Apple once again captivated the world with their recent 2014 keynote address. During the conference, Apple debuted their newest device, the Apple Watch (dubbed the iWatch by the press). But after the world's largest tech company revealed the price, release date, technical specs, and all the other details about their newest product, one of their mainstays disappeared without even a nod. The iPod Classic was removed from the company's official website, and as music fans mourn the loss, others have suggested that Spotify may help fill the void.
Just a few weeks ago, it would seem unthinkable that Apple would discontinue their hallmark MP3 player, which single-handedly revolutionized the world of portable music.
But, that's exactly what happened last week, shocking music fans and tech junkies alike. Social media reacted quickly, highlighting an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for the device that was launched just days after 9/11.
Those sentiments have been reiterated by major media outlets as well, including Wired. Mat Honan even offered up a few dire predictions about what this could mean to the music-loving community:
"In all likelihood we're not just seeing the death of the iPod Classic, but the death of the dedicated portable music player. Now it's all phones and apps. Everything is a camera. The single-use device is gone-and with it, the very notion of cool that it once carried. The iPhone is about as subversive as a bag of potato chips, and music doesn't define anyone anymore."
Mat wasn't the only writer to express remorse over the demise of iPod Classic. Nick Statt, of the highly revered CNET, was also a little distraught at saying goodbye to the portable music player that meant so much to him.
He did, however, offer us up some hope. Though it will never replace the device (and it couldn't, it's not even a device), Spotify can provide some comfort to us in our time of need:
"Never an addict of Internet radio, I opted for Spotify last year, mostly for its resemblance to an online catalog I could pull from to curate playlists. I learned, in an instant, that it would forever change music for me. Spotify, as the iPod once was, is one of those products you can't quite wrap your head around till you go all in."
What do you think about the latest developments? Are you sad to see the iPod go? Is the device even needed these days?
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