Tony Fadell, the creator of the iPod music device, said the time has come for Apple to relaunch the device that forever changed the giant of technology and the world of music.
Fadell added in a podcast episode with tech journalist Eric Newcomer: "I think there are smarter ways to make (EarPods) AirPods that contain an iPod inside. So, I think they need to bring back the iPod."
Fadell, widely known as the "father of the iPod," pointed out that there are two reasons to bring back the device associated with his legacy, according to a report by "Business Insider" that "Al Arabiya Business" reviewed.
The first reason is to take advantage of the growing nostalgia for the music device, whose era ended in 2019 with the release of the redesigned seventh generation "iPod Touch".
The original iPod, which held only 1000 songs, shared many features with the Nano and Shuffle series more than the Touch device, which is similar - with its touchscreen - to the iPhone. Apple stopped producing the Nano and Shuffle in 2017.
Fadell said: "So, from a nostalgic perspective, the iPod is for all those people who say, 'Oh, I remember the iPod,' but they no longer want the distractions."
The second reason is that the modern iPod would also benefit from a segment of music listeners who want a "pure" listening experience, where they listen to music without the additions associated with listening via smartphones. Ultimately, the popularity of simple phones is increasing as people seek to simplify their relationship with technology.
Online, there are still active communities seeking to modify old iPod devices to suit modern needs, including a subreddit on the platform "Reddit" dedicated entirely to this purpose.
When asked about the design of the new iPod, Fadell said he would not reveal all his ideas.
Fadell's name has been mentioned in some circles as a possible successor to CEO Tim Cook, who has been speculated about retiring. Reports widely indicate that John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, is the leading candidate to succeed Cook.
Fadell said: "Apple will make the right decision when the time comes about who will be the next CEO. I love the company. It's been in my blood since 1980 or 1981, when I owned my first Apple II. If anyone from the board, or Tim calls, whatever, I’ll be happy to answer the phone and that's all," adding: "I’ll help them in any way they think would be beneficial to them."
Fadell also pointed out how Sony recently announced its first new record players in years, seeking to benefit from the increasing numbers of vinyl record listeners.
