Will Apple Discontinue the iPod Shuffle, Classic?
It could be the end of the line for two of Apple's iPod products. A report from a blog that follows Apple news indicates the iPod classic and iPod shuffle lines may soon be discontinued.
The Unofficial Apple Weblog, TUAW, reported Tuesday that they had been “sitting on a tip” from an anonymous source – who the blog claims is not merely an analyst – and the blog said it is just now sharing the news because similar rumors have recently heated up elsewhere on the Internet.
The reason for the changes: touchscreens.
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Though it has not been confirmed, the blog suggests that Apple might be trying to sell only those iPods that are controlled using touchscreens, and by eliminating the classic and the shuffle from its product line, the company can make that happen.
“The classic is a holdover from 10 years of iPod existence, bearing many similarities to the original iPod. The shuffle is basically the same form factor as the nano, minus a screen ... If Apple killed these off, all of its iPods would have touchscreens, and something tells me it wants it that way,” wrote Victor Agreda Jr., TUAW's editor in chief, in the post.
The blog also suggests the “product transition” mentioned in Apple's most recent earnings report was likely a hint toward these changes.
Fast Company recently reported that the iPod line now accounts for only about 7 percent of the tech giant's overall revenue, and the company's third quarter report indicated a 20 percent decline in iPod sales from the same quarter in 2010.
At the same time, the company reported a substantial increase in the sale of its iPhones and iPads, which led the company to post record quarterly revenue and earnings numbers.
Another rumor floating around the blogosphere is the possibility Apple might introduce new models of the iPod touch at the company's new product announcement event on Oct. 4.
9to5mac reported Wednesday the reason for such a suspicion surrounds a product codename that was recently added to Apple's inventory system. N81, the codename for the fourth-generation black iPod touch, is similar to the newly added codename, N81A.
The author of the 9to5mac post, Mark Gurman, said the new models will likely be white and will probably be available at 8GB, 32GB and 64GB storage capacities.
Rumors will soon be put to rest at Apple’s Oct. 4 event.
