Apple’s iPod Celebrates its 15th Birthday

On October 23, 2001, Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPod, a revolutionary portable music player that forever changed the way people buy and listen to music.

Apple Computer Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs gestures as he introduces the new iPod during Apple's launch of their new online "Music Store" in San Francisco, Monday, April 28, 2003. (AP Photo)

Apple Computer Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs gestures as he introduces the new iPod during Apple’s launch of their new online “Music Store” in San Francisco, Monday, April 28, 2003. (AP Photo)

The first generation mp3 player featured a 5GB hard drive, a FireWire syncing port, and a physically-rotating scroll wheel. The original iPod could store up to 1,000 songs, an incredible amount of music for its time.

The second generation iPod introduced touch control and added support for Windows devices.

Now, there are three versions of the modern-day iPod: a compact iPod Shuffle, a minuscule iPod Nano, and the top-of-the-line iPod touch.

By June of 2003, Apple had sold its millionth iPod, and by the end of the next year the Cupertino tech giant had sold 10 million. At the end of 2005 Apple had sold more than 42 million units, and at the end of 2010, iPod sales pushed 275 million units.

In January of last year, the company announced it would stop reporting iPod sales in favor of the iPhone, which was largely influenced by the iPod’s design.

Apple’s music software iTunes is still going strong, and with a new focus behind Apple Music, the platform has become one of the company’s primary business offerings.

Here’s to 15 years of the iPod, and 15 more years for Apple.

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