Apple kills iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle as music moves to phones

The iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle have played their final notes for Apple.

The company discontinued sales of the two music players Thursday in a move reflecting the waning popularity of the devices in an era when most people store or stream their tunes on smartphones.

The iPod product line still remains alive. Apple plans to continue selling its internet-connected iPod Touch.

Apple’s iPhone, released a decade ago, played an instrumental role in the demise of the digital music players that the company popularised with the 2001 debut of the iPod.

The Nano and Shuffle came out in 2005 as less expensive and smaller alternatives to the standard iPod.

Apple has long predicted iPods would gradually fade away as more people bought iPhones or other smartphones capable of playing music.