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This miniaturization required meticulous engineering to ensure power efficiency, heat dissipation, and user portability. The iPod's success was not immediate—it gained momentum gradually, with sales increasing significantly around 2005, peaking near 2008-2009, and then declining as newer technologies emerged.
Model Evolution and the Demise of the Classic iPod
Throughout its lifespan, the iPod evolved through various models: the original classic, third and fourth generations, the Shuffle, and later, the Touch, culminating in the discontinuation of the classic model in 2014. By 2021, only the iPod Touch 7th Generation remained in production, underscoring how technological obsolescence and consolidation rendered earlier models redundant.