We saw the demise of the iPod classic last year; is it time for the iPod shuffle to retire? As reported by 9to5 Mac, the device is shipping in 7-10 days on Apple’s online store (both US and UK), and is out of stock in many stores as well. According to 9to5 Mac:
“Apple has warned its retail employees that Shuffle supplies will be short for an unspecified period of time and that customers seeking to buy a Shuffle via a retail store should be directed to Apple’s online store.”
It’s true that the iPod shuffle is a dying product. It’s likely that the only people who buy it are those who want a very compact device to listen to music while working out. But since it requires wired headphones or earbuds, it’s not the best choice if you’re moving. The iPod nano, which offers Bluetooth, is far more useful, since you can use wireless headphones.
If Apple does kill off the iPod shuffle, it won’t be, as they said about the iPod classic, because they can’t get the components any more. It will really be because the device just isn’t selling. It’s a low-price device, with an archaic system of control and syncing.
I can imagine Apple ditching the iPod shuffle, as well as the nano, when the Apple Watch joins the product line-up. While these devices do help provide a line of music players to meet all budgets, I think Apple doesn’t care about that any more.