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It’s Time For Apple To Resurrect the iPod Classic
Spatial audio, lossless audio, and the needed return of an audio icon
There are moments when pop culture and tech have an intersection. Where a company unveils a product that becomes such an iconic part of the mainstream consciousness that it is immortalized. This is the case with the iPod, but more specifically the iPod Classic. The iPod Classic was more than an MP3 player. It was the device that became symbolic of the move away from buying CDs. It was the great generational shift that was the poster child for the era of music that preceded the modern streaming era. But once that streaming era arrived, the appeal of the iPod started to vanish.
This is because streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music required a data connection to function. And as the dependency on smartphones to be the do-it-all device has increased, the viability of a dedicated music player has waned. But something interesting has happened. Apple and other companies with streaming audio services have started to focus on audio quality with the introduction of lossless audio and HiFi streaming options. This presents a bit of a problem with the way that phones are designed in 2021. To be able to fully capitalize on these richer audio options, a wired connection with capable headphones is a must. And the smartphone for all of its glory has for the most part removed the headphone jack. Could this be the perfect storm for the revival of digital music’s most iconic device?
Apple’s Hardware Removal on the iPhone
When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone back in 2007, he positioned it as three devices in one: an iPod, an internet communicator, and a phone. Even back then Apple was positioning for the consolidation that the iPhone and other smartphones would come to represent in the coming years. But as the iPhone evolved and became more ubiquitous, Apple started to think about ensuring that its cash cow product continued to drive revenue for the company.
The solution to this was the introduction of Apple AirPods in 2016. These wireless headphones were announced alongside the iPhone 7…
