I know there's lots of Apple fans (including me) who are patiently waiting for a new iPod to be released at some time. As Apple seems to be working on a revamped music service right now, including a streaming service, a newly designed music app for iOS and probably a new version of iTunes for Mac and PC, I think it would be the perfect time for them to release a new device to accompany the service. Here's why I think so:
1) If they want to promote their completely revamped music range it would make sense to offer a device that is perfectly integrated with the new offerings.
2) The iPod touch is currently the last iPod to support the current iOS version. If they decide to drop support for A5 devices this year, the current iPod touch would not be eligible for an update to iOS 9 which could include further changes to the music app. If this was the case, they would have not a single music player to fully support their music service anymore. It's also unlikely that other iPods such as the current iPod shuffle or iPod nano are able to work with the streaming service.
In my opinion, this leaves only a few options for Apple:
1) Offer a completely new device. They could simply name it "iPod" (just as they did with the new 12" MacBook) and it could replace the complete current iPod lineup. Maybe a thin and light device with a classic Clickwheel, WiFi, fast flash memory and a new OS (probably a special version of iOS) including the possibility to use the new streaming service and store the songs for offline playback. People still seem to love the classic iPod sillhouette and concept (hence the high prices for the iPod classic since it was discontinued) and Apple said it was only discontinued because the components weren't available anymore. But of course this is only one possibility for a new device, it could also be basically a new iteration of the iPod touch.
2) Update the current iPod lineup so they somehow work with the new service.
3) Drop the complete iPod lineup either immediately or let it slowly die.
I know this is completely speculative as we don't know anything for sure right now. I was just thinking that this is kind of a 'now or never' moment with the new music service coming up pretty soon. If they don't update the iPod lineup now (or introduce an all new iPod) it's pretty likely that it will be discontinued sooner or later. So what do you guys think? Is a new iPod or at least an updated lineup possible at all? What kind of a device would you Apple want to offer?
1) If they want to promote their completely revamped music range it would make sense to offer a device that is perfectly integrated with the new offerings.
2) The iPod touch is currently the last iPod to support the current iOS version. If they decide to drop support for A5 devices this year, the current iPod touch would not be eligible for an update to iOS 9 which could include further changes to the music app. If this was the case, they would have not a single music player to fully support their music service anymore. It's also unlikely that other iPods such as the current iPod shuffle or iPod nano are able to work with the streaming service.
In my opinion, this leaves only a few options for Apple:
1) Offer a completely new device. They could simply name it "iPod" (just as they did with the new 12" MacBook) and it could replace the complete current iPod lineup. Maybe a thin and light device with a classic Clickwheel, WiFi, fast flash memory and a new OS (probably a special version of iOS) including the possibility to use the new streaming service and store the songs for offline playback. People still seem to love the classic iPod sillhouette and concept (hence the high prices for the iPod classic since it was discontinued) and Apple said it was only discontinued because the components weren't available anymore. But of course this is only one possibility for a new device, it could also be basically a new iteration of the iPod touch.
2) Update the current iPod lineup so they somehow work with the new service.
3) Drop the complete iPod lineup either immediately or let it slowly die.
I know this is completely speculative as we don't know anything for sure right now. I was just thinking that this is kind of a 'now or never' moment with the new music service coming up pretty soon. If they don't update the iPod lineup now (or introduce an all new iPod) it's pretty likely that it will be discontinued sooner or later. So what do you guys think? Is a new iPod or at least an updated lineup possible at all? What kind of a device would you Apple want to offer?