One of the world’s most influential gadgets, Apple’s iPod, officially celebrated its 15th birthday on October 23rd.
There’s a good chance that, were it not for the iPod, the smartphone that you’re likely reading this article on wouldn’t exist.
Some might refer to it as hyperbole, but the iPod – Apple’s signature MP3 player – stands as one of (if not the most) influential gadgets around. Debuted by late Apple CEO Steve Jobs in 2001, the iPod not only changed the face of MP3 players forever, but set in motion the precedent for a cell phone that served as not only a phone, but further – as Jobs himself boasted – as an iPod and an Internet communicator.
Read: Opinion: the iPod is now history
The debut of iTunes in 2003 set the stage for a platform where consumers could not only purchase songs, but transfer them to their MP3 player in a matter of minutes or even seconds.
As of the 23rd of October this year, the iPod is officially 15 years old – and it’s a birthday that even Apple itself forgot to celebrate. That’s largely due to the fact that the MP3 player as we know it is dead – essentially replaced by the smartphones it gave birth to.
In fact, when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007, the CEO referred to it as the ‘best iPod ever’ – a statement made possible thanks to inspired additions such as touch support and Cover Flow. The iPod Touch – which itself was an iPhone without any cellular capabilities – became the most popular iPod model of all time.
While Apple continues to sell the iPod, the device increasingly offers lesser returns for the company – the firm even decided to axe the iconic Classic model in favour of the smaller Shuffle, middle-of-the-range Nano, and the flagship Touch; the latter of which runs on the same operating system as the iPhone – iOS 10.
As iTunes becomes the springboard for Apple Music – Apple’s streaming service – the iPod itself will most likely be forgotten moving forward. While a litany of devices have expanded to replace it – one can buy an iPad or iPhone to satisfy their needs today – there will likely be few gadgets that will replace the iPod’s significance in our hearts and minds.
In fact, were it not for Apple’s decision to craft such an iconic MP3 player, there’s a good chance Bandwidth Blog – and our appreciation for gadgets and technology as a whole – might not exist.
Watch: iPod Touch (5th Generation) Video Review
What are your thoughts on the iPod’s 15th birthday? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
