Bill Gates Predicted iPod's Decline 20 Years Ago, Said Mobile Phones Would Replace It for Music
Do you remember those days when most of us dreamed of owning an Apple iPod? It changed the whole experience of listening to songs. Walkmans looked too bulky in front of this chic gadget. The original iPod was introduced in October of 2001. It was the first MP3 player that had space to accommodate 1000 songs. It had a 10-hour battery backup.
Apple's iPod revolutionized the music industry more than twenty years ago. Presently, the capability to carry one's entire music library on the go is integrated into every Apple device, ranging from the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac.
It Was Bill Gates Who Had Predicted The Fall Of The iPod
About two decades ago, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates forecasted the decline of the iPod and voiced doubts regarding its lasting dominance, as reported by NBC News. In a 2005 interview with the German newspaper Allgemeine Zeitung, Gates had discussed the success of Apple's device, launched in 2001, stating, "As good as Apple may be, I don't believe the success of the iPod is sustainable in the long run.¡±
"You can make parallels with computers: Apple was very strong in this field before, with its Macintosh and its graphic user interface - like the iPod today - and then lost its position," Mr Gates had added.
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At The Time, Gates Prediction Sounded Impossible But Eventually Apple Discontinued The iPod
At the time, the tech mogul's forecast seemed improbable. While mobile phones of the era were often bulky and lacked the music storage and playback capabilities of specialized MP3 players, the iPod experienced tremendous success, selling millions of units.
"If you were to ask me which mobile device will take top place for listening to music, I'd bet on the mobile phone for sure," Bill Gates told the newspaper.
Indeed, Gates' prediction proved somewhat accurate. Smartphones, with functionalities akin to the iPod but offering additional features such as app support, calling capabilities, and internet access, gradually supplanted dedicated MP3 players. Apple played a pivotal role in this transition, contributing significantly to the rise of smartphones as the preferred portable device.
Apple Launched iPhone In 2007 Which Offered Phone Capabilities And Music Player All-In-One
Significantly, Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, a groundbreaking device that seamlessly integrated phone functionality with an iPod-inspired music player and internet connectivity. This move came despite initial skepticism from Apple regarding the phone industry. The iPhone's remarkable success persists in the market, with Apple's flagship smartphones consistently ranking among the top-selling devices.
