It was 13 years ago today that Steve Jobs stood on the stage and introduced the first iPod.
“With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and listen to it wherever you go,” Apple CEO Jobs said that day in San Francisco.
“With iPod, listening to music will never be the same again,” Jobs said — perhaps not even envisioning what this thick, boxy music player would launch.
Apple shares have enjoyed the ride, with a 7,780 percent rise on a split-adjusted basis.
iPod sales total nearly 300 million units over the last 13 years, in its many configurations, and led to the iPhone and the iPad.
The first iPod had a black-and-white LCD screen and featured a 5GB hard drive capable of storing 1,000 songs for $399.
Apple discontinued the iPod classic last month in favor of the iTouch.