iPod touch Must Read! My thoughts on the new iPod Touch (and other iPods)

[Zendokan]

This is my opinion on what will happen to the iPod lineup in 2014.

iPod Touch
I think we can all say that if there is an iPod update this year, it will be most likely be an update of the iPod Touch. Why? Because it is Apple's most popular iPod and although it is a declining market, people still love and buy the iPod touch. I feel that the iPod touch is mostly for younger children or people who have a basic slide or flip phone but want the features of a smartphone without the monthly data costs. Also as it has been said many times, the iPod touch is the 'training wheels for iPhone'. I believe that if Apple does release a new iPod touch it will have the same size screen as the rumored iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 is rumored to have the 'air' design which the current iPod touch 5 already has. I would hope that they make a 128GB model and have a starting 32GB model instead of the 16GB that is currently on the shelf. PLEASE Apple, if you do make a 16GB model, don't be cheap and exclude the rear camera. I would also love it if Apple wasn't cheap like the previous years when they put an outdated processor in a new iDevice (looking at you iPod touch 5), hopefully it will have the newest A8 processor. Can I also pray that it includes Apple's newest iPhone feature; Touch ID. I don't know if I am the only person who likes having the middle volume control button on the iPod Nano 7 (same button that is on the iPhone EarPods that controls your music depending on how many times you click it) but I would love to see it on the iPod touch, or the iPhone for that matter. Also, I would like to see the same FM radio feature as on the Nano but on the iPod Touch so when your not in a Wi-Fi area you can listen to the radio since you don't have cellular capabilities on an iPod touch. Maybe I am asking for too much already but I'd also like to see Nike+ built into the iPod touch so I can track my progress when I run. Also, I'd love to see the much anticipated Apple iWatch be compatible with the iPod touch.

Must read!????

I've got a 64 gb iPod Touch 5th gen and a 64gb iPhone 5s.
So the iPT wasn't my training wheels for iPhone (previous owning a 3gs and 4s) and haven't owned a flip phone since 2009.

I'm using about 40gb on each devices, yet if the iPhone 6s would come in an 128gb configuration, I wouldn't replace my iPT and iPhone 5s by one device. I would probably still get two 64gb or maybe even two 128gb devices.

The iPT is my portable entertainment system, while the i5s is my professional usage system. (only exception being Infinity Blade III that runs on the i5s).

The iPT doesn't need to become an iPhone clone, it really doesn't need the latest processor or even Touch. That would increase the price too much (€529 vs €899) by making Apple invest im more of the latest CPU production lines. Investing in phased usage of production lines will cut costs keeping the iPT lower priced.

When the new iPT will come out, I expect it to
- get the current A7 processor since there would be a decline in demand when the A8 processor lines are running (for the i6) and it would make it possible to run the latest iOS games

- Touch ID, by that time the production of Touch ID's would be a smooth process

- keep the 4" screen (again phased usage and production of parts)

- have an 128gb top model as an alternative for the iPod Classic crowd.

For the rest of the iPod line-up, we will have to wait on what Apple decides, it can go either way, none/small upgrades or becoming obsolete, and I don't own a crystal ball...

 

[SusanK]

Ipod touch: Ipod touch 5 was considered as user's favorite dispite the high price but then apple release Ipad mini to destroy that demand. Touch 16gb is an abomination, people even return the thing after realized there is no back cam.

No good reason for the rear camera to be removed. Bean counting gone wrong.

 

[mangomind]

The iPT doesn't need to become an iPhone clone, it really doesn't need the latest processor or even Touch. That would increase the price too much (€529 vs €899) by making Apple invest im more of the latest CPU production lines. Investing in phased usage of production lines will cut costs keeping the iPT lower priced.

When the new iPT will come out, I expect it to
- get the current A7 processor since there would be a decline in demand when the A8 processor lines are running (for the i6) and it would make it possible to run the latest iOS games

- Touch ID, by that time the production of Touch ID's would be a smooth process

- keep the 4" screen (again phased usage and production of parts)

- have an 128gb top model as an alternative for the iPod Classic crowd.

The iPod line consists of small music players. I could see Apple keeping the 4" touch design and swapping in an A7 while reducing the price.

But Apple could also very easily make an A8-powered 4.7"/5.5" touch. The iPod line makes up 1% of Apple sales, so Apple wouldn't need to make many more A8 production lines. And the overall cost difference between Apple's new chips and one year old chips is only $5. Using an A8 chip would barely affect iPod touch pricing.

 

[Yebubbleman]

The cheaper the iPhone gets and the more carriers that get it, the less of a need there is for the iPod touch. As a huge iPod touch junkie/fan/enthusiast, it pains me to say that, but sometimes logic needs to slap us in the face.

With the iPod market in obvious decline, rather than update the iPod touch (which, with anything lesser than the A7 would be a total joke), the iPod nano, the iPod Classic, or the iPod shuffle, it would make sense to make an iPod comparable in size to the 4th Gen iPod touch with the same exact display that is in the iPhone 4/4S (or the 4th Gen iPod touch if they want to skimp down on pricing), make the body size somewhere in-between that size and the size of the current iPod nano; give that sucker 128GB or 256GB of flash storage, give it a nice touch screen interface, give it the lightning connector, and just call it the 'iPod'. If In doing this, you fulfill the needs of all four iPod markets. Apple scales down the iPod market, still makes a product that people have a desire for, and still sells iPhones. Everyone wins (except for iPod touch junkies/fans/enthusiasts).

If it must have apps, then allow it to sync certain non-internet-dependent iOS apps via iTunes for Mac/PC the same way the iPod classic synced games specifically designed for it. For all other App needs, we have iPhones and iPads anyway.

 

[Plutonius]

The cheaper the iPhone gets and the more carriers that get it, the less of a need there is for the iPod touch.

$849.00 for an 64GB iPhone 5S vs $399.00 for a 64GB Touch 5.

 

[mangomind]

The cheaper the iPhone gets and the more carriers that get it, the less of a need there is for the iPod touch. As a huge iPod touch junkie/fan/enthusiast, it pains me to say that, but sometimes logic needs to slap us in the face.

With the iPod market in obvious decline, rather than update the iPod touch (which, with anything lesser than the A7 would be a total joke), the iPod nano, the iPod Classic, or the iPod shuffle, it would make sense to make an iPod comparable in size to the 4th Gen iPod touch with the same exact display that is in the iPhone 4/4S (or the 4th Gen iPod touch if they want to skimp down on pricing), make the body size somewhere in-between that size and the size of the current iPod nano; give that sucker 128GB or 256GB of flash storage, give it a nice touch screen interface, give it the lightning connector, and just call it the 'iPod'. If In doing this, you fulfill the needs of all four iPod markets. Apple scales down the iPod market, still makes a product that people have a desire for, and still sells iPhones. Everyone wins (except for iPod touch junkies/fans/enthusiasts).

If it must have apps, then allow it to sync certain non-internet-dependent iOS apps via iTunes for Mac/PC the same way the iPod classic synced games specifically designed for it. For all other App needs, we have iPhones and iPads anyway.

With Apple's hardware team completely busy with the 4.7" iPhone redesign and the huge iWatch product launch, I see no room for the team to allocate time toward a product with around 0.5% of Apple's revenue.

I see them just slapping an A7 in the 4" iPod touch this fall to take advantage of holiday sales and to push high-margin 4.7" iPhone sales. And in the first half of next year when the team has more time, I could see them possibly releasing a 4.7" and/or 5.5" A8 iPod touch along with the new 5.5" iPhone. Then Apple can drop the price of the 4" A7 touch and appease both the high and low range markets.

EDIT: I have another thought. The wifi-only iPad is the cellular iPad with the cellular radio taken out. Since the iPhone 6 will be designed exactly like an iPod touch, why not simply remove the cellular radio? I think I'm on to something.

 

[ghettochris]

"Must Read!"

No.

 

[iPodJedi]

Thanks for the posts guys, I enjoy reading your opinions!

Must read? That's spectacularly arrogant.

Who cares if I wrote MUST READ, it's there just to catch people's attention, I created this thread for people to discuss what they believe will/want to happen to the iPod touch and other iPods this year, it doesn't matter what I name my thread. I just wanted to hear others opinions. What do u think will happen?

 

[Lesser Evets]

Don't be surprised if the iPod Touch update is disappointing. They might "neuter" the base model even further to bring prices down, or keep it nearly identical to what it has been in order to reduce market price.

Apple dosent need to put the latest processor in. Their flagship product is the iPhone, and that will have the latest and greatest processor. The iPod touch is also a LOT cheaper than the iPhone, so don't expect much.

Agreed.

Unless Apple changes direction this year and decides to make the iPod Touch into an iPad Micro, the iPod Touch will be left drifting in much older tech update. The camera and processor will definitely not be much of a bonus upgrade. Hopefully they do enlarge the screen and size to match the iPhone 6.

Apple is letting the iPod Touch slide. It is a fading market, but it isn't worthless. Apple can make good money on that product with a minimum of effort to improve and update.

Expect less, because it is doubtful there will be something amazing coming to the iPod Touch.

 

[Parkin Pig]

Who cares if I wrote MUST READ

YOU should care about what you wrote, if you expect anyone else to care about it.

What do u think will happen?

The iPod line up, or indeed any electronic gadgetry is not so important to me that I spend time speculating on what the next release may bring, as I am fully aware that my speculation would have absolutely zero bearing on what will actually happen.
Smartphones and iPods are so good nowadays that new releases seem to have a diminishing rate of improvements.
I'll have a look at the new products when they arrive, but until then, I prefer to spend my time dealing with reality.

 

[Yebubbleman]

$849.00 for an 64GB iPhone 5S vs $399.00 for a 64GB Touch 5.

For those who buy out-of-contract, which, last I checked, was a vast minority of users, hence the more commonly advertised price being the contractual one and not the device pricing.

With Apple's hardware team completely busy with the 4.7" iPhone redesign and the huge iWatch product launch, I see no room for the team to allocate time toward a product with around 0.5% of Apple's revenue.

None of that is confirmed. Even if it was, you don't think that it wouldn't be a different team than the team that is/was working on iPods?

I see them just slapping an A7 in the 4" iPod touch this fall to take advantage of holiday sales and to push high-margin 4.7" iPhone sales.

That probably doesn't require them to do all that much more work than to either make a 4.7" iPod touch (with either an A7 or A8). And even so, if what is/was the iPod team is only engineering ONE iPod (to rule them all) rather than making a new nano and a new touch (and whatever maintenance needs to be done with the shuffle and the classic) just made that single iPod model. Not to mention, it'd save Apple the time it takes to maintain iOS for another product line.

And in the first half of next year when the team has more time, I could see them possibly releasing a 4.7" and/or 5.5" A8 iPod touch along with the new 5.5" iPhone.

I think you might miss the point of the 5.5" iPhone. It's to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Note Series and the HTC One Max Series. It's there to be a Phablet, at which point them doubling up on the iPod touch with both sizes (which, so far, is a complete 180 to their current MO with that product) would be nonsense and would, again, go against your earlier assertion that the iPod team would have their hands tied with the iWatch.

Then Apple can drop the price of the 4" A7 touch and appease both the high and low range markets.

Not their style. Also not enough to appease the average consumer who previously went into the iPod touch thinking it was an iPhone without a phone.

EDIT: I have another thought. The wifi-only iPad is the cellular iPad with the cellular radio taken out. Since the iPhone 6 will be designed exactly like an iPod touch, why not simply remove the cellular radio? I think I'm on to something.

(A) Not confirmed. (B) They more or less follow that design philosophy anyway.

 

[Plutonius]

For those who buy out-of-contract, which, last I checked, was a vast minority of users, hence the more commonly advertised price being the contractual one and not the device pricing.

Out of contract is becoming more prevalent now so you have to look at the real price.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Out of contract is becoming more prevalent now so you have to look at the real price.

For Android users, yes. Motorola and Google are both spearheading this trend, but it appears to be isolated to Android phones. There's nothing to suggest that this trend is happening with iPhone users. Given the high out-of-contract price for iPhones and given the volume of people with them and the wide variety of wealth among those that own them; I'm not inclined to believe that many people are paying full price for iPhones at all; otherwise Apple would likely have to lower their prices.

 

[Parkin Pig]

Out of contract is becoming more prevalent now so you have to look at the real price.

I agree - it's a popular option in the UK, and certainly in other parts of Europe.
Looking at the options in the US I can fully understand that contracts make a lot of sense, but other countries do exist also.

 

[brendu]

I honestly think apple will do one of two things with the iPod lineup:

1. Do nothing. Keep selling the current iPods as they are because they are as capable as they need to be for their target audience. They sell so few anymore there is no way they are going to focus very much attention on them.

2. Update the iPod touch slightly, make it so it will handle ios8 and ios9 so maybe an A7 and 1GB ram. Kill the nano, shuffle, and classic because they don't sell enough to justify making them anymore.

I think the iwatch is going to take the iPods place in apples lineup.

 

[brendu]

For Android users, yes. Motorola and Google are both spearheading this trend, but it appears to be isolated to Android phones. There's nothing to suggest that this trend is happening with iPhone users. Given the high out-of-contract price for iPhones and given the volume of people with them and the wide variety of wealth among those that own them; I'm not inclined to believe that many people are paying full price for iPhones at all; otherwise Apple would likely have to lower their prices.

I will only buy unlocked iPhones. My wife and I are both using unlocked iPhone 5. It costs more upfront but my plan is better than any that you can get when signing a contract (tmobile $30 prepaid). People would be wise to stop signing contracts and letting verizon and att force them into ridiculously bad plans for 2 years. I have convinced multiple people to do the same and buy unlocked iPhones and go prepaid. As far as I am concerned it is foolish to sign a contract to get your cellphone knowing it will cost you $600-$1200 more over the 2 year contract. $650 is a completely reasonable price for a high end smartphone (especially one that holds it's value as well as the iPhone).

 

[Yebubbleman]

I will only buy unlocked iPhones. My wife and I are both using unlocked iPhone 5. It costs more upfront but my plan is better than any that you can get when signing a contract (tmobile $30 prepaid). People would be wise to stop signing contracts and letting verizon and att force them into ridiculously bad plans for 2 years. I have convinced multiple people to do the same and buy unlocked iPhones and go prepaid. As far as I am concerned it is foolish to sign a contract to get your cellphone knowing it will cost you $600-$1200 more over the 2 year contract. $650 is a completely reasonable price for a high end smartphone (especially one that holds it's value as well as the iPhone).

You're more or less preaching to the choir, I'm on a family plan that has grandfathered unlimited data with Verizon. For this reason alone, for my iPad Air and my dad's third generation iPad, we have an entirely separate account with a share plan (as, if we were to combine them into a single plan like Verizon wants, there'd go the unlimited data plan on the phones). That being said, even though you and I are of the mindset to not do contracts, I think that at $650, $750, and $850 for the flagship iPhone, very few flagship iPhone buyers are buying their flagship iPhone out-of-contract because that crap is expensive.

For iPhone 5C customers, it might be more sensible to buy out-of-contract. Certainly if Apple priced it correctly, it'd be utterly fantastic for that. Alas, it's not and I'm willing to bet that in this case, many more people are buying in contract as opposed to out of contract.

 

[Plutonius]

I honestly think apple will do one of two things with the iPod lineup:

1. Do nothing. Keep selling the current iPods as they are because they are as capable as they need to be for their target audience. They sell so few anymore there is no way they are going to focus very much attention on them.

2. Update the iPod touch slightly, make it so it will handle ios8 and ios9 so maybe an A7 and 1GB ram. Kill the nano, shuffle, and classic because they don't sell enough to justify making them anymore.

I think the iwatch is going to take the iPods place in apples lineup.

IOS 9 will need an A7 or better. They will discontinue (stop selling) the Touch by the fall of next year if it's not able to run IOS 9 (i.e. no Touch update). The iWatch will take the place of the shuffle / nano.

 

[smoking monkey]

The iPod touch would be more popular if it had current specs. .

There is a lot of nostalgia for the good ole days of the iPod Touch swirling around in this thread, but the idea of a specced out iPod Touch is simply not gonna happen. Even a spec update may not even be on the cards. The touch is on its deathbed. People don't want iPod Touches. They want iPhones or iPads.


As another poster said, kids will get hand me down iPads and iPhones to use. If you buy an iPod Touch now I think you are crazy. The iPad mini is such better value.

My two cents as an original iPod touch owner. It's time has passed, time to move on and let it die a peaceful death.

 

[iPodJedi]

I honestly think apple will do one of two things with the iPod lineup:

1. Do nothing. Keep selling the current iPods as they are because they are as capable as they need to be for their target audience. They sell so few anymore there is no way they are going to focus very much attention on them.

2. Update the iPod touch slightly, make it so it will handle ios8 and ios9 so maybe an A7 and 1GB ram. Kill the nano, shuffle, and classic because they don't sell enough to justify making them anymore.

I think the iwatch is going to take the iPods place in apples lineup.

I agree, I think #1 is most probable but maybe a combination of your 2 points; a slightly modified iPod touch with no updates to the other iPods but they don't kill the others off, except maybe the classic.

 

[MrXiro]

Must read? That's spectacularly arrogant.

As is your comment.

 

[Parkin Pig]

As is your comment.

You might want to check out the meaning of the word 'arrogant' before you make ill-educated statements like that. I submitted my opinion, which is what forums are about - I never preached that my opinion was a 'must read'.

 

[Parkin Pig]

Why do you need to "attack" my thread, your just adding clutter and not even talking about the topic.

Your thread title should be engaging enough to compel an audience to investigate further. Even the most eloquent scribes wouldn't consider their works a 'must read'. It smacks of self-importance and arrogant desperation.
Your prose is not a 'must read' - you're presenting it with an air of 'behold - my words!'. Forums are a place to offer your opinions for consideration and debate, not for ramming your opinions into people's faces as some form of gospel. If anything, 'must read' is an attack on a forum. Your refusal to accept that your words are not a 'must read' is actually the most engaging part of this thread.

What is wrong with a title like 'Thoughts for the future of the iPod Touch'?

 

[iPodJedi]

Thanks for the posts guys.

 

[iolinux333]

To me any new ipod touch should be considered a micro ipad with a screen size of about 5.2 inches. I think the market is just waiting for this type of device. I do not use a cell phone and want to be able to carry a micro ipad in my pocket 24/7. An FM tuner would also be a fantastic addition, especially one that would allow bluetooth connection.

It needs GPS before I'll ever buy one. I'd buy one in a second to keep as a backup Navigator in the car if it did.