Big-box retailers offer hints at forthcoming iPod changes
This week there is new evidence to suggest that Apple Computer is slowly and quietly planning to spice up its most popular iPod offerings sometime in the near term.
Meanwhile, on Friday Meijer, a discount chain in the Midwest, issued an ad offering a 10 percent discount on all the iPod models it stocks.
AppleInsider had previously reported that Apple in February notified its big-box retailers that the high-end 60GB iPod was "at risk" to changes through April.
Even more recently, an overseas publication close to Apple's manufacturing facilities reported that Quanta Computer had recently won a contract from Apple to manufacture new "video iPod devices."
The publication, which did not cite sources, said Quanta — manufactures of laptops for Apple — had been awarded certification for the "video iPod devices" and would begin delivering the devices next month.
While most of this recent information has pointed to new high-end iPods with video capabilities, American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu recently said that the iPod nano is experiencing greatest seasonal decline of all iPod models.
Wu suggested that Apple may soon need to increase storage capacities and/or cut prices to re-generate interest. "Declining prices in NAND flash and additional capacity coming on board should help Apple facilitate these moves," he wrote in a research note to clients.
The analyst also reported that his priority checks suggest Apple is working to deliver a new widescreen iPod with Bluetooth capabilities as early as its next fiscal quarter, which begins in April.
11 Comments
My guess is that these are just going to be storage increases. Maybe 6gb/8gb nanos and 40gb/80gb videos.
6gb or 8 gb nano would be perfect...been waiting for those to upgrade from my 6 gb mini...as for the full size, I'm still very happy with a 4G 40gb - no real need for color or bigger sizes - but the fullscreen video would become very tempting...looking forward to seeing what may be coming up in the next two weeks
10gb nano please or a least something around 10gb, 30 is to big and 4 is to small
10gb nano please or a least something around 10gb, 30 is to big and 4 is to small
I don't think capacity increases matter except to be percieved as getting a good value for the $250 because Apple generally doesn't drop prices. Even then, I doubt 10GB is realistic because flash prices didn't drop 60% in six months.
For lossy compression, 1GB is plenty for me, though I have a 4GB nano because I can't listen to 1GB worth of compressed audio in a single charge, and a synch on my system replaces tracks I've listened to with new tracks.
The nano being the biggest decline confirms how popular video has become.
I'm guessing no change to the 1GB nano (still $149), 4GB for $199, and 8GB for $249, along with a 40GB ($299) and 80GB iPod ($399).
Hopefully, full/wide-screen higher-capacity iPods will also bring higher resolution for video, at least 480x360 at 4:3, or 640x360 at 16:9.