IPod phenomenon

It's also a testament to the way iPod has become so much more than an mp3 player. It is a phenomenon. It's not just a category leader: it is a category by itself, spawning the term 'podcast'. It's a lifestyle - with myriad accessories and customisations. It has co-branded with top music acts, luxury cars and even Harry Potter.

And now it is edging its way into our bathrooms. The Bath Tissue Holder stereo dock for iPod is made by Atech Flash Technology. It features 'moisture-resistant speakers' - giving singing in the shower a whole new dimension.

A new lifestyle

Nearly fifty million iPods have been sold since it first arrived at the end of 2003. Twenty-two million were sold throughout 2005 alone, twenty-two million have already been sold in just the first six months of 2006.

Despite the fact that bang-for-buck it's far from the cheapest, smallest, or most feature rich music player around, it remains the must-have, prestige choice. And forget about imitation iPods. While a fake Chanel handbag is cooler than the real thing - a nose-thumb to extortionately overpriced, ephemeral style products - a fake iPod is unthinkably embarrassing.

Other mp3 players also have plenty of accessories available. But it's only really the iPod accessories extend the core experience. They are styled to iPod, they match, they fit. They look like an Apple product, even though they're manufactured by third parties.

Marketing masterpiece

IPod marketing has been masterful. Special edition models have been promoted as collectibles, like Swatch watches. Apple's engraving service has established it as an ideal birthday or graduation gift. It's also strongly marketed to the corporate sector, as logo-engraved gifts. Porsche Middle East recently gave out Porsche-engraved iPod shuffles to journalists at a press event.

The iPod is not just enhancing but changing people's lives. Apple Middle East claims it's encouraging users to switch from Windows-based PCs to Apple computers. People that were once tech-phobic have learnt how to find, download and install music. Others have added podcasts and videocasts to their daily media diets. DJs are starting to forsake vinyl and CDs for iPod-compatible mixing desks.

Gazing into the ifuture

The most intriguing aspect of the iPod is where will it go next? Wikipedia charts the iPod timeline, showing how the family of products has evolved from iPods to iPod minis to iPod shuffles and iPod nanos, with colour screens and photo and video capability.

Long-time Apple fans will remember the ill-fated Newton MessagePad, a form of PDA. It was a device light-years ahead of its time (1993-1998). The Newton featured colour screens, handwriting recognition, flash memory, lengthy battery life (with nickel cells - not even lithium-ion), wireless connectivity, fax, email and internet - features still being added to smartphones and PDAs today.

So the billion dollar question is will the iPod eventually evolve into a next-generation Newton? Apple doesn't currently produce a PDA, mobile phone or smart phone, and it's a greatly lamented gap. Rumour sites talks of a next generation video iPod with a 16:10 widescreen display, wireless access and embedded Safari web browser. A 'none touch' iPod has also been mentioned, but no one is quite sure what this means. Possibly an audio-based interface, outlined in a patent Apple filed in 2004.

The icompetition

Despite its stranglehold on the music player sector, Apple's rivals are not giving up. A rival device is being planned by Microsoft in partnership with Amazon. Creative continues to churn out high-specced, stylish devices. Other electronics manufacturers offer teeny weeny micro devices. Gimmick players about in pens and watches, and there's even a Swiss Army Knife mp3 player.

So while the iPod has cemented itself fairly firmly as the number one, it would be nice to see Steve Jobs pull a fairly exciting irabbit out of his very mysterious hat.