Could 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 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 important: It demonstrated clearly {that a} loyal buyer base remained for the iPod contact.
The brand new mannequin launched in Could 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 coloration choices, storage capability and 5-megapixel important iSight digicam.
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 digicam for selfies, capable of shoot stills at 1,280 x 960 and video at 1,280 x 720.
A savvy selfie digicam
The cheaper iPod contact arrived simply as Oxford Dictionaries dubbed “selfie” the Phrase of the 12 months. Specializing in the brand new system’s selfie digicam was a intelligent manner of turning a damaging — the lacking iSight cam — right into a constructive on Apple’s half.
The system’s dual-core A5 processor made it ideally suited for cell gaming. Homeowners of this iPod contact may make the most of the ever-growing catalog of low cost video games within the App Retailer.
Whereas definitely not a serious iPod launch, the silver-and-black 2013 iPod contact improve nonetheless did its job. It provided youthful clients a extra reasonably priced entry level into the Apple ecosystem. In spite of everything, 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 seemed 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 Could 10, 2022. Over greater than twenty years, the digital music participant made a large influence on each Apple and the tradition at giant. (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 system’s demise, although. The iPod‘s DNA lives on within the Apple ecosystem.
“Music has all the time been a part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to lots of of hundreds of thousands 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 vp of worldwide advertising and marketing, in a press launch marking the iPod’s loss of life. “At this time, the spirit of iPod lives on. We’ve built-in an unimaginable 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 help for spatial audio — there’s no higher strategy to get pleasure from, uncover, and expertise music.”
Do you bear in mind your first iPod? Go away your feedback beneath.
