I remember my first iPod, one of the second generation models, I think. I still have it on the bookshelf just behind me. And the later model which replaced it. Jane gifted me the first one for my birthday shortly after we'd arrived in Canberra. I remember it being a technological godsend because I was doing a ton of childminding at that point and the ability to have a bit of music going as we put yet another hour into the swing set at the local park probably stopped me from going mad.
It undoubtedly stopped me from being completely in the moment too.
This thought has been bubbling along at the back of my mind over the last week as I kept coming across valedictory pieces about Apple finally shutting down the iPod Touch production line.
The pod wasn't the product that saved 1990s near-death Apple; that was those jellybean looking iMacs. But the iPod, which gave birth to the iPhone, was the reason Apple eventually became the world's largest company instead of just an also-ran computer shop.
I loved my little Pod, but looking back now I can see the reason I loved it was that it let me check out of the world when I didn't want to be there anymore. I wonder if it was a harbinger in that way, a small omen on the way to where we are now, all of us living in our bubbles and silos, more often than not trying to shut out reality rather than deal with it.
I bought the special edition U2 iPod; it was black with a red click wheel. I loved that thing, I still have it somewhere. It was a godsend when I was studying part time, I would load up my lectures and listen to them in the car to and from work. Definitely a harbinger for my podcast addiction, now that I think about it 😂
No doubt it was a harbinger, but the early iPods were a long way short of the tech level needed to pull off the iPhone. The silicon just wasn't up to it at that stage. Still cool devices. I was given one of the ones that looked like a squashed mahjong tile as a work award once. Beautiful hardware that was a joy to use, but which I had no actual use for. (4MB of flash for a couple of hundred songs? Short even then.)
it's a constant battle with my teenagers and headphones and things that plug in. Although the confiscation of said items works wonders as a bargaining chip to get things done like room cleaning and other chores.
I bought the special edition U2 iPod; it was black with a red click wheel. I loved that thing, I still have it somewhere. It was a godsend when I was studying part time, I would load up my lectures and listen to them in the car to and from work. Definitely a harbinger for my podcast addiction, now that I think about it 😂
I blame books. They let me hide from reality long before iThings, drugs and all the fun adult stuff. You write books. Ergo, it is all your fault.
Gee, that's a bit dark.
No doubt it was a harbinger, but the early iPods were a long way short of the tech level needed to pull off the iPhone. The silicon just wasn't up to it at that stage. Still cool devices. I was given one of the ones that looked like a squashed mahjong tile as a work award once. Beautiful hardware that was a joy to use, but which I had no actual use for. (4MB of flash for a couple of hundred songs? Short even then.)
Plus they looked cool , another byproduct of Jobs genius. Seemed like such a massive tech jump from the Walkman.
Because it was!
Yes indeedy ! Sadly it still seems like really cool new tech to me. I had to call my daughter to help me set up my new tv .
it's a constant battle with my teenagers and headphones and things that plug in. Although the confiscation of said items works wonders as a bargaining chip to get things done like room cleaning and other chores.
Not nearly as effective as changing the wifi passwords...