The original Apple iPod, and all its cousins such as the iPod Nano, the Mini and the Shuffle took the revolution started by Napster and launched it into the stratosphere.
Where Napster gave people the option of what specific music and songs they wanted to listen to, the iPod gives music lovers the choice of where and when they can enjoy their favorite songs.
In addition to choice, convenience and spawning off a slew of generic and knockoff MP3 players, the iPod and its capabilities have also opened up music to places and experiences where it has never gone before.
If you recall, back in the days of the mix tape, you only had so much room on you to keep the tapes you wanted with your walkman and headphones.
And, on those tapes, you only had so much room for so many songs.
The limitations and cumbersome nature of the walkman made it difficult to for your favorite songs to be truly accessible at all times.
Today, with digital music files, iTunes, and, of course, the iPod, your music goes with you everywhere at all times.
Before, you may only bring your music with you for extended periods of time, such as a long walk or bus trip.
The thinking behind that would be, since you had the time available, you could use some of it fumbling around looking for that tape, and then fast-forwarding or rewinding to locate that song.
With the Apple iPod, or the Apple iPod Nano, thousands of songs can come with you for a quick jog, short bus ride or even a jaunt to the grocery store.
While these locations and situations have never shunned the inclusion of music, they simply weren't very compatible with music in its previous states of storage and transport.
Today, it seems that everyone is listening to their iPods - literally - wherever they go.
Because music accompanies us wherever we are (check out any mall, grocery store, sporting event or the next time you're on hold), we may be oblivious to the control the iPod gives people.
As much as the Beatles are revered, if one more crummy, instrumental, muzak version of "Yesterday" is recorded, there may be a public meltdown.
Unfortunately, you can't do to your local shopping center DJ and request a sad song because you're feeling blue.
You can, though, download the most melancholy of tunes on your portable iPod and wander through the mall, with your own soundtrack keeping you company.
If you had your choice to listening to your favorite singer versus the artist you despise the most, what would you choose? The iPod simply offers more choice in terms of music and locale.
The Apple iPod is a culture-changing product, not by making music more mobile, but by making our music and your music more portable.
Everybody wants to have a choice and an option, and the iPod, Nano or other form of MP3 player delivers just that.
Why again can't we listen to "Master of Puppets" while running over to the store to pick up some milk? That's right - because people can listen to their favorite music at all times now, and at all places too.
Exercising, running, walking, riding, waiting and just about any other activity you can add an "ing" suffix too, people are doing so with their iPods and songs firmly in hand.