Media players are dead: After cameras, smartphones claim another victim?

Roughly 5-6 years ago, we saw a shift in the pattern when it came to choosing phone over camera. Their sheer convenience, affordability and easy access, turned everyone into a photographer. In fact, one of the selling points of a good smartphone is cameras, even today, and that was one aspect everyone was looking at.

It ensured all you precious moments can be captures anywhere, anywhere. Today, many smartphones offer advanced features seen in DSLRs, manual mode to tweak ISO, shutter speed and so on. No, they still can't replace an expensive DSLR, but how many can really afford them?

Another aspect that led to the downfall of cameras is the elevation of social media. Yes, you soon began clicking photos to share rather than cherish. In fact, some cameras also ensured you could do that, but phones had already become an inseparable part of your lives, and so what’s the point carrying two devices.

A similar shifting pattern began with music players. Remember, the Walkman brand of Sony Ericsson phones that was clearly aimed at music enthusiasts. Soon, your phone turned into your  How many really bother buying a portable media player, instead they invest in a portable power bank, isn't it?

So, the smartphone has claimed yet another victim - one of the few remaining and Apple's once-popular music players - iPod Nano and Shuffle. The Nano and Shuffle were introduced in 2005, two years before the introduction of the iPhone. Today, iPhone can handle it all, making them almost redundant.

Apple had stopped updating the Nano in 2012 and Shuffle in 2010. So, one more category bites the dust. All hail smartphones!

• Smartphones
• Music players
• Cameras
• Photography
• media players