iPod New iPod lineup 2010

[Peterson8765]

Um... iPhone to iPhone 3G - increase in thickness.

iPod Touch to iPod Touch v2 - increase in thickness.

Never ever? You know why they tapered the second version of both of those? They started too thin to add what needed to be added, and still shrink, let alone keep the same size.

My predictions:
iPod Classic sticks around. Possibly a capacity bump. Same price, possibly polished aluminum and an FM radio. They will not put a camera in the Classic, unless it's HD. I always thought it would be cool, as the most expensive and the biggest of the core iPod family, that they include the most of everything, to get it to sell more - AM/FM radio, HD still and video camera, etc.

iPod Nano gets a capacity bump and the current colors remain. They will probably keep the same pack-of-gum form factor, because they've only deviated from that proven popular style once - iPod Nano v3 - and while I loved it, it's the only major design change to ever hit the Nano. It's always been rectangle, square was admittedly strange.

iPod Shuffle will probably see some sort of a more uniform melding between the clickwheel and speech-only variations. Something needs to make them more similar. They come in different colors and capacities, and couldn't be much more different. I predict the next generation of Shuffle sees one line with a lower capacity and clickwheel, and one line with a higher capacity and speech-only. I know they have that now, but they should come in certain colors, with each having a distinctive higher / lower counterpart.

iPod Touch... This one is a tough call. I don't know where Apple wants to go with this. Personally, I can see them going to with an iPhone 4 design, with separated volume buttons, a metal band, and a back that makes it symmetrical to the front - probably glass. I think it would be cool if they made it look like an iPad, though. An anodized (or polished) aluminum tapered body with a black volume rocker, a black plastic top center strip for the Wifi, and a black Apple logo would look AWESOME. I could also see a polished tapered back like the iPhone 3G / 3GS, that comes in all the colors of the Nano. Color choices would be sick too.

That was actually really fun to type up. Thanks for the thread.

That would be cool if the iPod Classic got all of those things. I think it is also time for the Classic to get a redesign since it's design has been the same for three years and it has gotten bland. I am hoping for FM radio w/ LivePause, a 3.2MP camera w/ video capture, same 160GB storage, and able to connect it to a TV like an Apple TV.

 

[Aero26]

That would be cool if the iPod Classic got all of those things. I think it is also time for the Classic to get a redesign since it's design has been the same for three years and it has gotten bland. I am hoping for FM radio w/ LivePause, a 3.2MP camera w/ video capture, same 160GB storage, and able to connect it to a TV like an Apple TV.

Wouldn't the radical design change contradict the "Classic" concept?

 

[SkippyThorson]

Wouldn't the radical design change contradict the "Classic" concept?

Maybe not too radical. It needs to keep the same basic form factor of a non-widescreen screen, and the same spacious clickwheel. However, that housing needs to change. I say keep the chrome too. That makes it "Classic" - and even if it's scratch-prone, I love the look of the chrome. That silver or flat black front needs to change. It's basically been a v6 Classic for years.

I bought the v5.5 Classic when the new one came out because I liked that white. I think that was the best design. Think about it, what is the iPhone 4? White or black behind glass. The iPods just before the move to metal were white and black behind plastic.

My v5.5 iPod is able to do video out from both the 30-pin in a universal dock, as well as right through the headphone jack. Simplicity and versatility like that needs to return as well. Don't the new ones not do headphone-jack-video?

 

[chris975d]

I agree. Also, local storage is going to matter less and less with the upcoming iTunes cloud. This is another reason why the Classic will disappear from the lineup. When Apple introduces over the air synching and cloud streaming, they're going to want their entire iPod lineup to contribute to the pool of users. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nano getting a wi-fi chip for over the air synching and cloud streaming.

Even with an iTunes cloud service, I think local storage will still play a huge role in non-cellular mp3 players. Take the iPod Touch for instance. It only has wi-fi to use for streaming. What good is an mp3 player if it can't be used away from a wi-fi network? How would you use this out jogging, working outside, in your car, etc? Sure the iTunes cloud service might be great on the iPhone (even here it's going to be hampered by the new data caps the network providers have put in place). This same thing holds true in the example you gave of the Nano getting a wi-fi chip. Useless as a music player away from a wi-fi network. Or are you suggesting that they (Apple) might use a combination of local storage AND streaming? In that case, then local storage will still matter. Free wi-fi networks are far from common-place for most people. I know that I'm just 30 minutes or so east of Atlanta, and the only wi-fi networks I encounter daily are at work and home, and occasionally McDonalds. It would suck if these were the only places I could actually listen to music on my mp3 player.

 

[UltimateSyn]

iPod touch

• $199 16GB 3rd gen
• $299 32GB 4th gen
• $399 64GB 4th gen

4th gen will have:

• A4 Processor
• 512MB RAM
• Gyroscope
• Retina Display
• Aluminum back
• Microphone
• One camera (either 3.2MP rear or VGA front w/ FaceTime)
• 802.11n WiFi

iPod nano

• $129 8GB
• $159 16GB

• I have no idea what else they could/would add...

iPod classic

• $249 200GB

• Thinner

iPod shuffle

• $49 2GB
• $69 4GB

• Same design

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All models will have improved battery life

Last year the nano got the huge revamp, it's the iPod touch's turn this year.

P.S. I'm HOPING for a white front glass plate option on the iPod touch, but it is probably only 0.1% likely.

 

[carve]

Classic will not be discontinued.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Classic will not be discontinued.

+1

Flash memory is too expensive and while it's not popular like the iPod touch, there is still a need for it.

 

[iMac0765]

I bet Steve Jobs has a trophy case with every single iPod (insert suffix here) ever made. From the 2001 to 2010!

 

[SkippyThorson]

I bet Steve Jobs has a trophy case with every single iPod (insert suffix here) ever made. From the 2001 to 2010!

Probably, and Jony Ive probably does as well. Steve only uses his iPhone 4, though, in a 3G housing.

Jony primarily uses one of these:

 

[Peterson8765]

Steve Jobs most likely has everything Apple has even made, with prototypes as well in his house.

 

[studioffice101]

Line UP

iPod Classic:
Will be cut, if not possibly an SSD

iPod Nano:
Tricky, Im guessing about the same, possibly new design, if the classic is ended possibly a bigger screen, higher capacity of course

iPod Shuffle:
Remember that 3CM by 3CM screen MacRumours showed a few weeks ago? im thinking some multi touch screen that allows you to browse through songs and playlists

iPod Touch:
iPhone Type Design on 32GB and 64GB versions, 8GB model will be third generation specs. New A4 processor on 32GB and 64GB versions with Facetime camera, possible 3.2megapixel back camera

 

[Draythor]

I seriously doubt that Apple will only put one camera on the iPod touch.
Think about it. If they just put the FaceTime camera on then you won't be able to take photos with it at all. I don't think they'll miss out on the opportunity to leave out the camera again this year. Last year was weird enough with a non premium iPod getting a video camera. It's happening. FACT!*

If you only put the 3.2MP camera on FaceTime is impossible. You wouldn't be able to see the screen and be on the camera simultaneously. They'd have to design a new 'industry standard' called 'BackofYouriPodTime'. Not as much fun...



*Not a Fact

 

[ThunderRobot]

That said, I see the point of keeping it as an audiophile device but I don't see it as Apple's character to stay in a niche market when they can push their flagship

Not sure I agree; Apple, traditionally, have been in a niche market promoting to a select group of pros (video, graphics, audio) rather than the masses.

Having said that, the digital media player audience is a different beast from their traditional market, but, it's unlikely that Apple would abandon the device offering highest capacity and (presumably) profit margins from the range.

Further, based on anecdotal evidence, the majority of iPod classic owners also own a flash based iPod or iPhone. I see no reason to think that would change.

Classic owners demand capacity - until the flash devices catch up, the classic will be around.

 

[cherry su]

I agree. Also, local storage is going to matter less and less with the upcoming iTunes cloud. This is another reason why the Classic will disappear from the lineup. When Apple introduces over the air synching and cloud streaming, they're going to want their entire iPod lineup to contribute to the pool of users. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nano getting a wi-fi chip for over the air synching and cloud streaming.

Would be funny to see iPod shuffle getting a wifi chip to work with iTunes cloud too. I guess syncing it would be tethered only and iTunes would fetch music from the cloud to load it to the device.

 

[shingi70]

If apple plans to go cloud wouldn't vthey have to make every ipod with a screen wi-fi compatiable.

Hell the zune's equvilent to the clasic and nano can already use the zune marketplace and acces your data cloud.

 

[OGDaniel]

I don't foresee the iPod Classic ever going away...but that's just me.

I agree with you my friend. Unless they are creating some sort of Nano-Classic hybrid. Something like a little smaller than the old Mini's, but with a camera like the nano, and capacities ranging from 30-80 GB. That's still a little iffy though, but if I was an industrial designer at Apple that'd be my idea. But no one is thinking that, there just thinking about how they can upgrade the current stuff.


And to the OP, 16 GB classic starting at $199? That's impossible. If I'm paying that much, I'd get a nano that can also shoot video

 

[OGDaniel]

And to you people who doubt the camerason the Touch, what's wrong with you? Everyone's saying that since the 3rd Gen didn't have cameras, this one won't, but why the hell not? It's way more probable this year as well. "10 million FaceTime devices", 'member that? Who really thinks they're selling 10 million iPhone 4s? And they probably canned the camera last year because they said to themselves "We know the video conferencing is coming soon, so let's wait on the camera so we can include the video conferencing on the next gen Touch."

And Apple will do something very Apple-like, put both cameras on or put none. Why would it only be one? And the other very Apple-like thing to do, and put the A4 in there. 4.0 runs optimally with the A4 behind it, and 4.0 was developed with the new iPhone and it's hardware in mind, so why skimp with the Touch?

And the Nano will have the addition of shooting HD video OR shooting video and pictures.

And there are my thoughts.

 

[Dark K]

iPod classic is a stay, it gives Apple that feeling of keeping that product which started the whole "iPod" era. I know that is pretty obsolete in terms of what we people can do now with the other products, but it still remains as a whole library music device.

I actually expect that Steve announces these big stuff:

1. Retina display on the products, this way developers MUST update all their apps ASAP.

2. Big update on expanding FaceTime for the iPod touch.

3. Probably Steve is going to talk more about this iOS stuff, I think he wants to make this a big deal as the OSX.

 

[SkippyThorson]

Hell the zune's equvilent to the clasic and nano can already use the zune marketplace and acces your data cloud.

- and it's so popular! I knew one person with a Zune. It's now dead, and he didn't replace it.

"10 million FaceTime devices", 'member that? Who really thinks they're selling 10 million iPhone 4s?

~raises hand~ "3 million in 22 days." Advanced math time!

Even if that trend drops to 1.5 million a month, with 5 months left in the year, that means 7.5 million in the remaining 5 months. Adding the 3 million already sold gives you 10.5 million, not counting the amount sold / to be sold for the rest of July.

I believe iPhones will easily hit 10 million sold by 2011, and even with that said, I believe the iPod Touch will get a camera.

 

[Googlyhead]

That's more realistic

However, I don't think Apple is going to move to make the iPod Touch look like the iPhone. I feel that we should expect to see the nano and iPod Touch aesthetically match since these two are part of the same category.

I predict that the design of both iPods will have a flat front and curved back in a unibody frame. The iPhone's design will remain exclusive to that category.

I doubt any will have a glass back. Not least because I'm sure people still use the engraving options.
They're a nice touch to have available, and making it harder to resell gives the obvious advantage of more new device sales without diminishing the apparent value.

 

[Googlyhead]

Does no-one else think it's possible the classic could be replaced by a large capacity nano?
Charging a premium for capacity, the traditional way of operation, yet reducing manufacturing costs by having the same form factor.

 

[Razeus]

Hopefully, they'll have the Classic with a 250GB hard drive.

That would hold all my stuff as I stand at 220GB of mp3/acc high quality files now.

 

[ajumbaje]

fingers crossed for a 200+ gb classic. I have a lot of cds on my amazon wishlist and am copying them over to aiff on my ipod so I can pretty much listen to what the cd is in my car. I recently got a new car deck (alpine ida-x305s) that is all digital, aka the reason why I am copying over to aiff. That and I plan to get a pair of alessandro ms1's soon

Im 15 or so gb away from filling my 120 and I have a good 90 cds on my wish list, and it will probably grow.

 

[yorkshire]

I can see the classic being slimmed down by about a 1/3, with a 128GB flash drive and all the features of the current nano except maybe the camera. That'd be a killer update.

 

[paolo-]

I have a bit of a different vision. Too many devices doing similar things with the iphone and ipad.

iPod classic : gone, especially if streaming does come along. Apple doesn't keep old products just because it reminds them of an era. They are the first ones to move on.

iPod touch : gets a camera or two, possibly a compass and gps. Especially the compass as they market it as the gaming machine. The camera differentiates it more from the iPad.

iPod nano : fills the void of the classic. Becomes just a machine to listen to music. Available from 8gb up to a ridiculous amount of storage. Make it much more streamlined and usable. I have a 1st gen nano and I prefer it to the current ones. Especially with the touch out there, it doesn't need a big screen. Who watches video on those things anyways? A bigger scroll wheel would make it a much better experience. Probably remove the video camera along with it, if you want to shoot video, get the touch.

Make a complete redesign so it doesn't look like they are removing features from the nano, just making a solid new product possibly name it just the iPod. Big battery, big storage, possibly introduce some kind of gimmicky thing about better sound quality and make it super cheap. For the sound quality, it's not just BS, the current gen iPods have a problem giving clean sound to big headphones, lots of people use them with headphone amps. If this thing is marketed towards music listeners it could be a good selling point. You know, a solid music listening machine starting at 99$.

iPod shuffle : change in design. Right now you stick your headphones in a stick of gum that you stick onto your body and then pull on a dangling piece of gum on the cord to change tracks. Ditch that, possibly introduce a simple touch interface. Just a flat surface , a bit bigger than the current version, that tracks your finger. Tap to pause, swipe to skip track and slow swiping motion to change volume. Since there's only one dimension to check, it could be very cheap to implement.