Apple has pulled the plug on iPod. The music device was once Apple's highest selling product. Now, it joins the list of things made obsolete by the smartphone. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Apple iPod to be discontinued

One of the most popular and iconic gadget brands is breathing its last today. Apple announced that it will no longer make the iPod touch, the last device to carry the iPod name.

Apple discontinues its last iPod model

Apple Inc. has announced that it will discontinue the portable music player iPod. Launched in 2001, the iPod will be sold till the current stock lasts, as reported by Apple.

Apple to discontinue iPod after 21 years

In Pics: Witness iPod’s journey! After 20 years, Apple’s music player bids final goodbye to world

American multinational company Apple, founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, is the world's second most valuable company after Microsoft.

But the tech giant is making the same mistakes committed by Finnish telecommunications and information technology company Nokia.

Slowing sales, controversies, and a lack of innovation might push Apple towards a decline.

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From garage start-up to megalith worth $2 trillion

The company has impacted hundreds of millions of lives since its 1976 founding in a garage.

Apple raced to success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but foundered after the departure of Jobs and Wozniak.

The company was reinvigorated in the late 1990s, and Jobs was brought back into the fold as the chief executive.

With his passion for minimalist design and marketing genius, Jobs changed the course of personal computing during two stints at Apple and then brought a revolution to the mobile market.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/apple-packs-ipad-pros-with-faster-chips-slims-imacs-and-jumps-into-tracking-tags-378985" hreflang="en">Apple packs iPad Pros with faster chips, slims iMacs and jumps into tracking tags</a>

He oversaw the launch of the iPod, and later the world-changing iPhone, that put the internet in people's pockets. It was dubbed the “Jesus phone” for its quasi-religious following.

However, after his death in 2011 due to a rare form of pancreatic cancer, it lost a visionary leader.

Jobs’ death came just one day after Cook presented a new iPhone at the kind of gala event that became Jobs’ trademark.&nbsp;

Perhaps coincidentally, the new device got lukewarm reviews, with many saying it wasn’t a big enough improvement over the existing version of one of the most successful consumer products in history.

Apple still faces challenges in the absence of the man who was its chief product designer, marketing guru and salesman nonpareil.&nbsp;

Phones running Google’s Android software are gaining share in the smartphone market, and there are questions over what the next big thing is in Apple’s product line.

While the company's greatest challenge is to reposition the company’s fabled marketing apparatus to safeguard the brand, experts believe Cook is likely sticking to established battle plans at this critical juncture.&nbsp;

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-metaverse-to-nft-here-is-all-you-need-to-know-about-tech-buzzwords-of-2021-439134" hreflang="en">From metaverse to NFT: Here is all you need to know about tech buzzwords of 2021</a>

Blast from the past

Finnish telecoms network equipment maker Nokia failed to keep pace with changing customer needs and adaptation to market dynamics.

In the popular narrative of Nokia’s eclipse, it is Apple’s iPhone that steals the light, but the company also lost its shine in the basic phone market, which had been a reliable generator of profits and carried the promise of years of strong growth in emerging markets.

The company abandoned its own Symbian smartphone operating system in 2011 in favor of the largely untried Windows Phone alternative after Stephen Elop joined as chief executive from Windows maker Microsoft.&nbsp;

Nokia’s decline was partly down to a lack of entrepreneurial leadership and the failure to face up to bad news, according to the book by Risto Siilasmaa, Nokia’s chairman, who joined the company’s board in 2008.

Microsoft Corp bought Nokia’s phone business and license its patents for 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion) in 2013 and sold them for $350 million to Foxconn three years later.

Traded magic for profit?

The fall of Nokia and the rise of Apple as a smartphone giant are deeply intertwined.

Apple, which throughout the global recession near-unfailingly smashed Wall Street forecasts, is beginning to lose its aura of invincibility.

Apple took a $6 billion hit to its sales during the fiscal fourth quarter due to persistent global supply chain problems. The company has missed Wall Street targets twice in under a year.&nbsp;

CEO Tim Cook may now have to worry more about economic and product launch cycles, and the whims of fickle consumers.

The blockbuster smartphone that adds a special gloss to the Apple brand is a highly cyclical product. Buyers emerge in droves every time a new version is launched, lining up at stores overnight, and snarling supply for the device.

Its popularity has heightened speculation around the device every year as over 100 million yearly customers decide when to switch to a new model, whether to buy now or hold out for a better but same-priced phone.

The now-more predictable line-up also means consumers are more attuned to product life cycles and launch timelines, something that Apple goes to great lengths to keep secret.

Apple dodged a bullet in 2021 when a US federal court said Fortnite maker Epic Games failed to show the iPhone giant held an illegal monopoly, but the firm was still ordered to loosen control over its App Store that serves as a sole gateway onto its coveted mobile devices and takes commissions of purchases.

It is unlikely to meet production goals for its new iPhone before the holidays because of a global electronic chip shortage, according to a recent report.&nbsp;

Apple is facing criticism and lawsuits over the tight control of its "ecosystem" from iPhone hardware to the apps allowed on handsets.

It has become reliant on customer upgrades in the face of a saturated market more than a decade ago.&nbsp;

Customers have delayed replacing their phones and are instead fixing their old gadgets amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The company has started a 'Self Service Repair' programme in the United States offering to sell tools and parts to people who want to work on damaged iPhone 12 or 13 model handsets.

It will initially focus on parts more prone to damage, such as screens, batteries, and cameras.

The programme will be rolled out in other countries during the course of next year, and be expanded to include some Mac computers, said the Silicon Valley-based company.

 
&nbsp;

American multinational company Apple, founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, is the world's second most valuable company after Microsoft. But the tech giant is making the same mistakes committed by Finnish telecommunications and information technology company Nokia.

American multinational company Apple, founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, is the world's second most valuable company after Microsoft. But the tech giant is making the same mistakes committed by Finnish telecommunications and information technology company Nokia. Slowing sales, controversies, and a lack of innovation might push Apple towards a decline. From garage start-up to megalith worth $2 trillion The company has impacted hundreds of millions of lives since its 1976 founding in a garage. Apple raced to success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but foundered after the departure of Jobs and Wozniak. The company was reinvigorated in the late 1990s, and Jobs was brought back into the fold as the chief executive. With his passion for minimalist design and marketing genius, Jobs changed the course of personal computing during two stints at Apple and then brought a revolution to the mobile market. Also see | Apple packs iPad Pros with faster chips, slims iMacs and jumps into tracking tags He oversaw the launch of the iPod, and later the world-changing iPhone, that put the internet in people's pockets. It was dubbed the “Jesus phone” for its quasi-religious following. However, after his death in 2011 due to a rare form of pancreatic cancer, it lost a visionary leader. Jobs’ death came just one day after Cook presented a new iPhone at the kind of gala event that became Jobs’ trademark. Perhaps coincidentally, the new device got lukewarm reviews, with many saying it wasn’t a big enough improvement over the existing version of one of the most successful consumer products in history. Apple still faces challenges in the absence of the man who was its chief product designer, marketing guru and salesman nonpareil. Phones running Google’s Android software are gaining share in the smartphone market, and there are questions over what the next big thing is in Apple’s product line. While the company's greatest challenge is to reposition the company’s fabled marketing apparatus to safeguard the brand, experts believe Cook is likely sticking to established battle plans at this critical juncture. Also see | From metaverse to NFT: Here is all you need to know about tech buzzwords of 2021 Blast from the past Finnish telecoms network equipment maker Nokia failed to keep pace with changing customer needs and adaptation to market dynamics. In the popular narrative of Nokia’s eclipse, it is Apple’s iPhone that steals the light, but the company also lost its shine in the basic phone market, which had been a reliable generator of profits and carried the promise of years of strong growth in emerging markets. The company abandoned its own Symbian smartphone operating system in 2011 in favor of the largely untried Windows Phone alternative after Stephen Elop joined as chief executive from Windows maker Microsoft. Nokia’s decline was partly down to a lack of entrepreneurial leadership and the failure to face up to bad news, according to the book by Risto Siilasmaa, Nokia’s chairman, who joined the company’s board in 2008. Microsoft Corp bought Nokia’s phone business and license its patents for 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion) in 2013 and sold them for $350 million to Foxconn three years later. Traded magic for profit? The fall of Nokia and the rise of Apple as a smartphone giant are deeply intertwined. Apple, which throughout the global recession near-unfailingly smashed Wall Street forecasts, is beginning to lose its aura of invincibility. Apple took a $6 billion hit to its sales during the fiscal fourth quarter due to persistent global supply chain problems. The company has missed Wall Street targets twice in under a year. CEO Tim Cook may now have to worry more about economic and product launch cycles, and the whims of fickle consumers. The blockbuster smartphone that adds a special gloss to the Apple brand is a highly cyclical product. Buyers emerge in droves every time a new version is launched, lining up at stores overnight, and snarling supply for the device. Its popularity has heightened speculation around the device every year as over 100 million yearly customers decide when to switch to a new model, whether to buy now or hold out for a better but same-priced phone. The now-more predictable line-up also means consumers are more attuned to product life cycles and launch timelines, something that Apple goes to great lengths to keep secret. Apple dodged a bullet in 2021 when a US federal court said Fortnite maker Epic Games failed to show the iPhone giant held an illegal monopoly, but the firm was still ordered to loosen control over its App Store that serves as a sole gateway onto its coveted mobile devices and takes commissions of purchases. It is unlikely to meet production goals for its new iPhone before the holidays because of a global electronic chip shortage, according to a recent report. Apple is facing criticism and lawsuits over the tight control of its "ecosystem" from iPhone hardware to the apps allowed on handsets. It has become reliant on customer upgrades in the face of a saturated market more than a decade ago. Customers have delayed replacing their phones and are instead fixing their old gadgets amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company has started a 'Self Service Repair' programme in the United States offering to sell tools and parts to people who want to work on damaged iPhone 12 or 13 model handsets. It will initially focus on parts more prone to damage, such as screens, batteries, and cameras. The programme will be rolled out in other countries during the course of next year, and be expanded to include some Mac computers, said the Silicon Valley-based company.

Is Apple making the same mistakes made by Nokia?

A former engineer at Apple, David Shayer, has claimed in a detailed blog post that he was once asked to help the US Department of Energy build a "top secret" iPod.

Shayer, one of the early software engineers hired to work on the first iPod, said he was sitting at his desk in 2005 when his boss's boss at Apple (AAPL) asked him to take on a "special assignment" for the company. 
&nbsp; 
Shayer claimed only two others within Apple knew about the project: the vice-president of the iPod division and the senior vice president of hardware.&nbsp;

All those involved have since left the company, he said.

Shayer said he met with two engineers from Bechtel, a US defense contractor, and was told they would build the iPod — all he had to do was provide any assistance they required from Apple.&nbsp;

The iPods had to look and function like regular iPods, but would contain some custom hardware that could record data and not be detected by the average user, Shayer said.

This narrative is in contrast with the company's clashes with the FBI and Department of Justice in recent years over its refusal to build backdoors in iPhones.

Shayer, however, said he never found out exactly what kind of hardware the two Bechtel engineers were looking to add to the secret iPod.&nbsp;

In his blog post though, he has noted: they may have been building a "stealth Geiger counter" for measuring radioactivity.

"You could walk around a city, casually listening to your tunes, while recording evidence of radioactivity—scanning for smuggled or stolen uranium, for instance, or evidence of a dirty bomb development program—with no chance that the press or public would get wind of what was happening," he wrote.

A former engineer at Apple, David Shayer, has claimed in a detailed blog post that he was once asked to help the US Department of Energy build a "top secret" iPod.

A former engineer at Apple, David Shayer, has claimed in a detailed blog post that he was once asked to help the US Department of Energy build a "top secret" iPod. Shayer, one of the early software engineers hired to work on the first iPod, said he was sitting at his desk in 2005 when his boss's boss at Apple (AAPL) asked him to take on a "special assignment" for the company. Shayer claimed only two others within Apple knew about the project: the vice-president of the iPod division and the senior vice president of hardware. All those involved have since left the company, he said. Shayer said he met with two engineers from Bechtel, a US defense contractor, and was told they would build the iPod — all he had to do was provide any assistance they required from Apple. The iPods had to look and function like regular iPods, but would contain some custom hardware that could record data and not be detected by the average user, Shayer said. This narrative is in contrast with the company's clashes with the FBI and Department of Justice in recent years over its refusal to build backdoors in iPhones. Shayer, however, said he never found out exactly what kind of hardware the two Bechtel engineers were looking to add to the secret iPod. In his blog post though, he has noted: they may have been building a "stealth Geiger counter" for measuring radioactivity. "You could walk around a city, casually listening to your tunes, while recording evidence of radioactivity—scanning for smuggled or stolen uranium, for instance, or evidence of a dirty bomb development program—with no chance that the press or public would get wind of what was happening," he wrote.

Apple helped US build a 'top secret' iPod, claims former engineer

On November 10,&nbsp;2001, Apple had a breakthrough with the introduction of its first ever iPod.

Apple introduced the iPod Classic first-generation iPod (M8541) on&nbsp;October 23, 2001&nbsp;which went on sale on&nbsp;November 10, 2001.

16 years ago, today, the iPod Classic - an MP3 player which packed up to 5GB of music storage, into a mini 6.5 ounce portable device - first came in the market, with the slogan &quot;1,000 songs in your pocket&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Apple co-founder, late Steve Jobs, had said in a statement before its launch that &ldquo;with iPod, listening to music will never be the same again&rdquo;.&nbsp;

Famously identified by its scroll wheel surrounded by four buttons, the iPod Classic was, although, not the first ever MP3 device in the market but it was claimed to be the most successful one so far due to its sleek features and easy user interface.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Between the iPod&rsquo;s November 10 release date and December 31, Apple sold about 1,25,000 iPods.&nbsp;

In 2003, Apple launched its first ever fully touch 3rd generation iPod with a Dock Connector port which could be used with a USB as well as FireWire, marking total sales of a million iPods with this launch.&nbsp;

The early success of the iPod, and its products after, were main reasons in the company&#39;s explosive growth.

On November 10, 2001, Apple had a breakthrough with the introduction of its first ever iPod.

On November 10, 2001, Apple had a breakthrough with the introduction of its first ever iPod. Apple introduced the iPod Classic first-generation iPod (M8541) on October 23, 2001 which went on sale on November 10, 2001. 16 years ago, today, the iPod Classic - an MP3 player which packed up to 5GB of music storage, into a mini 6.5 ounce portable device - first came in the market, with the slogan "1,000 songs in your pocket". Apple co-founder, late Steve Jobs, had said in a statement before its launch that “with iPod, listening to music will never be the same again”. Famously identified by its scroll wheel surrounded by four buttons, the iPod Classic was, although, not the first ever MP3 device in the market but it was claimed to be the most successful one so far due to its sleek features and easy user interface. Between the iPod’s November 10 release date and December 31, Apple sold about 1,25,000 iPods. In 2003, Apple launched its first ever fully touch 3rd generation iPod with a Dock Connector port which could be used with a USB as well as FireWire, marking total sales of a million iPods with this launch. The early success of the iPod, and its products after, were main reasons in the company's explosive growth.

16 years ago today, first iPod went on sale

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