Might 30, 2013: Apple marks the sale of the 100 millionth iPod contact by launching a brand new, stripped-down mannequin with a price range worth of $229.
The 16GB music participant lacks some options of its high-end siblings. Nonetheless, the smaller price ticket makes it interesting to new clients.
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 vital: 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 referred to as a sixth-generation iPod contact. (Apple launched a correct sixth-gen iPod contact in 2015.) As a substitute, it was a minor variant of the 2012 iPod contact, solely with out that mannequin’s colour choices, storage capability and 5-megapixel primary iSight digital camera.
What clients 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 machine’s selfie digital camera was a intelligent approach of turning a detrimental — the lacking iSight cam — right into a optimistic on Apple’s half.
The machine’s dual-core A5 processor made it preferrred for cell gaming. Homeowners of this iPod contact might benefit from the ever-growing catalog of low cost video games within the App Retailer.
Whereas actually not a serious iPod launch, the silver-and-black 2013 iPod contact improve nonetheless did its job. It supplied youthful clients a extra inexpensive entry level into the Apple ecosystem. In any case, as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs as soon as mentioned, the iPod contact served as “coaching 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 shocked us all with a brand new iPod contact. It appeared 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 inexpensive, 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 affect on each Apple and the tradition at massive. (Learn all about it in our not too long ago up to date illustrated historical past of the iPod.)
Music followers shouldn’t be too upset by the machine’s demise, although. The iPod‘s DNA lives on within the Apple ecosystem.
“Music has at all times been a part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to lots of of tens of millions of customers in the best way iPod did impacted extra than simply the music {industry} — it additionally redefined how music is found, listened to, and shared,” mentioned Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice chairman of worldwide advertising, in a press launch marking the iPod’s loss of life. “At the moment, the spirit of iPod lives on. We’ve built-in an unbelievable music expertise throughout all of our merchandise, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and throughout Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound high quality with assist for spatial audio — there’s no higher approach to take pleasure in, uncover, and expertise music.”
Do you keep in mind your first iPod? Go away your feedback beneath.
