iPod classic refreshed, only comes in 120GB flavor now
By Nilay Patel 
posted Sep 9th 2008 12:06PM
posted Sep 9th 2008 12:06PM
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Oh- look at that? Apple following Microsoft? LOL! Jubei, how do you respond to this news? Is this innovative or what? Just a slight upgrade to the Classic- the same thing you complained about with the Zune, and Apple's doing the same thing? Oh wow...
But Apple already had a 160 GB iPod, making 120 a "been there, done that." This is probably a smaller drive (less platters, higher density) 120 than the 160 drive was, but still. So, only one model of classic eh. Phasing out the old guard, looks like?
iErik: You obviously don't know the countless things Apple has copied.
Lets just all agree that nobody copied nobody here, its just Samsung (or who?) made 120gb HDD drives available in the same size as 80gb drive was. Its just both companies knew about it and both use these new HDD drives.
@ Apple rep, you such a penis.
The Copy company is Xerox. Everybody rips off Xerox. Don't you know any history.
Mate, forget the Airforce.
You guys are apparently not getting what I'm talking about...
Jubei:
"What a total failure of a product. Releasing a higher capacity drive with nothing else to enhance its capabilities is simply laughable. Apple has leapfrogged the Zune is so many ways that simply copying what Apple does is impossible now."
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/07/120gb-zune-shows-up-on-amazon/2#comments
I find it funny that Microsoft does this, and then Apple follows suit, and the REALLY funny part is he'll probably praise them all the way and claim Apple did it first.
This is just too good.
You know that Jubie ONLY comments on Microsoft stories. He's an Apple intern from their marketing department. He even talks about "stealth advertising" on the twitter link that someone dug up.
Huh... I honestly didn't see that one coming. I rather thought that the 160GB iPod Classic held a competitive advantage over the 120GB Zune but presumably not enough to continue it.
Isn't that a bump down?
I'm sorry but this is just stupid.Maybe people like the extra space of the 160.they could of at least dropped the price of the 160 and kept it for the time being.
How did this Zeus moron get ranked up? For claiming that Apple "stole" the idea of revising a product to have a larger disk drive? Christ.
Nice work Engadget on your Apple fanboyness. Obviously this is a DROP IN CAPICITY FROM 160!!!
Yea, but that zune number is after only a few years so that shows they are gaining steam. This even though it lacks some important things like audible. I've used a zune before and the interface blows away all the ipods except the touch. I just had my third ipod die after taking good care of them so I'm looking elsewhere. I've had more than three.
I'm glad they fixed the nano and it looks about perfect except it needs a 32GB version. The touch is way overpriced and still needs a hard drive version. Pretty useless to me unless they can get up to 64GB for around $300.
Yes thats it they bring WMP 11 grid view back from 2005 beta versions. Great downgrade. The new zune nanos a least have acelerometer. What a joke.
Wait a sec, what was first, the iPod or the Zune? Oh, the iPod was first? Then how could Apple be copying Microsoft...
WMP 11 was on beta with visual stacks and album arts way back in 2005. Back then iTunes 4.x was a la dBase list only so yes this is a downgrade start apple photocopies. One more thing... PMP existed many years before iPod or Zune for that matter so any one can copy from others now is apple the copycat.
Uhh, how is this a bump when they currently have a 160GB iPod classic?
The 80GB got bumped to 120GB and the 160GB that was supposed to become 240GB got discontinued.
NOW can we officially compare the Zune to the iPod classic, they're on exactly the same size and price level.
No more comparing Zune to the iPod touch because of one little feature that they share? Promise?
They weren't on the exact same levels before? People compare the zune to the iPod touch because it's the best product from each company, and there's nothing the iPod classic has over the zune except the ability to be used in linux (OSX).
Well, that and the touch wheel, and the interface, and the fact that some people (by about a magnitude of 20 judging from the sales charts) actually prefer using iTunes to the Zune software...
And can you use a Zune as a portable hard drive yet without hacks?
But I already have 30,000 songs in my pocket... ON CD!!! (Yes, I do wear cargo pants)
Man, you must look so dope, walking around with square pockets!
Do you have special elongated CD pockets that stick out about a metre either side of your pants? Do you have like, shoulder struts to support them during transit?
Do your pants come with various docking options?
Let me guess CJ.. you're being sarcastic and funny, right?
@pozzitron
There's only 1 docking option and it's for the ladies
Well, in a way.
In another, entirely more accurate way, that would be awesome! You could run through shopping centres and clothesline small children with your awesome wing-pockets!
yo... Steve Jobs needs a sandwich...
wht is wrong with him
It looks like Steve is wasted away. Doesn't look too healthy.
...meet "Steve Nano"
that thing looks mo' fat, shame!
imo this classic is a fail
it should've had a bigger screen for sure, just the way they did it with the nano..
So, what's changed in the Classic besides having 120GB of HDD space? '
Will Genius be offered? Is the UI faster and not laggy? If not, then this thing will fail big time.
is steve sick....
It's called he's on a diet. Haven't you heard if you consume less calories per day after the age of 35 you can live like 30% longer than the statistical averages. It's been all over Oprah and PBS lately. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070502143834.htm
"Sick" meaning "Physically ill" or "sick" meaning "Jesus Christ dude! Steve Jobs is sick the way he keeps inventing better and better products that just dominate the market place!!!"
Macbook Air & iPhone3G for LIFE!
@burriot_avatar:
I'm pretty that sure he meant, "wow, your cancer is back and your email lied" sick.
I want more than 160gbs not less!
iS Steve Jobs on crack? iWant somethin' bigger then 120GB & 160GB! iHave a ton of yorno's, movies, and music that need to backed up on a PMP. Anyways, still waitin' on the 3rd Gen iPhone. The 3G iPhone iS so not worth upgradin' too when comin' from the 1st Gen iPhone. Enough said...
-sent from my iPhone
_____________________
iGet enough exercise just pushin' my luck!
Many people share your music needs, which is why this high-capacity player gets minimal upgrades...just a new HD because that's what their supplier makes now. This has become the player for the few of us who have, and actually enjoy a huge catalog of music. I love listening to full albums and I have a lot of them...plus there's a good chuck of room for tv and video at 120gig
Getting rid of the larger iPod? No Genius? This looks like the end of the Classic line to me, especially if they introduce a 64GB Touch today.
30,000 songs.....
at $0.99 per....
ouch.
omg, thats true! hadnt thought about it that way. huge ouch!
Steve-o Jobsie: "Heyy, what's $29,700 between friends?!"
They should have added the shake to shuffle feature to the classic...biggest hard drive failure rate ever!
And also sheer awesome!
You realize the iPod is a mass storage portable hard drive as well, right?
Oh, and that it plays movies too?
It's not all about your precious music.
iS Steve Jobs on crack? iWant somethin' bigger then 120GB & 160GB! iHave a ton of yorno's, movies, and music that need to backed up on a PMP. Anyways, still waitin' on the 3rd Gen iPhone. The 3G iPhone iS so not worth upgradin' too when comin' from the 1st Gen iPhone. Enough said...
-sent from my iPhone
_____________________
iGet enough exercise just pushin' my luck!
2nd
I was looking forward to an improvement of the classic. My 160GB is filled, but nope! Apple decided to discontinue the 160GB. Why? Beats me....
So they upgraded the 80GB to 120GB and discontinued the 160GB ? Is that what passes for an upgrade ?
By the way the best description of a fan boy is someone who defends losing 40GB of capacity as an "upgrade"
i'm not a fanboy by any means...in fact, i loathed the one ipod i ever owned, but I'd argue that the 40gig increase in storage for the slimmer classic model is an upgrade. however, it's sad to see that they didn't put out a larger-capacity thick ipod classic.
I doubt that, touch devices are too expensive currently.
I agree with you that the classic is probably on it's last legs, and we won't be seeing that again, but the nano is easier and cheaper to produce with a click wheel, and Apple isn't going to change what could be best decribed as a 'winning formula'. One day, perhaps, but not for now.
You can tell Apple's getting ready to kill the old iPod off - this lazy upgrade is just for show. Next year - no more click wheel at all - that's my prediction at least, all touch devices (save the shuiffle though).
going backwards to 120? this is supposed to be an improvement? apple is really going downhill big time.
The least they could've done was include the new Genius feature. It would make sense for the Classic since you can store so much music on it.
according to the store (which is back up) the "upgraded" classic does have the genius feature
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipod/family/ipod_classic?mco=MTE2NTc
so i'm gonna say its 20% upgrade, and still 80% FAIL
Of course, this feature isn't available for the prior iPod classics. Neither is support for the new in-ear headphones with mic and remote.
Is it really that difficult to release a firmware update? The only major hardware change was the HDD.
I guess Apple is phasing out their most iconic design ever.
Is this out today?
NOT COOL. I was holding out for the upgrade to the 160gb before I purchased. I wanted MORE SPACE, not less you idiots.
yes, its nice that I can now get 120gb for the price of 80gb. But apparently apple forgot about the section of consumers that actually have large collections of music, and enjoy encoding them at full quality. shame on you apple, shame on you.
I, on the other hand, have 397GB of music in Apple Lossless and wanted a bigger iPod to replace my stolen 160GB. So for my purposes, THIS FREAKING SUCKS. I can put day to day music on my iPhone but for the car or travel where I can't predict what I might want to hear, I guess I'm lugging around a laptop and a hard drive.
"But apparently apple forgot about the section of consumers that actually have large collections of music, and enjoy encoding them at full quality. shame on you apple, shame on you."
Doesn't it tell you something that neither Apple nor Microsoft isn't trying to go after that market? Doesn't it tell you even more about where the market is that Apple is not going aggressively after the high capacity market nor is any other company?
Well us in the UK are getting a bum deal again...
80GB 1st gen classic = $249 (US store) = £159 (UK store)
120GB 2nd gen classic = $249 (US store) but oh no.... its not the same £159 - its now £179! (UK store)
Ridiculous and appalling.
Well Apple takes currency fluctuations into account (when they benefit from them like every other company), and last time I checked £ had depriciated 13% against the $ in a month. So go figure.
ENGADGET LISTEN UP!!!! I dunt know if you noticed but the 120GB HAS LESS STORAGE THAN ITS PREDESSOR 160GB!!! So Apple killed the 160GB model and moved down to 120GB. This really sucks for consumers. They are paying for less storage but more money out of their pocket. Now Apple and Microsoft have almost the same lineup of music players. Also im starting to realize Apple cares more about the MONEY then the Consumer! But Microsoft who plays catching up focuses on the Consumer Side more than on the Money Side! If you know business you should know this!!! ..THE POINT IS APPLE DOESNT CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER!!!!
Okay, you need to calm down please Max.
You also have to keep in mind that this is thinner than the 160GB, and the same price as the old 80GB. I'm by no means defending it, I think it's just a way of keeping the classic iPod alive until they decide to fully axe it, but they're not charging any more for this than they did the old classic, so it's not really a rip off.
wow, u do really need to calm down, geezus. MS is trying to make presence in the market, doing "some" things other companies arn't doing, like apple once did when they were creating precence in the market. im sure apple took a loss at the beginning just as im sure MSis doing. lucky for MS they can withstand losing money a lot longer than almost any company out there
Well us in the UK are getting a bum deal again...
80GB 1st gen classic = $249 (US store) = £159 (UK store)
120GB 2nd gen classic = $249 (US store) but oh no.... its not the same £159 - its now £179! (UK store)
Ridiculous and appalling.
160Gb discontinued? Waaah! SInce Aple seemed to have bought up the entire world's production of 160Gb 1.8" drives maybe now we'll see them turn up somewhere else.
Somebody, please, produce a >=160Gb PMP that just plays music.
Not sure what Apple was thinking. The Ipod Classic is clearly in competition with the Zune. So, why is it not stepping up its game?? Zune has the bigger screen, wifi, fm radio with RDS. How hard is it to have just kept a bigger hard drive as an advantage over the Zune? That was a main reason to pick a Classic over the Zune. Now, its just b/c you're a fanboy. Otherwise, just get the Touch.
iTunes Genius is on this 120GB and I'm going to assume the others as well with a firmware update. Apple is selling refurb 160GB iPods for $279 so jump on them before they're done. Best Buy and others are still at full price for the 160GB, probably will price fix within a day or so to match Apple.
I am so disappointed at the lack of a storage upgrade. I was anticipating it for months. I want one player to have all my music, and the 160gig just wasn't cutting it anymore.
What a huge step fore...
wait.
Wow lots of movies downloads and songs....great. Guess i should take long trips everywhere to really feel like im getting my moneys worth...
Commute from NJ to NY and vica versa? Fook it... Grab a bus to Philly 1rst then head off to NY. Im sure you can get in a movie or 2.
: P
LOL what a crap. Now Zune > iPod in just 2 years. now is time to take the market share. iPod Touch is an amrs robbery. Maybe competition is not good for fanboys consumers.
@burret_avatar: "Macbook Air & iPhone3G for LIFE!" Do you mean life of the non-removable batteries?
Wow this is really lame...
Even though I just got a 160GB Classic in Feb.
I've already used 80GBs...
A lot of it being music...
I would appreciate an upgrade if I need another some later time...
And at this rate, maybe soon.
This is a great lineup should be calle iPod Me to go with MobileMe or better WindowsMe for the PC.
Having a lossless collection over 300 GB I'm disappointed that we're not only NOT getting bigger iPods we're losing the 160 (forcing me to buy a refurbed 160 on the Apple Store as a backup).
But then I think about my iPhone with Simplify Media, so I can access my entire music collection wirelessly over the internet. THAT is where it is going, and Apple may think that long-term storage is going to be less and less important on PMPs.
Joe,
transparent lossy is at least 5x smaller than your lossless, and don't act like the lossy compression makes a different because the ipod DAC isn't reference quality. The only thing you'd be losing out on here is the time it takes to transcode.
Aahh... must get 160GB version...!
Really, I just bought one online today. Hope I still get it.
And yes, I dont give a damn about paying those artists.
:'( Wish the storage size was bigger...120 IS alot but why the step back?
I guess this is the last year the iPod Classic will receive any upgrade...
Oh well. Time to continue holding my 5.5G for as long as possible. :)
RE: I, on the other hand, have 397GB of music in Apple Lossless and wanted a bigger iPod to replace my stolen 160GB. So for my purposes, THIS FREAKING SUCKS. I can put day to day music on my iPhone but for the car or travel where I can't predict what I might want to hear, I guess I'm lugging around a laptop and a hard drive.
---
You've got to be kidding. Why would anyone really need 397GB of music where they go?
The 160 GB is pretty bulky, but man it's nice being able to put everything on there!
ok thats like saying "we'll give you an option of 80 or 160 Mbps. OH WAIT NO you only get 120 sorry"
:(
"You've got to be kidding. Why would anyone really need 397GB of music where they go?"
Can't you read ?? He said : ( I can't predict what I might want to hear, ) and i agree with him !.
Thanx god i bought 160 iPod earlier ^_^
Microsoft is going to release a ZUNE 240 Gigs before Apple, then Apple is going to drop the classic category once for all focusing on Touches and iPhones. Microsoft grabs this market segment and then moves to Phones / Touches "Zune software is based on windows mobile" so WM7 may bring Zune integration. MacBook Table ??? Appl€ hurry M$ is catching up in your own territories.
Shit, I hope they do! Apple is bein' too greedy and this is goin' to lead to there down fall. I'm gettin' tired of all touch screen devices. To be honest, I never had a Zune, but if they do release a 240+GB version, I will definitely get one hands down! I need space to back up my yorno's, movies, pirated programs, music, and data!!!
No Genius? Zune would've included that as a free firmware update that's compatible to their 1st gen devices :(
Don't get me wrong i love love love the iPod, I have several of them since 2004, but they are more more making me seriously think I should switch side..
Have they mentioned anything about fixing the problems with the 80/160 versions? i.e. the sound problems
I want to upgrade my 30GB Vision:M and iPod's are the only option now since everyone else has abandoned the high-capacity market (I live in the UK so no Zunes here)
This is what really pisses me off. On the Classic's website, under PC requirements:
"Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3 or later)"
Now I have to upgrade my OS just to use a freaking iPod? I'm on XP2 right now, and have no intention of upgrading since the rig finally seems to be more stable than ever. Looks like I'll be hitting up the used market for a previous generation when my trusty old 40gb iPod Photo finally kicks it.
Fuck you Jobs. Go to hell. You and your damn thin fetish is behind this. I know it. I can smell it over the net.
PS- I cracked the 400+ iTMS tracks I have this past week as it is obvious Mr fetish is leading up to kill the classic as soon as they get 64GB of flash storage. THIN THIN THIN at any cost. Binge (profits) and purge (Features) Mr Jobs. Binge and purge.
OoOoOO maybe i should go out and buy a few 160gig versions whilst they are around and sell them on eBay in 1 or 2 months.
do i like it? not really
will i buy it? probably, i'm in the market for a mp3 player, i've got a huge library and it would upset me greatly if i had to pick and choose....honestly, i have no intention of pissing of the rock gods by failing to put some dave grohl b-side on my pmp. The thing that bothers me most with the impending death of the classic and hdd based players is it defeats the purpose of music accessibility. what is the point of offering the entire beatles collection on itunes (still waiting btw) if i can't even come close to fitting it on a nano? what is the point of genius playlists if i'm going to limit my musical discovery potential by loading my ipod with a fifth of my library? maybe zune got it right by allowing zune pass subscribers the ability to listen to tracks from the store wirelessly, working around the space limitations of 16gb.
that said here is what i like: as an audiophile i prefer the classics simplicity. i want my player to play my music and let me find what i want. i wish though that apple would have implemented some of the nano's GUI features. just to keep it a bit modern and not completely dry.
in regards to a comment earlier: the new nano and the stubby nano have the exact same screen just turn it on it's side. new one isn't bigger, only improvement is its covered by glass
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Shame on you Apple. There are still people out here that use iPods to here music - and i mean lots of music. Discontinuing the 160gb model is the wrong way. What is in one year? Will the iPod touch be the "biggest" out there? 32gb is the sixth part of my music library and other people still got more music. Concentrate on music instead of shiny gimmicks.
Thanks for deleting my comment.
Hey, I'll sell my black 160 for $300 if anyone wants it, I'll include the extended warranty from BB at that price. I've had it for 3 months and it works fine. email finch106@gmail.com
Seeing this shocking news of reducing the capacity of the so called ugraded model with a lower capacity for a higher price made me impulsively buy a 160GB ipod classic from ebay. 160GB might be a rarity soon. Buy it when you can. I was lucky to get one for buy it now AU$330.
I did this despite knowing that it is not much of an upgrade from my 5th generation 80GB ipod. (I am a crazy gadged geek and no one can change me.)
I pray that the "new generation" 120GB ipod classic flops!
Does anyone know if this is just a temporary thing until they iron out possible supply or size problems with the 240+G drives?
I was waiting for the 240G to upgrade from 80G, as 160G wasn't quite there for me. Is there an apple conspiracy against people that like lossless? I'd actually buy music from iTunes instead of CD's if they sold CD quality apple lossless. They moved to HD for video, you'd think they could up their game in the music world too.
I hope this doesn't reflect a ceiling in their perceived storage needs, with an end to the growth of the hard disc player segment. I'm not very excited to wait another 4 years for the flash capacities to extend that ceiling.
I was just thinking about how nice it would be to use the new genius tool with my 305G music library on long flights and road trips... :(
I'm glad I got the 160GB iPod when I did then (wanted it to store allot of movies, huge music collection, and some data, etc.). I understand wanting a thinner iPod but this is a downgrade discontinuing the 160GB. Personally, if I was Apple, I would add the 120 as a new option so people could have 80GB for $199, 120GB for $249, and 160GB for $299. (which ironically, those are all the correct prices). I was expected that they would have a 250GB to replace the 160GB.
So yea, I am very confused of why Apple would do this.
Steve Jobs looks really, really, really ill