Apple Announces All-New iPod Models: Shuffle, Nano and Touch

[SeaFox]

Instead Apple have redesigned the nano into a more niche product but one that will find different uses and applications than either the shuttle or the touch. By so doing they manage to keep their product line distinct and avoid canabalising sales AND manage to produce something that, IMO of course, is a very very cool looking gadget.

Maybe they're just trying to make it so unappealing that sales will fall flat then they can use that as the excuse to drop it completely and steer people towards the more expensive iPod Touch instead.

4th Gen Shuffle- Back to the best shuffle design (2nd gen).

Yup. "New" design my ass. This is the closest you'll get to seeing Apple actually admit they got a product design 100% wrong.

6th Gen Nano- Cute downgrade from the 5th Gen Nano. No video, no camera, no clickwheel, too small to use comfortably.

Get used to it. In a year or two this will be the lowest level iPod. The 2nd gen Shuffle is great, but its capacity is a little too high to navigate comfortably without a screen, and all its competitors have a small screen. I expect Apple to drop the clip Shuffle and market the tiny screen Nano instead more heavily. I have a first gen Shuffle (gumstick) and a Sandisk Sansa Clip. I love being able to choose custom playlists, or only play one artist/album/song and find them without having to listen to a few seconds of each song or a voice recording of the title read. Only problem for me is the Clip can't play AAC and all my purchased CDs are ripped to that format. If I had ripped to MP3 and avoided the "Apple format" (which I have personally defended the whole time before this as not being proprietary) I wouldn't be in this situation and would just use my Clip for everything. AAC may not be an Apple-only format, but when nobody else is making players in the same style/price range that play it, it might as well be.

4th Gen Touch- WTH...only a 0.7MP camera?!? Steve wants us to get an iPhone instead...or perhaps a 7" iPad.

DUH.

Has it occurred to any of you that Apple is trolling you guys on purpose? Remember the last iPod Touch update? All the legions of fanbois ranting about the lack of a camera in the Touch. Apple heard you and look! There is now a deliberately low resolution camera in the iPod Touch.

 

[toke lahti]

I'm sorry to have to dissapoint so many people here, but the iPod Touch got a cheaper non-IPS, LED backlighting display.

I don't think so. Last time advertised 6-bit TN-panel having 24-bit colors they got sued. Usually they don't make same mistakes again.

 

[butterfly0fdoom]

Am I the only one who is pissed that they completely ignored the Classic iPod?

The highest-capacity single-platter 1.8" hard drive is still 160GB. What did you expect Apple to do? Suddenly backtrack on their "thinner is better" mantra? SSDs and flash memory haven't down down in price enough for Apple to make an SSD classic; by the time 64GB NAND chips become economical enough for Apple to maintain their margins, we'll see the classic canned and replaced with a 128GB iPod touch.

 

[Hattig]

next march please! let us follow a yearly cycle.

Why shouldn't Apple preemptively strike on the Android tablets coming out later this year? If they leave it too long, then they're risking their marketshare and technical leadership. I think a 1.2GHz A4 with 512MB of RAM in November is likely. If they leave it to March, then it could be a new CPU that integrates Cortex A9 rather than the A8 in the A4, maybe at even faster speeds. And a more powerful GPU.

 

[Chundles]

Am I the only one who is pissed that they completely ignored the Classic iPod?

Nope, far better than the alternative - can it. Apple are done with the classic, at least they're keeping it around for people who need the space rather than killing it.

 

[jdiamond]

I just went out and bought a 5G Nano...

I don't see a market for the Nano. It seems like money would be better spent on a Shuffle and an 8GB Touch. I will definitely buy an Apple TV for the Netflix streaming.

Guys, there's one huge reason I love the old iPods - I find the click wheel interface is totall superior to the swipe interface for flipping through lots of things. Don't get me wrong - the touch is an awesome PDA and I'll be buying one eventually. And I hold out hope that someone can overlay a better touch interface for browsing objects on it. But for now, the click wheel is the best there is. Apple invented the click wheel for a reason, but they seem to have forgotten it.

- Jeff

 

[jdiamond]

Where's the extra space...

Nope, far better than the alternative - can it. Apple are done with the classic, at least they're keeping it around for people who need the space rather than killing it.

That's the other thing - if literally all you use your iPod for is playing songs, then I suppose 32GB is fine for most people. But for years, Apple has been promoting watching movies on the iPod, and now running Apps. Well, that takes tons of space, even at low resolution. They could have easily updated the iPod classic to 250GB 2 years ago when the 250GB 1.8" drives came out, but I guess they wanted a target they could replace with flash in a reasonable time.

 

[jdiamond]

1.8" 250GB hard drives are thin.

The highest-capacity single-platter 1.8" hard drive is still 160GB. What did you expect Apple to do? Suddenly backtrack on their "thinner is better" mantra?

The very first 250GB 1.8" drive back in 2008 was just 8mm thick - a size only now reached by the new touch. And they've just gotten thinner since then. Currently, you can get a retail, external 1.8" 250GB for under $98, which is roughly the raw wholesale cost of 64GB flash.

They must have had the rental model in mind for a long time - how long before we just rent Apps?

 

[jdiamond]

RIP iPod Nano...

RIP iPod Classic

Look, let's just face it for what it is - the new "Nano" is really just an enhanced shuffle - one with a screen - which Apple needs to compete with other companies' "shuffle with a screen". I think Apple was subtly justifying killing the Nano when Steve said, "the Nano's no longer the best selling iPod now - the Touch is."

 

[840quadra]

Yep. It would be a bit hard to make FaceTime calls without one… unless you're into charades…

These iPods ship with headphones that contain both controls for iOS functions (more so iPod functions), and a microphone. The iPod Touch since it's 2nd generation has had the capability of using these headphones, thus been able to use Skype.

They could have easily done a bastard move requiring you to have your headphones plugged in to use Facetime, or to get Audio for your HD Video recording.

Thankfully they didn't play that card.

 

[Detosx]

I was all set to buy a Flip or a Kodak. Then I heard about the possibility of the iPod Touch getting the iPhone's camera. I am all set to buy a Flip or a Kodak.

 

[Bubba Satori]

The source for the new front camera must be those billions
of old unsold sub-megapixel QuickTake cameras that have
been gathering dust bunnies in warehouses the last fifteen years. Magic.

 

[mlblacy]

nano minus camera is a big miss I think...

Yeah, I was wondering why nobody was talking about the fact that the videocam on the Nano is now gone...
-- Nathan

I know a bunch of folks that often throw their Nano in their pocket just to be able to shoot a quick video on a trip. The size + function was perfect. While the new version looks cool, and the size reduction is always nice... I am not sure it was worth the trade-off. As a "starter" Nano iPod (the shuffle is really more of a niche device IMO) was pretty popular among the younger set, who view the video as pretty important, as they are from the YouTube generation.

Perhaps this is just to steer folks up into the Touch, which is only $70 more.
I am not sure I see too much of a difference between the Shuffle and the Nano beyond a $100 screen...

The Nano is cool, but the lack of video and camera is a miss...
cheers,
michael

 

[Neva]

I see lots of minus comments on the 6g ipod nano.
I really want to try it hands-on.

I have an iphone 4 which can do the photo and video. I was hoping for a device that can take care of the music that takes space and battery. I find that the new 6g nano is perfect for my situation.
(I hate having to wrap the earphone around a phone)

About the clickwheel.
The clip is perfect for jogging, so blind touch navigation is the only problem but... Eh, what about using the remote on the earphone? Seems like that should solve the problem.

I just think that Apple's marketing is clever.

Just my thought but Apple probably could have made something like the 5g nano size with all touch screen . But even if Apple could do that, If I were a them I would save that for the next upgrade, 7g nano to...obviously make money. There always has to be an upgrade so the next upgrade will be my guess a bigger screen with all touch and come back of 5g nano features.

What do you know, I'm already looking forward to the next update.
Clever marketing? maybe.

Just wanted to say this.

Sorry if my English is a bit weird.
---Apple lover in Japan

 

[jcuk]

Wow, I was really considering getting a nano and was waiting on the refresh for the new one to become available. All I can say is I'll be looking for the older version now, hate the look of the new one.

 

[LizKat]

is pointless

Nah, I think it will be perfect for my work day. The great thing about a touch screen is how fast it is to make picks. The great thing about an ipod that doesn't do video is, duh, you don't have to watch it between picks, so you can actually get something else done while you listen!

So this new little nano just strikes me as a total home run. I haven't really loved other nanos since the 2nd gen, which has meanwhile been my favorite ipod for design and for basic music / audiobook / podcast listening. All it needed was.. a touch screen for picks!

I disliked the immediately previous nano with the video cam and odd bulky feeling... to me it felt like one of those awkward TV remotes. I mean I guess the cam was nice for people who like to work with video. The only good thing about that nano, to me, was that I was able to be unselfish and give my first and only purchase of it to someone else in my family instead of busting open the package and syncing it while the papers and box were still falling to the floor, which is my usual approach to a new model of iPod.

It's true that a 3rd gen nano (? -- anyway, the phat one) sits docked in the kitchen sometimes so I can watch part of a TV show while water comes to a boil, but that's like three or four minutes. LOL why did I buy a whole season of CSI Miami reruns when it takes me three weeks to get through one show.

It's also true that once in awhile I will dock a Classic or iPod touch in the kitchen to catch up on short video podcasts, but really my problem with video medium itself, for anything short of an actual film or serious TV production, is that it kills time for DOING things. That's why my TV went to the landfill in 2004.

Why I ordered this new little square nano instantly is that I have found that I do really like using a touch screen (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad) to make my picks. It just seems quicker to me for making audio picks than with a wheel simulation.

So now comes this little square nano that will let me take the touchscreen pretty unobtrusively into my work time. I can clip the thing on my shirt or smock, take a couple seconds to shift from a book to a podcast or playlist of music, or radio station pick, and get right back to my sewing or fabric selection, both of which require full visual attention.

And anyway, the thing is terminally attractive. Square is finally cool...

 

[butterfly0fdoom]

Guys, there's one huge reason I love the old iPods - I find the click wheel interface is totall superior to the swipe interface for flipping through lots of things. Don't get me wrong - the touch is an awesome PDA and I'll be buying one eventually. And I hold out hope that someone can overlay a better touch interface for browsing objects on it. But for now, the click wheel is the best there is. Apple invented the click wheel for a reason, but they seem to have forgotten it.

- Jeff

Easy answer: the masses love fancy touch screens. I'm gonna miss the click wheel, too. I don't know what I'm going to do when my nano dies because even though I bought it a mere 9 months ago it's already kinda on the fritz.

 

[tooz]

I was holding out for the Touch to get a camera, thinking it would have been at least 3.2MP


I'll still buy one though, can't wait another year to play Angry Birds!

 

[cwwilson]

I will be buying a 32GB touch since I went skipped out on the i4. Really glad it has the retina display since that's the thing I love the most from the new iPhone.

 

[thatisme]

I believe that Apple will figure out that the new Nano was a design mistake, and bring back the long click-wheel nano, but re-badge it as the iPod Mini again, then completely eliminate the iPod Classic at the same time.

It just seems odd to me that there is such a gap in the iPod lineup now from the Nano to the Touch. The Classic is more a non-factor, as I believe that most of the sales of these are for mobile jukeboxes for cars and DJ's (my classic Video iPod has not left my truck in 4 years... constantly plugged into my iPod connection kit)

 

[LondonCentral]

I believe that Apple will figure out that the new Nano was a design mistake, and bring back the long click-wheel nano, but re-badge it as the iPod Mini again, then completely eliminate the iPod Classic at the same time.

It just seems odd to me that there is such a gap in the iPod lineup now from the Nano to the Touch. The Classic is more a non-factor, as I believe that most of the sales of these are for mobile jukeboxes for cars and DJ's (my classic Video iPod has not left my truck in 4 years... constantly plugged into my iPod connection kit)

They'll probably call the nano the Shuffle Touch and charge $89 for it. Then they'll bring back the nano with better camera, slightly bigger screen for about $139.
They'll also give the Touch a slightly better camera, bigger storage and charge more. Perhaps splitting the Touch into two different models (eg. one thick and one thin).

 

[Blondie :)]

Who really knows what direction they'll take at this point. They keep trying new things and pushing innovation all the time. I for one never thought I would see a touch screen mp3 player that was as small as the nano. They're a big enough company now that they can pretty much afford a flop or two, so they're trying new things to see what works and what doesn't. I for one, am kinda glad that they do. Sure, I probably won't buy one of the new nano's, but who knows what they'll come up with next? I for one am kinda excited to see it!

 

[patd]

Sorry, but Apple is going backwards

It looks like Apple is starting to loose their way with their line up now. The Shuffle went from a first generation easy to hold and control mp3 player to a to tiny mp3 player with the control on the headset that is very difficult to locate and use now back to the previous form factor.
The nano is going through the same thing now. It is to small and hard to hold.
It is very uncomfortable and awkward to hold a small square mp3 player. And they removed the video player? What is up with that.
Why cant Apple just build their MP3 players just a little bigger and give us either a SD or micro SD card slot. Why is Apple so stingy with memory?
Some peoples fingers are not just nimble enough to hold and operate these MP3 players that Apple keeps miniaturizing. I thought the last version nano was just the right size.
The touch looks like a nice improvement from the last version. I just wish they put a still camera on it, I don't know if you can edit a video to capture a still with it but that would seem to be to much trouble. I was going to buy a touch earlier but waited for it to have a camera. So I might get one of these now. I like to watch movies while in waiting rooms so with the new screen they should look pretty good. But that issue with memory rears its head again. Why cant they put a SD slot in these things? As a MP3 player I do not like it at all. I borrowed my daughter touch last year and did not like it one bit. I like to listen to music while laying on the couch or in bed at night. Sometimes I do not listen to the entire song and want to skip to the next song. with the touch you have to unlock the thing every time you want to go to the next song. what a pain.
To me the Classic will always be the ultimate of Ipod, easy to use and hold with massive storage. I just hope Apple dose not change it.

 

[BoyBach]

These new nano's look quite marvellous. How did they manage to fit so much (touchscreen, radio, pedometer, 24 hour battery, etc) into something so small?

 

[joepunk]

I have always liked the square look to the shuffle and now it's back and in the orange colour.