IF they axe the classic, I really hope they rebranded the iPod touch as simply the iPod. Simplify the ecosystem. I like it (assuming there is a 128GB model released) and understand it completely from Apple's point of view. The iPod classic makes them some money, and if you buy music from iTunes then there is some more money but the touch makes them 30% on every app you buy, in addition to the cost of the iPod.
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Apple to Discontinue iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle?
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Well, there are good reasons to keep it and I would be disappointed if it went.
But, Apple are known to revolutionize consumer behavior by forcing changes that many people don't like. So far it has worked for them, and people have grown used to the changes (i.e. no optical drive, no flash, no blu ray), and most people recognize the wisdom of their ways after the fact. They may well kill it if they want iCloud to be the primary media content deliverer, and the only way people will have access to all their files on the road. Personally, I think it would be too soon for it to happen this year, and it would be a mistake. The iCloud model is just birthing, and many people would be left out in the cold, i.e., international's, traveller's, etc. The day may come when it disappears, but a lot of changes need to take place before people like me don't mind.
But, Apple are known to revolutionize consumer behavior by forcing changes that many people don't like. So far it has worked for them, and people have grown used to the changes (i.e. no optical drive, no flash, no blu ray), and most people recognize the wisdom of their ways after the fact. They may well kill it if they want iCloud to be the primary media content deliverer, and the only way people will have access to all their files on the road. Personally, I think it would be too soon for it to happen this year, and it would be a mistake. The iCloud model is just birthing, and many people would be left out in the cold, i.e., international's, traveller's, etc. The day may come when it disappears, but a lot of changes need to take place before people like me don't mind.
thing is though its always Apple haters who say crap like this LOL. iTunes is one of the speediest Apps on my MacBook Pro admittedly I have 8 GIG of ram, but iTunes isn't bloated. Its always run well for me
Yes, the Classic still has a (small) market and is a useful product. The click wheel is simply an awesome interface for that device. However, if Apple made decisions based on the emotional attachment that some of you seem to have with specific devices, then they would never have reached the point that they have.
A successful company has to be willing to kill an otherwise successful product line when the time is right, even if said product line is still profitable (see Netflix early history where they killed their profitable sales of DVDs). The companies you see struggling are ones at which they try and wring every last drop of revenue out of a product before killing it, or are afraid to innovate because it might cannibalize sales of an existing product line. As we've seen, Apple isn't like that.
The bottom line is the Classic no longer fits Apple's strategy. The Mac, once the hub for all of your digital content, is now just another device to use for connecting to your content in iCloud. If your device can't connect to iCloud, then it's basically pointless in Apple's view.
A successful company has to be willing to kill an otherwise successful product line when the time is right, even if said product line is still profitable (see Netflix early history where they killed their profitable sales of DVDs). The companies you see struggling are ones at which they try and wring every last drop of revenue out of a product before killing it, or are afraid to innovate because it might cannibalize sales of an existing product line. As we've seen, Apple isn't like that.
The bottom line is the Classic no longer fits Apple's strategy. The Mac, once the hub for all of your digital content, is now just another device to use for connecting to your content in iCloud. If your device can't connect to iCloud, then it's basically pointless in Apple's view.
What do you guys use for listening to music in the car? Killing off the classic would suck. My ipod sits locked in the glovebox connected to the stereo. I control it through the deck. It was the greatest thing to come along. I hated having all those damn CDs in the car.
Surely this must herald a 128Gb Touch.......
Shuffle is dreadful, so no loss.
Classic is beyond it's sell by date and needs to go
The nano is very cool, and probably the perfect ultra light weight low capacity iPod.
Shuffle is dreadful, so no loss.
Classic is beyond it's sell by date and needs to go
The nano is very cool, and probably the perfect ultra light weight low capacity iPod.
I've still got my 80gb classic and in my opinion it's just better than the other ipods out there. I find the touch screen interface annoying more than anything.
Also I think the reason there have been so few sales is that they just keep working. I've had mine for just over 4 years with no problems whatsoever! Even the battery life is still good!
Also I think the reason there have been so few sales is that they just keep working. I've had mine for just over 4 years with no problems whatsoever! Even the battery life is still good!
It'll be sad to see them go. What will be the new giant iPod that holds every song you own? iCloud music streaming over 3G could replace it, but only for iPhones and 3G iPads. Not as instantaneous as on-site storage. 256 GB iPad anyone? lawl
The newest nano is kind of like a super-advanced shuffle. I think that Apple should lower the price of the nano to $50 or $100, to replace the shuffle. That would be acceptable. I would only buy it if it were $50 though.
Sent from my iPod shuffle 1st gen.
The newest nano is kind of like a super-advanced shuffle. I think that Apple should lower the price of the nano to $50 or $100, to replace the shuffle. That would be acceptable. I would only buy it if it were $50 though.
Sent from my iPod shuffle 1st gen.
Yes, yes it does
I agree as a pure music player the classic is by far the best. The touch is an eh in terms of being a music player. It gave up being a great music player so it could do other things.
My iPod touch I hardly ever listen to music on it any more. I use my phone more often for that but that is mostly because my phone is with me when I want to listen to music. Mix that with iPod is not sync with my computer very often.
mine is better
I'm sorry your setup is not the greatest. Just brought a Sony bluetooth car stereo this summer, where I can play music wirelessly from my iPhone. I like iOS UI better than anything "The Fast and Furious" car stereo culture offers.
But, I decided to economize my lifestyle, and my truck sits unused for the last two months. So goes life.
I'm sorry your setup is not the greatest. Just brought a Sony bluetooth car stereo this summer, where I can play music wirelessly from my iPhone. I like iOS UI better than anything "The Fast and Furious" car stereo culture offers.
But, I decided to economize my lifestyle, and my truck sits unused for the last two months. So goes life.
Same. My iPod classic essentially lives in my car. I bring it inside to update it every now and then. I don't even think I have any music on my iPhone because it's useless as a music player.
Man.. all pods suck period (audiophile point of view), including the iPhone to a certain extent
Get something with a Wolfson DAC and probably at half the price of what apple charges if you really want to enjoy music
Get something with a Wolfson DAC and probably at half the price of what apple charges if you really want to enjoy music
Good! The Classic is too big. Who needs all that media on the road, with that tiny of a screen? The Shuffle, is too small! Get rid of it. The future is touchscreen. Just like finally getting rid of all the Plastic Macs. Best. Decision. Ever. I won't miss these devices. Simplify your offering, make the core better, move on. Way to go Apple.
I really hope they don't kill off the classic. I'm still using my 120GB from Sep of 2008 and I love it. I love the form factor and the click wheel. I will have the next iPhone 4S/5 and 64GB won't be enough for my music library. If they make a 128GB iPod Touch, well not everyone wants a touch screen. The click wheel is legend.
Am I the only one who HATES THE CURRENT NANO btw?????? The 2009 Nano was the best one. I know a lot of people that just recently bought the last gen Nano off of ebay. Funny how they go for much more than the current generation.
Am I the only one who HATES THE CURRENT NANO btw?????? The 2009 Nano was the best one. I know a lot of people that just recently bought the last gen Nano off of ebay. Funny how they go for much more than the current generation.
10 years of the Classic; exactly the reason why it should be killed off. The tech world has changed a lot in 10 years and, where the Classic used to be the flagship product, now its customer base consists of a few audiophiles and those who are simply indecisive.
RIP Classic; you served with pride, but the Touch is the future.
RIP Classic; you served with pride, but the Touch is the future.
They have done no such thing. They are selling existing prints over the phone. Apple isn't printing new copies, and they're not available in stores.
Right. Cause who can IMAGINE needing more than 8-32 GB of space for your songs and videos?
Still happily using my 80 GB iPod Classic 6G lmk.
Touch isn't going anywhere, and either this generation or next it'll probably get a capacity bump to 128GB, which is close enough to the classic's capacity for most people. I understand the device is a little expensive, but it's not like it's a recurring expense.
There is something to be said about this. I love the click wheel too. I used to own the 4th Gen iPod with 20Gb, and it had my affection. But after repeated abuse, the harddrive gave out. The click wheel is simple and beautiful. I hope Apple continues it for as long as there are demand.
I confess I did not read every post, maybe this has been covered. The graph clearly shows that the iPod revenue is positive and very stable. Yes, its percent goes down, but that is because Apple's overall revenue has skyrocketed with other popular devices. I doubt very much that the Touch has completely overtaken all these other models, yet kept the same revenue each year. That is a graph of a mature, stable product. People are obviously buying them.
This doesn't show any sort of cost implications, but on the revenue side, the iPod is an absolute keeper.