iPod touch Keynote - iPod Touch update shows a new side of Apple...

[crackbookpro]

I am starting to gather a conclusion that the new video feature should be coming to the iPod Touch in early 2010. Or at worst, Fall 2010 for the 4th gen...

I believe Apple has taken a different strategy with the iPod. They have the market share in popularity close to 90%. That is a huge share, but the one thing is, on the whole, their iPod sales (excluding the Touch) have been losing its' sales percentages lately. This is vital info in my mind... I may be crazy.

...so, releasing the iPod Nano with the video camera is a marketing ploy to gain sales in that division. Furthermore, a pure marketing strategy for the 'holiday itch' of consumer spending. But, for the keynote - the Touch remains somewhat the same, except for of course, a nice jump to 64GB and performance upgrades. ...so I ponder why Apple is not giving the most features to their top of the line iPod - the iPod Touch

Touch sales are doing well, so Apple decided to not add a big feature like a camera w/video & mic capabilities. Not realeasing a huge update is common for companies to do this with a market share like Apple has right now. Especially, when doing an update to a product that they control the market in. It happens a lot with monopolies... but, this used to NOT be a habit or trait I would expect of Apple.

But, Apple has to know... there is a need for a huge feature (video/camera/mic) that would expand the app store developers and gain huge income for Apple & the app store. And also, increase the Touch sales once again! I guarantee it would be a huge source of income, and marketing opportunity for Apple!!!

Why they don't do it now? Well, maybe they had a production delay. Or maybe, Steve Jobs is not kidding - and they see it as a gaming device that is better than the PSP & DS.

I think it is due to timing. They timed the release of the video & mic to the Nano, and not the Touch for a stratetigic business decision for the holidays, and because iPod Nano sales have slowed. That is my pick in the poll... I know some may disagree

The unfortunate thing is - Apple was a company that used NOT to be like other companies. And I mean that in a good way. Apple is/was known to have the best features in the best model of the particular product line. But, not for the iPod market now... the clearest thing that Apple has done to me - is wanting the Nano to be the 'iPod hit' for the holidays.

I can't blame them in a way for trying to increase iPod Nano sales... now I will be checking my closest Apple store or best buy for one.

CrackBookPro

 

[crackbookpro]

stats just came out...

http://www.businessinsider.com/mac-sales-ahead-of-expectations-through-august-2009-9

 

[ucfgrad93]

Steve Jobs is not kidding - and they see it as a gaming device that is better than the PSP & DS.

This is what I think the reason is.

 

[Alasta]

I have two theories:

- Because the Touch is a high end product Apple believes that Touch buyers are likely to have already invested in a decent compact or DSLR camera and would be put off by the limitations of integrating a tiny camera module into the Touch.

- Apple believes that consumers would choose the Touch over the iPhone if they already own a decent phone handset. In that case, their phone handset would already have a camera.

Out of curiosity, are there any touch owners reading this who believe that they don't fall into either of the above categories? I would be interested to be challenged on this.

 

[agkm800]

I have two theories:

- Because the Touch is a high end product Apple believes that Touch buyers are likely to have already invested in a decent compact or DSLR camera and would be put off by the limitations of integrating a tiny camera module into the Touch.

- Apple believes that consumers would choose the Touch over the iPhone if they already own a decent phone handset. In that case, their phone handset would already have a camera.

Out of curiosity, are there any touch owners reading this who believe that they don't fall into either of the above categories? I would be interested to be challenged on this.

Adding a camera/video same as iPhone 3GS won't cost much. Apple only has to charge us $5 more for the camera. Why wouldn't anyone want to pay extra $5 for the camera in iPod Touch?

Camera in iPod Touch is not just a camera like in any other cell phone. There are so many wonderful apps such as augmented reality apps you can experience with the camera.

Apple production just screwed it up. Stop giving excuses for Apple.

 

[puffnstuff]

Apple is not sure how to market this. They admitted it themselves is it an iphone without the phone, a pocket computer, gaming device or just a PMP?

And because of the fact that they don't know what to market it as they do not know what features to give it. The tools that constantly b*tch and moan that one should get another device if they want a certain features because the iPod touch is just a music player aren't helping at all they are hindering Apple from having the touch reach it's full potential.

 

[Plutonius]

Apple production just screwed it up. Stop giving excuses for Apple.

Wrong. Steve Jobs returned and looked at the completed iPod Touch with the cheap video camera that the nano has. He decided that a) He didn't want the cheap video camera (I can hear the cries now. Why doesn't the touch have the same camera as the iPhone). or b) He decided that the touch was selling well enough without eating into nano (with the new video camera) and iPhone sales.

Rumors of a production problem were false. Apple could have easily added the video camera if they wanted to.

You would have also seen an internal mic if they were actually planning to put the video camera in the iTouch.

Buy now or hope by next fall Apple changes it's mind when the next revision comes out.

 

[agkm800]

Wrong. Steve Jobs returned and looked at the completed iPod Touch with the cheap video camera that the nano has. He decided that a) He didn't want the cheap video camera (I can hear the cries now. Why doesn't the touch have the same camera as the iPhone). or b) He decided that the touch was selling well enough without eating into nano (with the new video camera) and iPhone sales.

Rumors of a production problem were false. Apple could have easily added the video camera if they wanted to.

You would have also seen an internal mic if they were actually planning to put the video camera in the iTouch.

Buy now or hope by next fall Apple changes it's mind when the next revision comes out.

Who says the prototype had the same camera as the nano?

 

[Plutonius]

Who says the prototype had the same camera as the nano?

You didn't read any of the technical articles that were released when the touch came out. The Touch has room for the same camera that's in the nano but does not have space for the camera that's in the iPhone. There is NO still camera that will fit in the touch available space.

 

[101X]

I heard manufacuring issues kept the touch from getting a camera. maybe they are using a different one from the nano? oh has anyone heard rumors about a october mac event? they might do the touch there. if they are.

 

[Plutonius]

I heard manufacuring issues kept the touch from getting a camera.

It was just a rumor with no confirmation.

 

[iMacmatician]

Wrong.

And your speculation is "right"?

 

[Plutonius]

And your speculation is "right"?

Not a speculation. Steve Jobs and Apple officially replied to this. Steve said absolutely "that they decided not to put the camera in the touch since they are marketing it for gaming". Even if you don't agree with what was said, the fact is still that Apple decided they didn't want the camera in the touch.

 

[na1577]

You didn't read any of the technical articles that were released when the touch came out. The Touch has room for the same camera that's in the nano but does not have space for the camera that's in the iPhone. There is NO still camera that will fit in the touch available space.

The touch technically has room for it, but there is not a lot of excess space there. Though the iFixit touch teardown said there was not enough room, their nano one (Edit: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPod-nano-5th-Generation/1157/3) stated that there was about 2 extra millimeters there and that it technically could fit.

Anyways, I posted a comparison of the sensors somewhere else, but I'll post it again here because you probably haven't seen it. Look at the size of the iPod touch sensor compared to the iPod nano one.

 

[BJB Productions]

I think it's really three of the pols:

1. a production/development issue...
2. Steve Jobs is not kidding - he is marketing this to be a gaming device...
3. This is a business strategy by Apple...

I think they are marketing it to be a gaming device, but there was a production issue so they turned it into a "business strategy"...

My two cents.

 

[Plutonius]

The touch technically has room for it, but there is not a lot of excess space there. Though the iFixit touch teardown said there was not enough room, their nano one (Edit: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPod-nano-5th-Generation/1157/3) stated that there was about 2 extra millimeters there and that it technically could fit.

Anyways, I posted a comparison of the sensors somewhere else, but I'll post it again here because you probably haven't seen it. Look at the size of the iPod touch sensor compared to the iPod nano one.

It's not a diameter issue. It is a thickness issue that constrains the touch to use the nano video camera without making the available area bigger (i.e. redesign).

 

[na1577]

What are you talking about?

I posted the picture to show that the sensor was not the same sensor from the nano (hint: the touch one is bigger). That had nothing to do with diameter or thickness, and the ability to fit?

 

[innocent114]

I don't know , may be just an easy way to justify the purchase of the iPhone, since they are so "close" in price (when you consider the inclusion of the subsidy).

 

[iMacmatician]

I don't know , may be just an easy way to justify the purchase of the iPhone, since they are so "close" in price (when you consider the inclusion of the subsidy).

What about the contract?

 

[bjh1414]

I think they either had:

a) Production Issues
b) A big enough lead in the market
c) Didn't want to make it too close to iPhone

 

[ipodtouch3g]

ipod touch camera

i was too hoping to buy an ipod touch with a camera. i am holding off now. maybe we will see the return of the 16gb with a camera, mic and speed improvements. the 32gb and 64gb will also have the camera. maybe this will come around oct. 14

 

[Cougarcat]

Not a speculation. Steve Jobs and Apple officially replied to this. Steve said absolutely "that they decided not to put the camera in the touch since they are marketing it for gaming". Even if you don't agree with what was said, the fact is still that Apple decided they didn't want the camera in the touch.

Well, of course that's Steve's official response. Do you think he'd have said, "Well, we're developing this top-secret new camera that has all of the iPhone camera's features and adapted for the thinner iPod case, but it's just not ready for production yet"? Of course not.

 

[Beric]

The camera WILL come by the 4th gen in September 2010. However, I have serious doubts it will come anytime before then.

 

[ravenvii]

I think it's a production issue. There was a rumor a couple of weeks before the iPod event about some kind of problem in manufacturing or something that causes some kind of delay or issue with new iPods. Vague as hell, but it makes sense in hindsight.

 

[ekr9531]

Thank You Alasta!

I have two theories:

- Because the Touch is a high end product Apple believes that Touch buyers are likely to have already invested in a decent compact or DSLR camera and would be put off by the limitations of integrating a tiny camera module into the Touch.

- Apple believes that consumers would choose the Touch over the iPhone if they already own a decent phone handset. In that case, their phone handset would already have a camera.

Out of curiosity, are there any touch owners reading this who believe that they don't fall into either of the above categories? I would be interested to be challenged on this.

Finally, someone asked this question...

I am definitely one of those people that doesn't fall in either catagory. I used my iPod touch 1g for internet, music, and video purposes. I WOULD'VE use the camera on the "new touch" (if it was released) because: A) I don't have a cell phone; B) You could upload your pics from Wi-fi anywhere w/o a data plan on your cell phone or a computer.

I think many young kids w/o cell phones would feel the same as me.

So thank you Alasta... you've finally asked the question I've been waiting for!