Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family, Retail, Rumors
Rumor: iPod Classic will get a camera
Apple has traditionally updated the iPod line in September, just in time for the back-to-school shopping season, and this year will be no exception. With an event supposedly scheduled for September 9th, it's expected that Apple will introduce new models.There's a rumor at DigiTimes that the iPod Classic -- the only hard drive-based iPod -- will receive a camera, along with the iPod touch and nano. That's unexpected, but less surprising that the Classic's continued existence. I predicted that device's death a while ago, and figured the Sept. 9th even would be that fateful day. The "Classic" model was introduced on September 5th, 2007, with 80GB (US$249) and 160GB (US$349) configurations. I can only assume that building a 160GB iPod touch would be cost-prohibitive.
According to DigiTiimes, OmniVision will supply the 3.2-megapixel camera image sensors.
[Via AppleInsider]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ack154 said 12:37PM on 8-27-2009
Why does everything need a camera? I don't get it. Leave the Classic alone.... if people want a camera, they can get a Touch or an iPhone. Or maybe an actual camera?
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SubGenius said 1:05PM on 8-27-2009
So we don't have to look at Family Guy avatars.
Andrei Vassiliev said 3:48PM on 8-27-2009
In all seriousness, the classic seems a bit impractical, but I suppose it has an edge with its capacity, and will be able to store a LOT of photos.
I suppose there's a place for a hard-drive based camera..
Either way, if this does happen it means a brand new interface for the classic.. Yay!
ack154 said 8:49PM on 8-27-2009
@ Sub... Ya, that's relevant. Didn't realize avatars were so taboo over here. My most sincere apologies for trying to have some sort of personality. I'll tone it down a little next time.
Moving right along... I think the Classic will stick around - if anything just for capacity. But even if it can store a LOT of photos, the quality of the camera they put in it would never make it worth using enough to take advantage of that high capacity.
Though I would agree with the new interface. I'd like to see something changed up a little bit there. Sadly it would probably only be for new models, and I would really have no reason to upgrade my 80gb - so I probably wouldn't get to use it anyway.
Adam Schoales said 12:39PM on 8-27-2009
I cannot forsee them dropping the classic line until large capacity flash based memory is available for cheap.
To drop a 160gb iPod with and HD for a 32gb or even 64gb iPod with a flash HD would be stupid. And would piss of those of us who still actually like the classic...
What seems more likely is that either it gets EVEN BIGGER or just stops being developed for and sticks with the 160gb (or whatever its at now) for a while...
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Brian Burns said 12:52PM on 8-27-2009
This won't happen. Nuff said.
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ryemac3 said 1:02PM on 8-27-2009
No way. The Classic is dead.
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rTwelve said 1:03PM on 8-27-2009
I want the classic to die. Until then, I will be pleased with a 250GB unibody one. For $250 of course.
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Adam said 1:14PM on 8-27-2009
Just think of how much video a 160GB classic could hold! Better yet, what if they really surprised us and put wifi in it! It would really give the Flip a run for its money.
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Sung said 1:16PM on 8-27-2009
Since Apple's emphasis has been on video lately, they COULD turn the classic into a Flip Video competitor, it's about the same size. Not only could you capture HD video, but you could listen to your music. Again, when you compare it to the Flip, it's about the same size, has the right buttons and with Quicktime X, you'll have a free editing program with the ability to share.
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phlavor said 1:22PM on 8-27-2009
I also think that they will kill the classic but I think it's a shame. Since the slimmed dow to the 120GBs, the 160GBs go for as much as $700 on ebay because there are people like me out there with massive music collections (650GB last I looked) who want to access them on the go.
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Josh said 1:36PM on 8-27-2009
I have always had the iPod classic line. I never got a Mini or a Nano or a Touch or anything like that simply because I like having the extra space. I may not need to but I like being able to carry around all 90GB of media I currently have on my 120GB iPod classic. It's great not having to choose what songs and video I want on my iPod. Until Apple can release a financially feasible 100+GB flash based iPod (which likely won't happen for two years, I think), then I won't be upgrading my iPod. Simple as that. Them phasing out their large capacity models will be enough to prevent me from my usual 2 year upgrades on my iPods.
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Corvillus said 5:11AM on 8-30-2009
I'd think that what is going to happen is something like this:
32GB iPhone is out, which means a single flash bank for them is 32GB.
As a result, 64GB iPod Touch will be out for the iPod event, since essentially an iPod Touch is just an iPhone with the baseband swapped for a second flash bank. iPod Classic will stay around simply because 120GB > 64GB, but likely will not be upgraded in terms of storage at all.
Given that Apple has been at least doubling capacity for these devices every update, next year we'll probably see an iPhone with several feature upgrades, one of which will be a 64GB flash bank. So, 64GB iPhone. Which implies we'll have a 128GB iPod Touch. 128GB > 120GB, Classic finally gets dropped.
It would be nice if they kept upgrading the Classic's storage space to be ahead of the iPod Touch for the niche market it serves, but I think it's more likely that they'll get rid of it. The fact they got rid of the 160GB version already seems to fall in line with this logic.
jeff said 1:57PM on 8-27-2009
They better not, at least not till the touch hits 60 gigs.
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dagamer43 said 3:39PM on 8-27-2009
They have to update it somehow, advertising that it's storage space is up to 160GB doesn't mean much when they did that 2 years ago.
OOH A CAMERA!
The iPod Classic is on life support and will be dead next year when the iPod Touch hits 128GB of Flash.
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Ben said 4:58PM on 8-27-2009
Digitimes has often gotten stories basically right, but garbled. It seems unlikely to me that Apple would bother to redesign the current "classic" with a camera. Perhaps the three products are the new Nano, the rumored 6" screen iPod Touch, which I think will be introduced as simply the new iPod, and the "classic" or current iPod Touch with the 3.5" screen.
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Patrick said 11:35PM on 8-28-2009
I'm baffled by all these "it must die" comments. The Classic serves a significant niche none of the other iPods do: it's the iPod for those of us (myself included) who aren't remotely interested in squinting at portable video, and just want a high capacity user-friendly portable music library.
Why shouldn't it sit in the line-up for another year or two while flash-based storage ramps up to comparable capacities? At that point I'd personally be happy to see a flash based Classic appear at a lower cost alongside the Touch... but realistically I suspect it's more likely to be dropped once the Touch can match it for storage. That ain't going to happen for a while though.
Back on topic, I agree with Ben and others who doubt this camera rumour because of the required redesign - since Classic buyers aren't on the whole interested in bells and whistles (or we'd be sacrificing storage and buying Touches) it'd be a strange move. More likely it'll get marginally slimmer again and maybe sport a new interface, or alternatively it'll just sit there in the line-up same as ever - remember how long the Mac mini goes between updates after all!
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David Yates said 11:58AM on 8-29-2009
I very much doubt Apple will use cameras equal to that of its new iPhone 3GS, and cameras in Classic? I dont think so. If this rumor is by any chance true, the Classic would become noticeably bigger than the current version due to the amount of the room the hard drive takes up inside the case. I predict VGA or even 1.3mp cameras in the touch and nano, as this would keep costs down to a minimum.
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quinteropaul13 said 12:09AM on 10-27-2009
hopefully they do put a camera on the classic, i jus lost my touch but now i want a nano with the camera so i thought an im only 13 so i dont get much money and my parents dont care to buy me one but now im waiting to see if theirs a camera on the classic so i could have the power of the nano but the space of a classic...
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