Apple killed off all of its iPod models except for the iPod touch being the sole holdover and it finally was updated after four years late last month in May with a new seventh generation version but, with its popularity having since waned with the iPhone performing the same functions as the hybrid MP3 music player, why did the Cupertino, California-based tech giant decide to keep the device alive?
Apple is hoping that a kid that gets an iPod touch today will be exposed to the world of iOS. Then further down the road, as they get older and have their own money to spend, since they are already in the ecosystem, they will become users of other Apple products like the iPhone (if they haven’t already gotten their parents to buy them one when they were younger) or especially, the Mac. It’s a totally devious plan that, hopefully, will make those kids future adults who will be Apple fans for life, resulting in the company raking in the big bucks for its products and services.
MacDailyNews Take: While iPod touch is certainly great for kids, it’s also Apple’s gateway drug for Android settlers. It’s a relatively inexpensive way for anyone to get in on Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. And, it’s not “devious,” it’s ingenious!
It’s also a handheld, don’t-need-cellular-connection, iOS device that is much smaller than the iPad mini for use in warehouses, hospitals, and all kinds of other business-related endeavors.
As long as least a few are still being bought, how does it hurt Apple to have a relatively low cost iOS product for consumers? On Amazon, there are plenty of new mp3 players available from Chinese manufacturers. Even Sony still makes a music player. Why is there always this constant concern about whether some older product is useful for today’s consumer? It’s not as though everyone needs some cutting-edge, high priced product. The iPod Touch should make a nice first-time electronic device for a youngster or even a nice music player for an oldster. This world is not dominated by tech-heads who need some feature-laden, high learning-curve device. That iPod Touch still plays games decently and should work great with a gaming subscription service.
Mine stores a dozen or so Bird field guide apps (big files), maybe 20 audio books at any one time, all my photos and music. Doing the same on a new phone is just too expensive.