Come, pull up your chairs.
The first version of the equipment was released on October 23, 2001 a full 17 years ago.
That means if the iPod was born in the UK, it could now drive.
This will also include a whole section about minidiscs, so strap yourself in.
Alright so what do you mean by gadget?
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Yep, but what kinda iPod are we talking about here?
Basically, Im talking about the old click-wheel classic.
Basically, if it has a clickwheel and a screen, it counts.
So whys the iPod the greatest gadget ever?
Instead, Im looking at the impact the iPod had on me.
Were going back in time, arent we?
In that slot I had a whopping 64MB of storage.
In other words, it held just over an albums worth a music.
For a while, this was enough.
I could happily headbang while walking the dog.
Then, disaster struck.
I got a Saturday job.
On one hand, it was the worst job I ever had.
But there was one positive to this totally-illegal-labor-for-a-thirteen-year-old: I got to listen to music all day.
The only problem was that aforementioned single 64MB SD card.
Listening to the same album eight times a day can really take a toll on a person.
And that better option?
Nope, not the iPod.
Yes, Minidiscs the most rock and roll format of all time.
Why, Callum, why?
Constantly adding and removing albums was also a hassle.
Minidiscs also had a recording mode called LP4.
Basically, this let you fit 320 minutes of (low quality) music on an 80 minute disc.
This, to my young teenage mind, made them perfect.
I became a minidisc maverick.
I had a minidisc for that.
Right over here on this minidisc.
Guess what it was on minidisc.
I had dozens of these things nestled amongst crusty socks and other smelly detritus that littered my bedroom floor.
The moment has stuck with me.
I was on holiday with my family in glorified caravan and not much to do.
Remember those pre-WiFi days where your only entertainment was what you had with you?
It was the first time I used my sisters iPod.
Listening to a specific song wasnt easy.
Hell, for a while I genuinely kept a notebook of what songs were on what minidisc.
I was not a cool child.
Using that iPod was something else though.
It was a revelation.
And… you got one?
It was the next step of my love affair with the unit.
My first was an iPod Photo:
And the second (and final) was a 160GB iPod Classic.
So you grew up with iPods?
Wherever I was, my music was with me.
At work, on holiday, out with friends everywhere.
The iPod was a constant.
It soundtracked my life.
And the design?
It still looks sleek today.
Its easy to forget how easy iTunes made music management too.
On iTunes, it just synced.
All so my iPod would encapsulate my feelings about music.
That was where proper listening was done.
It was a precious, solitary time.
You could explore music and spend time picking the perfect album for your mood.
And what the iPod did was allow you to take that experience everywhere.
That might not sound too revolutionary, but consider other art forms.
No matter how good screens are, nothing beats reallyseeinga painting in a gallery.
The iPod changed the way we interacted with art.
But what about streaming music?
Surely thats better than an iPod?
Look, streamings great.
Its normalized having the ultimate listening choice, but the music library model is still better.
The iPod was the ultimate curation tool.
As brilliant as Spotify and other streaming services are, they dont change to reflect your music taste.
Yes, you have playlists, but when you bring up the platform, what do you see?
Generally, a selection of music and recommendations chosen by someone else.
An iPod only changed as you willed it to.
If you put a new album on there it appeared.
If you left it alone, it stayed the same.
It wasnt just a tool to listen to music with, it wasyourtool.
Thats why the iPod is the greatest gadget of all time.
And if you dont agree?
Well, friend, it looks like you and I might have to step outside.
