This week Apple announced that is ditching the iPod, one of its most successful products that has revolutionized the way we listen to music.
Apple launched its first iPod Classic in 2001 with a price tag of $ 399, which shocked fans who had grown accustomed to using significantly cheaper portable CD players and Walkmans.
Fast forward nearly 21 years to date and your old iPods could now be worth a staggering sum.
Between the news of his interruption, the lists of iPods turned on Ebay have increased, with many vendors asking huge sums of money for their retro devices.
Speaking with MailOnline, James Andrews, senior editor of personal finance at money.co.ukhe said: “With iPods discontinued, you may be wondering if it’s time to cash in on some of your old technology.
‘The first thing to say is not to get excited about the list prices on ebay. While some models sell for thousands, the vast majority sell for much less.
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t withdraw a reasonable amount. Do a research and check the recent selling prices of models like yours to see what you could get.
‘In general, the best prices go to the iPod Classic models, in excellent condition and with all necessary cables included. If you’re lucky enough to have an unopened 2004 iPod U2 Special Edition in the back of a closet, you could make thousands. ‘
From the original iPod Classic to the brightly colored iPod Mini, here’s what your old Apple gadgets could be worth.
Amid the news of its discontinuation, iPod listings on eBay have soared, with many sellers asking hefty sums of money for their retro devices.
Classic iPod
The first iPod Classic launched in October 2001 and was priced at $ 399, with six more generations on sale through 2008.
If you have a first generation iPod Classic at the bottom of one of your drawers, you might be in for a surprise.
Yesterday, a first generation 5GB iPod Classic sold on eBay for $ 1,599 with an additional $ 114.60 shipping – a 330% increase from the original price!
The younger generations are also popular on eBay, with a seventh-generation iPod Classic selling in April for $ 1,388 and another in February for $ 1,045.
An ambitious seller listed his first-generation iPod Classic on eBay in 2019 for $ 19,995 (£ 15,367), though it’s unclear how much the item actually recovered.
iPod mini
iPod Mini, launched in 2004, was slightly smaller than the iPod Classic and was available in a range of vibrant colors.
At $ 249, it was slightly cheaper than its predecessor, making it a popular choice with Apple fans.
Unfortunately, the iPod Mini still isn’t worth a huge amount, if the items sold on eBay are anything to rely on.
On May 3, a second-generation iPod Mini sold on eBay for $ 324.99, while a first-generation device sold for just $ 290 in March.
iPod Shuffle
Apple released its first screenless iPod in 2005 in the form of the iPod Shuffle, which started at just $ 99.
Like the iPod Mini, it appears that the iPod Shuffle hasn’t increased enormously in value.
A first-generation iPod Shuffle only sold $ 129.99 when it sold on eBay in February, while a second-generation device sold for a modest $ 199.99 in March.
Apple released its first screenless iPod in 2005 in the form of the iPod Shuffle, which started at just $ 99
Ipod nano
The iPod Nano also launched in 2005, priced at $ 149, and was considered a huge modernization over the Shuffle, thanks to its color screen for album covers.
This device has more than doubled its value, according to recent eBay auctions.
In March, the second generation iPod Nano retails for $ 399.99 and $ 382.47.
The iPod Nano was also launched in 2005, priced at $ 149, and was considered a huge modernization over the Shuffle, thanks to its color screen for album covers.
Ipod touch
While many of us take touchscreen devices for granted now, the iPod Touch was revolutionary when it was launched in 2007.
The $ 299 device could browse the web when connected to Wi-Fi and had 8GB of storage for songs, photos, and apps.
If you have an iPod Touch at home, you’ll be happy to know that it looks like its value has skyrocketed.
In March, a fourth-generation iPod Touch sold for a whopping $ 6,524.07 – a whopping 2,081% from the original price – while a sixth-generation device sold for $ 3,470 in April.
If you have an iPod Touch at home, you will be happy to know that its value has skyrocketed
Why is Apple discontinuing iPod production?
An Apple spokesperson said the iPod has redefined the way music is discovered and heard and that its spirit “lives” in other devices.
“Music has always been a part of our core at Apple,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of global marketing.
“Bringing it to hundreds of millions of users the way iPod has impacted not only the music industry – it has also redefined the way music is discovered, listened to and shared.
‘Today, the spirit of the iPod survives. We’ve integrated an incredible music experience into all of our products, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to the HomePod mini, and on Mac, iPad and Apple TV.
“And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound quality with support for spatial audio – there’s no better way to enjoy, discover and experience music.”
THE BILLION DOLLAR INCREASE OF THE APPLE
The company’s journey to the top of the tech industry has been difficult, having seen Jobs (pictured right in 1976) leave the company in the mid-1980s after his favorite project, the first Macintosh computer, had fought and tried to oust him. chief executive officer John Sculley. Wozniak is pictured on the left
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1, 1976 as they began selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
1981: Jobs became president.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during a commercial break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled at a launch event. It was stopped a year later and the work left the company.
1987: Apple has released the Macintosh II, the first color Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $ 400 million deal that includes Jobs’ return to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took over the role in 2000.
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, during an event in Cupertino and was capable of holding up to 1,000 songs.
Steve Jobs introduces Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh on February 6, 1984 in California.
The then CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone
2007: Apple introduces the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was presented.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the title of CEO to Tim Cook. Job died in October of pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones: the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After buying Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.
2016: Apple has returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the company is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency asking for access to the blocked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shooting after carrying out a deadly attack in December in San Bernardino. , California, with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the Home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with only the owner’s face.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was triggered by a strong letter from shareholders urging the company to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among children and teens.
2019: In January, Apple records its first decline in revenue and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed the sharp decline in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its brick and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to the coronavirus.