14 DAY TRIAL // When the Apple Online Store started citing a 7-10-day wait window for iPod shuffle shipments, the media started to speculate that the diminutive player was going to share the iPod classic’s fate, in that it would get discontinued.
Sources with knowledge of the situation say this is not the case (at least not yet). The shortage is related to component production, but there are no plans for phasing the player.
“Component supplier changes”
It isn’t specified if there’s a shortage of components, or if the components are being adjusted or upgraded. According to Billboard, “Rather than being discontinued [...] Apple is actually going thorough component supplier changes that have interrupted production of the Shuffle.”
It’s worth noting that when Apple discontinued the iPod classic last year, CEO Tim Cook said “We couldn't get the parts any more.” While it may seem that the situation is similar in the case of the iPod shuffle, it’s worth pointing out that the classic used a platter-based hard disk drive, whereas the shuffle uses NAND flash memory.
There is very little chance that Apple will also redesign the shuffle as part of this transition to different components. With the iPod business continually on the decline, the shuffle’s days are numbered. The same goes for the iPod touch, which is essentially an iPhone without telephony functionality.
When it used to disclose iPod sales numbers, Apple would not break down these figures by model. It’s hard to estimate just how many shuffles Apple sells every quarter, or even every year, but it’s fair to assume that the screen-less player accounts for the smallest portion of iPod sales.