iLounge

1

The 2007 160GB Classic has needed an update for the last 2 years. The latest version of that (1.0.2 IIRC) is still painfully sluggish and unresponsive. Too bad Apple decided to sweep that under the rug and just move on to the 2008 120GB model. Perhaps this will also be Apple’s treatment of Snow Leopard’s problems?

Posted by Herr Doktor on September 29, 2009 at 6:58 AM (PDT)

2

I wouldn’t draw a link between Apple’s treatment of their iPod line and treatment of their operating system.

In spite of lots of reasons why it’s not in their long term financial interest to do so, the clickwheel iPods are treated like one-off products running their own individual OS. When a given model’s year of production is up, anything not related to critical bugs or compatibility with the revenue generating iTunes store is effectively off the table for further support from Apple. This is both an immediate cost savings move, they don’t invest resources into hardware that is no longer sold, and an impetus to keep people upgrading to newer iPods if they want to gain new features, no matter how minor, and the possibility of support on shortcomings and lesser bugs that have plagued the model line sometimes for years.

Snow Leopard’s problems are not tied to such a practice. The Mac OS is not tied to any one piece of hardware, rather Apple has been making a lucrative business out of trying to keep a constant revenue stream from older hardware via selling what are often insignificant point releases that are little more than OS patch packs with the occasional “major upgrade” thrown in so people don’t swear off of paying their semi-annual Mac user’s tax to Apple.

As such, Apple will have to address the Snow Leopard issue in some manner. Knowing Apple, they’ll keep mum as though there is no problem right up until there is a free point release for existing owners of Snow Leopard with “bug fixes”. Selling what Microsoft would be giving away free as a service pack or “critical” update is an important source of revenue, they’re not going to simply leave it as is until Mac OS X “Chester Cheeto” or whatever is ready to launch.

Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on September 29, 2009 at 7:17 AM (PDT)

3

I wonder if this last-gasp iPod is still as sluggish as the 2007 160gb mentioned above?  It would never completely sync my large library, always coming to a crawl after 80 or so gbs and then finally crash.  I never could get it to do one full sync, so I ended up returning it. 

The next year I bought the the 2008 model, thinking that by now Apple would have solved the syncing and sluggishness issue.  Nope, same problems—particularly the unresponsive click wheel.  (I kept going back to my 80gb 5.5, apparently the Gold Standard of iPods.)

And do they offer a way to turn off Cover Flow?  It seems to be one of the major culprits behind the iPod Classic’s sluggish responsiveness.

Just curious!

Posted by JonnyOneNote on September 29, 2009 at 8:05 AM (PDT)

4

My 120Gb Classic, purchased Dec. 2008, has worked terrifically well for me.  I’m synching 88Gb of music currently, with no issues. For me, the click wheel works better for me than a touch screen, as I can make changes without looking at it. This is both safer for me while running or driving, and I suppose it’s just more tactile. If they don’t update the software to allow loading of Genius Mixes, I suppose I won’t ever miss them, but it would be fun to have them. Having Genius Mixes on my computer is of no use at all. I hope they update the software accordingly.

Posted by leotian on September 29, 2009 at 10:09 AM (PDT)

5

Hi

Can I jump in here

How stable is this update and does it

apply to my 160 GB ipod which is almost 2

years old now

I ve lost the ability to create a playlist

via coverflow , I now have to browse the

more traditional way via artist albums etc

to create a playlist

Im hoping this update may address that issue

Thanks

Posted by rozekloud on September 29, 2009 at 1:04 PM (PDT)

6

My older 160GB runs well and continues to suit my needs.  That being said, I did find Apples noticeable halt to updating and supporting it’s not that old hardware to be a bit abrupt when the newer classics came out.

Posted by Craig on September 30, 2009 at 8:00 PM (PDT)