The iPod classic was quietly discontinued last month, as Apple focused its efforts on more modern ventures like the new iPhone 6 models.
Though its demise wasn't exactly a surprise, the iPod classic was a once-groundbreaking music-listening device. Its discontinuation stamped the end of an era. Now we know exactly why the decision was made, and the reason (it turns out) is not all that exciting.
"We couldn't get the parts anymore, not anywhere on Earth," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview at the WSJ.D conference on Monday. "It wasn't a matter of me swinging the ax, saying 'What can I kill today?'"
"The engineering work was massive, and the number of people who wanted it very small," Cook added. "I felt there were reasonable alternatives."
Though Cook, who doesn't usually give extensive interviews, talked about more modern developments for the company (like Apple Pay and an Alibaba partnership), the iPod classic news dominated the conversation this morning. It's unclear what iPod parts Apple could no longer get its hands on, though Cook's comments about low demand for the product seem telling.
Cook revealed the information after an audience member lamented the fact that he could no longer buy a 160GB iPod classic. You're certainly not alone, audience man: It appears people are willing to shell out a little extra money to get their hands on the now-outdated devices. Unused iPod classics are going for more than $500 on Amazon.
For those of us without a spare $500, we can do nothing but mourn.
to all of my fellow ipod classic owners: pic.twitter.com/h47xRpOLFA
— alex (@QueenaFey) October 28, 2014
[wp_scm_comment]