So Apple finally released their new line of iPod videos, Nanos and Touch. If you look closely at the offerings and compare it to the old one, it says a lot about where the iPod market is going.
Let me share my take on each one of them:
- iPod Shuffle – practically unchanged since last announcement. Just enough number of colors but not as many as the new iPod Nano. Why? It’s not Apple’s biggest seller in the line to merit more color options.
- iPod Nano 4th gen: Bigger capacity (8GB & 16GB). Inexplicably large number of color options — 9! I think that’s the most number of colors I’ve ever seen in a single product. What does it mean? It’s the best selling product for Apple. Form factor was downgraded to like that of the 2nd generation but with a slightly curvy surface. Either the fatty 3rd-gen Nano didn’t as appeal much as the miniaturized “iPod Classic look” so they switched back to the old one. I think the Shake-to-Shuffle function was copied from Sony-Ericsson’s Walkman phone.
- iPod Classic 7th gen: No more 80GB and 160GB version — just one at 120GB. People weren’t buying the 160GB so instead of just dropping it, they went the middle size. No option for fancy colors like the Nano and Shuffle, probably because it’s the least selling product.
- iPod Touch 2nd Gen: Bigger capacities but just in black — 8GB, 16GB and 32GB. Cheaper than iPod video at $229 (but more expensive than the iPhone at $199 *heh*). Why? Maybe Apple is sacrificing the iPod Touch and pushing it to more consumers to try out the touch UI and Apps, paving the way for future iPhone buyers. Clever. The money is with the iPhone and its profit-sharing scheme with telcos.
As for pricing the $149 iPod Nano could fetch somewhere around Php9,500 (8GB) and Php12,500 (16GB) when it reaches the Philippines (VAT included). The $249 iPod 120GB Classic may go for Php16,000 and the 8GB iPod Touch at Php14,000.
Hopefully they can make a new gen for the ipod shuffle too. wink*