Apple's iPod production has ended, closing the chapter on a true 2000s icon. As longtime tech enthusiasts, we've all cherished these 7 everyday gadgets from that era—devices that shaped our lives before smartphones swept them away.
Remember the thrill of the portable music revolution? MP3 players liberated us from bulky Discmans and endless CD swaps, transforming how we enjoyed music on the go.
Even though the iPod launched in 2001, its high price kept many turning to affordable digital players. We'd simply load them with compressed tracks from our personal collections ripped on home computers.
Today, smartphones and advanced iPod iterations have consigned standalone MP3 players to history.
This legendary Nokia phone exploded in popularity upon release, captivating users with its colorful designs, rounded shape, and addictive built-in games.
Nokia sold approximately 126 million units before discontinuing it.
It boasted 35 ringtones—a huge leap at the time—plus four games (Snake II, Pairs II, Space Impact, and Bantumi). It even supported longer text messages than earlier models.
Above all, the 3310 was virtually indestructible, defying planned obsolescence; it survived drops and abuse that would shatter modern devices. Nokia revived it in 2017, but nothing matches the original 2000s magic.
The PS2 launch caused unprecedented frenzy, becoming the best-selling console ever with 150 million units sold worldwide by 2011.
Released in 2000 as the PlayStation successor, it pioneered built-in DVD playback.
Tech upgrades included superior graphics, the DualShock 2 controller with analog sticks, two front USB ports, and a sleek, futuristic design.
Cult classics like GTA, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, Silent Hill 2, God of War 1 and 2, and Shadow of the Colossus defined gaming.
Production ceased in 2012.
For 2000s tech fans, the webcam was indispensable—a compact, eye-shaped camera plugged into your PC for video chats, home recordings, and live calls.
Grainy and cumbersome by today's standards, it enabled feats now handled by built-in laptop and smartphone cameras, rendering standalone webcams obsolete.
Also read: 10 items we all had when we were young and are now worth a fortune
If you grew up in the 2000s, Pogs were unavoidable. These collectible cardboard discs featuring characters and artwork flooded playgrounds from the late '90s into the early 2000s.
Sold alongside Pokémon cards and Panini stickers at local shops, over 300 million were sold in France alone—a massive but fleeting hit.
Unlike enduring rivals, Pogs lost appeal without reinvention. A 2020 revival fizzled, though NFTs offer faint hope for collectors.
BlackBerrys dominated the early 2000s corporate world with their signature physical QWERTY keyboards, enabling lightning-fast typing over numeric keypads.
The killer feature? BlackBerry Messenger (BBM)—free, exclusive group chats that predated modern apps, bypassing SMS fees.
The iPhone's touchscreen revolution ended BlackBerry's reign. Despite efforts to adapt, production halted in 2016.
Before smartphone apps like Google Maps or Waze, drivers relied on fold-out maps—or suction-cup GPS devices like TomTom, mounted on windshields for turn-by-turn navigation.
These provided real-time mapping, but integrated phone GPS killed the market for dedicated units.
