Firmware Hints at New iPod Touch?

[MacRumors]

Besides hints of turn-by-turn GPS directions, the beta 2.1 firmware also reportedly contains references to an unreleased iPod Touch known as "iPod2,1", according to iPhoneAtlas.

The current iPod Touch carries a model designation of "iPod1,1". iPhone readers may remember that the original iPhone is known as "iPhone1,1" while the iPhone 3G is known as "iPhone1,2". It should be noted that these model numbers don't appear to change for storage differences alone. The original iPhone saw 4GB, 8GB and 16GB sizes but shared the same model number. Only when the iPhone 3G introduced new features, such as a GPS and 3G chipset, did the model number increment.

This would suggest the "iPod2,1" model will carry new features and not simply represent a storage increase to the current iPod Touch. Apple's iPod Touch is currently offered in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB sizes and has not been feature-upgraded since its initial launch in September 2007. Apple did, however, add a 32GB model in February.



Article Link

[Donz0r]

I'm sure it'll be for the holiday season! Cool

[scotty96LSC]

Originally Posted by Donz0r

I'm sure it'll be for the holiday season! Cool

Get in line now for Black Friday.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

sweeeeeeet

GPS on the touch would be grand. (as well as bluetooth)

[mxsweb]

Originally Posted by tuffluffjimmy

sweeeeeeet

GPS on the touch would be grand. (as well as bluetooth)

Just that little thing and bang! you get into the GPS market too.

That small machine that does GPS and much more... too easy to sell.

[iMacmatician]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Besides hints of turn-by-turn GPS directions, the beta 2.1 firmware also reportedly contains references to an unreleased iPod Touch known as "iPod2,1", according to iPhoneAtlas.

So this would imply that the new iPod touch would be released at or after firmware 2.1 and before the next version.

Anyone have an estimated release date of 2.1?

I'm thinking that the new iPods could come before the new notebooks.

[arn]

Originally Posted by iMacmatician

So this would imply that the new iPod touch would be released at or after firmware 2.1 and before the next version.

Anyone have an estimated release date of 2.1?

I'm thinking that the new iPods could come before the new notebooks.

Well, no release date on 2.1, but background notifications are in it, and that was promised by....

September (Dun dun dun... <scary music>)

arn

[Sizemore23]

Originally Posted by arn

Well, no release date on 2.1, but background notifications are in it, and that was promised by....

September (Dun dun dun... <scary music>)

arn

What exactly are background notifications?

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by Sizemore23

What exactly are background notifications?

Apple will maintain a single connection to your iPhone/iPod touch from their servers. Third party apps are allowed to use that connection to push very specific types of notifications (buttons, sounds or text) from those servers to your iPhone/iPod touch.

This allows you to be notified of activity in an app - say an IM client - without having to have the app running in the background.

[Eric S.]

Please:

1. External music controls (volume, pause)
2. Better Safari experience
3. Longer battery life!

[macmikey2]

I would like to see the Touch have Bluetooth, camera, speakers, and use 3G data access for online stuff and GPS. I really don't want to store too much support stuff on the Touch so that is why 3G for GPS use. 32MB is probably more than enough for quite a few people if you do not need file storage.

My daughter has a 16GB Touch and she always complains about no speakers and no camera. And when we are out, no online to watch youTube. She's 12.

I gotta appease her now or I will pay in a very few short years with teenage angst. So, my wishlist, above, will make her (and me) very happy.

And, she will stop taking my iPhone when we are in the car (scares the h**l out of me).

Mike

[JML42691]

I am interested in seeing what they will have to add to it, I do not see them adding features like GPS or Bluetooth because they would probably interfere with the sales of the iPhone somewhat. The only feature that I see them adding that wouldn't hurt the iPhone as much as others would be an external speaker. This would be great for apps like Super Monkey Ball that have sound, but don't have sound that would make me need to have my headphones. Otherwise, the changes that I see are maybe a slight redesign in it's looks, and maybe them dropping the 8GB model, pricing the 16GB model at $299 and the 32GB model at $399. I do not however see them adding a 64GB model at this time, maybe that more like around Macworld or in February.

[twoodcc]

i really hope this turns out to be true. i think the ipod touch needs a refresh or upgrade

[Vaphoron]

Microphone
Camera
GPS
Bluetooth
Speaker

I would like at least two of those features to be included but the more the better. I really think they need to add the mic and camera first. GPS would be great but it doesn't really matter very much until there is an application available to take advantage of it. Bluetooth would be nice to connect a Bluetooth headset for a microphone if they don't include one. I'd like the speaker because I'd like to hear some sounds without always plugging in my headphones.

[adbe]

Originally Posted by Vaphoron

Microphone
Camera
GPS
Bluetooth
Speaker

I would like at least two of those features to be included but the more the better. I really think they need to add the mic and camera first. GPS would be great but it doesn't really matter very much until there is an application available to take advantage of it. Bluetooth would be nice to connect a Bluetooth headset for a microphone if they don't include one. I'd like the speaker because I'd like to hear some sounds without always plugging in my headphones.

If Apple are looking to grow the Touch into a pure offline PDA version of the iPhone, then Bluetooth and a decent external speaker are essentials. GPS would be gravy. They'd easily be able to keep the price stable with the current model with those features, paving the way for a memory bump in Feb of next year.

[jonathanmc07]

personally, i'd love a newer version. im planning on selling mine (for the new ones price of course)) to dad and getting me a new one, when one comes out.

here's a bit of speculation: last night, when my ipod was having its daily (if not bi-daily) 2.0-freakout/crash, it displayed the volume pop-up. [the one the iphone has when you hit the side buttons] i wonder if they accidently added it in preparation for a newer version with physical buttons?

here's hoping!

[scotty56]

Originally Posted by jonathanmc07

personally, i'd love a newer version. im planning on selling mine (for the new ones price of course)) to dad and getting me a new one, when one comes out.

here's a bit of speculation: last night, when my ipod was having its daily (if not bi-daily) 2.0-freakout/crash, it displayed the volume pop-up. [the one the iphone has when you hit the side buttons] i wonder if they accidently added it in preparation for a newer version with physical buttons?

here's hoping!

Hmm..a little interesting to me

[NC MacGuy]

hopefully it'll have everything the iphone does with more memory so people like myself who have a real cell carrier can have a nice device without giving up good cell service.

AT&T sucks.

[PinkyMacGodess]

Make it bigger, physical screen size wise.
Support 802.11n.
Support support full video download.
Give it a camera!
Give it a microphone!
Support Windows Mobile? Nah...
Give it GPS?

So many tasty options... YUM!

[PinkyMacGodess]

Add an SD slot?

[fleshman03]

Originally Posted by Dmac77

I would also really like to see a 3g data chipset in it, but no phone. I know it won't happen, but my parents would have gotten me an iPhone 3G if it didn't have a $70 a month price tag. Data plans are $20, and it would be awesome if Apple decided to give the touch 3G data, but like I said it won't happen until hell freezes over.
Don

I'd love a iPod Touch with a data plan. Just for the simple fact of having email in my pocket. I doubt it will happen too, but who knows about that. It really would allow for VOIP apps to come to the forefront.

Originally Posted by arn

It's hard to imagine they'll add much more to the Touch than the iPhone has, since it would fragment their development platform.

So bluetooth, gps, camera, microphone all seem like possibilities.

arn

Again, for a VOIP app, a mic is pretty much all that is needed. GPS is an awesome thing to have, but can a GPS work without some type of monthly bill? Bluetooth would be awesome, since it would finally pave the way to allow wireless syncing and the possibly of a bluetooth keyboard.

Originally Posted by iMacmatician

So this would imply that the new iPod touch would be released at or after firmware 2.1 and before the next version.

Anyone have an estimated release date of 2.1?

I'm thinking that the new iPods could come before the new notebooks.

They are announced at a event in September. I'd guess maybe Apple would announce everything then if notebooks are not released by the end of August.

And hopefully 2.1 will be out soon. 2.0 is buggy, like woa.

Originally Posted by ylnick413

I hope to see...

• GPS
• Bluetooth
• Camera
• Speakers

This is now getting me excited! September can't come fast enough.
I'll sell my iPod Touch on eBay for this new one.

Just quoted this because this is my wish list too. A camera add some interesting possibilities. Maybe by putting in a 3+ megapixel camera, Apple could draw in some people who are looking for a camera

Originally Posted by dongmin

iPod2,1 suggests to me that it will be a whole new iPod, and not just a features upgrade (considering that the move from iPhone 1 to iPhone 3G only changes the second digit).

Could this be signalling the Mac tablet that's been rumored for so long?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe, but doubtful. Although if ture it could mean that the tablet would run OS iPhone instead of OS X. (When will they change that to something like OS Portable or something. OS iPhone is killing me here.

My thinking is that we will see:
GPS
Mic
Camera (>3 MP)
32/64 gb.

For extra points:
Bluetooth
Data Plan (optional)
Camera (<3 MP)
Bigger Screen (1/2 inch+)

[JAYGEE]

What a gaming machine the iPod touch will become, with external speakers

[~Shard~]

Damn you Apple, you're making it harder and harder to resist buying one of these things! I still don't really need one, but if this next update is indeed going to be more than just a capacity increase I'm going to have to do some more thinking...

[DarrenSW]

Whenever a product refresh is around the corner, then *cough* "Refurb" models tend to make their way into the marketplace. So a "Refurb" 16GB Touch at Expansys for £183.95, with 42 units currently in stock? Hmm....

BTW: any UK user who happens to want one of these puppies (or the "Refurb" 8GB at the less bargain-tastic £144.95) PM me for a £10 off coupon code, first come first served. Athangew.

[muldul]

Hope it is not released too soon, i need to save up the money