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iPod touch iPod Touch or alternative

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Ffosse

macrumors 68000
Nov 5, 2012
1,827
652
Outrun1986 said:
It looks like I will be buying a used iPhone from eBay to use as an iPod touch. As I stated before you need a sim from the same carrier that the iPhone uses to do this. Has anyone done this with an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s? I assume those sims they also sell on eBay for around $3-5 will work to get the phone to the home screen if it doesn't come with a SIM card. I plan on getting an AT&T phone so that the sim will definitely work, as I am not sure how to go about this with a CDMA carrier that doesn't use SIM cards.

I am NOT trying to activate this proverbial phone for cell service, the only activation I am talking about is the initial activation needed to get to the home screen of the phone.
Click to expand...

You don't need a sim to use an iPhone - used or otherwise - as an iPod Touch via wi-fi. This has been explained to you countless times before. I'm beginning to think you're just stupid. And doubly so if you buy an used iPhone from ebay.
 
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T

theapplefanboyj

macrumors 6502a
Mar 1, 2014
674
0
Ffosse said:
You don't need a sim to use an iPhone - used or otherwise - via wi-fi. This has been explained to you countless times before. I'm beginning to think you're just stupid.
Click to expand...
To set it up, you'll need a sim card. Were not talking about android.
You can't hacktivate it.
 
F

Ffosse

macrumors 68000
Nov 5, 2012
1,827
652
theapplefanboyj said:
To set it up, you'll need a sim card. Were not talking about android.
You can't hacktivate it.
Click to expand...

No, you don't - I've done this countless times with iPhones - you may need to create an iTunes account, but definitely no sim card required. Same as Android.
 
F

Ffosse

macrumors 68000
Nov 5, 2012
1,827
652
theapplefanboyj said:
You have to have a sim to set up.
Click to expand...

No, you really don't. As I already said, I've set up countless used iPhones as media devices for friends and all without using a sim card. I'm in Scotland, but can't imagine its being any different elsewhere.

My own iPhone (pictured above) was used - I didn't bother putting a sim in it for 6 months; just used it as a media player. Used it as a phone for a while, but it's pretty worthless now as it runs 8.1 slowly.
 
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Outrun1986

macrumors 6502
Jun 27, 2010
299
3
iPod Touch or alternative

Might be different in the USA, we have different restrictions and plans here. Every article I have read says you need a sim and I read recent ones too. Anyways a sim is like $3 so I don't see the big deal about it.

If and when you need a sim I do believe you can remove the sim after the initial setup though and that is the only time you need a sim unless you restore.

If you restore, you will need to use a sim again only to get past that screen.

I guess it's possible that if you bought one or obtained one from a friend that was already passed that screen then you wouldn't need a sim unless you restored.
 
S

shoes222

macrumors member
Sep 4, 2012
87
4
Outrun1986 said:
It looks like I will be buying a used iPhone from eBay to use as an iPod touch. As I stated before you need a sim from the same carrier that the iPhone uses to do this. Has anyone done this with an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s? I assume those sims they also sell on eBay for around $3-5 will work to get the phone to the home screen if it doesn't come with a SIM card. I plan on getting an AT&T phone so that the sim will definitely work, as I am not sure how to go about this with a CDMA carrier that doesn't use SIM cards.

I am NOT trying to activate this proverbial phone for cell service, the only activation I am talking about is the initial activation needed to get to the home screen of the phone.
Click to expand...

The only time you need the same SIM as the carrier is for Verizon/Sprint. For the GSM/International models any SIM will work for the initial device activation.
 
yanksrock100

yanksrock100

macrumors 6502a
Oct 30, 2010
673
245
San Diego
I am surprised nobody has suggested this...but if you are in the US you can get a prepaid Verizon Moto G for like $50 or $60. Same Moto G as the $180 one, just no SIM card slot, which shouldn't be a problem for you. The Moto G is arguably better than the iPod touches, especially for a quarter of the price.
 
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Outrun1986

macrumors 6502
Jun 27, 2010
299
3
With iPhone prices where I see them now I can see why people are not buying the touch. It's clear that apple wants people to buy their phones, and those who can't afford service like me but can afford a one time payment from saving up money have to buy a used iPhone and use it without the phone.

The Moto G doesn't sound bad but I am not sure if I want to jump to android after being on iOS since 2010. The only thing I want is something with more than 2-3 hours of battery life that my iPod touch 5th gen now has.
 
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