iPod: the legendary music player is discontinued, 21 years after its launch

In an announcement marked by nostalgia and emotion, both from the company itself and from many social media users, Apple said it was ending production of the iPod Touch, its iconic device that radically changed the way we listen to music 21 years ago.

Although the iPod was not the first portable MP3 player, it was the one that brought us closer to digital music and helped Apple develop into the pioneering technology company we all know today. It first appeared on the market in 2001, with storage for just 1.000 tracks, while newer-generation devices can now store over 90 million songs.

Designed by the same team that later created the iPhone, and arguably its predecessor, it became the most popular music player within just a few years, until it was overshadowed by the iPhone itself and streaming services.

Over its lifetime, various models were released, including the Nano and Shuffle, both of which were discontinued in 2017. From 2012 onwards, Apple began releasing fewer and fewer new iPods. The last model to be updated was the iPod Touch, which has not been refreshed since 2019. Its latest versions even had features found on smartphones, such as the ability to take photos, send emails and make video calls. This model will remain available while stocks last, according to the company's announcement.

The iPod was unveiled by Steve Jobs in October 2011 at one of the now well-established Apple Events. Initially, its launch was intended to encourage consumers to buy Macintosh computers. However, the humble music player managed to create its own generation of fans and pave the way for the Apple brand to become one of the most recognisable in the world.