iPod Contact Formally Discontinued, Ending iPod Line After 20 Years

Apple has formally introduced the discontinuation of the final iPod Contact mannequin, successfully ending its iconic iPod product line, which started with the launch of the unique iPod in October 2001. Whereas Apple didn’t create the marketplace for transportable music gamers, it captured the creativeness of the world on the time, with its distinctive scroll wheel and handy form and dimension. Along with varied iterations of the unique iPod, Apple additionally offered the extraordinarily fashionable iPod mini, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, and iPod Contact sequence over the previous a number of years.

The corporate ultimately diminished the portfolio, discontinuing the iPod (later renamed iPod Basic), iPod nano, and iPod shuffle over the previous a number of years. The sequence had not been up to date because the launch of the seventh Gen iPod Contact in mid-2019, which got here 4 years after the earlier refresh and was the only real remaining mannequin on sale. Even its presence on Apple’s official web site had been diminished, as different merchandise, most notably the iPhone, changed it.

Apple’s iPod turned a popular culture sensation, with a number of iconic commercials highlighting the white earphones that had been bundled with it. Pleasure ran excessive every time a brand new mannequin was anticipated to be launched. The unique iPod, with its 5GB capability and FireWire connection, was solely appropriate with Macs, however Apple in 2003 capitalised on the road’s reputation and introduced a Home windows model of the iTunes app required to handle music on iPods on the time. That transfer can be credited with serving to Apple set up its model identification within the Steve Jobs period.

Over the previous 20 years, Apple launched new options reminiscent of the press wheel with a contact floor and built-in buttons and flash reminiscence starting with the iPod nano line. The iTunes Music Retailer allowed customers to buy and sync music, earlier than streaming turned dominant and Apple changed it with Apple Music. When the iPhone was first unveiled in 2007, it was billed as an iPod with contact controls in addition to an Web-connected system and a cell phone.

With the rising reputation of the iPhone in addition to streaming providers, Apple lower down its give attention to the iPod line, and the dearth of updates past the seventh Gen iPod Contact has indicated the eventual discontinuation of the road for years now.

Whereas the iPod Contact was at occasions highlighted as a gaming system, or a extra inexpensive Web-connected system for youngsters, it’s much less related now within the age of streaming content material. Apple now says this mannequin will stay out there whereas shares final, however suggests its varied different merchandise together with iPhones, the Apple Watch, and HomePod mini as methods to hearken to music on the go and at dwelling.