Start writing your eulogies for the iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle. The rumor mill is beginning to erupt with reports that Apple is going to kill these two MP3 players.
Apple referred to a “product transition” in its last earnings call, and according to TUAW it was talking about the iPod. TUAW said Apple is moving toward having a touchscreen on every iPod, which means ditching the Classic and the Shuffle.
It predicted that Apple will update the iPod touch and hold onto the nano, which will become Apple’s lowest-end iPod. TUAW wouldn’t disclose the source of its information, but claimed it’s not an analyst and is more reliable than the usual speculators.
Furthermore, CNet noted that the iPod isn’t the cash cow it once was for Apple. iPod sales comprised just 8 percent of Apple’s total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2010.
While Apple usually sticks to a predictable product update cycle, debuting new iPods in the fall, this year it bucked the system and on Tuesday announced an iPhone-centric event with no mention of an iPod.
Retailers such as Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart have already started offering discounts on some iPods, further evidence that they could be starting to clear out existing inventory. The iPod Classic hasn’t been discounted, but it could be in the future.
It’s been a decade since the iPod first entered our consciousness through those iconic white ear buds, and a 10-year run is nothing to sneeze at. But as Apple puts further emphasis on touchscreen products, likely unveiling a new iPhone next Tuesday, it’s logical that it would nix products that don’t fit that specification.