Apple discontinues the iPod after 20 years

Apple announced that it is discontinuing the last version of the iPod, the portable music player, ending an era of digital music. 

“Since its introduction over 20 years ago, iPod has captivated users all over the world who love the ability to take their music with them on the go,” Apple said in a statement.

The iPod was first introduced in 2001. It was described as “a breakthrough MP3 music player that packs up to 1,000 CD-quality songs into an ultra-portable, 6.5-ounce design that fits in your pocket.”

The iPod touch, the first version of the music player that resembles today’s iPhone, was introduced in 2007. Its latest version launched in 2019 and sells for $199. 

The latest iPod has been described as a “mini iPhone that can’t place phone calls — though it can do FaceTime video chat — and only gets data over Wi-Fi,” according to CNBC. 

“Music has always been part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to hundreds of millions of users in the way iPod did impact more than just the music industry — it also redefined how music is discovered, listened to, and shared,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“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,” Joswiak added.

The iPod touch is still available until supplies last.