TeddyK
on - last edited on
In the midst of Apple’s event yesterday to unveil the iPhone 4S, there was time to talk about a new line of iPods, except the details were all too familiar. The iPod line has reached a point where it exists, but won’t be part of any serious upgrades for the foreseeable future. The current line is almost exactly in line with what was offered last year.
One notable difference is that the iPod touch will also come in white, a long overdue move. As you might expect, the new touch will also work with iOS 5, so access to Game Center, iMessage and iTunes Wi-Fi sync will be available here. Access to iCloud is also assured, so the touch will still resemble an iPhone, albeit without the actual phone features and connectivity. The rest of the unit seems to be the same, more or less.
The rear camera can shoot 720p HD video, but Apple either wouldn’t or couldn’t put the same camera it did for the iPhone 4S. Battery life, size, weight and overall features are all virtually identical to last year’s model.
Pricing starts at $199 for the 8GB model, $299 for the 32GB and $399 for the 64GB in either black or white.
With the iPod nano, Apple seems to have recognized the aftermarket’s enthusiasm for making watch bands for it last year. The nano’s smaller frame made it easier to wear as a watch, and to take that further, Apple has thrown in 18 different clock displays, including analog, retro digital and themed ones. In addition, Nike+ is back for the fitness types (and the iPod touch has it built in as well), and it doesn’t require an extra gizmo to do its job.
Other than bigger icons, the device is just a slight update from last year. The 16GB model will sell for $129 and the 32GB for $169.
There were rumours that either the Shuffle or Classic would get the axe, but both are still around. Personally, I don’t understand why the Shuffle is still in production. True, it’s $49 and good company to joggers and weightlifters, but the nano should’ve cannibalized it already.
The Classic still offers a 160GB hard drive, which can store tons of video, music and photos, but Apple should probably chuck some dirt on that one, too. The reason I say this for both of these units is that they no longer make sense to produce when iPod sales have been in a continuous decline for two years. But, naturally, I’m not privy to Apple’s specific sales figures, and the company has never publicly disclosed how many iPods they sell broken down into each device category.
All that aside, this could be the last hurrah for the Shuffle and Classic, as next year is likely to bring an ”iPhone 5” and — hopefully — something a little more groundbreaking on the software side of things.
You can order your iPod of choice at Future Shop right here.
You must be a registered user to add a comment here. If you've already registered, please log in. If you haven't registered yet, please register and log in.