Apple launched the iPod in October 2001. Back then, the iPod is equipped with 5GB of storage which is big enough to keep at least 1,000 songs. The company even carried the tagline "1,000 songs in your pocket" as it pushed the product to every music buff.
During that era, the 5GB storage space is not very common and 1,000 songs are already more than one can handle. When someone has all these in a device, he is deemed as one very lucky individual.
Since it's a unique Apple device with the iconic click wheel design, it was also a bit pricey as it was worth almost $400. While it's true that it wasn't the first to enter the market, Apple had somehow innovated its features which solved the issues that are faced by all MP3 makers. These are the user experience and storage.
Prior to the iPod, other music players could only store a number of songs. Moreover, they were not user-friendly.
When the iPod was launched, there was no iTunes. In order to put music into the device, one had to rip CDs and transfer them into the iPod using a cable. It was only until 2003 when the iTunes Store became available.
At that point, Apple's market share began to soar. Within a decade, digital music has grown rapidly and has remained the primary way for most people to gain music access. At present, most of the newly released singles are only sold in digital stores.
Apple has truly paved a way for other products which are in one way or another influenced by the iPod. With the device's massive sales record, Apple was able to invest a lot in research, production and design. All of these helped make the iPhone a surefire winner from the very start.
The updated model of the iPod classic came in 2007 and had two versions: 120GB and 160GB. That was the last time the device was updated before Apple decided to drop the final curtain on it. Faced with the advent of its two popular devices, the iPhone and the iPod, Apple must have realized that its future depends on the touchscreen and not on the click-wheel.
It should be noted that the introduction of the first iPod model and the iPod Classic were only six years apart. However, it all seemed like they were created several decades in between.
This goes to show that the technology industry is constantly innovating. What is new today may be considered old tomorrow.
