The iPod range

G iven the recent demise of the iPod shuffle and nano, it only seems right to kick off this nostalgia trip with the iPod family.

The product that redefined the mobile music market, the iPod helped kill off portable CD players and costly, ugly flash players. It was Apple’s first big hit outside of its desktop division, and paved the way for the iPhone.

Later additions like the iPod nano and shuffle built on that success, and were cheaper options that solidified Apple’s portable music dominance.

So what happened? Simply put, the iPhone happened. The iPod was ultimately cannibalised by another Cupertino hit. The iPhone blended the functions of a phone and a music player (plus much more) – why carry an iPod and a phone with you when you can have one device that replaces both?

It revolutionised digital music, but couldn’t hold on to the crown. We still miss its clever scroll wheel.