Article
iPod
Overview
The iPod (first released 2001) was a line of portable media players that popularised carrying large libraries of digital music. Its cultural impact extended to design, fashion and the music industry.
Key Points
- Launch: first iPod (2001); became a cultural icon through the 2000s.
- Design: click wheel, compact form and accessory culture (cases, earphones) made it a style object as well as a device.
- Relationship with iTunes: seamless syncing with iTunes made music portability mainstream and underpinned paid download markets.
Writing Tips
- Mentioning an iPod (white earbuds, click wheel, playlists) immediately situates scenes in the 2000s.