Apple's next-gen iPods just around the corner, full of rainbows?

Sure, you could dismiss this round of iPod rumors -- so carefully culled by the fine folks at 9 to 5 Mac and AppleInsider -- as baseless speculation, but we'll have none of your dowdy skepticism. We're talking about rainbows here, people. AppleInsider claims that retailers are seeing current iPod models being switched to "discontinued" in inventory systems, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says to expect iPod refreshes across the board, including a slightly redesigned $200 iPod touch, and meanwhile 9 to 5 Mac has it from an unnamed source that the new iPod nanos will have enhanced features, double the storage and rainbow color schemes. It's almost like somebody in Cupertino is reading our mind! We'll know for sure when new iPods arrive mid-September filled to the brim with "Run's House" episodes and bedecked in rainbow-hued gummy bears. It's going to rock.

[Thanks, Kiwi616]

Read - AppleInsider
Read - 9 to 5 Mac

[bartoron @ Aug 21st 2008 12:17PM]

How about an iPod with a see-through case?

[gfar @ Aug 21st 2008 1:17PM]

How about adding Nike+ to more than just the Nano? That'd be a nice change.
They should refresh the iPod's less often, and think about updating the Mac Mini already.

[a ham sandwich @ Aug 21st 2008 1:23PM]

no, thats not possible. it MUST contain either brushed aluminum, glass, or glossy plastic, or all of the above. no discussion.

[Mycroft @ Aug 21st 2008 1:28PM]

How about they focus on fixing the iPhone before it becomes iPhail?

[Nick @ Aug 21st 2008 1:30PM]

CHARLIE!

[Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 21st 2008 1:40PM]

iPod: Candy Mountain Edition.

[The Dude @ Aug 21st 2008 2:03PM]

@gfar:

They'd never support Nike+ for the Classic. The Touch, yeah. But not the Classic. Encouraging you to exercise with a HDD-based iPod is just asking for people to make use of the warranty.

[OneLove @ Aug 21st 2008 2:12PM]

as redesigned as the new iphone?

[ClayMeow @ Nov 28th 2008 9:00PM]

@ The Dude

I use my IPod 3G (the one before they even had color) while I rollerblade, and it's lasted me all these years just fine. There's no harm in using a hard-drive based MP3 player during exercises.

[neo geo @ Aug 21st 2008 2:27PM]

@Kojo87 - Who says you have to buy a new one? Certainly not apple. It's your own decision. It's not like the one you buy will be worthless the next time a new one comes out.

Hell, I still have my 60gb picture (not video) iPod, and other than having a low battery life, it works just fine.

[Okänd @ Aug 21st 2008 2:23PM]

a ham sandwich: Glass can be see though.

[phanbouy @ Aug 21st 2008 3:30PM]

"I use my IPod 3G (the one before they even had color) while I rollerblade,"

rollerblading is much lower impact than jogging. and they don't make nike + for rollerblading.

[Jason @ Aug 21st 2008 6:22PM]

@Okänd, I would recommend finding different translation software.

[Blaktornado @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:30AM]

@gfar

The Nike+ Mac Mini?

[warrrennnnn @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:14AM]

Like my old Gameboy Color!??!? Except it has to be purply.

[Zeus.:God @ Aug 21st 2008 12:17PM]

Jesus... It's like it's a new model/revision every couple of months.

[RobertT @ Aug 21st 2008 12:32PM]

More like annually, but you say that like that's a bad thing.

[Zeus.:God @ Aug 21st 2008 12:34PM]

It kind of is.

[kjb434 @ Aug 21st 2008 12:50PM]

How is it bad?

The same thing happens with computers and cell phone. Newer components and devices come out constantly.

[Anthony @ Aug 21st 2008 1:05PM]

I'm starting to think a yearly refresh *is* a bad thing. When they were first doing this it was significant. Now that the form factor's mature it just seems like it happens because "it's always been that way".

There's a huge landfill, manufacturing waste byproduct in this. I think I'm starting to get my fill. Wait, Nokia's got a new 8800 out? & it's got a carbon case!? Sorry- gotta go...

[kojo87 @ Aug 21st 2008 1:08PM]

im glad it bothers someone else. i never bought an iPod because i pretty much knew i would be buying a new one every year even though they are the exact same thing!! maybe im ignorant but how is the new "classic" any different from an old video iPod?

[BigDaddyM @ Aug 21st 2008 1:14PM]

Your old iPod didn't stop working.

You do not need to buy the new one.

Apple isn't forcing you to buy...

Its like saying Iwill not buy a new computer because I know next year there will be a faster one... Geeze
M

[CraigJ @ Aug 21st 2008 1:16PM]

gotta go could mean you give the old one to you niece, nephew, neighbor or friend, or goodwill, or ebay is an option. Or you could just sent it to me. I'm sure I could find a use for it.

[CraigJ @ Aug 21st 2008 1:17PM]

OK kojo. That makes no sense. I suppose that you haven't purchased a cell phone, a computer, a TV or any number of other devices then. Why exactly are you on a gadget blog again?

[Niz @ Aug 21st 2008 1:26PM]

Im still rocking the 5G 30GB since Feb 2005, so not everyone is upgrading all the time! i do think its time for me to upgrade ive been watching a lot of video podcasts and would be nice to have a bigger screen. ive been looking at the touch but i need like 30GB which seems to be enough for me, but the current 32GB touch costs £330!! ($630). If that drops to £200- ill be good to buy it.

[Macdelaney @ Aug 21st 2008 1:45PM]

Yeah, i have my 80Gb Video since it launched, and, sure, it would be nice to have a touch, but I wont change it if it works well. If what you have works for you then keep it...for the moment

[scott @ Aug 21st 2008 1:49PM]

@Niz

I'm right there with you, i have an 80gig 5G Video...it's still goin strong. I'd buy an 80 gig touch in a heartbeat..considering my video is full.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 21st 2008 2:24PM]

If you're worried about filling up landfills, then don't buy a new one every year.

No one is forcing people to go out and get the latest. It isn't like your year old iPod expires when the new one comes out. If you find your old one suitable, don't buy a new one and I assure you Apple will get the message and stop spending so much money developing new ones.

[bartoron @ Aug 21st 2008 2:54PM]

Kojo87 is right. I have an iPod Video and from the outside, it looks exactly the same as the iPod Classic. The menu interace is a little different, but other than that they're basically the same.

[Michael Scrip @ Aug 21st 2008 3:02PM]

I still use my 2nd generation iPod Nano 8GB. The things plays music and podcasts... and is thinner than a pencil WITH a hard case on it.

No need to get rid of it.

[phanbouy @ Aug 21st 2008 3:34PM]

@BigDaddyM

I will not buy this computer, it is scratched.

[kojo87 @ Aug 21st 2008 5:52PM]

CraigJ: um what? i said never bought an iPod because i knew i would personally be spending $300 a year on something i already have. or did you just misread what i wrote thinking iPod and PMP are interchangeable. i own a Zune. and dont tell me what i do and don't buy. i really dont need to defend myself as to what gadgets i own (although apparently that gives me credibility somehow)

[tekdemon @ Aug 21st 2008 6:12PM]

I actually still use a 3G 15GB ipod, lol. I replaced the battery for a whopping $8 after I lost my 1st gen ipod Nano (fell out of my pocket when I was at a car show because I kept sitting down in different cars and I had a pair of pants with pretty wide pockets that day...doh).
So no, you don't have to buy a new ipod every friggin' time a new one comes out (although I'm probably going to replace the 3G when the next gen comes out...still it's served me for 5 years)

[Matt Keller @ Aug 21st 2008 7:22PM]

@ Phanbouy

My nipples explode with delight!

[Jason @ Aug 21st 2008 9:43PM]

Matt, we need you to make that a little less virtual, please.

[CraziestGadgets.com @ Aug 21st 2008 12:18PM]

couldn't be any worse than the 90210 iPod Nano. bring on the unicorns!

[NHAnimator @ Aug 21st 2008 12:43PM]

What if it's Jason Priestly riding a unicorn sidesaddle under a rainbow?

[THJ @ Aug 21st 2008 1:09PM]

I don't want to sound like a queer or nothin', but I think unicorns are kick ass!

[CraigJ @ Aug 21st 2008 1:19PM]

I kill unicorns so I can drink their blood and sustain my wretched life.

[Maxwell Ash @ Aug 21st 2008 2:14PM]

It's not a unicorn, it's a horse with a sword on it's head!

[Mustaine @ Aug 21st 2008 2:24PM]

It's a unicorn...look you can see his, um, horn.

[doublebullout @ Aug 21st 2008 2:43PM]

I hope Apple changes the model names. "Nano"? "Touch"? "Classic"? How dull and un-unicorn-like. We need new model names. How about...

iPod Feathers
iPod Cadillac
iPod Tom Cruise

[giuliop @ Aug 21st 2008 6:25PM]

I actually like dull and un-unicorn-like. I mean, how about:

iPod Dull
iPod Un-unicorn-like
iPod Old Model Name

[linuxamp @ Aug 21st 2008 7:30PM]

Unicorns with frick'n lasers would be awesome!

[Jon Niola @ Aug 21st 2008 12:19PM]

Interesting. I wonder if that old patent Apple filed for "color changing cases" comes in to play here.

This is from back in 2002:

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2002/12/30.15.shtml

[XGM @ Aug 21st 2008 1:14PM]

That would be cool, id buy one if it changes colour like the spinning beachball.

[Will @ Aug 21st 2008 2:29PM]

I'd always assumed that was referring to things like the invisible sleep light back on the white iBooks. When it's not asleep, the indicator is invisible. When you sleep it, the white dot shows up.

These days I guess it could apply to the hidden iSight lights.

[Nick @ Aug 21st 2008 12:20PM]

That's it I'm convinced to switch. Where the hell have I been all my iLife.

I'm going to beg the wife to get a macpro also!!!!

[Quix @ Aug 21st 2008 12:33PM]

I love your Nick + Steve Ballmer avatar!

[Nick @ Aug 21st 2008 12:55PM]

It looks more like what Jobs is doing to all the cultist to me.