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Apple may discontinue the iPod shuffle and classic

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Apple may discontinue the iPod shuffle and classic


We've been sitting on a tip for a while until things came into greater focus, but now that the speculation meter has exploded (see this CNet story), it's a good time to tell you all what we've heard. It seems that the "product transition" Apple mentioned on the last earnings call could very well be within the iPod line. Specifically, if you want to buy an iPod shuffle or iPod classic from Apple, you should do it sooner rather than later. We've heard those two iPods are getting the axe this year.

It makes a lot of sense, but only partly due to the numbers CNet mentions. 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. The classic uses a platter-based hard drive, while Apple is largely transitioning to flash-based memory solutions. The shuffle's lack of a screen has been an issue since it first appeared as a memory stick with music playback functions. If Apple killed these off, all of its iPods would have touchscreens, and something tells me it wants it that way.

Obviously we can't divulge our source, but it is NOT an analyst. Most of us listen to analyst predictions with the proverbial grain of salt (or bag of salt). We feel pretty confident that Apple will soon discontinue the shuffle and classic, and we see few changes coming for the iPod touch -- unless you're super excited about it being available in white. The nano will then become Apple's lowest-end iPod (we've heard nothing about a price drop, however) and the iPod touch will remain a premium iPod with its current form factor intact.

Apple may discontinue the iPod shuffle and classic originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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Looks like I need to pick up another couple Shuffles then.
 
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Hopefully at a discount!
 
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OK, then I'm going to keep my classic, this will be a collector item in the next 50 years, LOL.
 
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This is unfortunate news. I don't know a single person that didn't think the iPod nano redesign with a touchscreen was a huge mistake. As nice as a touchscreen interface is for app-drive devices like the iPod Touch and iPhone, it's impractical and less functional than the old click wheel for a pure media player, particularly for the sort of person that wants to control it while it's strapped to them or in a pocket while doing exercise of some sort. If the Classic and Shuffle are truly doomed, I hope Apple at least restores the nano to its former glory.
 
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Time to pick up another Classic or two... I don't want a 64GB touchscreen system for $400 when I can get 160GB of storage for movies, music, and personal files, for $250.
 
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I have several Nano versions and several Shuffles, including the one without controls. They have their pros and cons, but I tend to use the Shuffles a lot more often than the Nanos.

I don't have the latest Nano yet. Tempted but somehow there seems little point. The screen is too small to be of much use and without that it is not really that different than the latest Shuffle :\
 
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I really like the iPod classic, and the older Nano with the click wheel, I was never a fan of touch screening in the first place. Sure, it's alright on the iPhone and iPad, but the new Nano's tiny screen makes it look very impractical.

That being said, I also am a tad disappointed that the shuffle might get the ax. It seems perfect for people who only want a small music player, and it has a cheap price (for Apple anyway) of only $49.
 
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particularly for the sort of person that wants to control it while it's strapped to them or in a pocket while doing exercise of some sort..

I've had my shuffle turn up with a dead battery and be 'stuck' with my iPhone on a couple rides... It's so bad trying to control the thing on a bike that I'll simply skip it. Which really sucks on long climbs. Ohhhh and the shake to shuffle thing? Well, a bump'll set it off
 
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Just got the wife a Shuffle for her birthday and we still use a 5.5 gen 30gb iPod so I might have to pick up a classic.
 
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give it a couple of years and the iPod will be dead, gone.....forever.
mark my words ladies and gentlemen...
 
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I've had my shuffle turn up with a dead battery and be 'stuck' with my iPhone on a couple rides... It's so bad trying to control the thing on a bike that I'll simply skip it. Which really sucks on long climbs. Ohhhh and the shake to shuffle thing? Well, a bump'll set it off

As I said in the post, I was referring to the traditional click wheel controls found on the iPod classic and previous versions of the iPod nano. I never really got the market for the shuffle. Even for its supposed target demographic, I feel like the nano (not current incarnation) has always been a better option.
 
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As I said in the post, I was referring to the traditional click wheel controls found on the iPod classic and previous versions of the iPod nano. I never really got the market for the shuffle. Even for its supposed target demographic, I feel like the nano (not current incarnation) has always been a better option.
I prefer the shuffle, I really don't need or want to see what's playing.. the iPod itself is stuffed into a jersey pocket. I just need a UI that I can use without looking at it, so by feel. Even a click wheel doesn't do this well.
 
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I prefer the shuffle, I really don't need or want to see what's playing.. the iPod itself is stuffed into a jersey pocket. I just need a UI that I can use without looking at it, so by feel. Even a click wheel doesn't do this well.

It still does it less badly than a touchscreen does. ;)
 
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Too many...
:(

^ That was going to be all for my post, but my message was too short.

:(
 
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I'd be really disappointed if they discontinued the iPod Classic. It's the only iPod that can hold my entire music library. I can't be the only one who needs or wants a dedicated music player. People keep saying I can just store music in the cloud but I don't want to be at the mercy of an internet or cell phone connection to listen to my own music. The whole point of a music player is to be able to listen to my music anywhere, any time.

I will definitely buy at least one extra Classic if they stop making them.
 
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It still does it less badly than a touchscreen does. ;)

True, but with the current shuffle UI, at least I can feel the buttons. Touchscreen, on a bike at least, is just a recipe for disaster. Like I said, I'll invest in 2 or 3 more shortly and leave them NIB until I need them
 

chscag

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I just (last evening) purchased four Shuffles. I had to exchange one of them this morning because it was DOA (bad battery). If you buy some Shuffles to keep for later on, be sure to check them first to see if they'll charge up. Here in the Fort Worth area they're already in short supply. I had to call around to several Best Buy stores to find them in stock and with the right color.
 
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I still have my 30 GB 5th gen iPod video. I have roughly 2k songs...and that keeps growing every year...so eventually...I'm going to have to find a different way for music if Apple no longer supports large music/media libraries through physical storage. (Though there is iCloud...)
 

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