POD OFF

So it would appear that the days of the iPod are now numbered. The white heat of new technology seems to burn out oh-so-swiftly nowadays and what was once an essential, "must-have" purchase is flung onto the scrapheap almost as soon as its guarantee has run out.

Apparently, we, the great purchasing masses don't want them any more and, having revolutionised the way that music is listened to, bought and sold, we've all now moved on and want all of our many devices all packed away into one device and run the risk of our entire lives falling apart when all of those iEggs in that one iBasket suddenly vanish due to the wicked doings of the iThieves...

It seems to me to be a bit of a shame…  but still, if that's what you want, oh wise world, who am I to argue...?

If a single use device seems redundant when you can do everything you wish to do in life through your one tiny screen, far be it for those who think otherwise to suggest that having a choice might be the better option, just because there might be times when a single use device might actually be more convenient.

Like, for example (although I don't indulge in such insanities myself), when training or going for a run. I've seen those eager young things trying to stave off the inevitability of decay by running up and down the streets, and they appear to have their tiny and feather-light musical devices strapped about their slightly-covered persons in a most convenient manner in such a way as to suggest that strapping a great big phone to their arm might not work quite so well.

And if that dobbing great slab of technology was to fall out, there's that whole "life falls apart" scenario to consider which might instantly slice off all of those theoretical years you've just added to it.

Just because a minority will never want an iPhone doesn't mean that they might not want the other shiny goodies that you sell, Mr Apple…

My Beloved still carries around her steam-age Nokia teffalone and is extraordinarily happy with it but, because she likes to listen to audiobooks on the commuter run, she bought the one version of the iPod which history now seems to try and imply never even existed, or at least seems to get missed out when you read those articles about the history of this ground-breaking device.

I'm not completely convinced that it is the one design variant that they seem kind of ashamed to admit to ever having produced but, when we were trying to find an accessory for it a few weeks ago, it was proving pretty difficult to trace.

You might not remember the iPod Shuffle circa 2009... The one with no buttons, no screen and looks a a bit like a paperclip, because, in the Great Big Constantly Generalised TwitWorld in which we live, "nobody" liked it and, more importantly "nobody" bought it.

Well, apart from idiots like us, of course.

The Beloved still appreciates its tiny magnificence (a feature of her personality for which I am eternally grateful), and uses her little iPod device nearly every single day (as long as we remember to recharge it), so there is still a market out there, Mr Apple, if only you'd take the time to listen to them instead of the giddy young things that you usually respond to...