While many an Apple evangelist may have thought that the iPod touch was on its way out,  Apple introduced the sixth generation iPod complete with new colors, new features  and perhaps most important and new IOS 8.4 as the standard operating system. This version of the operating system is required for Apple Music, the new streaming music service. The Touch is all about getting the monthly subscription payments to get to the music. In other words another income stream for Apple.

The Apple iPhone has gradually eroded the demand for the Apple iPod touch, but the sixth generation iPod touch offers an attractive entry-level price point for those consumers who might not yet be ready for an iPhone. The updated iPod will offer a variety of options.

iPod Touch 

The iPod touch starts at $199. For the vast majority of iPod shoppers, the iPod touch is the easily the best option. It’s the only iPod that runs iOS, which gives it access to Siri and all the apps available for the iPhone.

iPod nano

The iPod nano is back and perhaps the most attractive feature is, well  honestly we don’t know what that is.  At $149 it’s hard to believe Apple will be selling a lot of iPod nano’s

iPod shuffle

The iPod shuffle costing $49 despite having just 2 gigabytes of storage, no screen, and a design even older than the iPod nano.

Bottom line

Apple didn’t need a new update on the iPod.  It is no longer a popular product line for the tech giant,  but the opportunity to get the new Apple music streaming service into the hands of more consumers might have been too good an opportunity to pass on.