Might 30, 2013: Apple marks the sale of the 100 millionth iPod contact by launching a brand new, stripped-down mannequin with a finances value of $229.
The 16GB music participant lacks some options of its high-end siblings. Nonetheless, the smaller price ticket makes it interesting to new prospects.
100 million iPod contact gross sales
By 2013, the iPhone had lengthy overtaken the iPod, which went on sale in 2007. Nonetheless, Apple’s 100 million milestone proved important: It demonstrated clearly {that a} loyal buyer base remained for the iPod contact.
The brand new mannequin launched in Might 2013 couldn’t actually be known as a sixth-generation iPod contact. (Apple launched a correct sixth-gen iPod contact in 2015.) As an alternative, it was a minor variant of the 2012 iPod contact, solely with out that mannequin’s colour choices, storage capability and 5-megapixel fundamental iSight digital camera.
What prospects did get was the identical 4-inch Retina show, dual-core A5 chip, EarPods and two-way Lightning connector because the 2012 mannequin, however at a cheaper price. The brand new mannequin additionally got here with a front-facing 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD digital camera for selfies, in a position to shoot stills at 1,280 x 960 and video at 1,280 x 720.
A savvy selfie digital camera
The cheaper iPod contact arrived simply as Oxford Dictionaries dubbed “selfie” the Phrase of the 12 months. Specializing in the brand new gadget’s selfie digital camera was a intelligent method of turning a detrimental — the lacking iSight cam — right into a optimistic on Apple’s half.
The gadget’s dual-core A5 processor made it superb for cellular gaming. Homeowners of this iPod contact might make the most of the ever-growing catalog of low cost video games within the App Retailer.
Whereas definitely not a significant iPod launch, the silver-and-black 2013 iPod contact improve nonetheless did its job. It supplied youthful prospects a extra reasonably priced entry level into the Apple ecosystem. In spite of everything, as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs as soon as stated, the iPod contact served as “training wheels for the iPhone.”
iPod contact hangs on
Cupertino’s groundbreaking digital music participant continued to affect the tech world for a number of extra years after Apple bought the 100 millionth iPod contact. In 2019, Apple stunned us all with a brand new iPod contact. It regarded the identical however packed a speedy A10 Fusion processor. The brand new chip made it good for gaming and immersive AR experiences on the go. Apple made it extra reasonably priced, too, with costs beginning at simply $199.
Nonetheless, Apple lastly discontinued the iPod contact on Might 10, 2022. Over greater than 20 years, the digital music participant made an enormous influence on each Apple and the tradition at massive. (Learn all about it in our lately up to date illustrated historical past of the iPod.)
Music followers shouldn’t be too upset by the gadget’s demise, although. The iPod‘s DNA lives on within the Apple ecosystem.
“Music has always been part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to hundreds of millions of users in the way iPod did impacted more than just the music industry — it also redefined how music is discovered, listened to, and shared,” stated Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice chairman of worldwide advertising and marketing, in a press launch marking the iPod’s dying. “Today, the spirit of iPod lives on. We’ve integrated an incredible music experience across all of our products, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and across Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound quality with support for spatial audio — there’s no better way to enjoy, discover, and experience music.”
Do you keep in mind your first iPod? Depart your feedback beneath.