Apple leaks new gold, deep blue and hot pink iPod colors in iTunes 12.2

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited July 2015
An update to Apple's dwindling iPod lineup is indeed in the works, Apple's own iTunes software appears to indicate, thanks to graphics showing gold versions of the iPod touch, nano and shuffle, along with new shades of blue and pink.




AppleInsider exclusively reported in April that Apple plans to revisit its media player lineup this year with updated hardware. And Apple itself added to the evidence this week, as the newly released iTunes 12.2 update shows off a trio of new colors not currently available in the current lineup.

The new iPod nano, shuffle and touch can be seen by plugging an existing iPod into a Mac or PC and connecting it to iTunes. The iTunes 12.2 resource file also includes files showing individual models with the new colors, suggesting that the three new options will come to the entire lineup.







The iPod lineup is already available in blue and pink, but the ones pictured in iTunes are significantly different shades than the current offerings. iPods are also available in yellow, but not gold.

The current iPod touch lineup is available in a total of six colors: space gray, silver, pink, yellow, blue, and (product)RED. The iPod shuffle and nano are available in eight colors, adding options for purple and green. The new colors were first spotted by belgium-iphone.

What other changes to the lineup, aside from new colors, might be in the works remain unknown. But it's expected that the new models will debut later this year.

Noticeably, the new iPod touch does not appear to have a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in its home button. Its absence, if accurate, would likely mean that Apple Pay support will not be included in the update.


Apple's current iPod touch colors.


However, it should also be noted that the iPod touch is shown running iOS 8 with Passbook. Apple's forthcoming iOS 9 update renames the application to Wallet. This could be a mockup error, or it could suggest that new iPods will ship before iOS 9.

AppleInsider's own source indicated that the iPod touch would see an update, but suggested it would retain the same 4-inch screen size.

Though the iPod lineup has not seen any significant changes since late 2012, this year could be an opportune time for an update, as Apple works to further integrates Beats products into its ecosystem. The popular headphone maker was acquired for $3 billion last year.


Apple's current iPod nano colors.


If previous iPod touch updates are any indication, it's likely that Apple will recycle parts from previous-generation iPhones. Given that the current iPod touch lineup features the A5 chip that was used in the iPhone 4S Apple released in 2012, there are plenty of newer -- and more powerful -- options for the company to turn to.

The A6 processor introduced in the iPhone 5 continues to be produced for the iPhone 5c, making it a potential candidate for an iPod touch refresh. There's also the A7 processor from the iPhone 5s, which would make the device the first iPod touch with a 64-bit processor.


Apple's current iPod shuffle colors.


Another area where the iPod touch could see an upgrade is storage: Apple currently offers its media player in capacities of 16, 32, and 64 gigabytes. But the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus come with a higher-capacity option of 128 gigabytes that could make its way down to the iPod lineup.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 49
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    sog35 wrote: »
    The update I've been waiting for

    If they update iPods with no Touch ID that's a big fail. And why does the nano still have iOS 6 style UI?
  • Reply 2 of 49
    A7, 802.11ac, and a better camera--say the one from the iPhone 5S would be a nice upgrade.

    PS, just noticed the iPod Touch page on Apple's website is still touting ITunes Radio. Maybe a website upgrade is also in order. :lol:
  • Reply 3 of 49
    ljc94512ljc94512 Posts: 54member

    Ideal spec for the next iPod touch:

     

    4/4.7 inch display running 5s/6 resolution.  I don't really mind which one they choose

    minimum A7 chip, ideally A8 chip

    8MP camera with true tone flash (minimum 5s level camera) without protrusion

    802.11ac wifi

    I don't think they will upgrade the front facing which is sad

    touch ID

    Apple Pay (NFC)

     

    Hopefully this is reasonable

  • Reply 4 of 49
    andysolandysol Posts: 2,506member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rogifan View Post





    If they update iPods with no Touch ID that's a big fail.

     

    I haven't posted in forever.  Hey guys- miss yall! :)

     

    But no Touch ID is fine with a touch.  You wouldn't be able to use it in-store unless you were connected to Wifi- so you're really just talking about the similar uses as an iPad.  Good for security, but not much else (online purchases withholding).

     

    I'm much more disappointed about a 4" screen.  That alone will be what likely deters me from upgrading for my daughter.  I'll probably just get an iPad mini at this point; unfortunately.

  • Reply 5 of 49
    rogifan wrote: »
    If they update iPods with no Touch ID that's a big fail. And why does the nano still have iOS 6 style UI?

    a tribute to Scott Forstall?
  • Reply 6 of 49
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Andysol View Post

     

    But no Touch ID is fine with a touch.  You wouldn't be able to use it in-store unless you were connected to Wifi- so you're really just talking about the similar uses as an iPad.  Good for security, but not much else (online purchases withholding).


    Not an issue. The Apple Watch can buy things with ApplePay without a cellular connection just fine.

     

    Apple Music is quickly pushing my iPhone 6's battery beyond the breaking point, so I'm legitimately excited for a Touch update. It needs to be A7 or better however.

  • Reply 7 of 49
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    I love my Shuffle for running, but the clip function is really harmed by the impossibly small grip area. The player's volume/advance control ring interferes with what should be an easy and intuitive action and the prior iteration of the Shuffle actually did have a larger grip area. There's really no excuse for an ergonomically clumsy design and the additional amount of metal needed is minor.
  • Reply 8 of 49
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post



    A7, 802.11ac, and a better camera--say the one from the iPhone 5S would be a nice upgrade.



    PS, just noticed the iPod Touch page on Apple's website is still touting ITunes Radio. Maybe a website upgrade is also in order. image



    The picture on the Apple Music page is at least showing the new Music icon on the Touch.

  • Reply 8 of 49
    mazecookiemazecookie Posts: 163member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Andysol View Post

     

    But no Touch ID is fine with a touch.  You wouldn't be able to use it in-store unless you were connected to Wifi- so you're really just talking about the similar uses as an iPad.  Good for security, but not much else (online purchases withholding).


     

    Fortunately, a device being used for Apple Pay does not need access to the internet during a transaction, only during card setup.

  • Reply 10 of 49
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,382member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rogifan View Post





    If they update iPods with no Touch ID that's a big fail. And why does the nano still have iOS 6 style UI?

     

    Because that product does not even make a blip on Apple's balance sheet, and they (justifiably) couldn't care less about investing in it? Apple does not want people buying Nanos, they would prefer if you saved your cash and invested in an iOS device. 

  • Reply 11 of 49
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post



    I love my Shuffle for running, but the clip function is really harmed by the impossibly small grip area. The player's volume/advance control ring interferes with what should be an easy and intuitive action and the prior iteration of the Shuffle actually did have a larger grip area. There's really no excuse for an ergonomically difficult design.



    I wonder what the cost to make a Shuffle is now. $1.75 each?

     

    (seriously it used to be $13 or so)

  • Reply 12 of 49
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Slurpy View Post

     

     

    Because that product does not even make a blip on Apple's balance sheet, and they (justifiably) couldn't care less about investing in it? Apple does not want people buying Nanos, they would prefer if you saved your cash and invested in an iOS device. 




    EarPods don't make a blip on the balance sheet either yet they spent millions developing them. The $600 it would cost to tweak the Nano UI is hardly a bank-breaker.

  • Reply 13 of 49
    ljc94512 wrote: »
    Ideal spec for the next iPod touch:

    4/4.7 inch display running 5s/6 resolution.  I don't really mind which one they choose
    minimum A7 chip, ideally A8 chip
    8MP camera with true tone flash (minimum 5s level camera) without protrusion
    802.11ac wifi
    I don't think they will upgrade the front facing which is sad
    touch ID
    Apple Pay (NFC)

    Hopefully this is reasonable

    No specs sheet is complete without:
    S-Pay featuring LoopPay
    S-Sound
    S-Super AMOLED+ AMAZE
    S-TIZEN
    S-Touch fingerprint reader
    Qi wireless charging
    That other wireless charging I can't remember
    USB 1-8,A-Z
    S-Pen
    S-Eraser
    S-Camera with Gesture control and eye tracking
    S-Power Saver modes 1,2,3
    S-Voice
    S-Bloatware placeholder slots 1-20 (contact Samsung volume sales to bid, use offer code: APLINSDR23 for discount)
  • Reply 14 of 49
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member

    I wonder what the cost to make a Shuffle is now. $1.75 each?

    (seriously it used to be $13 or so)

    And the last new one I bought I think it was about $50. If it would cost another $5 to get an ergonomic clip, I'd pay for it. If they could make a sweat/water resistant one, I'd pay more for that. I certainly don't want to slap a phone on my arm when I'm running (and I'm not ready to wear an Apple Watch, plus have the phone on me).
  • Reply 15 of 49
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post





    And the last new one I bought I think it was about $50. If it would cost another $5 to get an ergonomic clip, I'd pay for it.



    They're still $50! The profit margins on the entire iPod lineup have to be insane. In fact, I have to imagine the Touch will get updated just because costs are rising now that they've largely killed off A5 production (the AppleTV uses a different model of the A5).

     

    Shuffle needs to go to 4GB, Nano to 32 (or cut the price to $99), Touch needs A7 or better.

     

    I suspect they may reduce the color options to cut back on SKU's.

  • Reply 16 of 49
    19831983 Posts: 1,225member

    Its nice to see that Apple hasn't forgotten about the product line that helped prevent it from going belly up nearly 15 years ago. I hope these rumours are correct and the venerable iPod line gets a decent (but probably final) upgrade.

  • Reply 17 of 49
    pmzpmz Posts: 3,433member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rogifan View Post





    If they update iPods with no Touch ID that's a big fail.

    Come on, seriously? How much longer are you people going to entertain the fantasy that Apple cares about the iPod at all? Is not abundantly obvious to you that Apple does want to sell more iPods? That they feel the current modest sales pace of the product is just enough to justify its legacy, but not enough for any innovation whatsoever?

     

    The iPod touch was big deal back when it was lot harder to get an iPhone, and there was no iPad mini. The landscape has changed. A lot.

     

    I'm looking forward to when Apple axes it completely...not pining over their so called "failure" for letting a dying product die.

  • Reply 18 of 49
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by LJC94512 View Post

     

    Ideal spec for the next iPod touch:

     

    4/4.7 inch display running 5s/6 resolution.  I don't really mind which one they choose

    minimum A7 chip, ideally A8 chip

    8MP camera with true tone flash (minimum 5s level camera) without protrusion

    802.11ac wifi

    I don't think they will upgrade the front facing which is sad

    touch ID

    Apple Pay (NFC)

     

    Hopefully this is reasonable


    Not going to happen.  Too many cheapskates who wouldn't pay the price Apple would likely charge for such a fully-featured device.  The base model (64 GB) would probably cost $499 and there wouldn't be enough takers for Apple to put it into production.  Might as well buy some used iPhone 6.  Apple appears to ignore products that won't make them a pile of money and I guess they can't be faulted for that.

  • Reply 19 of 49
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    slurpy wrote: »
    Because that product does not even make a blip on Apple's balance sheet, and they (justifiably) couldn't care less about investing in it? Apple does not want people buying Nanos, they would prefer if you saved your cash and invested in an iOS device. 

    How difficult would it be to introduce some design consistency? I don't think it would take much time or effort to rid the nano UI of the iOS 6 glossy like aesthetic.
  • Reply 20 of 49
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    pmz wrote: »
    Come on, seriously? How much longer are you people going to entertain the fantasy that Apple cares about the iPod at all? Is not abundantly obvious to you that Apple does want to sell more iPods? That they feel the current modest sales pace of the product is just enough to justify its legacy, but not enough for any innovation whatsoever?

    The iPod touch was big deal back when it was lot harder to get an iPhone, and there was no iPad mini. The landscape has changed. A lot.

    I'm looking forward to when Apple axes it completely...not pining over their so called "failure" for letting a dying product die.

    I said updating it without touch ID would be a big fail. If Apple wants to get rid of it and push people to iPhones then don't update it.
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