Apple to Discontinue iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle?

163626 ipod classic 2009 all sides

TUAW claims that Apple may be planning on discontinuing the iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle devices this year.

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.

They go on to say that they see "few changes" coming for the iPod touch, except for a white model. That portion of the report mirrors our own from last week, which detailed the introduction of a white iPod Touch model, but little else in the way of changes. The iPod nano appears to be safe for the time being and may see a minor improvement as well next week.

aapl sales by quarter

The iPod as a product line has been making up a smaller and smaller percentage of Apple's revenue over the past few years with the growth of the iPhone. Apple does not break out the iPod touch out of those sales, but the touch likely represents a large portion of the remaining iPod sales. The last official word about the iPod Classic came from Steve Jobs over a year ago, in which he said in an email that they had no plans on discontinuing the iPod Classic at that time. Now, a year later, it may be coming, if TUAW's source is to be believed.

Related Forum: iPod touch and iPod

Top Rated Comments

Mac-Mariachi Avatar
164 months ago
Special Edition

Apple owes the iPod, if it is going to axe it at least the iPod Classic deserves to go out in style with a Farewell Special Edition of a new iPod Classic with 500GB and a cool new design. I bet they would sell lots of them.
Score: 58 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Illumination Avatar
164 months ago
Happy 10th anniversary! Here comes the axe!
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tgildred Avatar
164 months ago
Score: 53 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ajcadoo Avatar
164 months ago
How can they rid the one and only classic?
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Warbrain Avatar
164 months ago
Apple owes the iPod, if it is going to axe it at least the iPod Classic deserves to go out in style with a Farewell Special Edition of a new iPod Classic with 500GB and a cool new design. I bet they would sell lots of them.
I bet Apple doesn't give a ****.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rorschach Avatar
164 months ago
Does this mean Steve Jobs is a liar???

This is a quote from a response to an email sent to Jobs:

Q: Hello, I've heard a LOT of speculation that Apple is looking to kill the iPod Classic because it wasn't updated on Sept. 1st, and that a lot of people would rather Touch. The iPod Classic is probably the best iPod in the line. PLEASE DON'T KILL IT!!!

A: We have no plans to.

Source:
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/03/22/steve-jobs-no-plans-to-discontinue-ipod-classic/

Yeah, well, Steve has also said:

-No one wants to watch video on an iPod [followed by the iPod video]
-No Apple cell phone [followed by the iPhone]
-No one reads anymore [followed by the iBookstore]
-No App Store for OS X [followed by the Mac App Store]
-No option to choose between mute and orientation lock for iPad switch [followed by just such a setting]
-No tablet [followed by the iPad]
-No third party apps on the iPhone
-No need for a camera on the iPod touch
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With the New App Store Delta Game Emulator

Wednesday April 17, 2024 12:19 pm PDT by
A decade ago, developer Riley Testut released the GBA4iOS emulator for iOS, and since it was against the rules at the time, Apple put a stop to downloads. Emulators have been a violation of the App Store rules for years, but that changed on April 5 when Apple suddenly reversed course and said that it was allowing retro game emulators on the App Store. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Friday April 12, 2024 11:11 am PDT by
iOS 18 is expected to be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more...