Katie Marsal
Though recent shortages of the iPod shuffle caused concern that Apple might discontinue its clip-on media player, a new report reveals that the issues are only temporary, as a result of a supplier change.
Citing people with knowledge of the situation, Billboard reported on Friday that the iPod shuffle shortage is expected to continue for an unspecified period of time. The issues are said to be as a result of component supplier changes that have temporarily interrupted production.
Apple apparently has no plans at the moment to nix its entry-level media player, which lacks a display and has a unique clip-on design that makes it idea for using at the gym or on the go. The iPod shuffle comes with 2 gigabytes of storage and sells for $49.
Concern for the iPod shuffle's lifespan came after the iPod classic was quietly discontinued last fall. The iPod classic and its iconic click wheel design lasted for 13 years.
The iPod shuffle, meanwhile, has seen a number of design changes since the first model was introduced at the Macworld Expo in January 2005. The current, fourth-generation clip-on design has been unchanged since its debut in September of 2010.
The remaining iPod lineup includes the iOS-powered iPod touch, and the diminutive touchscreen iPod nano. iPod sales have continued to dwindle since the debut of the first iPhone in 2007, as users have gravitated toward carrying music on their smartphone.
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21 Comments
I wonder if the next iteration (should there even be one) will use Lightning and forgo the headphone jack. Sure, it’ll come with a microscopic Lighting-3.5mm dongle, but smaller smaller smaller!
I use my 2nd gen as a tie clip.
I wonder if the next iteration (should there even be one) will use Lightning and forgo the headphone jack. Sure, it’ll come with a microscopic Lighting-3.5mm dongle, but smaller smaller smaller!
I wouldn't expect it to use lightning. The two main issues would be backward compatibility and power usage. There hasn't been any talk yet about a dongle to use old school headphones. And we don't know how much power Lightning will use which could have an affect on the battery life.
I wonder if the next iteration (should there even be one) will use Lightning and forgo the headphone jack. Sure, it’ll come with a microscopic Lighting-3.5mm dongle, but smaller smaller smaller!
I use my 2nd gen as a tie clip.
A headphone jack is probably cheaper than Lightning.
There's really no reason to do anything to the Shuffle (or Nano) at this point, except for capacity bumps. They serve a market for now.
I use an older Nano exclusively in my car. I've lost track of the gens, but it is the squarish one. Stays hidden in the glove box, always connected to the factory radio. I bring it in every few months to update the music and that's it. Much more convenient than constantly plugging and unplugging my phone and doesn't kill the battery like BT streaming.
[quote name="mike1" url="/t/184252/ipod-shuffle-shortages-caused-by-supplier-changes-apple-has-no-plans-to-ax-its-cheapest-media-player#post_2659517"]I use an older Nano exclusively in my car. I've lost track of the gens, but it is the squarish one. Stays hidden in the glove box, always connected to the factory radio. I bring it in every few months to update the music and that's it. Much more convenient than constantly plugging and unplugging my phone and doesn't kill the battery like BT streaming. [/quote] That was one of the best Apple devices ever made IMHO. I still use mine for the gym. It's perfect size w a clasp. And doubles as a watch. The perfect wearable. Too bad the iWatch isn't transformer-like this device is then I might like it. The thought of wearing a device on my wrist exclusively skeeves me.