Apple Invites Press to iPhone Event, October 4
Analysts Question Future of iPod
Apple has officially invited members of the media to a major press event scheduled for October 4, 2011. It's believed we'll get a sneak peek at the company's upcoming iPhone 5, the next edition of a device that has been terrorizing competition in the smartphone market for more than four years now. Noticeably absent from the invitation or the press buzz surrounding it? Any mention of the iconic iPod, which hasn't received an upgrade in some time.
The big Apple press event started with an invitation to journalists reading "Let's talk iPhone," with the company's Cupertino, California headquarters as the location of the event. And why not talk iPhone? Despite initial complaints about a malfunctioning antenna, the iPhone 4 (released about 18 months ago) has decimated Apple's rivals and set record sales totals around the world. There's no doubt that Apple owes its lofty position atop the tech industry to its slick, touch screen smartphone.
But where does the little, old iPod music and media player fit into the mix? This fall marks the ten-year anniversary of the handheld device, which almost single-handedly transformed Apple from a fringe tech company into one of the industry's most dominant powers. Traditionally, October press events held by Apple have involved discussions of the iPod's future and upcoming releases of new versions of the device. However, it seems there will be no such discussion at the October 4, 2011 event, leading some analysts to wonder if Apple plans to phase the device out and focus all of its attention on the iPad and iPhone (which, of course, can play back music, movies and other media).
Driving predictions that the iPod may be nearing its demise are sales reports for the last couple years which find that it just isn't generating the revenue seen back in its heyday, circa 2001-2005. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2010 iPod sales represented less than 10 per cent of Apple's overall revenue.
Beyond lousy sales, analysts are also considering Apple's tendency to focus its attention on only a few devices at a time. The company has been known to be brutal in whittling down its tech lineup.
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