The primary-generation iPod got here out on November 10, 2001, making as we speak the twenty fourth anniversary of the system’s launch. Apple introduced it in late October, however November 10 was the primary day prospects had been in a position to get their arms on it.
Even manner again in 2001, there have been leaks and faux leaks earlier than the iPod launched. In a single rumor article, Apple’s upcoming system was dubbed the “iWalk” and described as a PDA with a high-color TFT-screen with handwriting recognition, which didn’t show to be true. CNET recommended that it was too subtle to be an MP3 participant, and was as a substitute a element for a house digital stereo system, whereas a German web site mentioned it was “like a standalone CD-writer” that appears like “a Hifi element.” The location did precisely predict that it will make it potential to “have all of the music in the home saved on one place,” however described it as a form of AirPlay-enabled speaker.
Extra dependable rumors precisely pegged it as a digital music system in a position to sync with a pc, and within the days main as much as the launch, the iPod identify leaked. Even with the information that got here out, a lot of the iPod’s introduction was a shock as a result of 2001 leaks had been a lot much less detailed than 2025 leaks.
Some MacRumors readers lined as much as purchase one on launch day, kicking off a practice of lengthy strains at Apple Shops that continued nicely into the iPhone launch days. As with all Apple product launch, there have been some blended reactions to the iPod, and naturally a slew of early complaints. Here is what the boards needed to say:
There have been loads of MacRumors readers thrilled with the iPod, and as we nicely know, it was a wildly widespread system that spurred a number of subsequent fashions and ultimately led to the launch of the ‌iPhone‌.
It was spectacular to have the ability to have a 5GB FireWire drive in your pocket on the time, and iPod homeowners used it as a tough drive for file transfers. MP3 gamers existed, however nothing with the storage capability and design of the iPod.
With the ‌iPhone‌ that does the whole lot an iPod does, there is not any longer a necessity for the iPod. The final iPod was the iPod contact, which Apple up to date sporadically after which did not contact after 2019. It was formally discontinued in 2022, marking the tip of the iPod line. Apple nearly by no means proclaims when a product has been discontinued, however the iPod was an exception given its historical past.
In a press release, Apple’s advertising chief Greg Joswiak mentioned that the “Spirit of the iPod lives on” throughout all the firm’s merchandise, from the ‌iPhone‌ to Apple Watch to HomePod.
The iPod will have fun its twenty fifth anniversary subsequent 12 months. Apple has revived previous merchandise previously, however folks have little use for a music-only system in 2025. Apple is, nonetheless, engaged on a house hub that may play music, run apps, and management good house merchandise, and it is described as a small, sq. system with a show. It is potential Apple might reference the iPod when unveiling the system, and even borrow part of its identify prefer it did when naming the ‌HomePod‌.
