Even some weeks after the iPhone announcement, the internet is still buzzing around the iPhone. The product looks incredible, has interesting features, and it almost is a do-it-all device. But since the iPhone is coming out in June with a $500-$600 price tag (plus two years of service!), some may prefer to get a next-gen iPod instead — when, and if, it comes out. Why? Keep on reading.
Similar functions expected. If all the rumors are to be believed, the new iPod would be a “true video” one — featuring a similar design like the iPhone: one big widescreen, multi-tact input, photos, videos, music, and some widgets, perhaps. In the case that Apple decides to skimp out, they won’t not include Wi-Fi. Thus, the only features missing when compared to the iPhone would be the cell phone and internet capabilities. Not too bad, especially since most people can live without those in their iPods.
Price tag. Most people seem to be considering the $600 model of the iPhone — that’s twice as expensive as an iPod! And then there are those reports that the iPhone costs less than $300 to make… why pay $600 for the iPhone and two years of service with Cingular? And for some people, they may cost even more. If new iPods come out, they will most likely keep their $300-$400 price tag.
Capacity. The high-end model of the iPhone comes with only 8GB of space. In comparison, the high-end iPod has 80GB (x10 more!) — perfect for carrying videos. And if the new iPods come out, the high-end model will most likely make the jump to 100GB.
You have a good cell phone. If you’ve already got a new and slim cell phone, why ditch it just to get an iPhone? It wouldn’t be much of a difference to your pockets if the new iPods keep the same size and weight as their predecessors.
You love The Beatles. If rumors are to be believed, there will be a special edition version of the new iPod honoring The Beatles. And not only you’ll get a nicely decorated iPod, but also a coupon to be used somehow on The Beatles’ music library when and if it comes to iTunes.
In the end, news about a new iPod is still pretty much the result of rumor gathering from the web. But since the iPhone will come out till June, it doesn’t hurt much to wait and see what happens. And since we all know Apple, new iPods will come out this year — it’s just not clear which one and when. In the end, will you get an iPod or an iPhone?
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[tags]Apple,Mac,iTunes,iPod,iPhone[/tags]
ohcyt on January 27th, 2007 at 6:19 am says:
I’ll get me the iPod, no doubt. The phone is overpriced (compared to other phones) and I already have a phone (and I want to be able to switch phones whenever I want, without having to get a new iPod as well).
Please let it be widescreen, high capacity, wiFi and affordable ($300-$400 is, imo)
fcodc on January 27th, 2007 at 11:24 am says:
Agreed. And there’s no reason why Apple should charge more than $400 for it, so we can only hope.
Jens on January 28th, 2007 at 10:14 pm says:
I do not want an iPhone. Never have probably never will! But a 100GB video iPod I would buy today!!! Widescreen - yes, wifi - good, some Mac apps - yes! Would love to have iCal and Address Book and maybe camera and iPhoto. With hds increasing all the time, upgrade iPods by new drives. Oh the touch screen is a must! Could really be awesome!!
fcodc on January 29th, 2007 at 7:27 am says:
The only thing that seems unlikely for Apple to add to the new iPods would be the camera. But we’re all still hoping for the new device to be identical to the iPhone minus the cell phone components.
Ethan on February 15th, 2007 at 7:02 pm says:
When Apple releases new iPods it will be necessary that there be a feature gap between iPod and iPhone. If Apple released an iPod that was identical to iPhone except that it didn’t function as a phone, it would make people wonder why they are paying an extra $300 (and then tack on service fees) just to make it a phone. This would essentially devalue iPhone in comparison to iPod.
What they want to do is make both products look attractive, to different people with different needs and wants. In my opinion they will slowly restructure their hand-held product line to form 3 basic groups:
1. On the low end they will offer dedicated music players. Possibly merging iPod nano and iPod Shuffle. Either way, this/these products will be for those that need nothing more than music. These models will not likely have multi-touch screens.\
2. In the mid range there will be full multi-touch screen iPods that play music, videos, and games, like what we currently have. They will probably have a limited set of applications (iCal, Address Book, and Photos), but will not support adding new apps like iPhone might. These products will not be able to take part in any form of communication (cellular, internet, sms, etc. - and widgets, since they are typically designed for the internet), since that feature set is reserved for iPhone.
3. The high end will be iPhone - built for communication and supporting all of the features of the lower end models. They will expand the features the most with the second model of iPhone in 2008 or 2009, further distancing it from iPod (and possibly allowing some feature additions in iPod.
So the progression up their hand-held product like would be music-to-multimedia-to-communication. This will offer value to 3 different groups of consumers. This is all speculation of course, but it makes sense to me.
This disappoints me though, since I’m not sure I’d want an iPhone, but I want to be able to browse the net on my iPod.
fcodc on February 15th, 2007 at 8:01 pm says:
Very interesting points, indeed. As all things Apple, we never know for sure until Steve throws them at us.
I’ll just live in my bubble until they announce an iPod with a wide touchscreen, and that way I’ll be happy. Whether they make it a PDA or not, it’ll still be fine by my list.
Jon on February 25th, 2007 at 9:51 pm says:
I am one of one hundred people in the western world who does not have an iPod. And oh how I want one. I’ve finally converted. I want to go to the Apple store and buy a shiny new iPod video… but after reading this I’m hesitant to go and shell out $250 for something that will be (very) obsolete within six months or so.
How long until the new iPod comes out? Anyone have any idea? How long have the current generation been out? Maybe summer? Hmmm… omg I want one
fcodc on February 26th, 2007 at 7:11 am says:
We’ll see the iPhone in June. As for the new iPod, these are all rumors — but many are guessing we’ll see it before the year ends.
Anthony on June 27th, 2007 at 11:55 pm says:
I want an iPhone but i would never go for at&t’s service. It seems like a dumb move on apple’s part to go with an exclusive company. I know they offered Verizon first but when they said no why didn’t they just not make it exclusive. The phone to me seems like it is more aimed toward adolescents and young adults than to the business type but the business type are the ones who can really afford it not the adolescents and young adults. If they were aiming for the business type they would have made it available on the business network, Verizon.
I think we are going to see that at this price point and being exclusive to at&t the iphone is going to start out pretty poorly. After all the hype dies down of course. I mean we are going to see the hard cores among us jumping carriers and spending the $600 on it but after that dies down it is going to flop, so within a year of it being out we are going to see that many other phones are selling better then the almighty iphone.
I really think apple needs to change their strategy around a little bit here. It is like they can’t decide who to market to. They have the iphone at a price that only business people and hard core gadget freaks like myself pay, on a network that has no business people. In the end we are going to see that it is only the hard core apple and gadget fans that are buying the iphone, at least if it stays at that price. And apple limiting themselves to one service is going to come back and bite them in the ass.
Can’t wait for the day the hackers figure out how to unlock them cause it does look like a beaut.
Frank on June 28th, 2007 at 6:36 am says:
The iPhone really looks hacker-friendly, isn’t it? Especially with the Mac OS X and all.