iPod Death of the click wheel on iPods - New touchpad?

[Peterson8765]

I've been curious to what Apple will do with the clickwheel iPods this September, and I've also been curious about that leaked Apple branded 1.7" touchscreen that was leaked last month. I don't think they would put in a nano, because the screen would be almost an inch smaller than the screen now and I don't think they will put in the shuffle, because touching a 1.7" screen would probably be a little tough. I was just thinking that Apple might discontinue the clickwheel and put in a touchpad so you could use your iPod nano or Classic that way by just tapping the touchpad to navigate it. It sounds like a cool concept.

 

[brendanspah764]

Yeah, i was just thinking the same thing. Except I imagine a nano, roughly the same size and thickness as the current, but full glass top and a polished aluminum backing w/ choice of colors. The black glass front will make it seem like it is one screen, but it will be made of two. The nano screen will stay the same, but will have the 1.7" touchscreen shown earlier as a second screen to show the clickwheel, dial for alarm, etc at the bottom. It would have a better video camera (not still camera though). I would make a mockup, but I have NO photoshopping skills at all. So if anyone wants to make it for me, then go RIGHT ahead.

 

[Peterson8765]

Yeah, i was just thinking the same thing. Except I imagine a nano, roughly the same size and thickness as the current, but full glass top and a polished aluminum backing w/ choice of colors. The black glass front will make it seem like it is one screen, but it will be made of two. The nano screen will stay the same, but will have the 1.7" touchscreen shown earlier as a second screen to show the clickwheel, dial for alarm, etc at the bottom. It would have a better video camera (not still camera though). I would make a mockup, but I have NO photoshopping skills at all. So if anyone wants to make it for me, then go RIGHT ahead.

Holy crap, that picture is what I imagined it would look like in my head yesterday when I thought of this thread. Thanks so much for the pic. I think it would be a smart move for Apple to do this, we had the click wheel for a long time now and since almost everything Apple sells now has to do with multitouch, they should do this instead of the clickwheel.

 

[gan6660]

I thought that the tiny touch screen was a new clickwheel for the nano the day it leaked. But I also believe that there is going to be a huge shake-up in the iPod line. If the rumored 7" iPad is released then I see both the Classic and Shuffle being discontinued and lower price points brought to the Nano and Touch. Im thinking a $89 8gb/$109 16gb nano and a $149 16gb 3rd gen Touch with the new models starting at $179 with 32gb and $219 with 64gb. This would leave room for the new 7" iPad starting at $349. It would also give a huge jump start to Facetime with a $179 device. And Apple even said that the iPod is dying and they need to do something.

 

[Peterson8765]

I thought that the tiny touch screen was a new clickwheel for the nano the day it leaked. But I also believe that there is going to be a huge shake-up in the iPod line. If the rumored 7" iPad is released then I see both the Classic and Shuffle being discontinued and lower price points brought to the Nano and Touch. Im thinking a $89 8gb/$109 16gb nano and a $149 16gb 3rd gen Touch with the new models starting at $179 with 32gb and $219 with 64gb. This would leave room for the new 7" iPad starting at $349. It would also give a huge jump start to Facetime with a $179 device. And Apple even said that the iPod is dying and they need to do something.

I don't think Apple would cut the prices that low. Keep in mind component costs of the current 8GB touch is about $100-$150, so they have to make some profit.
They will still keep the shuffle, and I still think they will keep the classic for another year or two, I don't really expect any price drops, but added features to the new iPods.

 

[you39]

If the rumored 7" iPad is released then I see both the Classic and Shuffle being discontinued and lower price points brought to the Nano and Touch.

That's true, because who would workout with a shuffle if you can workout with your 7" iPad.

 

[R94N]

That's true, because who would workout with a shuffle if you can workout with your 7" iPad.

LOL, good point

 

[iEvolution]

The classic heavily depends on what manufacturers have for apple at the time of a new revision, keep that in mind.

As it stands now I see no announcements of a new single layer hard drive, so either it will stay at 160GB this time around or will be cut completely. I don't see them getting rid if it completely as it still brings in money I'm sure, but I think after this year its going to be the end of the road.

If they get rid of the click wheel in favor of this touch screen fad, I will be switching to another competitor. tactile feedback is absolutely essential for me when I want to quickly change songs or adjust volume without looking at the screen. It would be absolutely obnoxious to have to pull the thing out every time I want to do anything with it.

 

[0098386]

Gord I hope not. I like touch but it's not practical for me. I like being able to control music without having to get my iPod out of my pocket and navigate by tactile feedback.

 

[Giuly]

The 1.7" screen had a digitizer and a glass front with a frame. It's rather the new Shuffle, or a new iPod Pico which replaces the Shuffle. I'm wondering more about the square form, because iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch are 3:2 and not 1:1.

 

[Peterson8765]

I just don't see Apple adding a screen of that big size on a shuffle, perhaps instead of a click wheel replacement the screen could be put into the rumored $99 Apple TV? I know a ton of people won't be happy if Apple replaces the click wheel with that touchscreen but Apple is using touch and multi-touch on everything now.

 

[Labaguette]

i would love to see this iPod classic This year. Touch enabled display, interface stays almost the same, smaller click wheel, vertical display! c'mon!

 

[LateOne]

Gord I hope not. I like touch but it's not practical for me. I like being able to control music without having to get my iPod out of my pocket and navigate by tactile feedback.

I'm entirely with you on this, although the later iPods I've owned have actually been less 'tactile' than I'd like in this regard. Something changed somewhere along the line.

Having bricked a Touch walking home in the rain I am now a happy Shuffle user albeit with add on thingy so I can use my phones.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I'm entirely with you on this, although the later iPods I've owned have actually been less 'tactile' than I'd like in this regard. Something changed somewhere along the line.

The iPod Nano 2nd Gen was too thin to really allow the clickwheel to depress well, and it started losing it's tactile feedback there. I still think that, as far as tactile feedback goes, the 1st gen iPod was the best you could get, with the 2nd gen and 3rd gen being tied for 2nd place. The touch and iPhone are at the bottom of my tactile list.

 

[jahall]

Gord I hope not. I like touch but it's not practical for me. I like being able to control music without having to get my iPod out of my pocket and navigate by tactile feedback.

Same, killing the click wheel would probably make me cry. The iPod touch is nice - but also annoying for this same reason. I'm in mourning for my 4G nano.

Having bricked a Touch walking home in the rain I am now a happy Shuffle user albeit with add on thingy so I can use my phones.

Ouch. I'll remember to suffer through the songs, I think, after this!


Right now, I'd like for Apple to release a click-wheel version and a touchpad version. It would be a stretch, but if they made them both with the same memory (16GB would be optimal, I think), it would be (kindof...) like offering two sizes.

I'm not going to get my hopes up on that though.

 

[I8P'CS]

i would love to see this iPod classic This year. Touch enabled display, interface stays almost the same, smaller click wheel, vertical display! c'mon!

O yes please don't even care if it's not touch screen, That look and better inter face and I'm fine. I just took back a 160g classic i just bought as i'm waiting on the Refresh.
I'm watching the ipod refresh closely as if the classic is discontinued I will need to run out and purchase on ASAP. Any rumours on what could happen with classic? I need a Ipod Asap and I frustrated of waiting.

 

[brendanspah764]

i would love to see this iPod classic This year. Touch enabled display, interface stays almost the same, smaller click wheel, vertical display! c'mon!

I would like that too! Even without the touch-enabled display, it would be really nice, but this looks a whole lot like the 1st generation Zune.

 

[Peterson8765]

I can see the new classic getting revamped with a redesign' added storage' new user interface, and able to be used as as like an Apple TV, as for the click wheel I think it will stay on the classic, but I think the touchpad will come to the nano sometime.

 

[Peterson8765]

i would love to see this iPod classic This year. Touch enabled display, interface stays almost the same, smaller click wheel, vertical display! c'mon!

Thanks for the pic, looks great. I really think Apple should make the classics screen 2.7 - 3.0 inches and it should get a redesign.