2GB and 4GB iPod Shuffles?

[MacRumors]

T3 reports that according to "reliable" sources, 2GB and 4GB iPod shuffles are in line for release as well as a new 8GB iPod mini.

According to our lead both the 2GB and 4GB shuffles are definitely set for release. As is a new 8GB iPod mini - Apple is allegedly planning to keep the 6GB version and ditch the 4GB with this addition to the mini family.

First reports of this rumor originated from Digitimes back in May.

Digitimes has not been historically accurate with their rumor reports.

 

[LucasLand]

updates are obvious, you'll impress me if you get the date correct

 

[eXan]

I doubt it will be convinient to shuffle-navigate thru 4 gig of music without screen.

Good to hear about 8 gig mini though

 

[iGary]

updates are obvious, you'll impress me if you get the date correct

They're here to impress you.

An 8GB mini would be a nice addition to the line. Wonder if the 4 would go to 6.

 

[Vonnie]

A 4 gig ipod shuffle? I seriously doubt that.. I mean, the shuffles are mainly for working out. 4 gigs of music in a shuffle is just a waist.. You can't listen to it al during a workout, and you can't navigate to your favorite song..

 

[iMan]

I doubt it will be convinient to shuffle-navigate thru 4 gig of music without screen.

My next pod is a 4 gig shuffle - with a tiny display - to replace my beloved mini... I hope

 

[wordmunger]

I wonder if this means they'd discontinue the 512 MB and/or 1 GB shuffle. Or a price decrease? Maybe discontinue the 512 and have the 1 GB shuffle go down to $79?

 

[alexeismertin]

iPod again & again & again

When is this iPod madness going to end, we want COMPUTERS not personal stereos.

Why don't they do something positive with the ipod line and make it OSX bootable, now thats a personal computer!

 

[bloodfist]

When is this iPod madness going to end, we want COMPUTERS not personal stereos.

Why don't they do something positive with the ipod line and make it OSX bootable, now thats a personal computer!

The iPod line is making too much money. A lot of people might dump a perfectly fine iPod just to get a new one with a color screen, or a shuffle with more capacity (which mentioned before is pointless). So why not update the iPods if they are continuing to be profitable?

bloofist

 

[SErgini0]

Insider information tells me that the 2GB is due in July and the 4GB is due in August (shuffle). I have no news on the mac-mini!

 

[thexmac]

Insider information tells me that the 2GB is due in July and the 4GB is due in August (shuffle). I have no news on the mac-mini!

Any news about iBook line??

 

[Eluon]

new ipods

that would make sense. they seem to be trying to get rid of the 4gig mini's by offering the college discount. I bet the mini's, like the article says, would move to 6 and 8 gigs.

I don't know why they would make a shuffle that big, but who knows. Maybe there is a completely new design on them such as the small screen. I have no clue.

What do you guys think?

 

[0098386]

aw i know this happens, but i just got my 6Gb mini back in feb and i'm struggling to get more music on it. and 8Gb would be fantastic. but NO! i must wait. my next iPod will be at least 40Gb. probably stick with my 6Gb mini until a 40Gb mini appears in the far far future.

but this whole iPod update makes sense. but as previously mentioned, finding music on a 4Gb screen-less MP3 player is going to be a tough one. it is progression but 4Gb is a lot to get lost in.

 

[michaelrjohnson]

I'm just hoping Apple doesn't sacrifice their entry-level iPod for the sake of increased storage. At $99 the Shuffle is a bargain for those who want to "get in" to the iPod world. If they increase the Shuffle's capacities, I hope they keep a player at $99 or *less*.

 

[centauratlas]

120gb photo would be good...

Digitimes has not been historically accurate with their rumor reports.

As long as I am wishing, this is what I'd like to see:
1. 120GB iPod photo - well, I guess that would be a regular iPod now given that the regular iPods all are color screens now.
2. No delays on the Intel switch - for Apple the faster the better now that it is announced.
3. A Nokia phone (or Apple branded Symbian or something) iTunes compatible with good camera etc.
4. Nokia 6630 synching.

 

[johnbro23]

Who would buy an 8GB mini if the 6GB one was $50 cheaper? This would be the opposite of whats going on with the iPod line... you can get tripple the space for $100 more.

 

[SErgini0]

The 2GB & 4GB shuffles will look the same as the 512Mb & 1GB units.

Nothing new for the ibook range yet.

 

[rdowns]

Any news about iBook line??

Yes, MacRumors always hides news of iBook product updates inside iPod threads.

 

[Windowlicker]

ouch. i will feel bad, because a friend just spent his money on a 512gb model. it wouldn't be a big deal if he would get 1gb for the same price after a while, but 2gb is pretty much different.

oh well, it'll take ages to get them in finland after all.

 

[zelmo]

Clearly, the $149 price point of the 1GB Shuffle made it easy for consumers to add another $50 and get 4X capacity and a nice screen.The recent price drop on the 1GB indicates a desire on Apple's part to clear out inventory. If they were just reducing price due to manufacturing savings (economy of scale), the 512MB version probably would have dropped to $89 or maybe even $79.

I can't see more than 2GB in a screenless player. They'd need to add some type of screen for 4GB. Random is one thing, totally unmanageable is quite another.
As the Mini gets bigger and closes the gap to the color iPod, we'll see a return of the 30GB capacity, and the 60GB will increase.

My guess is that, by the time we get to the Paris event, we'll see a new line-up:
1GB Shuffle $99
2GB Shuffle $129

6GB Mini $199
8GB Mini $249

30GB iPod $299
80GB iPod $399

 

[alexeismertin]

The iPod line is making too much money. A lot of people might dump a perfectly fine iPod just to get a new one with a color screen, or a shuffle with more capacity (which mentioned before is pointless). So why not update the iPods if they are continuing to be profitable?

bloofist

Sure, I don't have a problem with the ipods being updated, but you must remember the mac user base who kept Apple afloat through the lean times (OS9-OSX/PPC & intel in the future), these people need computers not ipods.

If the computers were updated regularly, you could update the ipod every quarter & nobody would mind. It becomes an issue when the ipod (cash cow that it is) takes precedence over the main line. For example the ibook - 254 days since an update, on the other hand the ipod shuffle introduction & proposed update in approx 180 days, the Mac Mini's hardware is too old for Tiger (irrespective of the importance of the say the ripple effect, the hardware should be able to handle everything the OS asks of it). I'll accept that Apple has had problems with the CPU but why not offer extra features such as better graphics, more memory, bigger HD's & AE. BT & lower pricing.

Can Apple survive as an ipod-only company or will it want its Mac users back after the intel change after alienating them? If Apple leave it any longer then who in their right mind is going to but one of SJ's 'great PPC products' when in just a matter of months there is going to be a HUGE hardware change. Therefore Apple need to show the best of everything they have NOW to get people to buy it, the closer it gets to June 2006 irrespective of the product people will wait it out for the intel stuff.

In other words who wants a G5 Powerbook a month before dual core intel powerbooks?


Bring on the ipods, BUT also bring on the computers!

 

[fltman]

I doubt it will be convinient to shuffle-navigate thru 4 gig of music without screen.

Good to hear about 8 gig mini though

Sure, it would certainly be inconvinient to navigate through 4 gig of mp3's without a screen but don't forget that it's not only a mp3-player, it's also a really nice memory stick. At least for me 4 gigs would be usefull.

 

[minstryoffunk]

Who would buy an 8GB mini if the 6GB one was $50 cheaper? This would be the opposite of whats going on with the iPod line... you can get tripple the space for $100 more.

i would probably pay more (albeit not a lot) for an 8 gig mini than for a 20 gig photo

there are a lot of people who would find the extra 12 GB from the full blown 20 gig useless. from what I''ve seen, a solid chunk of people dont have anywhere near that much music on their computers, and wouldn't take advantage of the portable hard disk feature.

plus you can't beat the mini's form factor. its so much more elegant than either of the now regular iPods, and 6 gigs makes for a near perfect balance of variety and ease of use.

i agree that a 4 gig shuffle would be a bit much without a screen, but i'm sure theres a market for it. after all, its tiny (which is good), and i personally like just playing through my library on shuffle. its almost scary how well the ipod usually picks just what i wanted to hear, sometimes before i realize it.

 

[mpw]

updates are obvious, you'll impress me if you get the date correct

I wouldn't put too much faith in anything reported by T3. The magazine isn't exactly filled with the most acurate, in-depth or cutting edge information on new products.

Their original report of the 20" iMac G5 about 6weeks after it's launch was full of mistakes that could've and should've been checked with a visit to Apple's web-site and or press release.

 

[miketcool]

Um...

I feel like I'm the father behind the wheel of a minivan on some cross country holiday trip with 9 kids. 9 very whiny kids who do nothing but complain when things get a little better.
Apple is a debt free company, with a revolutionary music player bringing tons of capital. More iPods sold, means more R&R. Some of you are acting like Apple sits around all day tinkering in the iPod department while the other half of the company has the year off. Apple has been doing things for a long time, and recently, they seem to be doing excellently. Quit being so gosh darn nit picky, and enjoy yourselves. I believe Jobs hasn't shown his whole hand yet, and there are still tricks up his sleeve. It's just an iPod update, not an announcement for the sale of the entire computer line to IBM. Yeesh.