After iPod, what’s next?
A device that arguably revolutionized the music industry when it was launched in October 2001 has been retired by Apple after a run of more than 20 years. From the pocket-sized iPod classic with a click wheel to the latest iPod touch – which Apple said will be available until supplies last – the iPod has been available in various shapes and sizes over its two-decade history.
Initially, Apple’s goal with the iPod was to create a product that would lead more people to purchase Macintosh computers. As the first personal device launched by Apple outside of its Macintosh ecosystem, it represents a stepping stone on the company’s journey to release a host of personal communication devices over the years that would eventually propel Apple into becoming the most valuable company in the world.
Former Apple senior vice president Tony Fadell, who was credited with introducing the iPod, said, “We wouldn’t have had the iPhone if we didn’t do the iPod.” iPod, said, “We gained confidence from the iPod.”, said, “It gave Steve (Jobs) confidence that we could do something outside of the boxes.”
The iPod was an affordable device that was available in different colors and models that introduced many people to the Apple ecosystem. In addition to the iPod classic, which can be recognized by its polished steel frame and the iconic click wheel, Apple also launched the iPod Mini, which was followed by the iPod Nano. Apple introduced the iPod Shuffle in 2005, an entry-level device that used flash memory and was the first iPod model without a screen.
Apple unveiled the iPod Touch in September 2007, just months after launching the first iPhone — a multi-touch device with WiFi, Safari, YouTube, etc. Currently, the seventh-generation iPod Touch is available for purchase.
During the iPod’s journey on the hardware side, the device helped make music portable in a way that was significantly different from portable cassette players of the time. The ability to buy and download songs for 99 cents and store them in a pocket-sized device was considered cutting-edge at the time.
The reason behind the downfall of the device is known. In no small part, the device that arose after the iPod, the iPhone, contributed to the eventual discontinuation of portable music players. With smartphones’ increased functionality, the iPod was subjected to the diminishing utility principle.
In addition, the advent of fast, cheap internet, as well as music streaming services such as Spotify, iTunes, Prime Music, etc, substantially reduced the use of the iPod.
450 million iPod devices have been sold since it was launched in 2001, but lately, sales have been sluggish.
Apple has not separated iPod sales for years, but the company’s unit sales dropped about 24 percent last fiscal year compared with the previous fiscal year, WSJ reported. In 2015 the firm stopped reporting the sales. The company stopped reporting iPod sales in 2015. Using data from Loup Ventures, a venture capital firm that specializes in tech research, The New York Times reported that Apple sold an estimated 3 million iPods last year, compared to 250 million iPhones.
Music streaming services will continue to be offered by Apple through Apple Music, which will be available on various devices.
“Today, the spirit of iPod lives on,” said Apple’s senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak. Apple has integrated an incredible music experience across all its products, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and across Mac, iPad, and Apple TV”.
Apart from that Apple is planning to do some more changes to the list. By using optical fibers, Apple can capture biometric data faster and with greater accuracy under the display. A report by PatentlyApple indicates that Apple has granted patents to a technology that can capture a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of an object or user that is close to the device. A 2D or 3D image may include biometric data in some cases.
Biometric data is information about your body that is related to your features. This data must be unique and can be your eyes, fingerprint, face, and other features. Probably one of the most common applications of biometric technology is fingerprint scanning and facial recognition features in smartphones. All these security features will use the physical characteristics of the user to verify the identity.
All the pointers and the techniques that are mentioned in the patent application use optical fiber or optical bundles to receive electromagnetic radiation via the display. Another thing that we have is the apple products do not make it actually to the patent product and even if the firm is planning to change the Touch ID it will take time maybe a d=few more months so it is a possibility that we can see a new Touch ID feature in upcoming iPhone models.
Also according to some apple analysts, it is said that Apple will take time to introduce any new iPhone model along with the under-screen touch ID in the coming 2 years. Ming-Chi Kuo who is a known Apple analyst says the same and even earlier he predicted some of the things he said, he previously predicted that iPhones would support under-display fingerprint Touch ID by 2023 as the earliest, and Face ID with a mask on in an iPhone is already one of the great biometric solutions.
It was reported that Apple was trying the under-display Touch ID for the series 13 but due to some issues it was unsuccessful.
Apple never fails to amaze the users and the public with its new thinking and experiments. This is one of the reasons that the brand stans out from the whole market.
Apart from these, the users are waiting for the new series of iPhones that will be iPhone series 14 and they are even more excited for the new features that Apple will reveal with the new series the Touch ID can take some time but also you can not predict anything about Apple. They will maintain their legacy by providing the best to the customers and with the new twist in the mobile phones.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
