How The iPod Classic Changed Apple Forever

SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 6: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds a new mini iPod at Macworld January 6, 2004 in San Francisco. Jobs announced several new products including the new iLife 4 software and the Mini iPod. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) — Justin Sullivan/GettyImages

After years without significant updates, Apple quietly retired its iconic iPod Classic in 2014. The product that launched the Cupertino-based company into the stratosphere and made Sony’s once-dominant Walkman obsolete has become obsolete itself, signaling the beginning of the end of the era of standalone music players.

As Apple’s product lineup evolved, it became clear that there was no longer going to be any room in the market for the iPod. During its last few years on the market, the iPod Classic saw a steady decline in sales. Just a few years after the iPod Classic was officially pulled from the market, other iPod variants like the Nano and the Shuffle were also retired without much fanfare.

Although the iPod is now mostly a thing of the past, the role it played in shaping the company into what it is today cannot be overstated. Here are a few reasons why the iPod was so important to Apple.

The iPod Propelled Apple’s Success To A New Level

Although Apple’s Mac business was going through a renaissance at the time of the iPod’s launch, it was the iPod that really transformed Apple into the massive consumer electronics company it is today. At its peak, iPod Classic sales reached over 22.7 million in one quarter alone. At the time of its retirement, over 400 million units had been sold.

402687 07: The new iPod is on display on the opening day of the Macworld Expo trade show March 20, 2002 in Tokyo, Japan. The annual conference will be held until March 23, and is expected to draw 180,000 visitors. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images) — Koichi Kamoshida/GettyImages

The iPod Signaled Apple’s Comeback

The iPod paved the way for the transformation of the once-struggling company into a behemoth in the tech industry. Apple sold 125,000 units of the iPod in the first two months alone, which was considered an incredible feat at the time. The iPod continued to drive sales in the years that followed, and by the end of 2005, it represented around half of Apple’s revenue.

LONDON - JUNE 15: Steve Jobs, Chief Executive Officer of Apple computers, stands by a projection of an iPod as he launches iTunes Music Store in the territories of Great Britain, Germany and France, on June 15, 2004 in London. The iTunes store allows users to buy and download albums or individual songs from a library of 700,000 songs. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images) — Ian Waldie/GettyImages

The iPod Paved The Way For The iPhone

The iPhone’s success would not have been possible if not for the lessons (both good and bad) that Apple learned from creating and selling the iPod in the 2000s. As a result, the iPhone helped further cement Apple’s position as one of the greatest tech companies in the world today.

The iPod’s White Earphones Were Iconic

The white earphones that came with the iPod became iconic in their own right after they were prominently featured in iPod’s famous silhouette ad campaigns. These earphones were Apple’s first wearable device and inspired other Apple products like the AirPods. Interestingly enough, the day Apple announced the retirement if the iPod was the same day it announced the launch of its new wearable device: the Apple Watch.

The iPod’s Success Had A Lasting Influence On Apple’s Marketing Strategy

The iPod may not have been the first MP3 music player on the market, but it easily overshadowed all its competitors thanks to the way that it was marketed by Apple. It wasn’t just an MP3 player, it was “1000 songs in your pocket.” That, combined with a great design and constant improvements, made the iPod the huge success it was. Apple continues to employ a similar marketing strategy with other products, like the iPhone and the iPad.