“It hasn’t happened since 2012, but Apple Inc. did something unusual on Wednesday: It released an updated version of its nearly-forgotten-about music-listening device, the iPod,” Jennifer Booton reports for MarketWatch.
“The new iPod Touch is the fastest iPod yet, and likely an attempt by Apple to target younger people whose parents won’t let them have a fully-functional iPhone but still want to take advantage of its expanding suite of software services, such as Apple Music. The upgrade shows Apple still sees value in a touch screen iPod,” Booton reports. “‘iOS 8 running on the Wi-Fi-equipped iPod Touch creates a kind of music platform rebirth in Apple’s eyes,’ said Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research.”
“The iPod is much cheaper than the iPhone, at $199, which appeals to users who want to stream music, keep track of fitness, send WiFi-enabled messages, watch videos and play videogames, but don’t need pricey data, text and call plans,” Booton reports. “Either way, this out-of-character move shows how different Cupertino’s management has become in a post-Steve Jobs era. Jobs, after all, was notoriously stubborn when it came to product decisions, and wasn’t known to have backtracked on or reversed hardware plans. ‘I always thought killing the iPod was stupid,’ Enderle said. ‘The iPod market isn’t as big as it once was, but I bet it’s larger than the Apple Watch.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple never killed the iPod (touch, nano, or shuffle). There is zero proof that Apple “backtracked on or reversed hardware plans” by creating a new, rather excellent 64-bit iPod touch.
iPod quarterly unit sales are currently less than 2.5 million units at an ASP of roughly $155. The Apple Watch market was bigger than the iPod market before it even got out of the pre-order stage.
Whatever amount you want to bet, Rob, we’ll take all of that action. Put up or shut up, moron.
“Jobs, after all, was notoriously stubborn when it came to product decisions, and wasn’t known to have backtracked on or reversed hardware plans.”
Enderle is moronic as usual. Steve Jobs famously backtracked many times. One of his strengths (as noted by many people including Tim Cook) was being able to completely reverse himself in an instant.
Agreed. He stood in everyone’s shoes and decided which was the best fitting.
As soon as I saw the name Enderle, I understood this hit piece. Enderle strive for relevance by trying to knock down a giant.
In other words, the iPod market sells more than 3X the units PER Quarter, than the entire AndroidWatch market sells PER YEAR!
Just another obvious example Android OEMs are killing their own young just for the few table scraps that don’t make it to the compost pile.
This is all a matter of labeling. iPod touch has aways been the iPhone without phone parts. If there had been no “iPod” line, it (whatever iPod touch would have been called) would likely have been merged with iPhone in terms of sales. Later, when iPad appeared, iPod touch could have been renamed “iPad something.” iPod touch is not really an “iPod” and never has been.
The traditional iPod line (pure media players) has been neglected, and is still neglected. iPod nano and iPod shuffle just got a new colors. Otherwise, they’re the same devices as before. Apple keeps them going, because they continue to be useful devices and they probably have great profit margins selling at $149 (just $50 less than the amazing new iPod touch) and $49 for the shuffle (with only 2GB of storage). To be considered “new and exciting,” iPod nano should have the ability to sync and play downloaded Apple Music (subscribed) songs. iPod shuffle should have 8GB of storage.
I’m waiting for the new software update to my Zune!
. . . NOT!
Games.
I always thought Enderle was stupid. I didn’t click through to the article, specifically because he was quoted. Why anyone bothers would consult him about anything Apple is beyond my comprehension.
Plus the new iPod touch is a major HARDWARE play with a minor software play not vice versa.😤😱🎉😜
Can the iPod use a VOIP app to make phone calls over Wi-Fi, does anyone know?
Yes. Use the magicJack app. It’s free for life. I’ve been using it on all my iOS devices for many years. If you buy a $35 magicJack dongle you’ll also get a free regular phone number to use with the app for life without needing to renew the first free year of dingle service.
Dongle service.
Am I ever glad that you fixed that word.
Thank God for MDN edit power😜
I can see a different world. What if you had this excellent iPod connected to a LTE hotspot that was part of a very simple (inexpensive) phone, just cellular calls and hotspot functionality. That very inexpensive iPhone would open a lot of markets to Apple, letting it be the hub for the spectrum of Apple devices.
Or use the iPod to conduct FaceTime communications. Maybe the time for cellular is over. Time for the WorldWideWiFi Mesh.
Plus it has 892.11ac WiFi which is compatible with the newest Apple Time Capsules and AirPort Extreme Routers. Very fast. 3x faster than 802.11n. Like Ethernet hard wire speed.
Face Time Audio or Video should be all needed?? Skype or any Voip should work fine with the iPod touch, no?? Perfect for my mom who never really leaves the house without myself or wife.
32/64/128GB versions. KILL 16GB with apps, games, music, videos, iOS we need more memory at the SAME price. Apple can afford this as memory prices are low now. Also, KILL the Shuffle.
WATCH is the new Shuffle.⌚️😃
Could it be that the recent revival of the iPod Touch is part of a new Apple strategy to push an iPodTouch – AppleWatch combo?
I believe that. I also believe in an iPad WATCH pairing capability with watchOS 2 & iOS 9😃
Product names are merely symbolic. The iPhone is famously the merger of 3 device features, including the iPod function. Arguably, the Touch was a miniature iPad … or a nano version of the iPad … or the iPad was really Touch Pro. For that matter, if you wanted a tabulation of annual iPod sales, you’d add up all the devices that include the iPod function, including the iPhone. By that measure, its a HUGE success!
I still don’t get why they don’t put GPS in it. The appeal and usefulness would be greatly increased if they did.