[Mallrat]

I think Shuffles will get an update at Macworld.

The 1gb is not available, but the 512 mb still is.

There are reports that they will drop the 1gb and add colors.

It seems odd to me that they would drop the 1gb, unless they plan on introducing a 1gb nano.

Maybe there plan is to come out with the shuffle hopefully with a screen and colors at the 512mb for the same 99 dollars and get rid of the choice.

It doesn't make sense to have a 99 dollar player and a 129 player that is twice as big. I bought the 99 dollar one when the 1gb was 149 and it was my 2nd iPod.

But I think apple is doing it's best to make the iPod line neater. I think having a 2gb nano and 4gb nano is kind of off. You have black or white, 2 or 4. Only 4 choices. But maybe still too much. It confuses the average customer I bet.

I'm hoping for a new shuffle that is better and cheaper. I'm fine with 512mb for what I would use it for and most people need it for. 120songs for one trip out of the house.

-matt

[Simon]

My guess is they will either have to drop prices on existing models or add a screen of some sort. The latter doesn't sound very Steve-ish, but competition is getting rather stiff.

[im_noahselby]

My 2 cents:

I would not be surprised to see Apple add a 1GB iPod nano to the iPod lineup, considering this lineups massive success.

This would leave the 512MB iPod nano to battle it out on it's own. Why not add a screen thingy, like Sony does on their cheap MP3 players. Offer it in both black and white configurations, and throw in a new feature or two for good measure and WHAM, you have yourself the NEW and improved iPod Shuffle!

So it would go a little like this:

iPod Shuffle:
512MB - $99

iPod Nano:
1GB - $149
2GB - $199
4GB - $249

Given how amazing and sucessful the iPod Nanos have been I doubt the iPod Shuffle has a long life ahead of it. iPod Nanos are already using flash memory and have an awesome screen and tiny footprint.

Noah

[volcano]

The Shuffle is definitely due for a facelift - it hasn't changed at all since it was introduced January 2005 (beyond the price-drop when the 1GB model was lowered from $149 to $129).

I'm waiting it out. I don't want a Nano, but I've come to appreciate the size and durability of the Shuffle series, and I want one. I'm hoping they expand the line a bit - so we'll see.

[ben.mcguire]

the shuffle wouldnt be the shuffle if it had a screen, you might as well drop it all together and just have the nano.

[lookmark]

My guess: slimmer design with some small revamps, no screen, one model at $99, and white + black colors.

[whizbang]

YOU ARE ALL WRONG!!!
The 512MB will be discontinued. The 1GB has been suspended because existing stock of 1GB flash chips are being reserved for the new low-end shuffle, which will be 1GB, and a new 2GB high-end. It will be even slightly smaller form factor, colors or B/W very likely. No screen ever for the Shuffle, defeats the purpose.

The next Nano update will see 4GB and 6GB and a Video Nano option.

[volcano]

It wouldn't make sense to have a 1GB & 2GB Shuffle, since it would overlap with the existing 2GB Nano. Yes - it would be cheaper, since it lacks a display of any kind... but still: the only way Apple could successfully sell and market a 2GB Shuffle is if they lowered the price points and offered the 1GB model for $99 and the 2GB model for $129 like the current line-up.

A Nano with video? Unlikely even in the future. Why? Well, I can tell you right now... the full-sized iPod is just big enough to enjoy video on. I can't even imagine watching video on a 1.5" screen. I really like my eyesight - and I don't want to go blind squinting, even for my iPod. Yes, they could possibly bump the screen up to 2" like the original full-sized iPods prior to the video-enabled ones, but then it wouldn't be as marketable - it wouldn't be "impossibly small" anymore.

Next.

[JoshuaZ]

Plus the nano would not have the battery life to handle video. Sure, it could be done, but it would be worthless on such a small screen with next to no battery life.

Plus I don't see the shuffle changing in any way except for the color. Its a strong seller and fills a good part of Apple's market.

[whizbang]

It doesn't matter if there is a 2GB Shuffle as well as a 2GB Nano - they are different models, the Nano has a color screen and a ton more capabilities, who cares if they are both 2GB? Irrelevant.

Also, the Nano will see an upgrade to 4GB and 6GB sooner rather than later. So that shoots down that argument.

It is up to Apple to decide price points. One thing is certain - products will increase in capabilities, including storage capacity. Duh. And price points will be adjusted accordingly. Price points do not dictate product upgrades. Duh.

Also, the chipset for the iPod Nano to handle video has already been engineered, there was a leak about that on some tech website recently - it was not mentioned as the iPos Nano specifically, but obliquely referenced. Remember, you don't have to watch it on the Nano - plug it in to the new Apple Plasma TVs everyone is talking aout now, or another soon-to-be-unveiled media device, and the iPod Nano will play it on that device.

All non-Shuffle iPods will be Video iPods very shortly. Just goes to reason.

[ben.mcguire]

Who on earth would want a 2GB shuffle?!?!!?

[iLikebeer]

Originally Posted by ben.mcguire

Who on earth would want a 2GB shuffle?!?!!?

That's only 80 songs if you encode to apple lossless. Imagine never having to worry about encoding all your songs again and losing quality from one iteration of codec to another, because you keep a lossless copy of everything in digital form. A 2 GB would just about let me carry around the entire Led Zeppelin box set. You can never have too much space.