iPod Apple Strategy about the iPod

[Old geek 959]

Another WWDC and Apple refuses to mention anything about their iPod line. Its like they completely ignored it.
The problem is that Apple consider the iPod a declining business where at the same time they can't just stop making it. So in my opinion Apple is going to do the same thing they did with the beloved Classic, They will silently stop making one after one. And by ignoring any updates to their iPod line (the last one was in 2012 for gods sake) They force the customers to stay away from the iPod to another product.
I think by the end of 2015 Apple will keep only one iPod: The shuffle or the Nano. A silent cancellation of the touch is most likely.
Apple understand that there are still a slice of their customers who like iPod's and still using it but what they are going to do to please those is completely unknown as I mentioned most likely one iPod will survive a brand new nano with new design and software or a brand new shuffle with 8G of storage.
Personally I wish the Classic is the one they will keep but its just sad they killed it.

 

[12vElectronics]

The first response to your thread started at 1:50 pm PST comes at 5:04 pm PST. Nearly 5 hours later to get a response. Check the iPhone section. The Mac section. The iPad section. They're getting responses every second. People just aren't interested in iPod and Apple see's that. Why invest in a dead product?

I'm sure they'll keep selling iPods. Why not.. it's money. It just won't get the updates and attention from Apple. They have a hard time meeting demand on iPhone as it is, why send resources towards the iPod.

 

[sracer]

The first response to your thread started at 1:50 pm PST comes at 5:04 pm PST. Nearly 5 hours later to get a response. Check the iPhone section. The Mac section. The iPad section. They're getting responses every second. People just aren't interested in iPod and Apple see's that. Why invest in a dead product?

I'm sure they'll keep selling iPods. Why not.. it's money. It just won't get the updates and attention from Apple. They have a hard time meeting demand on iPhone as it is, why send resources towards the iPod.

...but in a very real sense it is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Apple slows the upgrade cycle = fewer reasons to buy/upgrade = use lower sales to justify further slowing of upgrades... And down it spirals.

I think it was part of Apple's plan to wind things down.

 

[12vElectronics]

...but in a very real sense it is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Apple slows the upgrade cycle = fewer reasons to buy/upgrade = use lower sales to justify further slowing of upgrades... And down it spirals.

I think it was part of Apple's plan to wind things down.

Good point.

With such a high demand in iPhone and other Mac products, energy and resources etc need to go to what's selling. Don't blame em.

 

[LucasLand]

apple will be making a huge mistake by getting rid of iPods. they need products that don't require monthly fees, contracts or even an internet connections.

 

[sracer]

apple will be making a huge mistake by getting rid of iPods. they need products that don't require monthly fees, contracts or even an internet connections.

It's not a huge mistake. They don't need those kind of products. The target market for iPod Touches will also own a cellphone. Apple would rather have people buy an iPhone than to buy an iPod Touch and a dumb phone (which Apple doesn't sell).

 

[SusanK]

It's not a huge mistake. They don't need those kind of products. The target market for iPod Touches will also own a cellphone. Apple would rather have people buy an iPhone than to buy an iPod Touch and a dumb phone (which Apple doesn't sell).

I agree. Apple want to force iPhone sales. Some people just don't want iPhone. I'm one of them. iPod users are no longer important to Apple.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

I agree. Apple want to force iPhone sales. Some people just don't want iPhone. I'm one of them. iPod users are no longer important to Apple.

Sales figures speak for themselves. Very few people still want to purchase a brand new top of the line iPod.

 

[SusanK]

Sales figures speak for themselves. Very few people still want to purchase a brand new top of the line iPod.

Sorry, I posted to the wrong forum. This should have been in the iPod Touch forum. My apologies.

No updated iPod Touch in a few years either. Seems Cook want to kill the iPod line.

 

[nutmac]

It seems rather clear that whether we like it or not, especially after today's earning call, that:

• iPod Touch's replacements are iPad mini or iPhone
• iPod nano's replacement is Apple Watch
• iPod shuffle will join iPod classic soon enough without a suitable replacement.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, strange as it may seem, there are some of us out there who simply want a single high quality device that will be able to carry, hold, and play their entire music library (and nothing else) in one, neat, uber portable device.

And no, I, personally have no interest in the iPhone; and no, likewise, the Cloud does not attract me for storage…….

So, yes. I am a passionate fan of the iPod - especially the (recently discontinued and discarded) Classic…...

 

[12vElectronics]

Sorry, I posted to the wrong forum. This should have been in the iPod Touch forum. My apologies.



No updated iPod Touch in a few years either. Seems Cook want to kill the iPod line.

Cook is just responding to the market.

Listen I love the iPod. But numbers don't lie. People don't want iPods anymore.

 

[HereBeMonsters]

Cook is just responding to the market.

Listen I love the iPod. But numbers don't lie. People don't want iPods anymore.

2.6 million people wanted one last year, apparently. That's not to be sniffed at.

 

[12vElectronics]

2.6 million people wanted one last year, apparently. That's not to be sniffed at.

10 million iPhones in one weekend USA. 8.5 million pre orders iPhones just for China.

Listen, I love the iPod. I don't want it gone. 2.6 million is nothing to be sniffed at. But the numbers don't lie.

 

[questioner76]

One idea that I thought was cool would be to include data in a new iPod but only for music streaming. The iPod would come with Beats preloaded and either a lifetime subscription or 100 mb a month free or something like that.

That way, you'd have the new and the old music business model in a small neat device and the radio/wifi would turn off whenever you were listening to a stored song to save power power. I would totally buy one of these for working out etc.

 

[HereBeMonsters]

10 million iPhones in one weekend USA. 8.5 million pre orders iPhones just for China.

Listen, I love the iPod. I don't want it gone. 2.6 million is nothing to be sniffed at. But the numbers don't lie.

Again, why compare them? Phones tend to be something that you replace every 1-2 years. Music players probably less frequently.

Also, that's a brand new product. Not comparable.

 

[12vElectronics]

Again, why compare them? Phones tend to be something that you replace every 1-2 years. Music players probably less frequently.

Also, that's a brand new product. Not comparable.

The iPhone is not a brand new product.

And I compare because that's where Apple is focusing it's energy, time, and resources on.

 

[srshaw]

The ipod was my first apple product (ok I have a few old macs that I got my old company). I loved everything about it, and every Apple product I have bought since (and there's been quite few).

I still use my ipod classic for listening at home, and hopefully if I can get my old ipod photo working i'll use that too. I use my shuffles whilst running. i know I can play music on iphones but I still just prefer the ipod.

Its a shame that if my classic breaks, I can no longer replace it. I realise the ipod is a marginal product now for Apple, but I hope it continues. I would love a solid state version of a classic one day. The ipod touch for me is of no interest, its a phone that doesnt make phone calls.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The iPod Shuffle is probably my favorite Apple product ever.

It so perfectly fits my exercise needs (and only those needs).
Just 110% fit into my usage for it.

And it gets used 3-5 times per week. Just love it

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The ipod was my first apple product (ok I have a few old macs that I got my old company). I loved everything about it, and every Apple product I have bought since (and there's been quite few).

I still use my ipod classic for listening at home, and hopefully if I can get my old ipod photo working i'll use that too. I use my shuffles whilst running. i know I can play music on iphones but I still just prefer the ipod.

Its a shame that if my classic breaks, I can no longer replace it. I realise the ipod is a marginal product now for Apple, but I hope it continues. I would love a solid state version of a classic one day. The ipod touch for me is of no interest, its a phone that doesnt make phone calls.

I so agree about classic.
Just did a new battery and hard drive in my 4th gen -- better than new...

But that said, they could make a KILLER new Classic that would be sexy as hell, impossibly thin, add some bluetooth (Cars/Speakers) -- Would be awesome.

Some of us really appreciate devices that specialize in something (not do everything).

 

[Solomani]

Well, strange as it may seem, there are some of us out there who simply want a single high quality device that will be able to carry, hold, and play their entire music library (and nothing else) in one, neat, uber portable device.

And no, I, personally have no interest in the iPhone; and no, likewise, the Cloud does not attract me for storage…….

So, yes. I am a passionate fan of the iPod - especially the (recently discontinued and discarded) Classic…...

Apple doesn't listen to rants on MacRumors. Occasionally, they might listen to massive Feedback. Maybe. Sometimes. Perhaps. Every now and then.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html

 

[gnasher729]

apple will be making a huge mistake by getting rid of iPods. they need products that don't require monthly fees, contracts or even an internet connections.

I bought a used iPhone 3GS as my iPod. Doesn't require monthly fees, contracts, or internet connection. Well, not in the UK. A two or three generation old iPhone works just fine as an iPod.

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One idea that I thought was cool would be to include data in a new iPod but only for music streaming. The iPod would come with Beats preloaded and either a lifetime subscription or 100 mb a month free or something like that.

100 MB a month? That would be ridiculous. That's a dozen songs at 256Kbit/second. Seriously, I'd want to listen to just a _little_ bit more music.

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2.6 million people wanted one last year, apparently. That's not to be sniffed at.

Last quarter, actually. Nothing to be sniffed at, which is why they keep selling them, but every person working on iPhone development adds more revenue and profit than a person working on iPod development.

 

[gooser]

now it's being reported that the reason apple dropped the ipod classic is that they can no longer get parts for it.

 

[jruschme]

now it's being reported that the reason apple dropped the ipod classic is that they can no longer get parts for it.

Sort of makes sense despite what people say. The hard drive is probably out of production, not to mention the number of custom pieces (case, etc.) that Apple probably let the contracts run out on.

 

[xcvista]

iPod Touch will not really go away as it is not more of a PDA and handheld game console with App Store access than a portable media player. They will not axe any lines of products that have access to the App Store as that is the biggest cash cow for them now.

Classic will certainly get the axe as the Flash technology now allowed 128GB iPhone 6, which marks an easy step for them to release an 128GB iPod Touch with iPhone 5S technology replacing the aging 160GB Classic with spinning platters.

Shuffle are still going strong actually, being a great first real digital devices for kids, especially when coupled with the new Family Sharing feature of iTMS.

Nano is an interesting case: lots of people loved using their 6th Gen Nano as a watch, and Apple is very well noticed of this. They could decide to revert the design to something like the 6th Gen Nano, a perfect watch face allowing attachment of any third-party watchbands, as a lower end Apple Watch as well as the higher end iPod.

 

[srshaw]

I would like to see a proper hifi ipod, which ships with really decent headphones, and has a high quality output that can fit into a hifi system, and has a remote control.

It would be great if apple could could perhaps tie in with a quality hifi manufacturer such as mark levinson or wadia, and for headphones perhaps grado.