iPod Touch: 'Mainstream Wi-Fi Mobile Platform'

[MacRumors]

During Apple's conference call today, Apple executives described the iPod touch as a potentially the "first mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform, running all kinds of mobile applications".

This is the first time that Apple has referred to the iPod touch as anything more than a high end iPod, with newly articulated expectations that the iPod touch would be a new Wi-Fi enabled mobile platform with a focus on mobile applications.

Apple did release an application update ($20) for the iPod touch at Macworld, now giving it feature parity to the iPhone. Apple is planning on launching a Software Developer's Kit (SDK) in February for both the iPod touch and iPhone, and it appears that Apple is approaching this seriously.

There have been reports that some early developers have already received copies of the SDK and are already working on iPod/iPhone applications. No announcements have yet been made about general developer accessibility to the SDK.

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[mozmac]

I heard him say that, and frankly...it was pretty cool to hear. That's an example of how Apple keeps assembling pieces to the grand puzzle.

[aswitcher]

Looking good for lots of new Apps like we have widgets for our Macs this year to give us all sorts of additional functionality. They gotta release that SDK soon

[applefan69]

Originally Posted by mozmac

I heard him say that, and frankly...it was pretty cool to hear. That's an example of how Apple keeps assembling pieces to the grand puzzle.

honestly i dont think apple had these thoughs in mind when FIRSt developing the iPod Touch.

In fact steve made it clear that he only considered the iPod Touch a high-end iPod.

Thing that i think is making apple think this way now is ALL the 3'rd party support the device has gotten throuhg jailbreaking. sure steve doesnt like jailbreakers... but he can't help but admit that ALOT of support from ALOT of people have gone into it, and that it's obvious this device could become something EXTREMELY big if he allows it.

[iMikeT]

If the iPod Touch is the 'Mainstream Wi-Fi Mobile Platform', then what does that make the iPhone, the 'Mainstream Wi-Fi Mobile Platform, Plus Phone'?

[dopplerd]

Or any other VOIP service... Apple needs to spend more time listening to customers and less time following MBAs.

[iMikeT]

Originally Posted by dopplerd

Or any other VOIP service... Apple needs to spend more time listening to customers and less time following MBAs.

Sweet, the first 'Apple needs to spend more time listening to customers vs. MBA' rant.

[TedB]

I am so glad that they are now taking this stance towards how they view the future of the ipod touch/iPhone. As long as apple allows the SDK and the hardware to be used to its full potential, then I think they will have no problem making it the "Mainstream wi-fi mobile platform" of choice. Though, I really don't have much hope for making the SDK as open as we all want it. There are so many possibilities, yet I am sure that apple is going to limit what the device will be able to do.

Originally Posted by iMikeT

If the iPod Touch is the 'Mainstream Wi-Fi Mobile Platform', then what does that make the iPhone, the 'Mainstream Wi-Fi Mobile Platform, Plus Phone'?

my guess is it makes the iPhone the "Premium Mobile Platform" ... sounds nice.. no need to have wifi in the title since it also has EDGE

[iSee]

Whoa!

The iPhone/Touch SDK is going to be pretty powerful if it's going to back that statement up...

[BrownManUPS]

I was skeptical about what the iPod touch would provide if the iPhone was so powerful in the market, and was on the fence for a while about getting one...but I realized that when the SDK comes out the apps on it are going to be stellar and it is worth having 16 GB of space rather than the 8GB, battery-eating, all-in-one solution.

This touch is an iPod, PDA, and an excellent sidekick when on the road. The battery life has been amazing and the music is excellent while having a great organizing calendar, notes, mail, and map device. This software update is the beginning of exciting things to come for it and I am glad I adopted the device now.

I expect a 30 GB one out when back-to-school hits for a larger PDA solution for college kids, as now that college campuses are wired to have wi-fi everywhere, this is the perfect device.

[Llywelyn]

Originally Posted by dopplerd

Or any other VOIP service...

With what microphone?

Apple needs to spend more time listening to customers and less time following MBAs.

You mean that they should listen to *you*. Built-in VOIP in an iPod Touch would be nice but is, functionally, not even all that useful to me at the moment. If the features required to use that were included, it would be extra expense at no real benefit. The people making decisions at Apple evidently feel that this is true for a sufficiently high percentage of their customers to not make it worthwhile vs. what they did include.

Write them a suggestion and see if they follow it in a future release. In the meantime, you aren't their target market.

[thejadedmonkey]

Newton 2.0... and they didn't even realize it!

I think I'll pick one up sometime before next x-mas, once the 2nd revision is out.

[OrangeCuse44]

This is exciting. This is one amazing device and it keeps getting better. I love this damn thing.

[MacsAttack]

Now - if Apple would only create an 8 inch screen/battery combo with USB keyboard and mouse (bluetooth option would be good) - that an iPhone or Touch could plug into to provide the CPU and storage, then you would have a killer ultra-portable platform.

If the SDK is up to giving us pocket iWorks.

[dwl017]

Can you receive and send Gmail on the Touch ?

[Project]

I definitely noticed them putting a real emphasis on that during the call.

I guess it all but confirms that Apple will be taking a nice cut out of all apps sold on the iTunes store. But what will that cut be? I'm guessing 10%, which I think is the same as the Made for iPod programme.

[Llywelyn]

Originally Posted by dwl017

Can you receive and send Gmail on the Touch ?

Yes. Both Safari and the Mail application in the recent update work well with it.

[Loge]

I think they planned it this way from the start; all that is changing is how they are presenting it now the SDK is nearly ready. Why go to all the trouble of building a mobile platform, if you are only to support a limited set of functions?

[Azadre]

I will believe it when they add 802.1X. Until then, it's just a touchscreen iPod.

[japanime]

Originally Posted by Llywelyn

With what microphone?

Third-party microphones.

The hand-built microphone that I just bought from the Touchmods team for my iPod touch works great with the SIP-VoIP application released for jailbroken iPods.

I've already made several overseas calls using the setup.

[jnc]

Originally Posted by dwl017

Can you receive and send Gmail on the Touch ?

Yup. Gmail created a specific interface for it too.

[MattInOz]

Originally Posted by applefan69

honestly i dont think apple had these thoughs in mind when FIRSt developing the iPod Touch.

In fact steve made it clear that he only considered the iPod Touch a high-end iPod.

Thing that i think is making apple think this way now is ALL the 3'rd party support the device has gotten throuhg jailbreaking. sure steve doesnt like jailbreakers... but he can't help but admit that ALOT of support from ALOT of people have gone into it, and that it's obvious this device could become something EXTREMELY big if he allows it.

Steve has made a lot of things clear in the Past, even while having products underdevelopment in the background. When Steve says no he means not yet. If he says maybe then he hasn't really looked in to it.

They may have been caught short on timing and pressured to move it forward, but as the jailbreakers will tell you after they mucked around in the the innards. The SDK was always planned.

[Llywelyn]

Originally Posted by japanime

Third-party microphones.

The hand-built microphone that I just bought from the Touchmods team for my iPod touch works great with the SIP-VoIP application released for jailbroken iPods.

I've already made several overseas calls using the setup.

Good to know, I didn't realize someone had managed an external microphone ^_^

I think this proves the point more than anything. If this keeps working after the SDK is released then apple's built-in support for it is not required.

[jayducharme]

Originally Posted by iMikeT

If the iPod Touch is the 'Mainstream Wi-Fi Mobile Platform', then what does that make the iPhone, the 'Mainstream Wi-Fi Mobile Platform, Plus Phone'?

Good question. It seemed that originally Apple was trying to differentiate the Touch from the iPhone. Now the line is blurring even more. I mentioned in another post about the FCC auctioning off parts of the UHF spectrum in the near future, specifically for WiFi usage. That could greatly expand the usefulness of the Touch, not having to hunt for hot spots. (Of course, I'd have to then buy a new Touch to receive that frequency. Ah well, life in the fast lane...)

I too really love the device, and eagerly show it to everyone I can. It's a great example of technology done right.

Now if Apple would only fix the Calendar alarm.

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

During Apple's conference call today, Apple executives described the iPod touch as a potentially the "first mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform, running all kinds of mobile applications".

Well, other than Palm PDAs, and Windows mobile devices, that is.
Less talking, more delivering, please.