HomePod speaker.
“Since its introduction more than 20 years ago, the iPod has captivated users around the world who love the ability to take their music with them on the go,” Apple said in a blog post.
“Today, trying to bring someone’s music library out into the world is integrated into Apple’s product line, from the iPhone and Apple Watch to the iPad and Mac.”
In addition, Apple Music’s subscription service provides streaming access to more than 90 million songs, said the Silicon Valley giant.
The iPod held up despite analysts’ fears that the launch of the iPhone in 2007 would wipe out demand, as smartphones provided much more than just digital music.
News of the end of the iPod line has sparked a wave of sad, nostalgic Twitter posts.
“Damn … it’s a little sad to see that Apple has officially discontinued production of the iPod today,” said a tweet posted from UK Gaming’s verified YouTube account @MrDalekJD.
“That thing changed the music game forever. RIP.”
© 2022 AFP
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