Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPod iPod Classic 2010--Where's it Headed?

P

puma1552

Suspended
Original poster
Nov 20, 2008
5,559
1,948
So, since my silver 2009 Classic is my favorite iPod, and because I have a soft spot for the oldskool iPods like this, I'd like to speculate where it is headed for 2010.

Do you think:

A) It will remain unchanged for the fourth year sans perhaps a capacity bump to 240GB (assuming Toshiba's 240GB drive is a single platter, I can't recall but I don't think Apple will go with a dual platter drive again)

B) It will go to 128 GB flash

C) It will remain the same aesthetically but be updated to a polished aluminum front like the nanos

D) It will be EOL'ed

E) Other/combination of the above

I have bad feeling once the touch hits 128 GB (presumably this year), the Classic will get EOL'd since it hasn't been changed in three years and is obviously just holding a place in the capacity world until flash catches up. Should it survive, I think it will get a glass screen (finally...) and they will polish the front surface.

What do you guys think?
 
I'd like them to move it to flash simply because I sometimes have problems with audiobooks on my hard drive based iPods. However I don't really see it happening :(

I too am awful worried that they'll EOL it for a 128GB Touch, I don't care how often Steve Jobs tells me the touch interface is beautiful, it's nowhere near as intuitive or well thought out and while it might look nice, most of the time my iPod's in my pocket . . .

They'd get a lot of backlash (online) for topping their iPods out at 128GB but at the same time Classic users are a minority (I think). I've been trying to get my sister a case for hers recently and I can't find anyone that carries more than 2 Classic cases, if any at all. They all carry lots for touches and nanos though. It gave me a sinking feeling about the Classic's market size. :(

I don't really like the shiny nanos, so I'd rather they left the classic as is. Increasing the screen size and making it glass would be nice, but please don't shrink the click wheel at the same time. They should also give the OS a polish, maybe throw in a radio. After last year's update I thought the Classic looked incredibly neglected next to the nano.

If they EOL I'll buy myself one from refurb'd or left over stock - it'll be years before the nano catches up with my music collection and I find them a bit too small as well (especially the click wheel).
 
Yeah I guess the lack of interest in this very thread tells the tale :(

I like the shiny nanos, but not the silver one--for some reason it looks cheap to me, so I hope they don't polish the classic.

But, I can't see them doing nothing to it aesthetically for a fourth year, there's just no way.

I'd like to see a glass screen and no other physical changes, but a nice OS polish would be nice. I don't care for a radio, keep it simple IMO. Just polish it up a little bit.

I too don't really care for the iPod touch interface. I had one in 2007 and recently sold it because I never used it. I hate touch screens, and at that they have done literally nothing aesthetically with the iPhone OS since it came out--it's extremely boring and outdated to look at, that needs a massive polish too. But, even if they did it, I still want my click wheel.
 
Honestly the way I see things, Apple really has only one option, and that's to make the iPod Classic their flagship "Camera iPod" with a high resolution HD Camera. Think of it, how many cameras on the market would have 160-200GB of dedicated space? Of course, it would still be able to hold music movies pictures etc., but I think those of us who use the nano as a portable camcorder, we run out of space pretty quick. The high capacity low profile nature of the Classic could render it perfect for making it a HD Camera.

"Introducing the new iPod Classic HD: Music, Movies and Memories, for just $299.

Apple could tackle two major markets here. Their high capacity music player, as well as a portable HD camera at a very agreeable price. To leap farther down this rabbit hole, they could include a limited wi-fi feature to upload the videos straight to youtube, akin to their "camera direct upload" feature. Just think of it. Steve Jobs famous one liner for this one being "First, the iPod played movies. Now, iPod can make movies" (crowd goes frakkin wild)
 
I bought myself a silver classic in 2009 and will do it again this year. I always buy the last year model as it comes basically for free with a new Macbook with the back to school program.

Now that doesn't help with the thread, does it? I have no idea where they take the Classic, it all depends on sales I guess. I just hope that they are strong enough to justify keeping it in the line.

I think its a great player and it does one thing very well - playing music.
 
i.e.Mac said:
Honestly the way I see things, Apple really has only one option, and that's to make the iPod Classic their flagship "Camera iPod" with a high resolution HD Camera. Think of it, how many cameras on the market would have 160-200GB of dedicated space? Of course, it would still be able to hold music movies pictures etc., but I think those of us who use the nano as a portable camcorder, we run out of space pretty quick. The high capacity low profile nature of the Classic could render it perfect for making it a HD Camera.

"Introducing the new iPod Classic HD: Music, Movies and Memories, for just $299.

Apple could tackle two major markets here. Their high capacity music player, as well as a portable HD camera at a very agreeable price. To leap farther down this rabbit hole, they could include a limited wi-fi feature to upload the
videos straight to youtube, akin to their "camera direct upload" feature. Just
think of it. Steve Jobs famous one liner for this one being "First, the iPod played movies. Now, iPod can make movies" (crowd goes frakkin
wild)
Click to expand...


But to put a camera in the hard drive would have to change to flash or ssd because the HD is too slow.
 
gan6660 said:
But to put a camera in the hard drive would have to change to flash or ssd because the HD is too slow.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think if anything gets a camera it'll be the touch/iPhone. Apart from anything else it's odd to put a camera in a classic when it's not got the screen size.

Tbh, I can't really see Apple going big down the camera route.

puma1552 said:
Yeah I guess the lack of interest in this very thread tells the tale :(
Click to expand...

:( I thought so too. It's sad, 'cause it really is the best full on iPod out the bunch (people that love the nano, I find the click wheel way, way too small nowadays)

I never use the iPod in my iPhone. The headphone jack gave in in my iPod 5G and I used the iPhone while I waited for the replacement part. Bad times.

The Classic seems pretty expensive these days as well. They're something like £190 here which really surprised me when I thought about buying one, if they dropped that to £160/50 they'd sell a tonne more. It's not like they've spent any money on redesigning them in the past few years.
 
I would love to see Apple replace the iPod classic with the following:

1) The device will have the same shape and size as the current single-platter classic model.

2) The screen will be larger to display video more clearly and in 16:10 aspect ratio. This also means the click wheel will be smaller to accommodate the bigger screen.

3) Storage will now be 128 GB flash instead of 160 GB hard disk.

4) The on-screen interface will look almost exactly like the 4G/5G iPod nano, but sized to accommodate the larger screen.

Note that this device will NOT be an iPod touch, since it is designed specifically as a media player and will lack Wi-Fi capabilties. Apple will sell this new flash-based iPod classic for between US$229 to US$249.
 
I personally think that if the classic sticks around they will keep the 160gb hd and lower the price to $199.
 
I'm Glad for such a "post" actually!

But i'm not only afraid of the low number of answers / but also of the pollution and nonsense in some of them...
"i.e" --> Didn't you get it? The Classic is the last thing left for us :
Music-only-people!
We don't want a camera, we dont want a video capacity, or even a colored screen if you ask me !

With the years Apple has been pushing the classic down...and changed the market in a way they convinced people it was useless?
Anyway, i stick to my 160, its old, but does what i need : HOLD A LARGE PART (not even all) of my music and plays it)
- and i'm not changing this Classic: until i find AT LEAST another 160 storage...

I'm actually hoping that they would move to 240 with the next gen...

Guys Guys Guys , lets pray the classic stays unchanged (at least) or get bumped with higher capacity

Are so few that like (diverse styles of ) Music that much that we can't select/compress it into less than 100Gig?
 
I love my 5.5gen Ipod, it's the only pod that can hold my music, it's based in my car and i use my itrip with it, no faults. I have a shuffle for the gym and my iphone for everyday walking around, but i dislike the fact that i have to switch music around if i fancy a change!
I love the fact the ipod was transformed into the 'classic' and the storage keeps going up, but with the ipod touch, the iphone and the nano taking the limelight the classic does seem a little oldschool for todays market.

A refresh with HUGE storage, possible 3.2mp + camera/HD Video, larger screen, BT/wifi file transfer and similar applications to the nano - nike+ integration, pedometer, FM reciever and possibly an FM transmitter??? Would definitely make the oldschool ipod fly off the shelves again! :D

Although of course i'm dreaming, next update will just be bigger HDD! :(
 
my only request is that they fix the "compilations" bug... i refuse to buy another ipod (of any capacity) until that's fixed.
 
I'd like nothing more than a 320GB classic, but I doubt that we'll see that. I suspect that one of two things might happen.

1. Classic will be EOL's as the touch moves up to 128GB, which means another year before I upgrade. I figure that Apple has no interest in the tiny segment of people with huge music collections, since the classic maxed out a couple years ago and no effort has been made to increase it. However, the Touch might be the trojan horse. Even if I don't want to video on the thing, there are plenty of people who do, so a huge capacity Touch might make sense to Apple. I don't care what for a large iPod takes (i'd prefer a Classic: better interface), just so long as it gets bigger.

2. An iPod with minimal storage and a wifi connection. This in conjunction with Apple allowing you to put your iTunes library in The Cloud. This gives you your enitre collection whenever you're at a hotspot, and you can download what you want for the times when you aren't. This could work, although it is a bit "revolutionary."
 
QCassidy352 said:
I've been saying for 2 years now that it will be EOL'ed when the ipod touch hits 128 GB, and I stand by that.
Click to expand...

But what's your opinion on that happening?

Actually - What's the point of you saying that? Is there some sort of competition on who's gonna read the future in here?

Don't you think we can influence Apple's decision/moves? We - as customers?
 
QCassidy352 said:
I've been saying for 2 years now that it will be EOL'ed when the ipod touch hits 128 GB, and I stand by that.
Click to expand...

I don't think so, because the iPod touch when it is refreshed this September will likely cost US$399 for the 128 GB version--still too expensive for many users. And many users don't want all those features of the iPod touch--they just want a media player with a lot of built in storage.
 
hajjareric said:
Don't you think we can influence Apple's decision/moves? We - as customers?
Click to expand...
I have to say it's not often a post has made me physically laugh, but this is nothing short of a gem. Never heard the saying, 'Apple knows best.'
 
Jogging with a Classic

Anyone every go jogging with a Classic?

Interested in a new iPod, my old 40GB 3G is 5 years old and really doesn't like pounding the pavement.

And, yes I know a Nano is shock proof, but its capacity is far too small for me.
 
combatcolin said:
Anyone every go jogging with a Classic?

Interested in a new iPod, my old 40GB 3G is 5 years old and really doesn't like pounding the pavement.

And, yes I know a Nano is shock proof, but its capacity is far too small for me.
Click to expand...
You could go for a 64gb Touch. They are shock proof too. :)
 
OllyW said:
The touch interface is too fiddly for when you are running or cycling. The click wheel is much easier to use, a big capacity nano would be ideal. ;)
Click to expand...
I'm the opposite. When I get sweaty when I'm at the gym, the scrollwheel doesn't work, so the touch screen interface is perfect for me. ;)
 
I would be very sad if they discontinued the Classic. I personally love my Classic. Despite having a Touch and a Shuffle also, the Classic is the iPod I always have with me. It's the iPod that's the easiest to find my songs on. It's the iPod I can easily switch songs on while driving or working out or cutting my grass. It's the iPod that has my entire music and photo collection on it. I'd be very sad if they discontinued it.
 
someone28624 said:
I would be very sad if they discontinued the Classic. I personally love my Classic. Despite having a Touch and a Shuffle also, the Classic is the iPod I always have with me. It's the iPod that's the easiest to find my songs on. It's the iPod I can easily switch songs on while driving or working out or cutting my grass. It's the iPod that has my entire music and photo collection on it. I'd be very sad if they discontinued it.
Click to expand...

GOOD to hear that !
I actually ONLY have my Ipod classic - always refused any others / mainly because of their smaller storage size...
I've been tempted by the touch' apps & adds but now that i hear these comments / i realize what i want from my Ipod is Music in conjunction with optimal battery-storage-usability ...and nothing does this better than the Classic!
 
combatcolin said:
Anyone every go jogging with a Classic?

Interested in a new iPod, my old 40GB 3G is 5 years old and really doesn't like pounding the pavement.

And, yes I know a Nano is shock proof, but its capacity is far too small for me.
Click to expand...

Mostly I run/work out with an iPod mini or my iPod 5G. No worries so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back