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iPod touch Who will buy iPod touch 5 16GB?

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raccoonboy

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 22, 2012
918
5
I was expect this to come out sooner or later this year and it finally came. I just didn't anticipate such compromise. No rear camera, no fun color, button all plastic. Still, i think some people would still buy it at USD 229, no?

Any comment welcome whether you will buy it or not and why? Already have a smart phone with good camera, i dont really care but still price is not as low as it should.
 
saving107

saving107

macrumors 603
Oct 14, 2007
6,384
33
San Jose, Ca
I will, good Father's Day gift (he doesn't care about the camera).

All my dad wants is an iPod that he can have Music on it for his car (Aux cable) or while at home, and the ability to save music offline from rdio.
 
D

davydavy

macrumors member
Sep 26, 2011
60
4
This is a breakthrough product for Apple.

I think that it's the first time that a key feature has been removed as part of a product 'upgrade'. Other companies have crippled products in the past to create a lower tier product, but this is a first for Apple and a bit of a new direction for the company.
 
7thson

7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,353
1,466
Six Rivers, CA
What do you mean by "button all plastic"? I don't see any mention on the ifixit tear down of plastic buttons. I have to admit my first thought regarding this "new" iPod touch was disappointment. Having thought about it though, some parents don't want children to have cameras and the lack of one means this device won't have it's flash drive clogged up with a couple hundred blurry pics of kids goofing off. Priced a tad high, but I expect it to drop, maybe as early as the fall if it doesn't sell well. I'm curious to see how the target audience adopts this. Interesting move on Apples part.
 
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raccoonboy

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 22, 2012
918
5
7thson said:
What do you mean by "button all plastic"? I don't see any mention on the ifixit tear down of plastic buttons. I have to admit my first thought regarding this "new" iPod touch was disappointment. Having thought about it though, some parents don't want children to have cameras and the lack of one means this device won't have it's flash drive clogged up with a couple hundred blurry pics of kids goofing off. Priced a tad high, but I expect it to drop, maybe as early as the fall if it doesn't sell well. I'm curious to see how the target audience adopts this. Interesting move on Apples part.
Click to expand...


I havn't read ifixit tear down yet but unbox video on youtube suggest that they use diff. material for volume and home button as well.
 
7thson

7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,353
1,466
Six Rivers, CA
racoonboy said:
I havn't read ifixit tear down yet but unbox video on youtube suggest that they use diff. material for volume and home button as well.
Click to expand...

I'd be surprised to find that the buttons are plastic. The home button already is with a thin veneer of glass on the surface, but if you're right, it's an epic fail on Apples part. How much could they really save by doing this?
 
6

617aircav

Suspended
Jul 2, 2012
3,975
818
I'm pretty sure some folks will buy this assuming it has a rear camera and will get home and will be surprised. It's unusual for a newer product not to have the features of the older product, especially when that feature is pretty much considered standard in this day and age.
 
Plutonius

Plutonius

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2003
9,032
8,404
New Hampshire, USA
davydavy said:
I think that it's the first time that a key feature has been removed as part of a product 'upgrade'.
Click to expand...

I remember a certain ambient light sensor that was not in the iPod Touch 5 :D. Everything in the design cost money and Apple breaks down the cost to see what they can get rid of in order to meet their desired product cost.
 
emptyCup

emptyCup

macrumors 65816
Jan 5, 2005
1,482
1
Most of the people who currently buy an iPod nano will consider spending the extra $80 to get an iPod with a 4" retina display, wifi, games, apps, FaceTime and iCloud. Rather than being a new direction for Apple it is classic Apple up-sell. It might also appeal to people who don't take many pictures (I've only used the camera in my 8GB iPod Touch a few times).

It also unifies screen size and connecters across the iPhone - iPod Touch line. I think it is a good move for Apple and if I am wrong they will get rid of it.
 
myrtlebee

myrtlebee

macrumors 68030
Jul 9, 2011
2,677
2,242
Maryland
7thson said:
I'd be surprised to find that the buttons are plastic. The home button already is with a thin veneer of glass on the surface, but if you're right, it's an epic fail on Apples part. How much could they really save by doing this?
Click to expand...

They are black plastic. How can you not see this? It's just like on the full size iPad, yet no one complains about that (I have an iPad mini and see no need why its buttons need to be metal). Go to youtube and search for the review my Detroitborg. I just ordered one a few days ago. I like the design. I don't use cameras often, and when I do, it's my phone's camera or the Facetime camera. I thought the loop was gimicky, so I'm glad to see it go. The only thing is, I now have to wait for a case manufacturer to make a case for this model.
 
6

617aircav

Suspended
Jul 2, 2012
3,975
818
emptyCup said:
Most of the people who currently buy an iPod nano will consider spending the extra $80 to get an iPod with a 4" retina display, wifi, games, apps, FaceTime and iCloud. Rather than being a new direction for Apple it is classic Apple up-sell. It might also appeal to people who don't take many pictures (I've only used the camera in my 8GB iPod Touch a few times).

It also unifies screen size and connecters across the iPhone - iPod Touch line. I think it is a good move for Apple and if I am wrong they will get rid of it.
Click to expand...

I don't think people that buy the nano ever intended to buy the touch. Different category of customers.
 
AppleDeviceUser

AppleDeviceUser

macrumors 6502
Jan 7, 2012
492
10
Canada
racoonboy said:
I was expect this to come out sooner or later this year and it finally came. I just didn't anticipate such compromise. No rear camera, no fun color, button all plastic. Still, i think some people would still buy it at USD 229, no?

Any comment welcome whether you will buy it or not and why? Already have a smart phone with good camera, i dont really care but still price is not as low as it should.
Click to expand...

Simple answer, NO. I always buy the model with the biggest internal storage, in this case I have a 64GB black iPod touch 5.
 
emptyCup

emptyCup

macrumors 65816
Jan 5, 2005
1,482
1
617aircav said:
I don't think people that buy the nano ever intended to buy the touch. Different category of customers.
Click to expand...

People who buy larger capacity nanos won't but I think many of the people who buy 16GB nanos, or buy for their kids, will. We'll know at the nest earnings report.
 
myrtlebee

myrtlebee

macrumors 68030
Jul 9, 2011
2,677
2,242
Maryland
.Asa said:
You could just get an existing iPod touch 5 case and deal with the awkward camera hole :p

I wonder if anyone will even bother to make separate cases for the 16gb model?
Click to expand...

They will, if they want some profit. It's a different item, and not just because of the camera and loop holes, but due to the fact that the microphone hole is on the top and would be blocked by a 32/64 gb 5th gen case. Anyway, I got mine today and I love it. I enjoy the pocketability. I'm going to sell my iPad mini because it is literally a pocketable iPad mini (minus the camera) and is going to be more versatile for my uses. The build quality and design are great. It's really nice and sleek, and I love the classic black and silver. And, no, I don't have/ need an iPhone.
 
R

raccoonboy

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 22, 2012
918
5
emptyCup said:
People who buy larger capacity nanos won't but I think many of the people who buy 16GB nanos, or buy for their kids, will. We'll know at the nest earnings report.
Click to expand...


If i want a bigger than 8GB player, i would go for Sansa or sony at cheaper price. I dont think spending 80 more just for bigger capacity is a safe trade. Unless u, all of a sudden" want to play games on it as well.
 
Scarpad

Scarpad

macrumors 68020
Jan 13, 2005
2,135
632
Ma
myrtlebee said:
They will, if they want some profit. It's a different item, and not just because of the camera and loop holes, but due to the fact that the microphone hole is on the top and would be blocked by a 32/64 gb 5th gen case. Anyway, I got mine today and I love it. I enjoy the pocketability. I'm going to sell my iPad mini because it is literally a pocketable iPad mini (minus the camera) and is going to be more versatile for my uses. The build quality and design are great. It's really nice and sleek, and I love the classic black and silver. And, no, I don't have/ need an iPhone.
Click to expand...

How is the back on the unit would you say it would stand up to being used without a case? Maybe just a sleeve or directly in the pocket or does it look like it would get scuffed up?
 
myrtlebee

myrtlebee

macrumors 68030
Jul 9, 2011
2,677
2,242
Maryland
Scarpad said:
How is the back on the unit would you say it would stand up to being used without a case? Maybe just a sleeve or directly in the pocket or does it look like it would get scuffed up?
Click to expand...

No, I'd get a case. It feels nice without one, but the aluminum is soft. I know from past experience - better to buy a case, sleeve, or skin for the back as well as a screen protector (any 5th gen iPod touch screen protector will do)
 
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boats4chris

macrumors newbie
Aug 8, 2012
20
0
Not me...

I have 3 teenagers in my house that I purchased the 8 gig (4th Gen) Touch for Christmas this past year when the refurbs were on sale and they ALL use the camera a lot. I don't know who the target audience is for the stripped down version, but I don't think it is teenagers.

My kids love their Touch's and take them everywhere with them partly because they have a camera (and because I am to cheap to pay for iPhones for them) even though they also have cell phones.

Epic fail on Apple's part in my opinion.
 
R

racer1441

macrumors 68000
Jul 3, 2009
1,863
616
Love it. Rear camera is just a waste of time. I actually am glad, should help cut down the pointless pictures from people on facebook and google+

I like the look of the iPod a good bit. May be my goto gift for friends and family this year.
 
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