When the iPod was released in 2001, it was a comprehensive media device that reshaped how consumers could listen to music on the go.
As well as being a music player, this multimedia system also served as an external storage device and was an essential tool for tech-savvy.
Fast-forward to 2013, and it seems that the iPod is quickly becoming obsolete, with modern smartphones offering ever-increasing storage capacity and multimedia features.
Fast-moving Technological Advances
If anyone can be blamed for the potential demise of the iPod, it could be Apple itself.
The giant leaps in technology made over the last few years have been pioneered largely by Apple. With their flagship product, the iPhone, they are constantly updating and releasing new technology that is faster and more efficient than ever.
The fact that their phone can now do everything a user needs, along with playing music, means there is little point in carrying around two separate devices (an MP3 player and a phone).
The iPod is hardly a unique device, and smartphones and tablets can now do so much more than they could a few years back. While retailers are still selling the iPod Touch, this is mainly because it offers a multi-functional system similar to the iPhone. The only missing aspect is the inability to make phone calls from it.
Storage has also always been a big factor for consumers when purchasing mobile devices, and it seems that now that smartphones and tablets have storage capacity, it has the potential to overshadow an iPod, meaning they will quickly become the preferred choice for those looking to bring their music collection along with them wherever they go.
All-in-one Media Device
The iPod was, first and foremost, a mobile music device, and it was a revolutionary product in its heyday. Before it, the portable CD player or Discman was hardly a practical choice.
iPods revolutionized how people listened to music, becoming the hottest accessory for anyone who commuted, jogged, went to the gym, or wanted to listen to tunes on the move.
However, as most mobile phones can now play music, having a separate device with only one main function (playing music) has become completely unnecessary.
Consumers can now instead purchase multimedia devices (such as the iPhone) that allow them to do everything from listening to music to surfing the web, and the demand for a single-function device is waning quickly.
Apple was one of the forerunners of the smartphone industry, and the iPhone has made the iPod redundant.
Of course, it does have its uses, and it’s not a completely obsolete item; it’s just one that seems to have been overtaken by other portable devices that offer so much more.
It’s not just the iPod that is seemingly becoming redundant. Console manufacturers and game developers have had to move with the times and create multi-functional and portable technology.
They have also had to adapt to the mobile market and change games and accessories to ensure that they can keep up with a constantly growing tech industry that focuses on updating and improving rapidly.
