Audion, R.I.P.

Panic Software, makers of Audion, has officially ceased development of the once-popular MP3 player/encoder. The application is now being offered as a free download, after a difficult decision to retire from the struggle to compete with Apple’s iTunes:

“Put simply, it all boils down to an inability to compete fairly with iTunes, which is free and, you know, pretty good.”
  — Panic co-founder Cabel Sasser

In the wake of its retirement, Panic has published a history of the Audion player’s colorful past, ‘True Story of Audion.’ Personally, I’m holding out for the VH1 Behind the Scenes special.