iPod Will Apple reduce their iPod line-up?

[Unami]

built quality on the last generation of classics was also inferior to the generation before (e.g. more noticeable seams on the shell).

as it wasn't updated to lighting connectors, it's probably the end of a line now.

i think it's a shame, because it's still the only way to carry around a big music library - lots of people i know have bigger libraries than then 64 gb the largest ipod touch offers (for double the price than a 160gb classic).

128 gb flash would be enough for most, i guess, but 128gb is pretty expensive when bought from apple.

itunes match is a nice addition for people with large libraries, but it's slow or even unaccessible in rural areas and will cost you a fortune in roaming costs abroad.

 

[ftaok]

iPod Nano: not sure who would buy this. Could see Apple kill this one. It has an un-Apple-esque user interface and its price comes within $80 of the iPod Touch, which has an amazingly diverse usability and is clearly a much more convenient device.

For me and my money, the nano is the best iPod of them all, if you're looking for a music player.

I already have an iPhone, so the touch would be redundant. The shuffle and classic don't have bluetooth, so they're limited. Also, the 7Gnano is the best Nike+ device that you can get, so if you're into tracking your runs, then the nano is the only game in town.

This doesn't mean the nano doesn't have flaws. I would have preferred that Apple fix the flaws of the 6G nano and crammed in the 7G nano into the same form factor of the 6G. As it is, the 7G is a little more bulky to wear on your wrist, but the pros outweighs the cons compared to the 6G.

NOTE - the major flaw of the 6G is the crappy sleep button that WILL crap out on you eventually. The 7G seems to have much better button designs than the 6G, which is to say it's not totally dependent on glue.

As for Apple killing the nano ... it could happen, but I would hope that they release an iWatch for me that incorporates Nike+.

 

[Traverse]

I think the Nano serves a purpose as does the touch. Sadly, I can see the Classic dying soon and the shuffle...eh...I'm not sure.

 

[michael31986]

They need to just rebrand the classic as an iPod for audiophiles. Make it lightening connector and just more space.

 

[Brian Y]

What I'd really love to see - a current gen iPod nano with a 256GB SSD. That'd be lovely!

It'd cost a fortune, but heck, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

 

[NewbieCanada]

They need to just rebrand the classic as an iPod for audiophiles. Make it lightening connector and just more space.

It was last updated in 2008. They're not going to spend any money on R&D.

At some point it may not pay for Toshiba to keep manufacturing the drives used in the iPod Classic if they aren't being used for anything else.

 

[Msail30bay]

The Shuffle is simply a product that promotes iTunes. Why would anyone buy a $50 iPod Shuffle when a cheap MP3 player is only $20.00? The answer is the iTunes Store.

The Nano is promoted as too much of an iPod Touch. It used to serve a step between the Shuffle and the Classic. Now it is running a hunkered down copy of iOS, crippled with no streaming support, and still the same storage options. I just fail to understand why anyone in their right mind would buy a device that is miniature, scaled down version of a much more powerful iPod within $80.

The Classic is now a dying breed as many moved to streaming. I do hope that they make it Flash based and incorporate Lightning connectors into it. I really do like the form factor, and it really serves a market whom is less common but still there.

Well, I just did, in Sliver, for the Gym……….. Hellooooooo????? Why would someone in their right mind, carry that heavy classic around, in the Gym?

Yeah, the "new" Nano is not that great and yes, it can easily fall as it is smaller and lighter, BUT it is great for us people who run on the Treadmill. The last thing I need is something that would add weight and bounce around. With the Touch, I'm not going there……… hate that damn thing.

 

[Lesser Evets]

They should truncate and shrink the entire line....

iPod Shuffle--reduce to 2GB and $29
iPod Nano--keep as is, one size only, reduce to $99

iPod Classic--eliminate completely

iPod Touch--go to 128gb, rename as iPad Micro, jump to iPad line up, make it a neutered iPad with excellent camera, $199 for the 16GB limited version, $229 for the 32gb.

 

[dca919]

To me the perfect iPod lineup would be:

• 
  iPod nano (redesigned in 6th generation/shuffle form factor).
  iPod touch (32,64, 128 GB versions with 5" screen form factor OR 32GB version only with microSD slot

Classic and shuffle discontinued.

Apple needs to change the form factor of the nano back to the 6th generation version and get rid of the shuffle. The shuffle reminds me of the iPod mini-it's just not function and not a great user experience (reminds me of a Speedo waterproof radio circa 1998 without station info displayed). Apple isn't a company that wants to make entry level (and limited use) pricing products anyways. The 6th generation nano was perfect for the gym/running (radio, Nike+ support).

What I would really like (and would be a radical redesign would be to make one version of the touch with 32 GB internal and put a microSD slot into it) if they want to go for reducing the entry cost (especially for the developing world). It's not like a 30-pin connector is blocking the physical space necessary anymore.

 

[Altemose]

The Shuffle is the gateway drug to the iTunes eco-system. When the Shuffle needs to be replaced, people will buy a higher end iPod or iPhone to replace it. Apple uses the Shuffle as the gateway and it serves the purpose well.

The Classic is still needed, and I just wish they would change some things to it. It is kind of like Classic MBPs. When the new Retina models came out in 2012, they also updated the cMBP with some minor upgrades. Apple should definitely do that for the iPod Classic even if only for Lightning and maybe a bigger hard drive. They could also make it a very large storage that depends on Flash, but that is iffy due to Flash storage costs.

The Nano is going to stay around in my opinion in one form or another. It is great for gym usage, and since it is just for basic use (music, photos, etc.) it probably will stay as a baby iPod touch.

The Touch is one of the biggest devices Apple sells. It is also a gateway for iPhones and iPads.

 

[Alphabetize]

I am actually looking forward to any updates to the iPod lineup, and I'm hoping to see a 32 GB iPod nano sometime.

 

[phoenixsan]

If we take.....

with some salt the words of Tim Cook in the last earnings call, in some moment Apple will stop making the classic iPod. And compact the offerings, maybe to an one-size-fits-all offer. Surely, for me, that will be a touch device with flash memory.....

 

[alphaod]

The iPod nano is small, yet has a screen. Now with Bluetooth and Nike+ integration, it's great.

It's not the same as using the iPod touch and the iPod shuffle is a piece of crap.