iPod Will the next iPod classic be a major redesign?

[walnuts]

If anything I wish they used a higher capacity hard drive in the iPod Touch. Really hard drive based players aren't all that unreliable.

I disagree. I actually think that apple is being responsible by moving away from hard-drive based ipods. It is good that apple maintains the classic line for those who want them (I still have a ipod 5.5g that I use when I go on vacation as opposed to my iphone that I use daily).

However, I have found, as others have, you could destroy your $250-$350 "portable" investment by dropping it once. I've gone through 3-4 of them. In my opinion, a "portable" product, particularly one which is advertised in use with people dancing and doing headstands, must be designed to withstand an occasional casual drop. I'm not sure if its hard-drives or apple's minimalist, thin is king design, but hard drive based ipods that I have used cannot meet this criteria. I'm glad to have my flash based iphone that I don't have to worry about frying the hard drive if I drop it from 3 feet.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I'm glad to have my flash based iphone that I don't have to worry about frying the hard drive if I drop it from 3 feet.

You just have to worry about shattering the screen, which is a piece of glass.

 

[204467]

I disagree. I actually think that apple is being responsible by moving away from hard-drive based ipods. It is good that apple maintains the classic line for those who want them (I still have a ipod 5.5g that I use when I go on vacation as opposed to my iphone that I use daily).

However, I have found, as others have, you could destroy your $250-$350 "portable" investment by dropping it once. I've gone through 3-4 of them. In my opinion, a "portable" product, particularly one which is advertised in use with people dancing and doing headstands, must be designed to withstand an occasional casual drop. I'm not sure if its hard-drives or apple's minimalist, thin is king design, but hard drive based ipods that I have used cannot meet this criteria. I'm glad to have my flash based iphone that I don't have to worry about frying the hard drive if I drop it from 3 feet.

You know, I can't remember the number of times I've dropped my 6th gen Classic from a height of about 3 ft onto asphalt. However, it still works perfectly, with just a few dings in the case. I haven't noticed a single decline in performance, and it's almost a year old.

 

[cherry su]

1. The 160GB iPod is already $349.
2. Discontinuing the 80GB model without moving anything else into the $249 price point would drastically change their selling structure.
3. And there's already a buffer in the iPods to prevent the disk from constantly spinning.

1. Fixed
2. Move mid-level iPod Touch to $249
3. Make the buffer bigger (esp. for movies)!

 

[Brien]

I think the Classic, the last of the HD-based iPods, probably won't see any updates.

I see the 16GB iPod Touch getting a price drop to $299 and the 32GB to $399. We might see a 64GB but I don't think we will, it will probably be like last year and they'll introduce that later on (perhaps concurrently with a 32GB iPhone).

If anything they might do as suggested and drop the 80GB Classic.

I think we will see them drop the 1GB iPod shuffle, and the 2GB shuffle go to $49 - perhaps not this September but surely it's going to happen as 2GB is no longer that expensive to produce. That way capacities are in-line with prices.

2GB shuffle for $50, 4 GB nano for $150, 8GB nano for $200, 16 GB touch for $300, and so on. The only wild card is if we'll see nano drop in price (I don't think it will).

 

[aafuss1]

Have some custom EQ options-eg. set in iTunes, is carried over to the iPod when syncing. shuffles could benefit from this-set in ipod preferences.

Include a decent IEM with the touch.

 

[Foxer]

4 GB nano for $150, 8GB nano for $200 ... the only wild card is if we'll see nano drop in price (I don't think it will).

I rather think that a bump in nano capacity (to 8 and 16 GB) at the same prices is a given.

As I said before, the only thing I want is a 320GB classic, preferably in the old white. (or maybe bring back Flower Power...)

 

[elmateo487]

You know, I can't remember the number of times I've dropped my 6th gen Classic from a height of about 3 ft onto asphalt. However, it still works perfectly, with just a few dings in the case. I haven't noticed a single decline in performance, and it's almost a year old.

Neither can I. I have dropped mine from about waist height so many times I have stopped having a spaz attack each time i drop it.

Edit: Oh the hard drive is still running beautifully.

 

[madmaxmedia]

The year before, they did some slight updates to the 5G (5.5G), so that might be in the cards this year.

Same price point, don't know if they can bump the storage capacity on either model (I guess larger than 160GB 1/8" HD is not available, but maybe they increase the 80GB model to 120GB?) At 120GB and 160GB, they could keep the cheaper model at $249, and drop the larger model to $299.

More battery life, brighter screen, yadda yadda. Not sure what else they can add while maintaining the same price points. Maybe they could shave off a little more from the thickness, I don't know.

There's no reason to drop the Classic line yet though. Some people seem to want it gone, but it probably has good margins and has a very specific target niche (large capacity) that is not satisfied with the flash players.

 

[madmaxmedia]

I rather think that a bump in nano capacity (to 8 and 16 GB) at the same prices is a given.)

Yeah, and the same as well for the iPod Touch.

I think they will also rev both models beyond capacity increases though, they want to maintain sales now that overall iPod growth has slowed. If they don't make any other changes then they won't get those upgrade sales...

 

[walnuts]

You know, I can't remember the number of times I've dropped my 6th gen Classic from a height of about 3 ft onto asphalt. However, it still works perfectly, with just a few dings in the case. I haven't noticed a single decline in performance, and it's almost a year old.

Neither can I. I have dropped mine from about waist height so many times I have stopped having a spaz attack each time i drop it.

Edit: Oh the hard drive is still running beautifully.

Well, it is possible that apple improved the tech in the classic... my grudge is based on experience from 4G and 5.5 G ipods.

 

[madmaxmedia]

Well, it is possible that apple improved the tech in the classic... my grudge is based on experience from 4G and 5.5 G ipods.

A lot of it is luck. I think iPods have always had a small rubber bumper around the hard drive inside. If the iPod is dropped when the hard drive is not being accessed, your chances of survival improve greatly.

There was also a time when a somewhat significant percentage of iPods went bad because the hard drive connector cable loosened (perhaps due to shock or movement), not because the actual hard drives failed.

I fixed my father-in-law's iPod by simply re-seating the connector. The Genius at the Apple store had told him the hard drive had failed and the iPod was basically dust. Now I'm the electronics genius...

 

[Nitrocide]

I hope they dont rid all the iPod lines of physical buttons. Half the reason i bought a classic was for the space, but the other half is the fact that i can click the buttons on the outside of my jeans to change tracks, pause etc. Especially on the tube and stuff im not comfortable on getting it out but i see people with touch's constantly having to pull then out of their pockets!

If they did get rid of the physical button configuration it would be a crying shame!

 

[204467]

Well, it is possible that apple improved the tech in the classic... my grudge is based on experience from 4G and 5.5 G ipods.

Yeah, that makes sense. The current Classics are much stronger than the previous generations.

A lot of it is luck. I think iPods have always had a small rubber bumper around the hard drive inside. If the iPod is dropped when the hard drive is not being accessed, your chances of survival improve greatly.

There was also a time when a somewhat significant percentage of iPods went bad because the hard drive connector cable loosened (perhaps due to shock or movement), not because the actual hard drives failed.

I fixed my father-in-law's iPod by simply re-seating the connector. The Genius at the Apple store had told him the hard drive had failed and the iPod was basically dust. Now I'm the electronics genius...

Well, I dropped mine while it was playing music, so whatever. But like I just said, I think the 6 gen Classics are extremely strong compared to previous generations.

 

[walnuts]

Well, I dropped mine while it was playing music, so whatever. But like I just said, I think the 6 gen Classics are extremely strong compared to previous generations.

That doesn't guarantee that the hard drive was being accessed. I think ipods download the next few minutes (when it knows what the next few minutes are) into memory every few minutes- that's the way anti-skip works. The hard drive is accessed only once a in a while to take in the rest of the song.

Actually, I bought a nano for this issue. I was really upset when I was told b a genius that it was possible that the hard drive failed because I ran with the ipod. I was incredulous- there I was in the apple store where they sell cases to run with the thing and the nike + ipod kit and I'm not supposed to run with it?

Anyway, my last 5.5 g started to act poorly as I ran with it- particularly when I changed songs (the ipod has to access the hard drive at that moment because it can't have known that I wanted to play that song at that moment so it needs to load it on the spot.) The ipod would reliably crash when running and changing songs- I figured it was only a matter of time before the hard drive got fried. I replaced it with a nano that I use at the gym exclusively (and kept the 5.5 g for long trips ec) and never had an issue again.

 

[Agathon]

It's time to make the Classic the hi-fiPod. Keep the current sizes and raise the price $50 and use better components.

The Classics are for the real music nuts (mine is now full. I have had to resort to loading solely audio, deleting album art and not loading on some genres).

Noobs and people who like Britney are going to buy a Nano or a shuffle. Apple would get more customers for the Classic by making it the Quad of iPods.

 

[elmateo487]

They usually re-design, but now that the Classic is now not the highest priced iPod, I doubt they will. Probably'll turn out like this

160GB - $250
320GB - $350
400GB - $450 <-- Could happen

Honestly, i'm waiting for an DS so I can have a screen to watch my movies and have another screen to play/pause/rewind/etc and search for another video if the video i'm watching is almost done so it transfers seamlessly

I would just like to know... under what assumption do we think that they will bump the capacity? I don't see any hard drives that are compatible with the classic that are bigger. ESPECIALLY 400 gigs! Maybe i am crazy.

 

[iMacmatician]

I would just like to know... under what assumption do we think that they will bump the capacity? I don't see any hard drives that are compatible with the classic that are bigger. ESPECIALLY 400 gigs! Maybe i am crazy.

If there is a bigger hard drive that fits in an iPod classic, then it will get a speed bump.

AFAIK, the biggest HD is 160 GB through this year.

 

[204467]

That doesn't guarantee that the hard drive was being accessed. I think ipods download the next few minutes (when it knows what the next few minutes are) into memory every few minutes- that's the way anti-skip works. The hard drive is accessed only once a in a while to take in the rest of the song.

Actually, I bought a nano for this issue. I was really upset when I was told b a genius that it was possible that the hard drive failed because I ran with the ipod. I was incredulous- there I was in the apple store where they sell cases to run with the thing and the nike + ipod kit and I'm not supposed to run with it?

Anyway, my last 5.5 g started to act poorly as I ran with it- particularly when I changed songs (the ipod has to access the hard drive at that moment because it can't have known that I wanted to play that song at that moment so it needs to load it on the spot.) The ipod would reliably crash when running and changing songs- I figured it was only a matter of time before the hard drive got fried. I replaced it with a nano that I use at the gym exclusively (and kept the 5.5 g for long trips ec) and never had an issue again.

You know, I always wondered how anti-skip worked. Thanks for telling me, that's really interesting.

It's time to make the Classic the hi-fiPod. Keep the current sizes and raise the price $50 and use better components.

The Classics are for the real music nuts (mine is now full. I have had to resort to loading solely audio, deleting album art and not loading on some genres).

Noobs and people who like Britney are going to buy a Nano or a shuffle. Apple would get more customers for the Classic by making it the Quad of iPods.

Hmm, well I wouldn't say I'm a music nut, but I currently have 6.26 gigs of music, some video, and I like album artwork. That's why I bought the Classic, for the storage. I could of course convert all my music to AAC to save space, but that takes time and I don't feel like doing it. Plus, I refuse to pay $200 for 8 gigs of space, when for just $50 more, I get 80 gigs.

However, I wouldn't say that the Classic should be remade for only audiophiles; lots of people like to have video, photos (though I still don't understand that) and all their music on their iPods. And what with current Nano capacities, the Nano is just not a possibility for some people.

 

[macdot]

I don't think they'll change the basic form for a long while.

 

[dacreativeguy]

I don't think they'll change the basic form for a long while.

I think when flash memory is available in 64GB that the hard drive based ipod will be retired. Also, the future is the App Store, so Apple will want to drive as many fully size ipod customers to the Touch where they can spend more money on Apps.

 

[CSIrules]

No major changes

Seeing as new iPod games were released just last week, there seems to be no plan to change the formfactor (of the screen at least) or hardware anytime soon. The screen is just the right size to allow video and a clickwheel and many people don't like touchscreens. However I do believe that Apple will do whatever they can to get a 360GB hardrive. People always think they need the biggest and most expensive model even though an increasingly small minority of them actually do. Its in Apples best interests to give it to them.

 

[atoothelex]

Noobs and people who like Britney are going to buy a Nano or a shuffle. Apple would get more customers for the Classic by making it the Quad of iPods.

I honestly can't agree more. You cannot listen to Pop music and have a large (10,000 song+) music library. I consider myself an audiophile and i have over 18,000 songs. But on the subject of iPod classics, i hope there is a larger iPod hard drive, but that's out of the question. I'm optimistic about the new iPod classsics, but i'm also worried that apple will just ditch the iPod design.

 

[The Toon Master]

I would just like to know... under what assumption do we think that they will bump the capacity? I don't see any hard drives that are compatible with the classic that are bigger. ESPECIALLY 400 gigs! Maybe i am crazy.

I meant to write 480.

Considering that this is how it went last year

2006: 30GB, 80GB,
2007: 80GB, 160GB
2008: 160GB, 320GB <-- That's what you assume

however, i've read that they don't have a 320GB HD small enough to fit the classic. This is where this comes in

120GB, 240GB

I've posted this in the other 5 threads like this

I think the Classic really shouldn't change much within the next few years unless it's discontinued. If they added the 3.5 inch screen to the iPod Classic, that might put me over the edge to buy it (Access to everything on my Hard Drive or WiFi if I can actually get access)

 

[204467]

I meant to write 480.

Considering that this is how it went last year

2006: 30GB, 80GB,
2007: 80GB, 160GB
2008: 160GB, 320GB <-- That's what you assume

however, i've read that they don't have a 320GB HD small enough to fit the classic. This is where this comes in

120GB, 240GB

I've posted this in the other 5 threads like this

I think the Classic really shouldn't change much within the next few years unless it's discontinued. If they added the 3.5 inch screen to the iPod Classic, that might put me over the edge to buy it (Access to everything on my Hard Drive or WiFi if I can actually get access)

Okay, you want a 3.5" screen? You got it, along with a bigger iPod!

Seriously though, Apple will never make the Classic any bigger than it already is, especially not to add screen size. To Apple, if you want a bigger screen, you go with either the iPod Touch or the iPhone.