When word have out that Apple had sent out invitations to a September 1 media event , I expected the usual speculation about new iPods , new translation of iTunes , and — just peradventure , after long time of unfulfilled Hope and dreams — a new , operable Apple TV . What I did n’t expect was much prognosticating about the august iPod classic .
Yet much prophecy have I seen . For example , our own Christopher Breen thinks the iPod classic has gain the end of the route , specially if Apple announces some variety of cyclosis - audio service . And concern Insiderthinks Apple may offer a 128 GB iPod touchthat could spell the final stage of the classic ’s tenure .
I addressed this very possibility a duet years back , just a few days after Apple ’s September 2008 euphony event . I confidently proclaimed that the iPod classic was “ just keep the seat warm ” until flash memory was tatty enough for Apple to offer a 128 GB iPod touch . At the meter , wink - computer storage price were nosediving , and I predicted we ’d see such a product sometime in 2009 .
I was ill-timed , of course . For various rationality , blink of an eye - memory prices did n’t keep going down . In fact , they eventually reversed direction . And or else of free a 128 GB iPod sense of touch for the gamy - electrical capacity crowd , Apple in 2009 merely bumped the classic ’s storage back up to 160 GB . ( The September 2007 iPod classic was available in 80 GB and 160 GB good example ; Apple replaced those models in September 2008 with a exclusive 120 GB model . )
But while Chris is right-hand that a streaming - audio service would reduce need for a high - capability iPod , I trust there would still beenoughdemand that Apple will continue to proffer a player with set of storage . For example , the classic is democratic among those who rip their euphony to mellow - bit rate , lossless , or uncompressed files—64 GB , the memory in the current highest - capacity iPod touch , just is n’t enough for these folks . ( Heck , my picture on upgrade an iPod classic to 240 GB of storage was see by tens of thousands of people . ) Until there ’s an iPod touch with at least 128 GB , I await Apple to quiet keep the classic in the lineup .
So , for me , the big question is whether or not we ’ll see a 128 GB iPod touch this week . I ’d love to see one , but given current prices for flash memory , I cogitate it ’s a prospicient shot . Consider that you could currently buy a 160 GB , 1.8 - inch gruelling drive — similar to the one used in the current iPod classic — including a USB enclosure forless than $ 100 . Apple surely pays a fraction of that for naked drives . Meanwhile , 128 GB versions of the flash module used in the iPod toucharen’t even formally uncommitted yetand will be a pretty penny when that time come .
Of naturally , Apple ’s purchasing power might allow the fellowship to get those 128 GB chips before anyone else , but there ’s still the price issue . In fact , I suspect that even using two 64 GB modules — the current iPod touchuses two chips — would cost Apple considerably more than the aforementioned 160 GB strong campaign . So I ’ll go out on a branch and say that if Appleisable to produce a 128 GB iPod touch on this fall , the Leontyne Price will be higher than that of the current 64 GB iPod signature … which would make it just a practical Harlan Stone ’s cam stroke from the price of an iPad .
So here ’s betting that the iPod classic will live to see another vacation season . But I ’d love to be proven wrong . A retina - exhibit , photographic camera - lark about iPod touch with 128 GB of computer storage … drool .
