Apple might kill iPod shuffle

THERE ARE signs that Apple may dump or replace its iPod shuffle, according to Apple fanzines.

Currently it is next to near impossible to buy the one-gigabyte iPod shuffle through Apple's Web store or through Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Circuit City.

Apple's Web store has been out of stock on the 1GB shuffle since mid-December, according to enthusiast site AppleInsider.com. A survey of 12 Apple retail stores chosen at random found seven didn't have the shuffle in stock and didn't know if they could get any more.

This is in comparison to the Nano, which were in short supply in the run up to Christmas, but now seem to be in abundant supply again.

Apple watchers say that dwindling inventory is often a sign that company will replace the product. This is what happened when Jobs Mob introduced the flash-based nano in September when the company cut its iPod minis.

It is likely that any announcement on the future of the shuffle will be revealed when Apple CEO Steve Jobs makes his annual sermon to the faithful at MacWorld in January.

More here.