The end of the iPod (classic): Goodbye to the little box that changed everything

[marmar]

Last edited Thu Sep 11, 2014, 10:59 AM - Edit history (1)

(WaPo) It came in with a simple promise, a hefty price tag and a man with something white sticking in his ears bopping around his apartment. Soon, it would transform music as we know it, inspire a business model built around pocket change and turn a struggling computer maker into the most valuable company in the world.

Yet the death Tuesday of the iconic iPod just before its 13th birthday went unacknowledged by that company and by a Silicon Valley crowd that wildly applauded the unveiling of a new phone and a smartwatch — products that stood on the slim, metal shoulders of its predecessor. Instead of an announcement, there was only the sad implication of a redirected online page, sending visitors not to information about the iPod Classic but rather to Apple’s home page.

When the iPod debuted, a few weeks after 9/11, it was the latest testament to the idiosyncrasy of Apple’s chief executive, Steve Jobs. Simplify, he ordered the engineers. A user should be able to do anything with this in no more than three clicks.

Technically, the iPod was little different than any other device on the market that played digitally compressed music. Aesthetically, though, it was a revelation: smaller and lighter than its competitors, sporting an external design inspired by Dieter Rams and, yes, dead simple to operate. It also benefited from the Apple marketing mystique: The first iPod commercial featured nothing more than a man dancing to a track by an obscure electronica band. What made the spot memorable was the promise in the voice-over at the end: “1,000 songs in your pocket.” ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-end-of-the-ipod-goodbye-to-the-little-box-that-changed-everything/2014/09/10/983525b2-38f5-11e4-9c9f-ebb47272e40e_story.html

[TlalocW]

1. Well, this is how behind the times I apparently am

I was going to tamp down my gag reflex when it comes to Apple and buy an iPad - a used one from Craigslist - to hook into a mini sound system I use for magic shows to provide music for certain tricks.

I know there's probably more to it - and I also know I won't care - but with the Apple Watch, it seems to me that the company is embarking on a, "Let's start taking everything we crammed into one tool and make individual products out of them because Apple fanboys will buy anything." Today the Apple Watch; next, the iDesktopCalendar and iCalculator (both battery and solar-powered versions) will be out for Christmas for between $300 - $600.

TlalocW

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. iPod not iPad

The ipod was amazing when someone showed me what it could really do. Store video data, back up your computer, carry large programs such as photoshop software to transfer to other computers etc. Then the music storage.

I plan on going full iPad when my iMac goes down.

Blue tooth 500 gig storage unit $159 , blue tooth speakers desktop $50, bluetooth keyboard all for under $500 with a 2nd or 3rd generation ipad.... the processors are now powerful enough to almost compete with my old iMac.
You can even show movies from the ipad to a bigger screen ie. tv now.

Plus added portability and camera and video camera .

No matter whose making it the times have changed and pads are the wave of the future for now.

The ipod was revolutionary.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. the products are aimed at a market with good eye sight.

Us older folks who have difficulty seeing small print and icons are not likely to buy the watch, anymore than I wanted to use an Ipod.
Or a smart phone.

But soon, there will be more millenials and their offspring than us Boomer Luddites, so progress will march on...in smaller and smaller gadgets.

[TlalocW]

5. I have and love my smartphone

It's an Android though.

TlalocW

[Coventina]

4. WHAT?!?!?!? Apple isn't going to make the iPod anymore?!?!?!

Wow! That really pisses me off!

That's what I want, not a smartphone or iPad!

I hope my current one never dies!

[Enrique]

6. consider getting another brand

[AngryOldDem]

9. I'm with you.

I run, and I use my iPod to keep track of mileage and time. It clips nicely to my shirt or shorts and does a great job. I use my iPod at work to keep my sanity.

I have the Apple site bookmarked on my computer because I've been considering getting an iPad -- iPod information is still there. So I hope the reports of iPod's demise are completely premature.

I've read the comments about this from runners on the Runner's World magazine site and most are not enthused by this "improvement" to the smartphone. Myself, I'm not going to run with a "brick strapped to my arm" (as one runner put it). To paraphrase Paul Simon, "Mama don't take my iPod away."

[Coventina]

11. Apparently, it's only the iPod Classic that's being discontinued.

The Shuffle, Nano, and Touch are still available.

The irritating thing though, is that the largest memory now is only 64GB on the $300 Touch.
What a rip-off!!

My current Classic is only just over 1/2 way full with my entire music library of over 15,000 songs.

I'm completely pissed.

[AngryOldDem]

12. Yeah, the Classic is amazing.

I know someone who has just about as many songs on his and he brags about how much space he still has left. I think his library is just about as big as yours.

Apple must have a different definition of "improvement."

[randome]

19. After about 5 years with my current Classic, I finally ran out of room.

I only have about 8700 MP3s but most of them are albums. You're right, the disk space with the Classic is much preferable.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[Agschmid]

24. Only the classic version will be discontinued, at this time.

[caraher]

7. Apple is going downhill on usability

For me, the genius of the iPod (I had the original Nano) was that I could interact with it without looking at it. I could run volume up or down or skip a song using only tactile cues.

Now I use my iPhone for music on the go, and the experience is far inferior. I can still click volume up and down with external buttons, but to do anything else I typically need to swipe to unlock the screen and hit just the right spots on a glass screen, which means it's completely unsafe to drive and fiddle with the music. With my nano I could even just shake the thing and it would skip to whatever was next on the playlist (I usually either played albums straight through or put it on shuffle).

[ksoze]

14. Obit is for iPod Classic - no downturn on usability

your Nano and others are safe. Apple still reigns supreme on usability and few companies spend as much time understanding what consumers want and need and then have others adopt their ideas.

[Coventina]

21. Are you an Apple VP? Because if you are, please note that I am a Classic user

and am extremely unhappy about this.

So, Apple clearly doesn't understand this *former* customer.

[Arugula Latte]

15. My cute little purple Nano just died so I bought a used 32gb iPod touch.

While it holds a lot of songs, it drives me nuts with the swiping, locking of the screen, etc. I liked my little Nano so much -- it was simple and easy to use. I've never been in mourning for a household item until now.

[Agschmid]

25. Do you use the headphones with the control device on the wire?

That makes the user experience much better IMO.

[caraher]

28. I haven't

usually it's plugged into some speakers or the car stereo. I can see how using those controls would help when using earbuds though

[cyberswede]

8. This is only the iPod Classic, right?

I still see the Shuffle, Nano, and Touch on Apple's website.

[AngryOldDem]

10. I think so. I hope so. n/t

[PasadenaTrudy]

13. Relax, just the classic ipod...

Good grief,

[randome]

18. Eh. The Classic has more storage. You don't need to be connected to listen to all your music.

It literally is, all your music in your pocket. Well, all my 8,700 MP3s, anyways. I'm sure some have more than that but most of mine are full albums.

I still prefer it to any of the other models. I bought the new ones for my daughters but they sometimes have problems syncing.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[Coventina]

20. The Classic iPod happens to be the one I own and prefer.

So this is a definite disappointment.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. I predict musical implant chips will replace MP3 players in 10 years.

, but maybe not.

[randome]

17. I don't think that's sarcastic at all.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[Skidmore]

26. And then the NSA can talk to people in their heads and your bank account can

be hacked by thought. That's what I find so fascinating about the privacy argument. SO many of those who are up in arms about privacy are the ones who will buy the new technology because they have to have the newest toy.

Yesterday I heard a couple of stories on the Apple banking system that would somehow come out of this marketing of that watch. I want no part of such technology. It seems to me that this would pave the way to some pretty monstrous monopolies.

[GeorgeGist]

22. iThink ...

therefore iAm.

[steelsmith]

23. Good player

But loust software for those of us with a hatred of all things apple.

[The empressof all]

27. How timely

I was going through some boxes yesterday and found my daughters. Charged it up and works just fine. .