And any way you look at it, with this 16GB full-featured iPod touch, Apple introduced a new A5 device and Apple will definitely sell this 16GB version throughout all of 2014. This means Apple will continue to actively support and sell A5-powered devices until at least spring 2015.
The iPad 2, released in spring 2011, will have at least 4 years of support and updates. One long time myth about Apple is does not exist anymore. Apple does not try to get people to buy new devices by issuing slower software. Adding on features to software will always make it slower. Apple does continue to add many new features at a rapid yearly pace - but it does its best at optimizing its software and has no intention whatsoever of making and forcing these portable computers to be obsolete.
And Apple also now doesn't try to force us to upgrade - iOS 7 introduced the ability to delete downloaded software updates.
This new Apple under Cook and Ive is different, but many things are also the same. I think it changed for the better for the current products. However, I think Apple will stay safe and steady, and not have breakout no-competition Steve Jobs successes like the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. For example, future products like an iWatch or iTV are being worked on by many other companies.