Retail moves suggest new iPods are coming

Several new iPods might be ready to join the iPod Touch, seen here, by the end of next month. An almost sure bet? A lower price for the iPod Touch.

(Credit: CNET)

Apple's global stock of iPods is dwindling, in line with widespread expectations that the company will introduce new models next month.

AppleInsider brings the latest news suggesting new iPods are around the corner, this time pointing to a switch in the status of various iPod models from "active" to "discontinued" in Target's inventory-management system. That suggests that new models are coming to take the place of the old ones, since it doesn't seem very likely that Apple is getting out of the iPod business.

One almost sure bet for September--which has seen an iPod event take place each of the last three years--seems to be a cheaper iPod Touch. With the decision to subsidize the price of the iPhone to $199, the iPod Touch seems a tad expensive at its current price of $499 for the 32GB version.

But rumors have also surfaced of a redesign for the iPod Nano, and Wall Street analysts expect Apple to double the capacity of the iPod Shuffle, according to AppleInsider. In any event, expect fire-sale prices on iPods over the next couple of weeks as retailers get rid of their existing inventory ahead of the new introductions.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I paid $499 for my 32Gb Touch less than a month ago. If Apple drops the price, will they give me a credit like they did for iPhone users? Somehow I doubt it. iPod/Touch users are largely forgotten and overlooked in favor of all things iPhone these days.

[Penguinisto]

If you bought a Dell laptop a month ago, and Dell drops the price in a sale, do you rush off to Dell and demand credit?

C'mon Dan... this is tech we're talking about here. Think about it.

[faceless128]

Why would anyone buy an ipod touch after seeing that apple SELLS FIRMWARE UPDATES for it?

That is what i don't understand.

There are several sayings for this occasion, stuff like "you get what you pay for" and "the writing was on the wall".

[b_baggins]

And the ignorance strikes once again. Apple didn't sell firmware updates, Apple sold OS updates that happen to reside in firmware. And they did it because your friendly Democrat congress decided to clamp down hard on businesses with Sarbanes-Oaxley.

Here's a good rule of thumb to remember: When things get expensive, look for the government regulation behind it.

[richarcm]

Why do people whine so much about how much they paid for their ipod? If you don't like how Apple is treating you....DON'T BUY THEIR PRODUCTS! If you feel they cater to the iphone market.....BUY AN IPHONE!!!

You people are amazing.

[lgr01]

Like you I did the same!!! However, I got mine from Costco which has a no questions asked 90 day return policy...guess I will be making my return!!!

[paul.saulnier]

@Vegaman_Dan: Get real. How many companies ever give refunds on products after you've bought them? Any new car you buy will almost certainly drop in price within months as they blow out a year's model to bring in the new year models. Quit beating on Apple for what they might not do, and have no obligation to do. It's also almost predictable that Apple refreshes their iPod lines each year, dropping the price or drastically improving the product's abilities, so that should guide your purchasing decisions.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Apple did with the original iPhone when they reduced the price within two months. I'm asking only for the same treatment that they have already given to their customers. They set the precedent on their own products.

Of course I don't expect anything back. But by the same token, Apple really has no excuse *not* to do it either.

[robeauch]

Very few iPhone buyers got any kind of credit. It was only for those who had purchased within the previous 15 days before the price drop.

[lrf2005]

@Vegaman_Dan:

Depending on where you bought it and if you used a credit card, either the store or credit company may offer price matching within a given time frame. Check the benefits of your credit cards to see if you qualify.

[Lerianis]

Yep, that's exactly right. The fact is, contrary to what paul.saulnier said in a prior post..... most companies, retailers, etc. WILL give a price match within..... 3 weeks or so.
When I bought my XBox and the price came down 1 day later, I went back and the store manager was very happy to give me a credit of 100 dollars to prevent me from returning my XBox and then going out and buying another one.

Saves them a lot of time and energy to give a reasonable price-matching period, rather than having to restock stuff on shelves and make sure that everything that should be in a returned item is still in there.

[templetonrl]

Hey Vegaman_Dan
Take the overpriced turd back!

[stpilot]

If you bought your iPod less than 30 days ago, you can return it for a refund if you're worried about it. Then buy the new model when it comes out. No worries.

[templetonrl]

Take the overpriced turd back!

[greel]

Go templetonrl. :)

Seriously!!!... 500 freaking dollars for an mp3 player whose only redeeming factor is that it looks a little like an iphone. And whether or not that's a complement is worthy of extensive debate....

Oh wait. I think the Touch has wifi, doesn't it??? I think my mini-pc does too, actually.... and I paid less for it. Oh, and guess what... ?! My awesome little laptop can even play video! Just like the Ipod Touch!!! Isn't that absolutely AMAZING!?!?!

-A budding cynic...

[NickL30]

You paid less than $500 for a mini pc?? Remember you get what you pay for. I don't think $500 is alot of money and I own 3 other MP3 players -- 1 Ipod classic 80MB, 1 Creative Zen, and the IPOD Nano 8G

[dude7895]

@ NickL30, You are an idiot. Do you even know what a mini laptop is? I don't think there are any that are above $500. The aspire on is only $350.

[alphapolitan]

It seems you don't believe the iPod Touch will get a refresh, just a price cut. I think Apple might surprise us with at least a new design and an external speaker built in.

[Penguinisto]

@greel:

Let us know when you can put your laptop into your pocket, 'k? ;)

Gotta love it when someone whines about the price of something they'd never buy in a million years.

[danielz40]

Let me know when that POS music player can do something useful. You ipod/iphone users do nothing but go on looks and status. Never mind the crappy interface, lock ups, "do not disconnect" and other issues (currently being pursued in a court of law), but Apple has been screwing its customers over since the Pizza Box Mac. Will you guys ever learn? Why start now, tards?

[sharodin]

ipods are dying... more and more mp3s are constantly beating the ipod...
the only reason apple's making money out of them is because americans have the "ipod craze."

[myles taylor]

Saying that iPods are dying is like saying that Windows is dying. I'd like to see some solid proof that the iPods are dying. How are other mp3 players "beating" the iPod? By not stealing market share? By saturating the market with players so that buyers are confused and just go get an iPod because they know it and it had more accessories than any other mp3 player out there?

I'm not going on status. I had an iPod video for two years, and while it was a neat device, I must admit I didn't use it that often. Now I have an iPod Touch and I don't care about status or looks; those things are just an added bonus. I use my iPod as a PDA, music player, casual gaming console (I'm not much of a gamer, but I get bored just like everyone else), and I wouldn't be able to live without it. Really, I couldn't care less if I everyone else in the world didn't like their iPods, it would still be a great product and I would love it. Yes, it is overpriced and I hope Apple does something about that, but those who diss it have obviously never owned one. Just because something is overpriced doesn't mean that it's automatically a bad product.

[trouble001]

don't complain about something that is so wildly regarded as the BEST in the world when it comes to tech...Apple Fanboys true colors come out.

[MikesMethod]

Apple makes so much money off of overpricing. They overprice their iPods and all of the Macs for sure.

I think it is indeed time for a drop in price, as well as a 2nd generation iPod Touch, and more capacity in Shuffle and Nano models.

[b_baggins]

Learn some economics. An overpriced product is one where sales are not at the desired level for the product as set by the business goals.

Just because YOU think the iPod costs too much doesn't mean anything. Apple is selling a good number at the margins they want, therefore, the product is priced exactly where they want it to be.

Whenever I hear someone complain about overpricing, I know I'm dealing with an ignorant person.

Let's turn the question around. Perhaps your employer thinks your overpriced. What's your reaction now?

[Lemon5]

I was thinking of getting an Ipod Touch, and making it cheaper would be a step in the right direction. With all those FREE apps (there are some pretty cool ones if you look), this is starting to seem like a no-brainer.

[paul.saulnier]

Apple keeps selling iPods like crazy, so there is no motivation to drop the prices. If you ever took any business class, you'd understand that this is usually the proper way to do business. It's not a valid criticism of Apple.

[tech_junky48]

Oh stop swooning. All Apple does every year is refresh their old products, except for around every three years, when they come out with something new. Why does no one seem to realize this. Look at the history for this generation:

iPod video: becomes "iPod Classic", gets Coverflow (Wow!) and a larger capacity (For those who absolutely, positively, NEED to store 6 months worth of songs. Or videos, to watch on a 2.5" screen, because there is no video out. And, oh yeah, it becomes silver in color (yawn)

iPod shuffle: New colors! Still no screen and no way to organize your music, but PRETTY colors!

iPod Nano: becomes ugly, but now it PLAYS VIDEOS!!! WOW!!! My 2 year old Sansa e250 could do THAT!

iPod touch: really a very cool product, part of their 3-year design cycle. The Nano was released 3 years ago, and the video (sorry, Classic) 3 years before that. However, it is overpriced.

Come On, Apple, do something new, like an iPod touch with an HDD, so we could watch our 160GB worth of videos on a reasonably sized screen.

Just my opinion.

[Staszek]

You can video out on the classic and the nano's with a cable.

[awild1]

To be honest, we all would like to see Apple slim down their profit margins. However, based on Apples track record, they are far more likely to upgrade capacity, or looks, or maybe 1 or 2 non-groundbreaking interface features (i.e. something like coverflow), or maybe all of the above to "justify" the current price again. This is nothing new, this has been Apples strategy since iPod generation 1 (or maybe further back, I don't know) and its worked pretty well for them. All though there may be a larger quantity of comparable adversaries to the iPod brand, it would take either another company releasing a completely new "redefining the way we listen to music" product, or, an epic mistake on Apple's part to slow or stop the momentum iPod brand has accumulated over a lot of years in the market now. My advice to Apple would be to, yes do your standard upgrades. Im not going to complain about price because it will do no good, but recommit yourself to providing the best music listening experience. Is that not what you market the iPod as? There is now this peripheral set of features that is to overhaul the iTunes music store to sell lossless, DRM free, content if they intend on keeping the lead on their competitors.

[whatnow992]

I agree, It is annoying that apple outputs new iPods every year at the same time, but then you have an idea on when to buy ;). as opposed to releasing something, 6 MONTHS later, something new, and then 1.5 YEARS later, something new... at least they are being consistent...