The future of the iPod
Is the iPod Touch the future of Apple iPod lineup, or are people always going to want something simpler?
(Credit: CNET Networks)UPDATE 9:10am PT - The poll is back open, check it out if you missed out yesterday.
All the adulation bestowed on Apple these days tends to bypass the product that set the stage for its amazing run this decade.
Without the iPod, Apple would be a very different company. The stunning growth of the iPod transformed Apple, the music business, and the consumer electronics industry, and also showed that what people wanted in a handheld computer was a simple user interface built into a stylish package.
Coming off Apple's latest earnings call, however, all the focus is on the Mac and the iPhone. And deservedly so: Apple's Mac business hasn't been this healthy since Ronald Reagan was president and the iPhone has the mobile phone industry scrambling. But what about the iPod?
iPod growth has slowed almost to a halt. Unit shipments of iPods were up just 1 percent compared to last year, while revenue growth was up just 8 percent. The first quarter of the year is not exactly prime iPod buying season, but the days of runaway iPod growth seem over as the market becomes saturated.
That doesn't necessarily mean that Apple's in trouble, as no one has managed to mount a credible threat to its dominance of the market and the company has a plan to evolve with products like the iPod Touch and the iPhone. Still, it seems there's always going to be some market for a relatively inexpensive standalone MP3 player; my boss, a dedicated runner, just can't imagine chugging up Howard Street with an $499 iPhone strapped to his arm.
What will that device look like? I'd like to examine the future of Apple's iPod business in a story next week, and would like to solicit opinions and feedback about what people would want in a future iPod, whether or not they are considering other options, or if they have something completely different in mind for their portable music needs. Feel free to expand on these ideas in the TalkBack section below or send me an e-mail.
But also please also take the time to answer this survey so we can have a little data on what you guys currently think of the iPod before assembling a follow-up story. We'll close the polls at noon Pacific Time on Friday, so get your responses in before then.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
I have a 4Gb Nano and a 60Gb Video iPod. The video iPod I bought thinking I would play movies and other video on it. I tried it- the screen was simply too small. Holding it in one hand and staring at it put a crick in my neck. It was not a positive experience at all for mobile video. The same issue happens with video on a phone or other small screen. It sits in a pocket most of the time in a jacket I rarely wear. Not very useful. Definitely a waste of $400.
The 4Gb model is great. I really wish Apple still made it. When they went to the fatboy short model, it pretty much ruined the reason I liked it- the case.
If I buy another iPod, it will be only to replace my existing Nano and even then, only if I can find another used model.
The Touch is interesting, but I don't need all my music on a PDA and that is frankly what the Touch is meant to be. I prefer having those things separate.
I use Linux and Banshee to handle my iPod, but when my iPod finally kicks the bucket I'll be looking for a more open MP3 player, or better yet a player that handles Ogg!
out Macs. Then got an iMac. Then decided I'd like to use the
Nike+ iPod attachment, and wanted a shuffle for the gym, but
since Nike+ only works with the Nano, got a Nano instead. I see
no reason to replace the Nano unless there was some new Nike+
gadget I'd want for working out, or unless they make a Shuffle
version. I would upgrade my iPhone if they added a GPS, or a
front-side camera for video chat. Would also consider a tablet
or smaller-than-a-Mac-but-larger-than-an-iPhone touch
device.
iPhone. Definitely among the top ui experiences I have had to date.
I don't care who builds it ... if it's that well designed it will do well.
That said ... no one else seems to hit the design/functionality sweet
spot as well as Apple. These are competing products, not religions
:-)
2. wi-fi for streaming my music libraries from above locations and online services so i don't
have to keep 20k tunes on my ipod nor do i have to limit myself to those 20k tunes.
3. best idea yet...why, oh why, do mp3 mfgs keep putting just an fm radio in their players??
that's what the music replaces. what they don't do is put an am radio in for listening to talk
radio-after all, most people do not listen to fm radio anymore. they listen to their mp3 players,
satellite radio, cds or AM talk radio.
4. an even better idea, put a TV audio receiver in the mp3 player. i have a $29 Sony pocket radio
that gets am/fm/tv audio and the weather stations. i listen to the national evening news on it
(local stations), and favorite tv shows i'm missing. i take it more places and use it more often
than i do my ipod.
of course, it obviously needs a real GPS system, G3 speed and carriers other than AT&T!
of all the ideas, #4 is the only one that would make me switch from ipod to something else.
a mac. my employer provides them for me. Also iPhones may
become our standard smartphone within the year.
With a Mini Touch or Nano Touch, you could have an entire touch screen the size of the current Fat Nano. Without Wi-Fi, we get better battery life and room for more storage. The main screen can be simplified since we won't need the icons for web based apps.
Ditch the HD based Classic models for Flash based units like a 64 GB Touch.
Stereo Bluetooth is a must
64 to 128 G of static Ram
Headphone jack on the TOP of the device (Not like the iPod Touch)
Working Video Playlists
Streaming from iTunes (a la AppleTV)
riddled with scratches and dings for a battery replacement, that I
would get back a refurbished Photo.
If somebody can confirm this action (besides the poster), I'll
believe it (and will be sending in my iPod). :)
Requirements:
- Enterprise Email push (MS Exchange)
- Large storage capacity (my entire media libray is 130GB)
- 3G network
- GSM network so I can use any SIM card I want to
- Large screen like Touch
- Touch UI (way cool)
Nice To Have:
- GPS
- Unlocked already
- Jail Broke already
- Easily replacable LiIon battery
- Takes the 4GB+ Micro-SD memory cards
- A more feature rich document reader (custom eBooks)
- Same cost for phone service as BlackBerry (~#130/mo w/unlimited data)
2.) iPod/iTunes needs lossless music downloads, rather than their current compressed lo-fi music.
Apple should release iTunes Light which does nothing but transfer content.
Does anyone actually listen to FM on a portable these days? If
so, why? The only good thing on FM is NPR and I get that on
podcasts. Having AM would be more useful because one could
listen to sports.
I have a small portable FM player I bought at Target years ago
and I haven't used it in years. In fact, if I can find it I'll give it to
you so you can put it in a drawer somewhere.
And the shiny white garbage has got to go.
about the earbuds, I agree, they are junk but so are any included
MP3 buds. Since I got some Ultimate Ears I haven't used my
earbuds at all.
- When Would I replace my iPod
- by Gromit801 April 29, 2008 4:00 PM PDT
- In answer to the poll question...
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 4 pages (98 Comments)When my current one breaks down. It's a 2005 Photo iPod and has
never had a problem. I use it everyday, all day.