Apple may be ready to replace Shuffle, due to wide shortage

With a very widespread shortage of the iPod shuffle, it looks like Apple is either about to discontinue this model or is getting ready to replace it with a new model.  While many leading sites including Apple's web store, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Circuit City have been out of stock for up to several weeks at this time, Apple's iPod Nano series is still widely available despite strong Christmas sales and there is a steady stream of new stock coming in to the stores.

So far, Apple has not made any comment about the iPod Shuffle shortage, let alone made any announcement about replacing or discontinuing it.  A few signs that they may be getting ready to introduce a replacement include a similar situation with what happened when they were about to launch its iPod Nano.  At the time, they let its former iPod mini stock run down well in advance.  Also, their expected stock time of the iPod Shuffle comes just after Macworld, where Apple's product developers and enthusiasts come to gather.

Despite the iPod Shuffle being as basic as MP3 players pretty much can go, Apple still managed to succeed in taking over the flash digital audio player market, despite many of the other models featuring a screen, radio, recording features, longer run time and so on.  However, if Apple is about to replace its Shuffle series, it will be interesting to see what they will replace it with.  Chances are that like its other series, they will aim to stick within its existing Shuffle price range.  As the Shuffle done so well without a screen, chances are that the replacement model will just be a sleeker design without a screen, considering how slim and small the Nano series already are.

Source: The Street