GoKawiilWriter marks 25th anniversary of Apple's iPod with retrospective on its rise and quiet end
Steven Levy recalls Apple's October 2001 launch of the iPod, which Steve Jobs told him would be 'a landmark product,' and traces its gradual discontinuation through 2014, 2017 and 2022 as the iPhone absorbed its functions. He argues the iPod's death became inevitable once Jobs unveiled the iPhone in January 2007, folding 'the best iPod ever' into a multipurpose device.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The reflection highlights how a single-purpose device that 'superbly executed its function,' as Levy describes it, can be rendered obsolete by convergence into multifunction smartphones, a pattern that recurs across consumer electronics. It suggests nostalgia for dedicated gadgets persists even as users embrace all-in-one devices, which may explain renewed interest in standalone music players or retro tech among some consumers.
- The iPod launched October 23, 2001, and was called 'a landmark product' by Steve Jobs.
- Apple phased out various iPod models between 2014 and 2022, with the iPod Touch being the last discontinued.
- The iPhone's 2007 launch, which folded iPod functionality into a multipurpose device, marked the beginning of the iPod's decline.
Apple iPod Touch (7th Generation) — If this trip down memory lane has you craving that classic iPod simplicity, the iPod Touch is the closest living relative, letting you carry a dedicated music library without phone distractions. It's a nostalgic nod to the device that changed how we listen, now with modern app support and a crisp display.
See Apple iPod Touch (7th Generation) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: wired.com — Steven Levy, 2026-10-09
Published there as: “Iām Still Convinced the iPod Was the Perfect Gadget”
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