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Apple to Discontinue iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle?
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In my opinion, Apple should keep at least ONE iPod model with tactile feedback, instead of only touchscreen interface. Am I alone to think that?
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Reason for shuffle to stay: Working or doing something like snoubowrding with any iPod other than the Shuffle is dumb. Either the screen is onna break or you have too heavy of a device to run with. I personally have no need for the shuffle because spotify has more music than any iPod Classic could ever have & my VZW service is excellent. Some peep may not have an iPhone (I don't know that person) and he likes lots of music, but I don't see Apple caring about such a small minority.
Reason for shuffle to stay: Working or doing something like snoubowrding with any iPod other than the Shuffle is dumb. Either the screen is onna break or you have too heavy of a device to run with. I personally have no need for the shuffle because spotify has more music than any iPod Classic could ever have & my VZW service is excellent. Some peep may not have an iPhone (I don't know that person) and he likes lots of music, but I don't see Apple caring about such a small minority.
I 100% disagree with dropping the shuffle. First off, a cheap price doesn't mean its junk. Its a great design that probably also carries a nice margin.
It's a perfect workout ipod - its small, doesn't need a case, holds plenty of songs for a long run, can change volume/tracks without looking, and best of all, its cheap. I am not going to sweat all over my $700 iphone (or a $150 nano for that matter), risk dropping it, loosing it, or having it stolen if i set it down at the gym. Plus an iphone/ipod touch is large and cumbersome to operate when running.
I understand apple not wanting to continue a money loosing product, or continuing to sell it if it overlaps/cannabalizes more expensive products. But the shuffle isn't an "instead of" product, its an "in addition to" product. Since I am sure they make money off of each shuffle, and they don't take away from other product lines, why kill it?
It's a perfect workout ipod - its small, doesn't need a case, holds plenty of songs for a long run, can change volume/tracks without looking, and best of all, its cheap. I am not going to sweat all over my $700 iphone (or a $150 nano for that matter), risk dropping it, loosing it, or having it stolen if i set it down at the gym. Plus an iphone/ipod touch is large and cumbersome to operate when running.
I understand apple not wanting to continue a money loosing product, or continuing to sell it if it overlaps/cannabalizes more expensive products. But the shuffle isn't an "instead of" product, its an "in addition to" product. Since I am sure they make money off of each shuffle, and they don't take away from other product lines, why kill it?
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Ever heard of "don't believe everything you here." Unless Apple says it, don't believe it about Apple.
Ever heard of "don't believe everything you here." Unless Apple says it, don't believe it about Apple.
Sadly I have a black and while iPod 20gb that no longer works, and an iPod mini, and first gen nano that share the same fate. However I have 2 classics that are in perfect working order, and my touch screen nano that stays in my gym bag. Every iPod serves it's purpose, would hate to see any of them go.
What if he doesn't want to dish out the extra 100ish bucks? I wouldn't.
Seriously, the only iPods I would consider buying would be the Shuffle or the Classic. My ideal iPod would, however, have more capacity than the Shuffle and be cheaper than the Classic. Now if Apple would resurrect the iPod Mini, but with 16/32GB memory, count me interested.
As long as the ipod line still projects about $7billion/year to Apple's revenue, it ain't getting axed.
Apple my re-evaluate which ipod sells the least or makes the least portion of that $7billion/year and axe that while focusing on the ones that sells well.
It will be a long time before entire ipod line goes under $1billion/year for Apple.
Anyone knows how much % the classic and shuffle makes out of the $7b pie?
What Apple needs to do is even if they don't plan to grow that market, they need to maintain it at 7b. They still have customers who is willing to buy these products, and 7b is a lot of change to lose if they ignore this.
So someday I see the classic completely being phased out, and the ipod touch being renamed to simply "iPod" which will be the affordable entertainment device possibly competing with Nintendo and Sony for gaming or just stay comfortably in its own music player 7b market.
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Also Samsung, MS, Sony, and many others are STILL trying to penetrate Apple's 7b ipod market!
Doing anything to lose any market share to other companies who's still looking to penetrate and get a bigger piece of your pie would be poor business move.
Didn't samsung just release a tablet with the similar form factor (a little bigger) than the ipod touch running android?
IMHO, it's Apple's share to lose.
Apple my re-evaluate which ipod sells the least or makes the least portion of that $7billion/year and axe that while focusing on the ones that sells well.
It will be a long time before entire ipod line goes under $1billion/year for Apple.
Anyone knows how much % the classic and shuffle makes out of the $7b pie?
What Apple needs to do is even if they don't plan to grow that market, they need to maintain it at 7b. They still have customers who is willing to buy these products, and 7b is a lot of change to lose if they ignore this.
So someday I see the classic completely being phased out, and the ipod touch being renamed to simply "iPod" which will be the affordable entertainment device possibly competing with Nintendo and Sony for gaming or just stay comfortably in its own music player 7b market.
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Also Samsung, MS, Sony, and many others are STILL trying to penetrate Apple's 7b ipod market!
Doing anything to lose any market share to other companies who's still looking to penetrate and get a bigger piece of your pie would be poor business move.
Didn't samsung just release a tablet with the similar form factor (a little bigger) than the ipod touch running android?
IMHO, it's Apple's share to lose.
Real music geeks, DJs, fans, restaurants bars and so on use the classic. There are many who want one Pod to hold all or most of their collection when on the road. I get the cloud thing but I want my collection of 60K songs with me (so I take along two classics Music in Lossless.
It's not for the masses but remember Apple used to not be for the masses. Wish they would expand to a 32 or 500GB Classic. At least and a send off.
It's not for the masses but remember Apple used to not be for the masses. Wish they would expand to a 32 or 500GB Classic. At least and a send off.
No one is buying the classic right now because Apple has been selling the same model for the past 2-3 years. Make a new one with a small SSD at a cheaper price and it will sell like hotcakes.
I still prefer the classic iPod with a click wheel over a touchscreen any day. When I head out the house the most I will do is listen to music, not play angry birds or check facebook.
I still prefer the classic iPod with a click wheel over a touchscreen any day. When I head out the house the most I will do is listen to music, not play angry birds or check facebook.
What Apple actually does for an EOL'ed product is pull all of the store inventory of it and sell it on the refurbed market. There are times when Apple will give more than the usual 10%-15% discount. There's where I hope Apple will be.
Like a 20% off 160GB Black Classic kind of thing.
Totally agree about Apple not having a place for the Classic, it's the only Pod with a screen running an OS that's pretty stale compared to even iOS4.
Classic FTW
I have owned several iterations of iPod (1st Gen, 2nd Gen, iPod Photo, Ipod Video, and iPod Classic). While iOS is nice, I much prefer the classic design for simple music playback. I would much rather see a new iPod Classic equipped with WiFi for use with airplay (no more need for the dock ), but that won't happen.
I guess I'll put my credit card to good use next week.
I have owned several iterations of iPod (1st Gen, 2nd Gen, iPod Photo, Ipod Video, and iPod Classic). While iOS is nice, I much prefer the classic design for simple music playback. I would much rather see a new iPod Classic equipped with WiFi for use with airplay (no more need for the dock ), but that won't happen.
I guess I'll put my credit card to good use next week.
Consider this: I had more than one women being interested in this little device of mine.
Not a good idea...
Apple could eliminate the Shuffle, but expand the Classic has the perfect form factor it should come in two models:
1.) The highest capacity (for a lot of professionals that want multi-tasking hard drives and people that like to carry their movie libraries with them for long trips.)
2.) An audio player for normal people. At $234, while still desirable, it's way out of range for most people that casually listen to music which is why they resort to all of the cheap knock-offs and it's still why so many people that can afford them get robbed for their gadgets. Most people want a decent sized portable audio player and like what Apple offers with the Classic, but it's not affordable for the average high school kid or the single mom or dad that wants to listen to tunes either on the way to/from school or work and can't really afford to splurge for a smartphone/iPhone. Apple can make a Classic for between $50-$70 and they should.
Apple could eliminate the Shuffle, but expand the Classic has the perfect form factor it should come in two models:
1.) The highest capacity (for a lot of professionals that want multi-tasking hard drives and people that like to carry their movie libraries with them for long trips.)
2.) An audio player for normal people. At $234, while still desirable, it's way out of range for most people that casually listen to music which is why they resort to all of the cheap knock-offs and it's still why so many people that can afford them get robbed for their gadgets. Most people want a decent sized portable audio player and like what Apple offers with the Classic, but it's not affordable for the average high school kid or the single mom or dad that wants to listen to tunes either on the way to/from school or work and can't really afford to splurge for a smartphone/iPhone. Apple can make a Classic for between $50-$70 and they should.
The iPod nano CANNOT replace the iPod shuffle.
You can use the shuffle without looking at it. You put your finger on it and you know where to press to change track, play/pause the music and change volume. You can't do that with a touch screen, especially one as small as the iPod nano.
You can use the shuffle without looking at it. You put your finger on it and you know where to press to change track, play/pause the music and change volume. You can't do that with a touch screen, especially one as small as the iPod nano.
Well its interesting considering this....
Its not just like this just today the Classic has been 2nd to the Touch for literally years on Amazon, yet the device has remained the same for years.
I know Amazon is not the be all answer to sales but Amazon is a pretty big seller.
When Apple hides the Classic's sales, it doesn't tell me its not selling it tells me they are hiding the fact the product is still successful to lead the public into believing the iPod Touch is the most successful. I mean, lets face it, Apple is about money, they certainly don't want the Classic to look good against the iPod Touch as the iPod Touch has the potential to make them more money in the long run.
I think they continue the device this year with that 220GB hard drive (which probably costs them the same as the 160GB did).