In “end of an era” news: Apple has announced it is discontinuing the iPod touch, thus, ending production on its legendary, game-changing iPod device.
In a statement, Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said, “Music has always been part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to hundreds of millions of users in the way iPod did impacted more than just the music industry — it also redefined how music is discovered, listened to, and shared. Today, the spirit of iPod lives on. We’ve integrated an incredible music experience across all of our products, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and across Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound quality with support for spatial audio — there’s no better way to enjoy, discover, and experience music.”
Apple noted, “Customers can purchase iPod touch through Apple.com, Apple Store locations, and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last.
In honor of this legendary device whose original 2001 model boasted being able to hold up to 1,000 songs (cute, right?), here is a gallery of images in tribute to the iPod and its many evolutions in the past two decades.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 6: A new iPod mini displayed at the Macworld expo January 6, 2004 in San Francisco.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareLONDON - SEPTEMBER 05: The new Ipod Classic is held at the UK launch of the product at the BBC on September 5, 2007 in London, England.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN ANSELMO, CA - NOVEMBER 16: A Beatles song plays on an iPod November 16, 2010 in San Anselmo, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 01: An Apple employee holds a new iPod Nano at an Apple Special Event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts September 1, 2010 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 01: Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks during an Apple Special Event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts September 1, 2010 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 09: A display shows the range of colors for the new iPod Nano with video capabilities during an Apple special event September 9, 2009 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 09: A television reporter demonstrates the new iPod Nano with video capabilities during an Apple special event September 9, 2009 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 09: A reporter holds a new iPod Touch during an Apple special event September 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 09: Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces a new version of the iPod Touch during a special event September 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 09: An ad shows colors of the new iPod Nano as Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks during a special event September 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 22: An iPhone is displayed at an Apple Store January 22, 2008 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 6: A new iPod mini displayed at Macworld January 6, 2004 in San Francisco.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 6: Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the new mini iPod available in five colors during a keynote address at Macworld January 6, 2004 in San Francisco.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 6: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds a new mini iPod at Macworld January 6, 2004 in San Francisco.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareThis photo from Apple Computer shows the company's iPod, a digital music player. Apple launched the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, an online music store that lets customers find, purchase and download music for 99 cents per song.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareApple Computer Inc. unveiled a new portable music player, the iPod MP3 music player October 23, 2001 at an event in Cupertino, Calif.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareThe new iPod is on display on the opening day of the Macworld Expo trade show March 20, 2002 in Tokyo, Japan.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareA man touches the Apple iPod mp3 music player on display during the Macworld Conference and Convention January 8, 2002 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareApple Computer Inc. unveiled a new portable music player, the iPod MP3 music player October 23, 2001 at an event in Cupertino, Calif.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareLONDON - SEPTEMBER 05: The new Ipod Classic is held at the UK launch of the product at the BBC on September 5, 2007 in London, England.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 05: An Apple Special event attendee holds the new iPod Classic September 5, 2007 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 05: Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks in front of a display of the new iPod products during an Apple Special event September 5, 2007 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareLONDON - SEPTEMBER 05: The new Ipod Nano is held at the UK launch of the product at the BBC on September 5, 2007 in London, England.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 05: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up a new version of the iPod Nano during an Apple Special event September 5, 2007 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareNEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: Brandon Schoderbek displays the new iPod shuffle, which went on sale today, in the Apple Store Fifth Avenue November 3, 2006 in New York City. The device costs $79 and contains one gigabyte of flash memory holding up to 240 songs.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareNEW YORK - OCTOBER 13: A (PRODUCT) RED iPod nano sits in the Apple store in midtown Manhattan October 13, 2006 in New York. Apple computer is donating $10 from the sale of their new red music players to a charity fighting AIDS in Africa.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareLONDON - OCTOBER 02: In this photo illustration a woman listens to an Apple iPod Nano on October 2, 2006 in London, England. The iPod is currently the world's best-selling digital audio player, with Apple having about half of the global market for MP3 player sales.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 12: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up a new iPod Shuffle as he delivers a keynote address during an Apple media event September 12, 2006 in San Francisco.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 3: The latest new iPod with video capabilities is displayed at a launch ceremony on November 3, 2005 in Seoul, South Korea. The latest release from Apple features a 30 GB model with the capacity to store up to 7,500 songs or 25,000 photographs and 60 GB model with the capacity to store up to 15,000 songs or 25,000 photographs. The 30 GB new iPod will be available on the Korean market at $360 USD and the 60 GB version available for $480 USD.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareNEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 15: A model listens to music on her Ipod backstage at the VPL By Victoria Barlett 2006 fashion show during Olympus Fashion Week September 15, 2005 in New York City.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareEMERYVILLE, CA - FEBRUARY 24: The new iPod Mini is see on display at the Apple Store February 24, 2005 in Emeryville, California. The second generation of the iPod mini was announced February 23 and features a new 4GB model priced at $199 and a new 6GB model priced at $249 with both models featuring increased battery life of up to 18 hours.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareEMERYVILLE, CA - FEBRUARY 24: The new iPod Mini is see on display at the Apple Store February 24, 2005 in Emeryville, California. The second generation of the iPod mini was announced February 23 and features a new 4GB model priced at $199 and a new 6GB model priced at $249 with both models featuring increased battery life of up to 18 hours.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 11: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds a new iPod shuffle MP3 player at the 2005 Macworld Expo January 11, 2005 in San Francisco, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (2nd-R) of Apple Computer poses with Interscope Geffen A&M Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine (L) Bono (2nd-L) and The Edge (R) of U2 at a celebration of the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareSAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (C) of Apple Computer with Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareThis image released by Apple on October 26, 2004 shows the new iPod photo, which, in addition to its music library, can hold up to 25,000 digital photos and display them on a color screen.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareLONDON - JULY 16: A Model displays the new Apple iPod product at the Apple iPod mini press launch on July 16, 2004 in London.
RIP iPod: A Gallery Tribute to Apple’s Game-Changing Device
ShareNEW YORK - JULY 15: Keeno Ahmed listens to her iPod mini digital music player July 15, 2004 in New York City.
