small object, Large Subject-iPod

Americans have always appreciated listening to music at any time of day. However, only recently has the portable music player become a reality. This technology was revolutionized by Apple’s iPod. In a matter of years, the signature white iPod headphones have been injected into nearly everyone’s ears. The iPod is about instant satisfaction, one can listen to music essentially anywhere at any time. The iPod also offers unprecedented personalization. Users can created their own playlists and buy an entire album or a single song online. As a result of its portability, and customizations the iPod has become a cultural icon.
Over ten years ago, the word “iPod” did not exist, yet today many Americans do not leave the house without one. It is hard to go out in public without seeing someone listening to music or watching a video on their iPod. Joggers strap their iPod to themselves as they take their morning exercise. During the daily commute people will have their “Monday Morning” playlist blaring in their car as they are stuck in traffic. On trains it is nearly impossible to look down the aisle without seeing someone stare dumbly at nothing as they sit with their headphones on. The iPod’s success is that it offers instant entertainment at any moment in our daily lives. It also creates a social wall where people can retreat even in public.
Another striking feature about the iPod is the number of different models. The iPod touch for example, is one of the more ‘advanced models’ that uses programs called “apps”. As Apple boasts, there is an “App, for just about everything”. Some of them are useful such as maps for the NYC subway, while others are trivial and to some absolutely useless. In the end, the “apps” are just another distraction in a time when many Americans need to feel ‘connected’ at all times. New “generations” of iPods are also constantly made. The newest iPods have more memory than the last, which means more songs and further customization.
The iPod reflects the notion that Americans desire products that are highly personalized. No two iPod’s are exactly alike since everyone’s taste in music is different. The fact that many people do not leave home without their iPod demonstrates that as a nation, Americans want to be constantly entertained. However, this constant need to be attached creates its own set of disadvantages. When listening to their iPod many people become distracted, making everyday actions like crossing the street or driving a car even more dangerous. The iPod allows people to be detached from society even when operating in public, which reflects the idea the Americans want an escape from their everyday lives. The iPod has only existed for a short amount of time, but now it’s impossible to think of life without it.