Is Apple Phasing Out The iPod Brand?

It's been more than a decade since the iPod was first launched. The device was drove huge growth at the company, and was pretty much what made the iPhone and iPad possible. 

The irony here is that these smarter mobile phones has made listening to music a minor a function of your phone, meaning a separate device like the iPod has become pretty much obsolete.

A look through Apple's new upcoming iOS 5 software for iPhones appears to have one notable subtraction: The music app is no longer called "iPod" — it's just called "Music." There's also a separate app for "Video," as on the iPad and iPod touch.

One theory is that Apple is trying to unify the experience across all of its iOS devices, making it simpler and less confusing.  But it's also an indication that Apple is starting the inevitable wind-down of the iPod brand. 

This fact might seem bittersweet to some, but Apple Inc. has always thrived on developing new things, so phasing out the iPod is just another way for the company to move forward.