[NewsPoster]

An image buried inside the resources of iTunes 12.2 offers a surprising revelation to iPod fans: Apple's iPod lineup, which has seen diminishing sales for years, will get another -- though possibly final -- hurrah, with new color options and likely upgraded processors and storage. All three of the company's current iPod models -- the wearable Shuffle, the diminutive Nano, and the full-sized "iPhone with no phone," the iPod touch -- will see new colors, including strong shades of blue and pink, as well as the now-expected gold option.

Not clear in the images are hints of any technological changes. The current iPod touch is running on the iPhone 4s-era A5 chip, and would likely receive an upgrade to a newer processor in order to run the latest iOS versions, iTunes 12, and other changes. The Touch appears to lack a Touch ID button, though, and the smaller iPods are likely running the same custom OS as before.

Future iPod color options

The resource files, dug up by AppleInsider, indicate that the black and (product) RED editions of the Shuffle and Nano will also continue to be available, along with what appears to be a silver option for the Nano and Touch. The screen size of the iPod touch appears to be remaining at its current four-inch size -- fulfilling earlier rumors that Apple would still be using the display size for a future product.

New iPod shuffle colors

The new models will be the first real refresh of the iPod line since 2012, likely pushed in part by Apple's purchase of Beats and the arrival of Apple Music, both the paid streaming service and the app of the same name that offers additional, free-of-cost new features such as the Beats 1 radio station and Connect social service, though of course the iPod touch would need to be using Wi-Fi to take advantage of them.

[robertdupuy]

A new 4" screen device, with no phone counterpart? Or will they bump to 4.7"?

I don't see any point in calling it a last hurrah, Apple still finds Music to be strategically important, and as long as it adds to their sales, they can keep it around.

I see a clear market here, for the younger crowd, where the parent isn't buying the child a phone.
And occasionally for adults that have an Android phone but still want an apple device for music/workouts.

[JeffHarris]

Now that the 160GB iPod Classic has been killed off, let's finally see a HIGH capacity iPod touch for those of us who rip our music to Apple Lossless.

256GB would be a nice start.

128GB iPhones and iPads don't cut it.

[Mike Wuerthele]

Originally Posted by JeffHarris 

Now that the 160GB iPod Classic has been killed off, let's finally see a HIGH capacity iPod touch for those of us who rip our music to Apple Lossless.

256GB would be a nice start.

128GB iPhones and iPads don't cut it.

I bet it won't happen.

That said, I'm considering a piece on the various hacks to put mSATA hard drives in classic iPods.

[Charles Martin]

Yeah, it won't happen. Whether you rip your music to MP3, the superior AAC or the highest-quality Apple Lossless, Apple does not expect -- and will not design -- for music hoarders to carry around every song they ever bought or stole. For most people, the coming expansion of iCloud music storage to 100,000+ songs will be more than they need (almost nobody has actually bought 100,000 songs in their lifetime -- and even fewer have time to listen to that many -- at an average of five minutes each, it would take you five years of listening eight hours a day, every day without fail, to hear them all).

For lossless music listeners, there will never be enough storage -- if Apple came out with a 256GB iPod, you'd just acquire 500GB worth of music and still be complaining. Learn how to rotate playlists out every so often (doesn't take long), or set up your own streaming server, or keep the lossless stuff at home and use the compressed versions for everyday/mobile use.