Apple Slowing Down With iPods?

The iPods have been doing the rumor rounds lately, as more and more time passes since Apple released a new iPod, and speculation about Microsoft's Zune player grows. Unlike the usual Apple related rumors, most of the recent iPod related ones are negative or pessimistic.

Analysts and rumor sites have been saying that Apple may very well not release any new iPods this year and miss the holyday season. Because Apple is seen more as 'the iPod company' these days this has of course, made a lot of pundits flinch. After all, they were expecting a full screen 'true' video iPod and an iPhone, and a wireless iPod to name just a few things, and saw nothing so far.

In this light, Microsoft's Zune is said to be an 'iPod killer' because of the functionality that it has and the iPod does not. However, this is just speculation, because while it might sound good in theory, the wireless capabilities of Microsoft's offering are even less desirable than an AM tuner built into your iPod. The wireless capabilities cut heavily into battery life, purchasing music wirelessly that sounds good when you first hear it, but the transfer rate is so slow, and you have to stay in the vicinity of the WiFi spot until the download is done.

So far Apple has been keeping quiet as always, but that means little when it comes to Apple. Recently they have been in the habit of saying one thing and doing the exact opposite as well as under promising and over delivering. Apple might very well have a lot of iPod cards up their sleeve, but they won't let anyone know until the time is right.