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T3 Names iPod the Biggest Product in Its 30‑Year History

Creating paid digital music, the iPod steered Apple toward mobile products

Overview

  • T3 published its 30th‑anniversary awards on Thursday, July 9, 2026, expanding the slate to 84 categories and adding three one‑off awards for the milestone year.
  • Editors crowned the Apple iPod as Biggest Product in T3’s Lifetime and said it launched iTunes, normalised paid digital music, and laid the groundwork for Apple’s move into mobile devices.
  • The magazine named Tim Cook Person of the Year and Sir Tim Berners‑Lee British Icon, using special anniversary categories to honour influential figures in tech.
  • Contemporary winners included the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 as Product of the Year, Garmin as Brand of the Year, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra as Readers’ Choice, highlighting sport, lifestyle and smartphone trends.
  • By mixing retrospective and current awards, T3 signalled that modern tech success is shaped by ecosystems, athletic performance and sustainability as much as by hardware specifications.