Yesterday at Apple's "Let's Rock" event, the company completely revamped its iPod line. While the highlights were the newly elongated iPod nano and the trimmer iPod touch, the iPod that started it all, the version that is now known as the iPod classic, got updated as well. It was an interesting update though because it was more of a sign that the end is near for the hard drive-based iPod.
You see, rather than adding new options such as storage capacity or new colors, Apple converted the iPod classic line into a one-size-fits-all model. Sure, there are two color options, but those are gray and black -- hardly the wide range of colors that the iPod nano, or even the iPod shuffle lines got. Even more interesting is that Apple actually downgraded the storage capacity for the iPod classic. The previous iteration went up to 160 gigabytes of storage. Now you can only purchase the device in a 120 gigabyte model.
Apple's intentions here are pretty clear: The iPod touch is going to replace the iPod classic as the "standard" iPod. I've written this before, and yesterday's "update" was further proof. While the iPod classic certainly still has the storage trump card, it's pretty clear with the capacity downgrade that Apple is less interested in that now. Eventually flash memory will catch up in storage to the miniature hard drives that have been used since the beginning in iPods, and flash has the bonus of being faster, more reliable and more energy efficient since it has no moving parts.
The iPod touch also has one very real advantage over the iPod classic -- it can run applications. Apple's App Store business is booming, and its iPod touch refresh yesterday showed its commitment towards making apps a key part of its products beyond simply the iPhone.
The iPod touch is now "the funnest iPod ever," as Apple started branding it yesterday. What does that make the iPod classic? Old, stodgy and nearing the time where it will be put out to pasture.
As Henry Ford once famously said about his Model T car, "any customer can have a car painted any color he wants so long as it's black." The same can now practically be said for the iPod classic. One day both will be considered antiques.
[top photo: flickr/pvera]