This weekend marked the tenth anniversary of the iPod, and the product’s astronomical rise to the leading music player in the world is testament to the work of Apple and the late Steve Jobs.
The iPod altered how music was listened to and, whilst it was not the first mp3 player on the market, it was the first to procure a genuinely global and revolutionary brand.
Allowing users to store more music than previously possible, and having a longer battery life than its initial competitors, the first iPods were state of the art and the ‘must have’ gadget of the early 2000s.
The product would go on to expand and contain more songs than previously thought possible, as well as shrinking in size and gaining more and more features, such as pictures and video.
It was not all plain sailing though. The initial iPod had problems, and was criticised for being too expensive and only usable on Mac computers. However, after the release of a windows compatible model, the iPod was practically unmatched. The introduction of iTunes brought about a shift towards downloading music (legally).
The iPod soon became a global brand and its distinctive advertising campaigns and emphasis on bright colour and simplicity meant it was regarded the best device on which to put your music.
Those who do not own or have never owned an iPod may be wondering what all the fuss is about, but those who do will struggle to remember how they got by without one before.
It is true that with music being a more prominent focus of mobile phone developers these days, the iPod faces an uncertain future. But what is for sure is that the iPod contributed to some of the biggest changes in the music world in the last decade, and that by focussing on simplicity and efficiency, the iPod’s legacy will not be quickly forgotten.
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