You know, looking back, I think those colorful 4th & 5th Gen iPod Nanos were the closest Apple ever came to a click wheel iPhone form factor.
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Apple to Declare Last iPod Nano Model 'Vintage' Later This Month
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You know, looking back, I think those colorful 4th & 5th Gen iPod Nanos were the closest Apple ever came to a click wheel iPhone form factor.
Fiio do pretty well and they are not that cheap, starting at $100 with no built-in storage, their strength though is really good DAC's and lossless playback, something which Apple, so far have not offered.
Currently its "only" a 220 Million Dollar market though, chump change for Apple.
If you really think about it, the Ipod saved the company. And from there, there were able to build what is considered one of the greatest businesses in modern history.
If the ARM Macs can format Mac OS Extended drives, I don't see us losing the ability to sync. But it's the right time to call it vintage when the Nike+, Genius, and iTunes U stuff is now gone/not being updated from iTunes/Music and probably the DRM is going to change again for Apple TV content and the SD format dropped. Radio stations don't use the RDS in a way that used to let you tag music to buy in the store later either.
This is disappointing, the product that brought Apple back to life was allowed to shrivel and die.
I think the real reason this product “didn’t sell as well” is because Apple didn’t make the iPod Nanos compatible with streaming services, like Apple Music or Spotify.
I remember being particularly shocked that when I paid for an Apple Music subscription, even though I downloaded music for offline access, they couldn’t be transferred to my iPod.
The iPhone didn’t cannibalise the iPod, Apple’s neglect for streaming service compatibility killed it.
I think the real reason this product “didn’t sell as well” is because Apple didn’t make the iPod Nanos compatible with streaming services, like Apple Music or Spotify.
I remember being particularly shocked that when I paid for an Apple Music subscription, even though I downloaded music for offline access, they couldn’t be transferred to my iPod.
The iPhone didn’t cannibalise the iPod, Apple’s neglect for streaming service compatibility killed it.
I always thought Apple should have renamed the iPod Touch to iPad Nano.
6th generation iPod nano was the original Apple Watch. I burned through three of them because I liked using them while running. I had some great watch cases for the device.
Just makes me a bit sad. I still use my 7th Gen Nano with wired headphones, often in bed, listening to soothing music as I fall asleep. I can roll on it and it doesn't care. Sleep timer is amazing. Can also take a licking at the gym and is very light. Used to download video podcasts on my old 3rd Gen Stubby, and the case raised the click wheel enough that you didn't need to see it to operate it. Memories…
On one hand, I think single focused items like MP3 players are slim picking. but on the other hand, the Light Phone, the Remarkable 2, and the Amazon Kindle show that you can sell at least a few of single focused items to stay in business.
I've been looking on eBay for an original iPod. The first one, M8541 I think it is. They're either still in the box like new for $5,000 or they are $150 and scratched to death with a dead battery. Would love to come across a nice, original iPod. I would use it in my office with old wired Apple earbuds while I sit in my reading area and leave my connected devices at my desk. One can dream...
I've been looking on eBay for an original iPod. The first one, M8541 I think it is. They're either still in the box like new for $5,000 or they are $150 and scratched to death with a dead battery. Would love to come across a nice, original iPod. I would use it in my office with old wired Apple earbuds while I sit in my reading area and leave my connected devices at my desk. One can dream...
No. But because of smartphones, iPod sales dropped to really small numbers, that it is not worth for Apple to put time and money into it.
It's a shame Apple doesn't license this tech to a boutique manufacturer.
I loved the days of having a music-only dedicated device so that I could lose myself in my own personal soundtrack.
No distractions. Pure musical joy.
I loved the days of having a music-only dedicated device so that I could lose myself in my own personal soundtrack.
No distractions. Pure musical joy.
Wow what a great article to remember those good times, Juli. Thanks for this little homage.
My favorite was the 6th gen nano, although I was praying to have a fourth or fifth gen nano. A friend of mine had one of those by purchasing his MacBook Pro back in 2009.
Honestly I barely remember the first nanos, I think it was the third gen the first one I got to know. But as I said, the fourth, fifth and sixth gens were the ones I liked the most.
A family member purchased a seventh gen, and she enjoys it even today, she’s very happy with her purple nano, but for me the previous iterations are the ones that spark my memories of a disruptive company.
My favorite was the 6th gen nano, although I was praying to have a fourth or fifth gen nano. A friend of mine had one of those by purchasing his MacBook Pro back in 2009.
Honestly I barely remember the first nanos, I think it was the third gen the first one I got to know. But as I said, the fourth, fifth and sixth gens were the ones I liked the most.
A family member purchased a seventh gen, and she enjoys it even today, she’s very happy with her purple nano, but for me the previous iterations are the ones that spark my memories of a disruptive company.
I guess I need to keep an x86 machine around, just so I can sync my music when I need to. I'm already having issues syncing music to old iPods in Catalina, and I suppose it'll only get worse.
Tim: So we can’t make it more complex?
VP: Yes sir just like the routers.
Tim: Now why can’t we make it more complex?
VP: Well sir the chips/boards are more or less at end of life.
Tim: I see so what is this end of life?
VP: (now puzzled) Well the software is outdated, the return of investment wouldn’t be worth it.
Tim: (now puzzled) So I need to tell the board something...thoughts?
VP: We could I guess stop making it, put our resources to something else.
Tim: Will they be green?
VP: Sir?
Tim: Will the resources be green?
VP: (pauses) Oh they are people sir.
Tim: Gotcha....
VP: Well they could be excellent for working the new circuitry-
Tim: We could pain them! Environmentally friendly of course!
VP: Wait what?
Tim: Green.
VP: Okay I quit.
VP: Yes sir just like the routers.
Tim: Now why can’t we make it more complex?
VP: Well sir the chips/boards are more or less at end of life.
Tim: I see so what is this end of life?
VP: (now puzzled) Well the software is outdated, the return of investment wouldn’t be worth it.
Tim: (now puzzled) So I need to tell the board something...thoughts?
VP: We could I guess stop making it, put our resources to something else.
Tim: Will they be green?
VP: Sir?
Tim: Will the resources be green?
VP: (pauses) Oh they are people sir.
Tim: Gotcha....
VP: Well they could be excellent for working the new circuitry-
Tim: We could pain them! Environmentally friendly of course!
VP: Wait what?
Tim: Green.
VP: Okay I quit.
In 2019 Apple sold 40 million iPhones, 50 million iPads & 5 million Macs. Not sure what the average selling price on those would be, but it’s gotta be significantly more than your updated iPod would be. There’s simply no way Apple could sell enough units to make back the development, engineering & support costs. That’s the way it works in this world.
Lots of comments before mine but man oh man, I’d find a safe place in the cloud or on an external drive to stash that music. Assuming that you really value it as much as you’re indicating.
I believe that 'vintage' has definitely changed its meaning over the last decade.
Vintage to me means vacuum tubes and CRTs. Dial-cords and civil defense marks on radios, carburetors, and landau tops on cars.
Why is something less than 10 years old allowed to be called 'Vintage'?
Might as well declare that 1983 Chevrolet Chevette as a vintage car....Since we're heading that direction...
Vintage to me means vacuum tubes and CRTs. Dial-cords and civil defense marks on radios, carburetors, and landau tops on cars.
Why is something less than 10 years old allowed to be called 'Vintage'?
Might as well declare that 1983 Chevrolet Chevette as a vintage car....Since we're heading that direction...
I got an Apple Watch with the hope it would function as a 6th gen replacement. I'm still waiting and it pisses me off. I find the iWatch difficult to scroll through music, difficult to load podcasts on and in general inferior to the 6th gen.