Apple refreshes iPod classic, ups capacity to 160GB

[AppleInsider]

Rumors of the demise of the iPod classic were greatly exaggerated, and Apple's new iPod shuffle has gained compatibility with more third-party headphones.

160GB iPod classic

Apple increased the capacity of its only remaining hard drive-based player to 160GB Wednesday. The new model carries the same price as the old 120GB offering: $249. It is advertised as carrying 40,000 songs in your pocket.

Ironically, the 160GB model equals one offered two years ago, when the new "classic" moniker was unveiled and sizes of 80GB and 160GB were released. Last year, the line was cut to just one 120GB model with an internal drive smaller than the 160GB version that was discontinued.

The new 160GB model has the same "thin" profile as the previous 120GB offering. Though a rumor weeks ago had suggested the classic might add a camera, along with the iPod nano, that report -- along with claims of an iPod touch with camera -- proved false.

New iPod shuffle has more headphone options

The latest update to Apple's self-proclaimed "world's smallest music player" will gain compatibility with more headphones, as the previous iteration's tethered controls were proprietary-only.

"The first music player to talk to you" is available starting at $59 for a new 2GB model, and comes in five colors. The 4GB model costs $79, and is also available in silver, black, pink, blue and green. There will also be a stainless steel special edition with 4GB of capacity, priced at $99.



While last year's version of the iPod shuffle previously required either the official Apple Earphones or In-Ear Headphones with Remote, the company will now license out hte controls to other manufacturers. Announced Wednesday were offerings from Sony, V-MODA, Klipsch, Scosche with built-in headphone controls, while Belkin and Scosche will offer built-in headphone adapters that will allow any headphones to work with the hardware.

"iPod shuffle is the world's smallest music player and now comes in five great colors starting at just $59," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "iPod shuffle is so small that you almost forget it's there, yet remarkably, it holds up to 1,000 songs and talks to you."



The iPod shuffle is based on Apple's "shuffle: feature, which randomly selects songs from your music library. The device features a wearable design with a built-in stainless steel clip. iPod shuffle users can easily clip it to almost anything and take it everywhere.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[teckstud]

Logisticaldron
Last year Apple dropped the thicker, dual-platter 160GB iPod Classic and bumped the thinner, single-platter 80GB Classic to 120GB. I can’t find any evidence that HDD makers have increased the capacity of the single platter 1.8” HDDs to 160GB, so unless Apple plans on going back to the thicker Classic (which I can’t see happening and wonder if they did why not bump it to 240GB with dual-platters) I can’t see how the Classic will move to 160GB.

Can you see clearly now??

[D.J. Adequate]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Rumors of the demise of the iPod classic were greatly exaggerated, as Apple increased the capacity of its only remaining hard drive-based player to 160GB.

Count me as one happy customer. I love my older generation 160Gb, and the thought of downgrading size made me sad. Now I have an option, as my current model is getting a little bit flakey in it's old age.

Long live the iPod Classic.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Can you see clearly now??

As usual, I can, and in a previous post I made mention that I can’t find a 160GB 1.8” HDD. I didn’t say that it didn’t exist I did say that Apple will not be going back to the thicker Classic. I do recall [you] saying that Apple will drop the Shuffle without controls. How is that working out for you?

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

As usual, I can, and in a previous post I made mention that I can’t find a 160GB 1.8” HDD. I didn’t say that it didn’t exist I did say that Apple will not be going back to the thicker Classic. I do recall saying that Apple will drop the Shuffle without controls. How is that working out for you?

We just got an amended shuffle that works with other headphones- that's good enough for me. People spoke and Apple listened.
Now did you find that 160Gb 1.8" HD yet? Apple apparently did- and it didn't just drop out of the sky. Keep me posted once you find it.

[MARSZ]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Rumors of the demise of the iPod classic were greatly exaggerated, as Apple increased the capacity of its only remaining hard drive-based player to 160GB.

The new model carries the same price as the old 120GB offering: $249. It is advertised as carrying 40,000 songs in your pocket.

Ironically, the 160GB model equals one offered two years ago, when the new "classic" moniker was unveiled and sizes of 80GB and 160GB were released. Last year, the line was cut to just one 120GB model with an internal drive smaller than the 160GB version that was discontinued.

The new 160GB model has the same "thin" profile as the previous 120GB offering. Though a rumor weeks ago had suggested the classic might add a camera, along with the iPod nano, that report -- along with claims of an iPod touch with camera -- proved false.

I don't think Apple would kill the Classic design if for no other reason, because it's the "classic" design. The template, if you will, that became the iPod. And until the iPod touch hits 128GB + 256GB variations, it isn't beatable for large memory players. It may be last in iPod sales, but it still trumps all hard-drive players of any brand.

Apple isn't just gonna give that up and leave people with...the Zune. (cringes)

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by teckstud

We just got an amended shuffle that works with other headphones- that's good enough for me. People spoke and Apple listened.
Now did you find that 160Gb 1.8" HD yet? Apple apparently did- and it didn't just drop out of the sky. Keep me posted once you find it.

I guess you still haven’t signed up for a reading comprehension class yet. You clearly stated that the lack of physical buttons on the Shuffle would mean it is the worst selling iPod ever, that no one would buy it, and that using the cord for controls was so troublesome because you can’t possible grab the cable hanging in front of you. I recall you buying a 2G Shuffle to show how adamant you were in your conviction. The idea that other companies have made headphones does not negate in any way your previous claims, but in fact proves that you were wrong about the popularity in that other companies are making headphones to accommodate the iPods and iPhones with these features. (Curious to see how you backpedal again on your previous claims of the Shuffle being a failure.)

[vinea]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

As usual, I can, and in a previous post I made mention that I can’t find a 160GB 1.8” HDD. I didn’t say that it didn’t exist I did say that Apple will not be going back to the thicker Classic. I do recall saying that Apple will drop the Shuffle without controls. How is that working out for you?

Geez. Announced today.

http://tinyurl.com/nuhhdj

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by vinea

Geez.

http://bit.ly/GWosR

LMAO!!!

[vinea]

Originally Posted by teckstud

LMAO!!!

Sorry, that got truncated and left off the single platter part. HD instead of HDD too.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by vinea

Geez.

http://tinyurl.com/nuhhdj

And which of those links for a 1.8” 160GB HDD are for a single-platter drive that allows the “thin” Classic to remain thin? I suppose it’s possible that Apple found a way to condense the rest of the components to maintain the same 10.5 mm thinness. I’ve looked and I can’t find it. I correctly stated that the thick Classic would not come back.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

I guess you still haven’t signed up for a reading comprehension class yet. You clearly stated that the lack of physical buttons on the Shuffle would mean it is the worst selling iPod ever, that no one would buy it, and that using the cord for controls was so troublesome because you can’t possible grab the cable hanging in front of you. I recall you buying a 2G Shuffle to show how adamant you were in your conviction. The idea that other companies have made headphones does not negate in any way your previous claims, but in fact proves that you were wrong about the popularity in that other companies are making headphones to accommodate the iPods and iPhones with these features. (Curious to see how you backpedal again on your previous claims of the Shuffle being a failure.)

Those posts were like 9 months ago! Yours is from this morning.
I just bought Altec Lansing Bluetooth stereo headphones at the Apple store Friday(highly recommended) that work with my iPhone and Touch at the gym. I can even answer calls with them. And no cords- nada. So I have no idea what you talking about anymore.
Again the shuffle has been amended because people talked, the reviews sucked, and APple listened. Don't deny it.
I bought a 2G shuffle because Virgin went under here in NYC and I got it for $50!!!! I then gave it as a gift cause I already own one.

Did you google 160GB HDD yet?

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by vinea

Sorry, that got truncated and left off the single platter part. HD instead of HDD too.

According to Google News, introduced from Toshiba 18 minutes ago as of this posting! That seems to be a fair bit AFTER my statement was made about not being able to find a 160Gb 1.8” single-platter HDD. We expect this lack of reading comprehension from Teckstud, but not from you.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

According to Google News, introduced from Toshiba 18 minutes ago as of this posting! That seems to be a fair bit AFTER my statement was made about not being able to find a 160Gb 1.8” single-platter HDD. We expect this lack of reading comprehension from Teckstud, but not from you.

Who designated you the Evelyn Wood of AppleInsider?

[elroth]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Who designated you the Evelyn Wood of AppleInsider?

Who designated you the Resident Idiot? Quit being a jerk, if that's possible for you.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by elroth

Who designated you the Resident Idiot? Quit being a jerk, if that's possible for you.

I only respond that way if I'm insulted left and right. Example:

Logisticaldron. We expect this lack of reading comprehension from Teckstud, but not from you.

[UndefinedPersona]

That WOULD be great news, but I just got a 120GB model for my birthday a little over a week ago... Thanks, Apple.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by teckstud

I only respond that way if I'm insulted left and right. Example:

So you preempted an attack on me first in post #2? Sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy. If you are going to be nasty to people and never admit when you’ve made a mistake you shouldn’t expect people to be too happy with you.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by UndefinedPersona

That WOULD be great news, but I just got a 120GB model for my birthday a little over a week ago... Thanks, Apple.

I think you have 10 days to return it from time of purchase. You can always call an Apple Store for a more definitive answer.

— http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Im....html#topic-23

[UndefinedPersona]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

I think you have 10 days to return it from time of purchase. You can always call an Apple Store for a more definitive answer.

It came from Best Buy, though... and not from an Apple Store inside a Best Buy, either. Doesn't Best Buy have something like a 30- or 90-day return window? I already opened it and have been using it for the last week.

[Big KC]

Originally Posted by elroth

Who designated you the Resident Idiot? Quit being a jerk, if that's possible for you.

Teckstud and Logisticaldron are both trolls, we shouldn't be feeding them (as I am right now).

[Johnny Mozzarella]

They should have put a camera on the new shuffle.
The smallest iPod ever just became the best spy camera ever.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

So you preempted an attack on me first in post #2? Sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy. If you are going to be nasty to people and never admit when you’ve made a mistake you shouldn’t expect people to be too happy with you.

Dude, you've been trying to insult me all over this place because I've asked you to back up your claims. NO more time wasted from me on you.

[anantksundaram]

Thank you, Apple! I am certainly getting one, as I have a feeling this is the end of the line (sniff).

It is simply perfect to leave in the car full time (the Touch is a little too dainty for that).

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mozzarella

They should have put a camera on the new shuffle.
The smallest iPod ever just became the best spy camera ever.

Camera w/o screen? That would be a first...

[Undo Redo]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Camera w/o screen? That would be a first...

No camera had a screen until about 15 years ago.

[brucep]

Originally Posted by D.J. Adequate

Count me as one happy customer. I love my older generation 160Gb, and the thought of downgrading size made me sad. Now I have an option, as my current model is getting a little bit flakey in it's old age.

Long live the iPod Classic.

yes long live the classic
i will get one soon
160g is sweet

[ptreyesblue]

So I walked over to the Apple store near Union Square in San Francisco today at lunch. The Apple website said the 160GB Classic was "available now". And that's true - they are available online for purchase. At the store they told me they had no idea when they would be in stock - no one told them. That seems like very poor customer service to me.

[Parsec]

Long live the iPod Classic indeed.

I've got the 120gb version and this week got an iPhone 3g. Even through my car stereo there's a noticeable difference, the iPod Classic sounds much nicer than the iPhone. Playing the same 320k MP3 files by the way.

I think for people who want all their music on one device and want to plug it into a real hifi then the Classic is the best device, I'm glad they didn't get rid of it.

[Wiggin]

Originally Posted by teckstud

We just got an amended shuffle that works with other headphones- that's good enough for me. People spoke and Apple listened.

Actually, just to clarify, we didn't get an amended shuffle. Same shuffle, new colors. What we got was Apple begging (ok, probably an exaggeration) headphone manufacturers to make special headphones to work with their control-less shuffle. So how much is this $59 shuffle going to really cost me? Because you can be certain that these special headphones are going to cost more than the same thing without the controls. It doesn't really make the shuffle a reasonably priced option unless you can live with Apple's included headphones.

Also note, for those of you who, like me, despise the new shuffle, it appears Apple has also removed the option to purchase a 2nd gen shuffle from their online store.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Wiggin

Actually, just to clarify, we didn't get an amended shuffle. Same shuffle, new colors. What we got was Apple begging (ok, probably an exaggeration) headphone manufacturers to make special headphones to work with their control-less shuffle. So how much is this $59 shuffle going to really cost me? Because you can be certain that these special headphones are going to cost more than the same thing without the controls. It doesn't really make the shuffle a reasonably priced option unless you can live with Apple's included headphones.

Also note, for those of you who, like me, despise the new shuffle, it appears Apple has also removed the option to purchase a 2nd gen shuffle from their online store.

I don't think you read it all-

while Belkin and Scosche will offer built-in headphone adapters that will allow any headphones to work with the hardware.

So any headphone will now work with this add on. Look I hate the friggin' thing too but at least Apple listened to the outcry and bad reviews of this thing. Thank god I have the 2G shuffle - the only improvement it needed at most was the sound. But its virtually perfection compared to the 3G.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by teckstud

I don't think you read it all-



So any headphone will now work with this add on. Look I hate the friggin' thing too but at least Apple listened to the outcry and bad reviews of this thing. Thank god I have the 2G shuffle - the only improvement it needed at most was the sound. But its virtually perfection compared to the 3G.

As Wiggin clearly stated it’s the SAME Shuffle except for the colours. Apple didn’t change anything with the HW as you keep trying to claim. *cough* reading comprehension *cough* An adapters that let you use any headphones have been out for months now.

— http://www.geardiary.com/2009/05/17/...d-gen-shuffle/

[Tube]

yay, Classic!

Thank you Apple.

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

As usual, I can, and in a previous post I made mention that I can’t find a 160GB 1.8” HDD. I didn’t say that it didn’t exist I did say that Apple will not be going back to the thicker Classic. I do recall saying that Apple will drop the Shuffle without controls. How is that working out for you?

Apple didn't drop the shuffle without controls and the new 160 GB drive is a single platter model, so both your posts are full of BS.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by hillstones

Apple didn't drop the shuffle without controls and the new 160 GB drive is a single platter model, so both your posts are full of BS.

It was Teckstud that said that Shuffle without buttons is going to fail, not me. I missed the word ‘you’, which i’ve since added but my next sentence should have been a clue to the missing pronoun.

As for the 160GB 1.8" SP HDD. I stated that I can’t find a 1.8" SP HDD larger than 120GB. If you read the thread you’ll see that it wasn’t until AFTER Apple’s iPod event today that Toshiba announced the 160GB 1.8” SP HDD.

[vinea]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

And which of those links for a 1.8” 160GB HDD are for a single-platter drive that allows the “thin” Classic to remain thin? I suppose it’s possible that Apple found a way to condense the rest of the components to maintain the same 10.5 mm thinness. I’ve looked and I can’t find it. I correctly stated that the thick Classic would not come back.

Oh...I dunno...the FIRST one maybe? The one titled "Toshiba Introduces World's Highest-Capacity, Single-Platter 1.8-Inch HDD, Enabling Next-Generation Portable Media Players"

Gee...I wonder which Next-Generation Portable Media Players they might be referring to?

[vinea]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

According to Google News, introduced from Toshiba 18 minutes ago as of this posting! That seems to be a fair bit AFTER my statement was made about not being able to find a 160Gb 1.8” single-platter HDD. We expect this lack of reading comprehension from Teckstud, but not from you.

No, I just found it funny that the first google found it right after you posted that you still couldn't find any. Did you really think that nobody would increase the capacity of 1.8" single platter drives ever?

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by vinea

Oh...I dunno...the FIRST one maybe? The one titled "Toshiba Introduces World's Highest-Capacity, Single-Platter 1.8-Inch HDD, Enabling Next-Generation Portable Media Players"

Gee...I wonder which Next-Generation Portable Media Players they might be referring to?

And you claim that this info was available BEFORE the Apple event today and yesterday and many weeks ago when I stated that I cannot find a 1.8” HDD larger than 120GB from any manufacturer?

[macnyc]

Originally Posted by teckstud

So any headphone will now work with this add on. Look I hate the friggin' thing too but at least Apple listened to the outcry and bad reviews of this thing. Thank god I have the 2G shuffle - the only improvement it needed at most was the sound. But its virtually perfection compared to the 3G.

As irrational as always...

Apple announced at the time the new shuffle came out, that there would be third party headphones.

So what did Apple change in response to "the outcry and bad reviews"?

Absolutely nothing...

Why not? Because it's the best shuffle to date, and all your whining won't change that.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by vinea

No, I just found it funny that the first google found it right after you posted that you still couldn't find any. Did you really think that nobody would increase the capacity of 1.8" single platter drives ever?

I never said they wouldn’t, I clearly stated that I cannot find any such drive that would make the increase of the thin Classic a shoe in. It’s not typical of Apple to use 3rd-party component HW before they are introduced by the vendor. Even CPU that Apple gets from Intel before others have been introduced in some way even though they weren’t available to others to use. Are you claiming that you knew these 160GB single-platter drives existed before the event today? If so, then why didn’t you make mention of it? I have been looking for these drives periodically all year. You finding it right when it was first posted today is a coincidence as it didn’t exist earlier.