iPod Classic & iPod Shuffle to be Phased Out?

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Apple is on the verge of major product transitions. With an invitation for a new product launch this October 4, speculations are that Apple will finally be announcing their upcoming iPhone 5. But what about other products and devices? Will Apple finally discontinue non-touchscreen iPods?

The iPod was the device that changed the music industry forever. While media players and MP3 files have been around longer than the iPod, it was Apple’s magical device that spawned a revolutionary move toward digital music. Digital music was previously viewed by the industry mostly as a threat to their existing business model, which was CDs. Now, digital music is their business model, with Apple’s iTunes being the biggest music distributor to date.

However, Apple is at a crossroads. Having led the evolution of the portable media player, they did it again with the mobile phone, with the 2007 release of the first ever iPhone. Then they revolutionized the tablet computer with the 2010 release of the iPad. With Apple’s devices focusing on intuitive touch-based interfaces, will this mean they’re leaving the classic iPod behind?

The clickwheel was iconic of Apple’s iPod design, and they actually patented the technology. But devices are moving toward touchscreen, and sources cited by a TUAW report say that Apple wants all of its portable devices to use touchscreens. Given this, non-touchscreen iPods like the iPod Classic and the iPod Shuffle are likely to be discontinued. If this happens, the iPod Nano — the latest generation with the small touchscreen — will be Apple’s cheapest iPod.

This actually makes sense, as Apple’s iDevices are moving toward fixed, flash-based storage rather than the hard drive with spinning disc that the current iPod Classic uses. The Shuffle, meanwhile, is seen as a glorified flash drive with music playing capabilities (a nicely-designed one, at that).

So if you really, really want to buy an iPod Classic or Shuffle, you might want to get one soon, before they disappear from store shelves (physical and virtual). Or, you might want to wait a bit to see if Apple will be reducing the prices of the iPod Nano. The holiday season is nearing, and it’s going to be quite exciting for gadget lovers, with a new iPhone, Amazon Kindle, Nook Color, and other devices being released. Will this include a new, cheaper iPod Nano or Touch? Which one/s will you get?