New iPods for Paris Expo or Earlier?


Engadget is tipping fresh new iPods soon. In all the fuss about the iPhone, the Music Player That Could has all but been lost in the rush. Millions were sold in Q2, but it's been eons since the iPod got a major makeover.

Engadget writes that September or October are the most likely release dates for new iPods. It's almost a dead certainty that the Nanos will get more flash storage capacity (currently topping out at 8GB), although prices at the high end will likely remain about the same. A larger-capacity full-sized Pod should debut: 40GB instead of the current 30GB makes sense.

It could make its appearance just prior to the Paris Expo, which would then be a good place to tout its new features. But don't count out an Expo launch, although this would take the limelight away from a Euro iPhone-Orange (?) announcement.

Inventories of current models are seemingly running down. Evidence of this comes from an odd source: South Korea. Chosunilbo writes:

"Apple Korea has recently been telling customers looking for the hot selling gadget that they have no more iPods available... it's still very popular. So why are they so hard to get? Apple Korea says they don't know. The iPod is in short supply worldwide except for small stock left in the U.S. Apple Korea has only a few left in its entire Apple Store inventory. They've been long gone from offline and online markets. Apple Korea officials don't even know when they'll get new supplies."

It's true that, in light of fierce local MP3 player competition, South Korea is not exactly iPod's # 1 market. But the shortage itself is odd, given that, although worldwide demand is strong, it's not overwhelming. The betting money says that this is just one more sign that the current iPod is EOL and fresh ones are just around the corner.