The next generation iPod has been delayed, claimed a financial analyst with American Technology Research. His report caused a 2.5 per cent fall in Apple's stock price.

The analyst claimed that a next generation wide screen video iPod player was scheduled to be released this fall, but its launched has been delayed until the first half of 2007. The next iPod Nano won't end up in store until December instead of the earlier predicted release date in September.

29 Jun 2006

Delay is relative, since Apple hasn't even officially announced the products.

But there are two important factors to keep in mind: Apple sells the majority of its iPods during the holiday shopping season. Secondly, the company expects consumers to buy a new iPod about every 18 months, so it would have to release new models at an equal rate.

The iPod Nano was launched in September and the video iPod in October.

Neither one of the models would suffer from a delay when it comes to the 18-month refresh cycle, although Apple couldn’t afford to miss out on the Christmas shopping.

Tags: apple, ipod