The iPod Classic era has come to an end.
In early September, Apple quietly discontinued the iPod Classic after 12 years of initial release.
There’s no clear explanation why the Classic was discontinued other than parts were no longer available, and it didn’t seem worth it to make new ones, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
The iPod’s reign has outlasted the plethora of knock off MP3 players that followed.
Remember the Zune? How about Archos? I didn’t think so.
“With the iPod, you have a platform to download music [via iTunes],” said Delta College student Jay Narvarte.
According to Narvarte, when Apple released the first generation of iPods, it was able to hold more than one thousand songs, an unprecedented feat at the time.
“You’re able to store more music and find variety,” said Delta College student Darrell Ton.
Its aesthetics are synonymous for simplicity and mobility.
“Everybody knows what an iPod looks like. One of the main features is the click wheel,” said Professor Monica Ambalal.
She said it was marketed to students because it featured many useful applications for students such as the ability to store documents and pick up Wi-Fi.
Along with its design, the iPod was accessible to all consumers with different models at various price points.
Of course, credit also goes to Apple’s aggressive — and memorable — advertising and marketing campaigns for several years featuring silhouetted figures behind colorful schemes dancing to music played off to bright white iPods.
Unfortunately, there are drawbacks with the addition of more available outlets.
“It’s easy. Now there’s access, you can go online and find music,” said Ambalal.
Nowadays, one can simply hit the search button to find and download desired music.
“We’re losing the art of the record store and the marketing ploy of the record store is a failing business. If you think about it now, it’s for a select few,” said Ambalal.
Narvarte and Ton do download music via iTunes but favor purchasing physical copies of albums and vinyl.
“I like to keep [albums] for a sense of value,” said Narvarte.
While Ambalal doesn’t agree the iPod is an icon just yet, she does believe the iPod’s reputation will last for a long time.
“If you think about it, how long does it really take to establish somebody or something as an icon? [The iPod] came out in 2001. I just don’t know if we have enough information to call it an icon — just yet — maybe in the future,” said Ambalal.
While the iPod Classic’s reign is over, its effect on the music
industry will leave a lasting impression.