iPod When will the Click Wheel go bye bye?

[Zwhaler]

I was just thinking, with Apple obviously moving to more multi touch based products (iPhone, iPod Touch, and the MT tech in the new trackpads in the MBP/A), when do you guys think the Click Wheel that we have come to know and love for 7 years will finally go? I have a feeling that in 2 revisions from now (not this year, but next) the iPod lineup, except the shuffle, will be touch based. If Apple could develop a Multi Touch UI for an iPod the size of the Nano, it would be a huge hit.

Of course, it would have to to accommodate for a small iPod, but I think everyone would love it. I certainly would. But it is more difficult to tell when it comes to the Classic, as it's purpose it solely to be a high storage click wheel based iPod. I think that by late 2009/early 2010, we will have sufficient flash based storage to accommodate for people who need the current storage only supplied by hard drives. What do you think?

 

[yoyo5280]

personally I don't think that apple will make a nano touch, but you never know. I really love the click wheels.

If they change it they may change the design of the ipod too!

 

[forafireescape]

personally I don't think that apple will make a nano touch, but you never know. I really love the click wheels.

If they change it they may change the design of the ipod too!

Yeah, I think a Nano Touch would be just ridiculous because it would be too small to accurately touch it.

 

[Shotgun OS]

I think there will always be a need for the clickwheel. Some people just don't like the idea of having the iPod completely touch-powered, and I believe Apple recognizes that.

 

[Zwhaler]

I think there will always be a need for the clickwheel. Some people just don't like the idea of having the iPod completely touch-powered, and I believe Apple recognizes that.

I agree, except the day will come when Apple will be able to design something so genius that nobody doesn't like it. Like with the iPhone, touch screen phones weren't exactly popular or liked until it came along, and now they are all the rage.

 

[roisin and mac]

I think there will always be a need for the clickwheel. Some people just don't like the idea of having the iPod completely touch-powered, and I believe Apple recognizes that.

Yeh, like me lol. I like being able to control my music players by feel while they're in my pocket, without using a remote. Lovely as touchscreens are, I can't really do that with them. Well, I might be able to eventually, but it will take much more practice to learn how to position my fingers, and it might not work half the times. So, physical buttons are totally necessary, at least for me.

 

[archesdevil]

This is what people including Steve Jobs said about watching video on a 2.5 inch screen.

 

[7031]

Wait! What about a touchscreen clickwheel? Like have a picture of a clickwheel on the touchscreen?

Physical locations are important though.

 

[72930]

Wait! What about a touchscreen clickwheel? Like have a picture of a clickwheel on the touchscreen?

Physical locations are important though.

There were plenty of concepts of this (like the one below) but I think the current iPhone/touch UI is much better.

 

[tangledweb16]

I voted 2009... although I guess it could be this year.

 

[Zwhaler]

Wait! What about a touchscreen clickwheel? Like have a picture of a clickwheel on the touchscreen?

Physical locations are important though.

Honestly, that wouldn't be a very good idea, since you loose all the good things about a physical wheel (controlling in pocket, etc) and don't gain many benefits of a touchscreen, since it would be more or less exactly the same.