New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple to Discontinue iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle?

Tuesday September 27, 2011 6:13 pm PDT by Arnold Kim

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.


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.

[ 335 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
Mac-Mariachi
99 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.
Rating: 58 Votes
Avatar
Illumination
99 months ago
Happy 10th anniversary! Here comes the axe!
Rating: 54 Votes
Avatar
tgildred
99 months ago
Rating: 53 Votes
Avatar
ajcadoo
99 months ago
How can they rid the one and only classic?
Rating: 37 Votes
Avatar
Warbrain
99 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 ****.
Rating: 36 Votes
Avatar
rorschach
99 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
Rating: 28 Votes
Avatar
Chunk Style
99 months ago
Well, not good news for audiophiles who just want a player with big, big capacity. They don't seem interested in expanding the Touch's capacity, and it isn't that great as an iPod anyway (and neither is the iPhone.) The click wheel interface is superior for much. Just my opinion, of course.
Rating: 22 Votes
Avatar
gigapocket1
99 months ago

Since neither device runs iOS, this wouldn't surprise me at all. Especially since last year the Nano turned into the Shuffle Plus.

And the fact that there won't be an iPod event this fall should speak volumes about the future of the line generally.


Makes sense.. No more september iPod event.. Now it's October iPhone event..

Its hard to see the iPod classic go.. When you say iTunes. You still think iPod. Not iPhone, iPad etc..
Rating: 20 Votes
Avatar
MacSince1990
99 months ago

We are in the post iPod era. It is a thing of the past.


Right. Cause who can IMAGINE needing more than 8-32 GB of space for your songs and videos? :rolleyes:

Still happily using my 80 GB iPod Classic 6G lmk.
Rating: 19 Votes
Avatar
wordoflife
99 months ago
That's a shame. The Classic is my favorite iPod. (clickwheel ftw)
Rating: 18 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]