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

[TuffLuffJimmy]

sweeeeeeet

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

[CarlHeanerd]

I can only hope it is a new iPod touch. They need to ditch the terrible stainless steel back. It is not durible at all! One last thing. I pray for GPS.

[LillieDesigns]

I wonder how they'll continue to update the Touch without brancing too much into iPhone territory. Plus the pricing will be interesting with the $199 price point of the 3G.

[DarkNemesis618]

It actually makes sense given the Get a Mac sales pushing Macbooks and iPod Touches...get rid of the old stock to make room for the new.

Rumors have been flying about the new Macbooks and Macbook Pros, now bring in the iPod Touch.

[krye]

There's no doubt that the Touch will be updated to look like the iPhone 3G. It's only a matter of time. It's delayed on purpose so it doesn't cannibalize iPhone 3G sales. Products like these are always developed in parallel. It's the same reason why the 1st gen Touch was released months after the 1st gen iPhone.

[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

[bobbleheadbob]

I think the new iPod Touch is going to mirror the feature set on the new iPhone (minus the cell features of course). Would love to see more capacity, too, but don't know about that (64 GB?).

[Small White Car]

Multiple colored plastic backs, similar to Nano colors.

The iPhone is the serious, phone part of the iPhone family. Pick Black or White and get down to business.

But iPods have always been about fun and kids and music and exciting colors. If they want the touch to become more popular than the nano (and why wouldn't they?) they to start offering them in multiple colors.

Plus, it will help differentiate the iPods from the iPhones.

Originally Posted by arn

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

arn

The GPS and camera are things that open up more apps to Touch owners. Bigger market = bigger sales = more profit for Apple.

I think those are good guesses.

Bluetooth and Mic get too close to iPhone. I don't see them happening.

[Sky Blue]

A new iPod Touch? Possibility in September?
My world has been turned upside down by this crazy news.

[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

[VanMac]

A new iPod Touch may be an option for me.

I would prefer an iPhone, but I'm holding off due to Rogers.

Either way, keep the new stuff rollin.......

[mac-mania]

I don't really understand, I mean it's not perfect but what else do you do to the iPod touch. I mean, get rid of the lame back peice and what. Do you add GPS? I don't think it's really something you need in the device. Maybe a camera?

The problem lays in the fact that no matter what you do to the product you can't ever make it outshine the iPhone. And price wise, it can't compete, you have AT&T subsidizing the price of the iPhone, the iPod touch even without the cell-phone radio is only ever going to be the same price or more then the iPhone.

[Auzburner]

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

I was thinking those same exact features are possible, but who knows... I'm thinking they may not include a microphone because it becomes too similar to the iPhone. I don't think they want to promote the VoIP, but that's just my thinking...

[brendanspah764]

I don't see anything big happening to the iPod touch. I have one, and I like it the wayy it is. GPS, I guess, would be a cool feature. A camera is for the iPhone.

[Berzerker]

Case redesign similar to the iPhone 3G, with more color choices...GPS, Bluetooth, Camera, Microphone/Speakers.

[Peace]

Programmable Virtual wheel.. I have the patent pics somewhere on my other computer.

[Le Big Mac]

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

unactivated phone that can be activated for $10 as soon as whatever apple's deal with AT&T expires?

[toujames]

i just sold my ipod touch which i ordered right after the special event in august 2007 i think? to buy an iphone 3G. I dont think the new ipod touch will have gps because iphone already has it and apple knows they need to seperate the diffrences with the two products. if its the same, why have the ipod touch?

[Tallest Skil]

But... I thought the Back-To-School promo was just Apple giving students a cool deal! How was I to know that they were just clearing out stock?

We know.

[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.

[balamw]

I suspect it'll weigh 8 pounds and have a 10" screen, just to differentiate it from the iPhone.

B

[G-Force]

GPS would be cool, but how will it download the Google Maps when you are outside without WiFi?

[wizard]

Really think about it guys if the 3G iPhone only ranks a 1,2 then this has to be an entirely new device, something that is likely to supplement the IPod Touch not replace it. My money is on a larger screen model that solves some of the demands that people have when it comes to viewing multimedia.

The bigger issues is this, is there any references to a 1,2 Touch? I just don't think it is the end of the line yet for the current Touch. If nothing else we might see a revision to lower costs on Touch but that is about it.

Also I wouldn't be surprised to see Nano go full screen. Apple has plenty of patents for a usable touch screen on even smaller devices than Touch. It might not have all the features of Touch but maybe take a hybrid approach. The advantage being of course delivering a larger screen in a very small device.

Dave

PS

A larger screen coupled with a state of the art GPS system would sell like hot cakes to the boating crowd if the software comes on line to make it viable there. More so if Apple where to come up with a version that is optimized for the environment. Maybe a rough duty model.

Dave