Apple, IPads, IPhones, IPods, Foxconn | Apple still can't keep up with iPad demand

Apple, IPads, IPhones, IPods, Foxconn | Apple still can't keep up with iPad demand

Apple is a master at portfolio management. The 'product line transition' mentioned by Tim Cook is an interesting statement. It may be, as the author suggests, a shift to a software / OS update that may cause consumers to delay purchases. But, I have been wondering what the eventual iPod portfolio will look like.

When do they kill the iPod Classic? It's interface doesn't seem to fit with the rest of their platform. Has the time come to boost the iPod touch memory to leave headroom for the iPhone memory to expand?

I don't have sales numbers but, has the iPod shuffle outlived its usefulness. If you need something that small then, Nano offers a compact device with a mini-screen. Of course there is a huge difference in price from the Shuffle to the Nano. But with a very limited feature set the Shuffle offers a limited value and therefore it is priced at $49 v. $149 for an entry level Nano. Is it time to clip this lowest end of the portfolio?

The next 6 months worth of new product announcements will be interesting. Apple's touch screen is the portal to the future of consumer electronics.