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Analyst: Apple to bring cheaper and innovative Wi-Fi iPods

According to Gene Munster, an Apple analyst from investment bank Piper Jaffray, the leading MP3 player manufacturer is likely to bring new cheaper iPods that would be like the recently released iPod Touch in terms of multi-touch display and wireless Internet connectivity. In the report released last Monday Munster goes through Apple's last year's fourth quarter and it being the less growth producing time in the history of iPod. Munster therefore presents that introducing new, cheaper and innovative portable MP3 players would be the way to improve growth.

"In order to achieve this level of year-over-year iPod growth, we are expecting Apple to introduce cheaper, innovative iPods with Wi-Fi and multi-touch technology," analyst wrote.



He added that even though the broader market was slowing down the sales growth in MP3 players, Apple has maintained to keep the dominant lead in market share. The segment's dollar share has also grown from 71 percent in 2004 to 84 in 2007, and the most recent update a month after the iPod Touch was released it shot up to 90 percent.

The analyst strongly believes that iPod Touch would be the first of many iPods featuring the handy online application of iPhone. Munster also drew a picture of a possible remote Streaming iPod that could get content from users' media libraries, in his opinion this would remove the capacity issues with flash and solid-state drives.

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Written by: Matti Robinson @ 30 Jan 2008 9:46

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• 13 comments

• dsgtrain

  Of course it was not going to be long before Apple would announce something cheaper and better, after selling everyone the overpriced iPod Touch.
  
  Dave!

  30.1.2008 10:14 #1

• silk42

  While I would be more likely to consider buying an iPhone if it were cheaper and offered WiFi; I still won't buy one as long as I'm forced to sign up with AT&T. I'm not sure how many other people feel that way, but it could be a big reason why Apple isn't selling as many phones now.

  30.1.2008 12:28 #2

• o0cynix0o

  Originally posted by silk42: While I would be more likely to consider buying an iPhone if it were cheaper and offered WiFi; I still won't buy one as long as I'm forced to sign up with AT&T. I'm not sure how many other people feel that way, but it could be a big reason why Apple isn't selling as many phones now.You could always sell your kidney to someone in India, and just unlock the phone.
  
  And Zoolander kicks ass. Latigra baby.
  

  stupid are you this read you if

  30.1.2008 14:26 #3

• silk42

  Quote:You could always sell your kidney to someone in India, and just unlock the phone.
  
  And Zoolander kicks ass. Latigra baby.Even an unlocked iPhone will only work on certain networks.

  30.1.2008 16:01 #4

• Jasper44

  Originally posted by silk42: While I would be more likely to consider buying an iPhone if it were cheaper and offered WiFi; I still won't buy one as long as I'm forced to sign up with AT&T. I'm not sure how many other people feel that way, but it could be a big reason why Apple isn't selling as many phones now.
  The iPhone does have WiFi.

  30.1.2008 19:36 #5

• hankchill

  Throw in an 80GB hard drive in that sucker, and price it under $399 and I'm totally sold.

  30.1.2008 19:54 #6

• i1der

  make this 2 buyers for 80gb ipod touch!

  30.1.2008 20:16 #7

• AXT

  Originally posted by hankchill: Throw in an 80GB hard drive in that sucker, and price it under $399 and I'm totally sold.You and me both.

  30.1.2008 22:40 #8

• Kazi

  Why can't we just have a 20 gig ipod that's cheap as hell. That's all I want right now. Give it to me for 100 dollars and I'm down.

  30.1.2008 23:16 #9

• silk42

  I just realized that I was reading about the iPod and making posts about the iPhone. Obviously, I need to get more sleep. As for the new enhanced features of an upcoming iPod, I could care less. I'm so frustrated with the RIAA and their henchmen, that I refuse to buy music, thus I have no need for an iPod regardless of the features or price. If you want to give me one for free, I'll take it, but I'll quickly give it away as a gift or sell it on EBay.

  31.1.2008 10:40 #10

• SProdigy

  Apple has made the iPod one of the most influential gadgets of our time. Their market share is incredible and I'm amazed at how they can constantly improve their products year after year after year. Considering the lack of 3rd party accessories for other players and how inferior they are to use (for the most part) this is the reason the iPod is king.
  
  It's true they need something other than flash based iTouch and iPhones out there. BTW, how do I use my iPod enabled car stereo AND talk on the iPhone while driving??? That's the logical NEXT step... unless they want to avoid future legislation for causing reckless drivers!!!

  31.1.2008 16:47 #11

• DaveNYC1

  Jobs is way outta touch. But then again he has always been a hit or miss kinda guy.
  
  He keeps rolling out one high priced item after another. Even the elitist, gotta-have-an-Apple-at-any-price crowd, is wearing thin. His new customers are "Average" Joes & Janes. With Americans losing homes at 7000 per day Steve needs to lower prices and/or offer bundled packages that include free trial movies & songs. Apple has over $15 billion in the bank and can easily afford exciting promotions without denigrating it's pricey, elitist, out-of-the-box-thinking, sex appeal.
  
  He owes it to shareholders to drive sales up. Instead most are scratching their heads in total disbelief. Many are wondering if he's lost his game once again as the stock keeps plunging right after he announces these pathetic over-priced roll-outs.
  Worse yet, maybe he’s tanking the stock intentionally to buy AAPL at a huge discount. I wonder...does the SEC allow CEOs to write option on their stocks without reporting?
  
  LOL...Kinda reminds me of Mel Brooks "The Producers" or Pete Rose gambling on his own games. Not so LOL for shareholders.
  
  
  
  Jobs is way outta touch. But then again he has always been a hit or miss kinda guy.
  He keeps rolling out one high priced item after another. Even the elitist, gotta-have-an-Apple-at-any-price crowd, is wearing thin. His new customer is "Average" Joe & Jane. With Americans losing homes at a rate of 7000 per day, Steve needs to offer recession style incentives like lower prices and/or bundled packages that include free trial movies & songs. Apple has over $15 billion in the bank and can easily afford exciting promotions without denigrating it's pricey, elitist, out-of-the-box-thinking, sex appeal.
  He owes it to shareholders to drive sales up. The stock plunges every time he announces these pathetic over-priced-for-these-times rollouts. Everyone is scratching his or her head in total disbelief wondering if he's lost his game once again.
  
  (One for the conspiracy theorists: Worse yet, maybe he’s tanking the stock intentionally to buy AAPL at a huge discount. Does the SEC allow CEOs to write options on their stocks without reporting LOL...That would be like Mel Brook’s "The Producers" or Pete Rose gambling on his own games. Not so LOL for shareholders.)
  Whatever the case, Steve needs to snap out of it. Like Bernanke, Jobs is way behind the curve as far as the economy is concerned. And from the looks of it he too will do too little too late

  5.2.2008 17:03 #12

• borhan9

  Well its good to see that they are bringing new products to the market too meet new market demands and expectations.

  21.2.2008 16:01 #13