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iPod Can we expect any updates this year (2014) in any of the iPods?

iPodJedi

iPodJedi

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 28, 2013
711
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Apple Store, USA
The iPod threads have been pretty slow lately and there isn't much talk or rumor about upcoming or new iPods for this year, save the iPod touch which has had nothing but rumors and guesses from people like me on the iPod touch forum page.

Do you think there will be ANY updates in the iPod line up this year? Specifically the iPod nano, classic and shuffle.


My View:

I think the iPod shuffle is a perfected product, maybe the only perfected product Apple has ever made, or at least the closest product to perfection Apple has created. Sure, anyone can say that they could add more storage, bigger battery, make it even smaller, give it a touch screen and turn it into a device similar to the iPod nano 6 but if it is going to stay affordable, like it was meant to be, Apple will likely leave this iPod be.

As for the iPod classic, it is far from perfection at this point. Likely, we won't be seeing an update, and even more likely, this iPod will be discontinued, probably at the release of a 128GB iPod touch/iPhone. Obviously this iPod is in need of some newer technology inside and it is still nearly identical to the 2007 release, minus capacity. Most could say that this iPod deserves a Lightning port and some high speed, less damagable, flash storage/SSD. I think it may be time to face, if the time hadnt't occurred to you yet, that this iPod is sadly a goner.

Finally, the iPod nano, my favorite of the three iPods mentioned and explained so far. I love my seventh generation iPod nano, it has tons of great features, some that are not on the iPhone. I love the built in Nike+, the FM radio, and the microscopic size of the iPod nano but I do have to say this product, after seven great models, hasn't been perfected. Some say this iPod will be replaced and forgotten with the release of the much anticipated "iWatch", sure I, myself, am excited for the iWatch but I'm not sure if this microscopic iPod touch deserves to be kicked off the team. This iPod nano has some potential, whether or not Apple will acknowledge that or update it seems to be anyone's guess. Sure, I would love to see another camera, preferably with the ability to capture still photographs, a speaker, an updated operating system but all these things are just becoming a waste for Apple with this declining market.


What do you think? Contribute below!
 
I think.....

it depends on Apple finding the iPod worthwhile. I remember a rumor read here about Tim Cook saying something like "iPods are no more a business" or some like that. So, if not a business, Apple would do something like the new 16 GB Touch...But I dont know if you qualify this action as one update. What would do? Better WiFi, redesigned interface, higher capacities, another price points?....:confused:

:):apple:
 
Their still is a market for an ipod, and if one does come out it will be aimed at audiophiles or a nano in a form of a watch. Their is no need for new ipods when people have iphones, only people left wanting a new ipod are people who want a separate device with large disk space to fit a large music library pref on a SSD drive. The only thing that shows an audiophile ipod is apple soon to be allowing 24bit files on the itunes store and purchase of beats headphones to blast those 24bit files, how about a nice new ipod classic brought up to speed to play them on?

I really hope we get a updated Classic, with smooth pebble round sides like the iphone 6 mock up and a lightning port, bluetooth, a large ssd drive. That would be very nice :).

If that doesn't happen then I think we all know the rumoured wrist watch will basically be a ipod but not under the ipod family, I wonder if will have a headphone port? either way we'll see in september :).
 
Last edited:
iPods need to be super cheap. People want SSD but why pay so much for a classic ipod or shuffle. The iphone killed the pocket digital camera and the ipod at the same time. Fine its nice to have every song ever in your pocket but that is what itunes match, pandora and spotify are for.

It would be cool if they made a $150 or $100 classic ipod with 80gbs. You don't need 160gb. I have over 25,000 songs and can't fill that thing up. Besides you really want to be spend 5 minutes finding a song while driving?

I still have my classic 80 gb one running fine the body of it is pretty much killed as its 6+ years old but its a great machine. I just don't get why the classic is so expensive and hate the nano. I am not that big of a guy at 5'9 and my fingers are way way to big for that thing. Again the nano is over priced with only 16gb
 
devilla06 said:
iPods need to be super cheap. People want SSD but why pay so much for a classic ipod or shuffle. The iphone killed the pocket digital camera and the ipod at the same time. Fine its nice to have every song ever in your pocket but that is what itunes match, pandora and spotify are for.

It would be cool if they made a $150 or $100 classic ipod with 80gbs. You don't need 160gb. I have over 25,000 songs and can't fill that thing up. Besides you really want to be spend 5 minutes finding a song while driving?

I still have my classic 80 gb one running fine the body of it is pretty much killed as its 6+ years old but its a great machine. I just don't get why the classic is so expensive and hate the nano. I am not that big of a guy at 5'9 and my fingers are way way to big for that thing. Again the nano is over priced with only 16gb
Click to expand...

I agree, I think if Apple intends to continue selling iPods, they need to be cheap. This new price drop on the iPod touch is perfect. I think the shuffle could possibly drop $5 or $10 and it would be more properly price. The iPod nano to me, should be between $110 and $130. As for the Classic... I don't know, it's pretty expensive for what it is and how old and out dated it is... Maybe it should be around the $180s maybe a bit higher
 
Unfortunately, I just don't see Apple doing anything with the iPod. If you look at their revenue breakdown, even accessories make up a larger slice of the proverbial Apple pie:

apple%20revenue%20by%20product%202014.png


And probably at least 75%, if not more, of that 1.68% is the iPod touch. It's just not that profitable in an age where everyone is streaming music.

It's sad - the iPod basically made Apple into what it is now. Maybe the iPod touch will stick around, as it's the gateway into the tightly-wound ecosystem for a lot of people. However I think the nano, shuffle and definitely the Classic's days are numbered. I wouldn't be surprised if the Classic was killed this year, then the shuffle and nano just faded over the next couple of years, much like the demise of the iPod Classic.

Will this happen to the iPhone? Who knows. Smartphones probably are peaking in terms of new features and innovation, but there's nothing yet to fill the void - and I don't think wearables are the answer.
 
They should update the iPod Nano software so that it has a more modern look too it, similar to iOS 7 or 8. Not necessarily in features, but in look and feel.
 
Apple will continue updating iPod Nano unless iWatch/ iTime/ iLife/ iBand/ iWrist/ iClock/ wont have iPod nano capabilities.
 
iPodJedi said:
The iPod threads have been pretty slow lately and there isn't much talk or rumor about upcoming or new iPods for this year, save the iPod touch which has had nothing but rumors and guesses from people like me on the iPod touch forum page.

Do you think there will be ANY updates in the iPod line up this year? Specifically the iPod nano, classic and shuffle.


My View:

I think the iPod shuffle is a perfected product, maybe the only perfected product Apple has ever made, or at least the closest product to perfection Apple has created. Sure, anyone can say that they could add more storage, bigger battery, make it even smaller, give it a touch screen and turn it into a device similar to the iPod nano 6 but if it is going to stay affordable, like it was meant to be, Apple will likely leave this iPod be.

As for the iPod classic, it is far from perfection at this point. Likely, we won't be seeing an update, and even more likely, this iPod will be discontinued, probably at the release of a 128GB iPod touch/iPhone. Obviously this iPod is in need of some newer technology inside and it is still nearly identical to the 2007 release, minus capacity. Most could say that this iPod deserves a Lightning port and some high speed, less damagable, flash storage/SSD. I think it may be time to face, if the time hadnt't occurred to you yet, that this iPod is sadly a goner.

Finally, the iPod nano, my favorite of the three iPods mentioned and explained so far. I love my seventh generation iPod nano, it has tons of great features, some that are not on the iPhone. I love the built in Nike+, the FM radio, and the microscopic size of the iPod nano but I do have to say this product, after seven great models, hasn't been perfected. Some say this iPod will be replaced and forgotten with the release of the much anticipated "iWatch", sure I, myself, am excited for the iWatch but I'm not sure if this microscopic iPod touch deserves to be kicked off the team. This iPod nano has some potential, whether or not Apple will acknowledge that or update it seems to be anyone's guess. Sure, I would love to see another camera, preferably with the ability to capture still photographs, a speaker, an updated operating system but all these things are just becoming a waste for Apple with this declining market.


What do you think? Contribute below!
Click to expand...

The classic is toast as soon as either the iPhone or the iPod touch make it to a comparable capacity.

The shuffle will probably continue as is until they finally discontinue it; there are not many more technological features that they can add to it as it is a very simple device.

The nano will probably last the longest or will be cannibalized by the watch effort.

If the touch is not updated with new hardware, I suspect that it will be discontinued sooner rather than later.

It is my opinion that what they ought to do is take the 3.5" retina panels from the iPhone 4S and make a touch screen "iPod", give it a touch interface (maybe iOS, but it wouldn't have WiFi, the app store or even the iTunes store), give it either a standard 1.8" 256GB Solid State Drive or 256GB of onboard flash, either way. Simply call it "iPod" and then kill all four of the other iPods. Sell it for three years as is before bumping capacity up to 512GB; then discontinue it and then we're done with iPods.
 
Last I heard, the iPod is still $77 million a year business for Apple. No matter who you are, $77 million dollars is not chump change. I'm sure they'll keep it going for at least another year or two.
 
DaveTheRave said:
They should update the iPod Nano software so that it has a more modern look too it, similar to iOS 7 or 8. Not necessarily in features, but in look and feel.
Click to expand...

I'd like that. I love my Nano 7 but the glossy pill icons are meh. Not a huge problem but a flat design like iOS7 would be cool.
 
As much as I want to see real updates, I think the most optimistic outcome is:
  • iPod classic lives for one more year, unchanged
  • iPod nano getting new color and UI refresh to match iOS 7's look and feel, just as Apple TV is getting iOS 7 style UI refresh
  • iPod shuffle getting new color
 
Everyone is always in a hurry to kill the Classic. It's funny, considering it's my favorite music device. My 5S has horrible sound quality through the lightning connector on my blitzsafe adapter in the car, so I use my iPod classic (which holds a lot more music anyway).

What the Classic needs is either a Solid State Drive or a 250GB HDD. Also, give it some Bluetooth. They should probably upgrade it to lightning while they're at it. Otherwise, leave it alone.

All of these updates would cost little to implement. I would probably wind up buying one at some point (even though I need another iPod like I need a hole in the head!).

Just because you may not have a use for it does not mean no one does. Sheesh!
 
Go to an Apple store and notice how little space is dedicated to iPods. They're almost an afterthought. I think these things are going to be left to wither on the vine.
 
We'll get a colour change maybe? I don't know, that chart does tell us that Apple are really making minimal earnings from the iPod comparitiv. Ironic that it seemed to be what brought them out of being a "niche" brand into what it is today.

Still I feel that we might see a internal update to the iPod Touch and maybe an update for the Nano, although I struggle to see where they might want to improve it (besides the obvious factors already discussed).

The Classic however is cheap and easy for them to make, and does still sell well enough for it to remain stocked in stores. I see this as being a major plus for any product in a line up from a company's point of view.

Just my thoughts, and admittedly I would really love to see an update to the iPod line. I think it holds a special place in the company's history as well as the music industry's history so it would be sad to say goodbye to it.
 
I would think the mid range nano would be the longest to stay around. I can see the Classic dying with the introduction of a higher capacity touch and the shuffle fading away.

It's sad. An iPod nano was my first Apple product. They still serve a purpose. Not everyone wants to use their phone in the car/gym/run and I know many people that want an "iPhone without the phone" and contract.
 
cambookpro said:
Unfortunately, I just don't see Apple doing anything with the iPod. If you look at their revenue breakdown, even accessories make up a larger slice of the proverbial Apple pie:
Click to expand...

I don't know what world you live in where $630 million dollars is worth giving up. Do R&D and marketing for iPod's come even close to that?

A lot of people who buy iPods purchase them, in addition, to an iOS device. So, it's not like most of the iPod revenue would be replaced by another Apple product if Apple dropped the brand.

There will always be a need for a small music playing product like the iPod Nano. Running, exercising, any physical activity needs a small device. Carrying a hulking phone around in these situations is a hinderance and not very practical. Though, I've seen people with massive phones attached tp their arm. How aweful!
 
Antares said:
I don't know what world you live in where $630 million dollars is worth giving up. Do R&D and marketing for iPod's come even close to that?

A lot of people who buy iPods purchase them, in addition, to an iOS device. So, it's not like most of the iPod revenue would be replaced by another Apple product if Apple dropped the brand.

There will always be a need for a small music playing product like the iPod Nano. Running, exercising, any physical activity needs a small device. Carrying a hulking phone around in these situations is a hinderance and not very practical. Though, I've seen people with massive phones attached tp their arm. How aweful!
Click to expand...

I never said that $630 million wasn't a lot of money - it is - but if you put it into perspective, it's not a lot for Apple.
Why pump more money into a product which is far past its peak? Money is much better spent at this stage on R&D for iPhones, iPads and mythical 'iWearables'. They'll sell a lot more than iPods. Sure, they can let the iPods sit for a bit while they're still selling, but is it worth investing any more than they already have? Probably not.

I disagree with most iPods supplementing an iOS device - I don't have the figures, but I'd wager that the vast majority of that $630m comes from the iPod touch, which is the gateway into iOS devices for most people. It is merely a stepping stone to the higher-margin iPhone and Mac, as opposed to something bought as a consequence of owning an iPhone.

Would I like the iPods to have a bit more attention? Sure, but as I posted previously, streaming (whether we like it or not) is the way forward. I'm trying Spotify and finding it really useful - but it's a big departure from my old habits of loading up my iTunes library and syncing my iPod.

As Bob Dylan wrote: 'The times they are a-changin' ' - and we're all going to have to adapt and accept some fundamental changes in how music is listened to nowadays.
 
When I saw the slice the iPods occupied on that graph, it showed me there's still a market and I'm part of that group. Not everyone has 24/7 access to the Internet and/or wi-fi, as I experience when visiting some of my friends across the country. One friend still uses dial-up due to cost. That's why, even though I utilize the cloud, I keep my music on my MacBook Air and my 5th gen iPod nano. It works well both for exercise and its other functions (over 100 notes, a couple hundred contacts, calendar - disk mode) in my daily life. I like its size, simplicity and sturdiness. It would encourage me to upgrade if Apple re-introduced the "extras" to the next iPod nano. What I'll do when it becomes necessary to replace my nano, I don't know at this point. I hope Apple upgrades the iPods this year and will try to be optimistic about the coming events.
 
cambookpro said:
I disagree with most iPods supplementing an iOS device - I don't have the figures, but I'd wager that the vast majority of that $630m comes from the iPod touch, which is the gateway into iOS devices for most people. It is merely a stepping stone to the higher-margin iPhone and Mac, as opposed to something bought as a consequence of owning an iPhone.
Click to expand...

I don't have numbers, either. But I would think that most people would not want to wear full size iPhones or iPod Touches when at the gym, running or when rngaging in some other physical activity. Things that benefit from less bulk, weight and cumbersomeness. There is definitely a market for people to listen to music without having to depend on a larger devices...especially with the backward trend of ever larger and larger phones making portable music even less comfortable.

Even if Apple creates a device that primarily streams, I can't imagine they woudl want to lose out on that market and customers. iPods (especially the nano), make a perfect companion to full size Apple iOS devices.
 
Well, with the iPhone 4S being on its way out, apple could dump the Classic and retire the 30 pin dock connector for good...
 
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