14 October, 2008

Is the iPod dying a slow death?

iPod: Going, going, soon to be gone?

It started with an interview by Telegraph UK with Steve Wozniak, Apple’s co-founder. Woz stated:

“The iPod has sort of lived a long life at number one, things like, if you look back to transistor radios and Walkmans, they kind of die out after a while… they get real cheap and then they are not selling as much.”

You’ll find many posts and news stories on the net since telling you the Apple iPod is dying – or dead.

But what do you think?

ipod v iphone Is the iPod dying a slow death?

At this stage, with the technology of the iPod touch and iPhone making them multi-function devices or mini computers, you can see why people are saying this…

BUT what about all the people who own the iPod and want 80Gb, 160Gb (iPod classic) – or now 120Gb (2nd generation iPod classic) of music and data on their devices. That’s not a function they can have with the iPhone or iPod touch at this stage.

So how long til we see bigger Gb capability with the iPhone?
Or will the iPod lovers be iPhone converts further down the track?

I don’t know! I think the end users are so distinctly different that there will always be dedicated Apple iPod fans.

On the other hand, I think the Apple iPhone appeals to a much broader market – not only Apple fans.

The iPhone 3G has seen many people jump from their usual smartphones like Nokia etc, even if just to be part of the growing excitement and trend. As well, sources speculate that Apple may have already sold 10 million iPhone 3G handsets, well ahead of their target.

Though, some are still not convinced, given other mobile phones and smartphones offer functions that the iPhone 3G can’t – like 5Mp camera, MMS, cut and paste to name a few.

Guess we can either make up our own minds on whether the iPod is dying … or for those who don’t care – just wait and see!