iPod touch Apple Cripples iPod Touch Calendar

[astrostu]

If the manual is to be believed entirely, then how does one explain this?

See https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/4171943/ . I think it's a simple reference they forgot to remove.

What's more likely - they forgot to move a simple word or two, or everything we've heard about there not being calendar editing support is wrong?

 

[PygmySurfer]

Not true, I have the ability to select which iCal calendars I want to sync on my iPhone.

Yes, but if you select more than one, there's no way to tell which calendar and event comes from (if I understand it correctly, not having an iPhone and all that )

 

[Stella]

is there some legal reason why they can't do this?

They could overtake the PDA market if they would allow it.

Why on earth would there be a legal reason why Apple couldn't allow users to enter in calendar entries?!!!!

PDA sales have been declining for years, and smartphones consistently rising. Smartphones are the future, not PDAS.. however, iTouch could outsell existing PDAs... Ultimately, PDAs isn't the business any company should be getting into ; PDAs are dead.

 

[mizelly41]

Apple Chat

This is my first post on this site, and I thought I would share this.
I just chatted with an Apple Expert and this is what was said.

When she said "at this time", it makes me think that we "may" get what we are asking for.

 

[awmazz]

After two days of ruminating over this, I've come to the only logical conclusion:

The Apple iPod Touch is SO FRICKING BRILLIANT, they have to hobble it. It's just TOO GOOD and will sell too well. There aren't enough Chinese people in Yang Bang Province to staff all the factories needed to meet the potential demand. And even if there were, there aren't enough 747 cargo planes to ship them all. So they're initially restricting features in order to restrict the overwhelming number of initial sales.

A simple logistics thing. Can't be anything else.

PS. And the Sept 28 delay is to give them time to get the five new 20,000 worker factories built from scratch and up and running at full capacity. Two weeks ago, they were just empty fields, but now!

 

[CalBoy]

there aren't enough 747 cargo planes to ship them all.

I know your post was meant in jest, but consumer products are rarely transported via aircraft; it's usually a freighter. Much cheaper.

 

[balamw]

I know your post was meant in jest, but consumer products are rarely transported via aircraft; it's usually a freighter. Much cheaper.

Funny, all my Apple online store purchases have come FedEx straight from China. I didn't know that FedEx had turbo freighters that cross the Pacific in less than a day.

(Yes, the ones going to the stores probably came over by boat. I'm just being facetious.)

B

 

[awmazz]

I know your post was meant in jest, but consumer products are rarely transported via aircraft; it's usually a freighter. Much cheaper.

Nyet. My big fat heavy MacPro arrived from Shenzhen Province in less than 36 hours. The freighter had wings!

PS. Took twice as long to get it the next 20 kilometres from the airport to my place after it actually landed, and that was only because I finally ended up going to the airport to pick it up myself to avoid further delivery delays.

 

[awmazz]

PDAs are dead.

I dunno. I think there is a market for non-phone PDAs. I agree with the PCmag review guy in his first paragraph of reviewing the iTouch:

I'm no luddite, but I don't want my personal media player to ring in the middle of a song.

I don't want to be answering calls on it while I'm in the middle of doing something else on the iTouch either.

 

[meck]

sorry - may have missed this amongst all of the to and fro here, but if the actual App for iCal edits is not there, presume a Safari based edit direct on .mac would solve a lot of the problems (sync, no app etc) in the short term?

I was also in the angry camp ready to cancel order, but once I stopped and realised this was my next iPod not my PDA or laptop the above seemed to be the logical interim step until the apps start flowing.

Any iPhone users able to comment on Safari/.mac editing?

thanks

 

[skyfallenstar]

Also in the manual...

This is also listed in the iPod touch manual:

Deleting Videos from iPod touch
You can delete videos directly from iPod touch to save space.
Delete a video
• In the Videos list, swipe left or right over the video, then tap Delete.
When you delete a video from iPod touch, it isn’t deleted from your iTunes library. You
can sync the video back to iPod touch later. If you don’t want to sync the video back to
iPod touch, set iTunes not to sync the video (see page 6).

Is this possible on the iPhone? I hadn't read nor heard of this feature previously.

Here's another interesting bit:

Verifying purchases
You can use iTunes to verify that all the music, videos, and other items you bought
from the the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store are in your iTunes library. You might want to do
this if a download was interrupted.

Hmm?

 

[Madame Defarge]

The essentials of a PDA are maintaining a contacts list (which the touch lets you do) and a calendar, along with the people asking for a To Do list it becomes a PDA.

To Apples credit or detriment they have a drawn a line between the functionality of the iphone and the ipod, you have to decide whether it fits your needs or not.

Combining the iPod with a simple PDA would be such a great idea. Especially with Apple's new touch screen technology, it's a natural.

By not allowing PDA style input of info, Apple is, in effect, forcing people to either buy the iPhone, or lug an iPod, phone and PDA around.

It seems like something has come unglued at Apple. This should have been a fabulous year for them, but instead, many of their most loyal customers are feeling used and disillusioned.

As a long time Apple fan, I hope they do some serious thinking about how to win back the consumer, not merely in a bells and whistles way, but with a genuine, put the customer first, sort of way.

Right now, it seems like the stock price is all.

 

[macpluslaptop]

As a long time Apple fan, I hope they do some serious thinking about how to win back the consumer, not merely in a bells and whistles way, but with a genuine, put the customer first, sort of way.

That's not how Apple got to this point, and Apple won't change until Jobs steps down. Jobs would rather have his business model touted in Forbes or WSJ than in Consumer Reports. We're all paying Porsche prices for Apple products, willingly, and that's what the business world is paying attention to.

 

[Demon]

For me, the determining factor is to have iCal and contacts input. If they don't offer that, there is no way i'm going to buy an iPod touch just for the larger screen. I'd rather pay less for the 160GB iPod classic. Then again, i'm quite happy with my iPod V.
Without PDA - like capabilities... what good is the Touch? it's just a fancy iPod. iPhone has all the bells and whistles for the same price. come on Apple, you've made enough money off of me!

 

[iseasi]

Legal reason

I think there is actually the legal reason unfolding allready. It is the HTC Touch. The iPod Touch can not become the a pda because of the name. HTC draws the line, not Apple or it would arise a legal issue. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple and HTC have allready made their agreements about where the line is that the iPod can't cross. You see how easily HTC is taking it at the moment. They know that their Touch is the PDA and Apples is merely a madiaplayer with the wireless store. A wrong name could be the reason Apple would have almost produced a PDA but had to whidraw. Those of you (as my self) who looking at an iPod as a PDA are actually making it worse for Apple. If this is true there is no hope Apple would give their iPod touch the editable calendar no matter how many requests.


The conflict with the iPhone was too strange a reason anyway to cripple the touch. Why would Apple have a problem with that - they are producing both. Only the 1/3 of the mobile market promise maybe, but then it would be odd of them to even come out with the touch in the first place.

Why the name then?

All this is pure speculation of course and based only on public information.

 

[PygmySurfer]

I think there is actually the legal reason unfolding allready. It is the HTC Touch. The iPod Touch can not become the a pda because of the name. HTC draws the line, not Apple or it would arise a legal issue. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple and HTC have allready made their agreements about where the line is that the iPod can't cross. You see how easily HTC is taking it at the moment. They know that their Touch is the PDA and Apples is merely a madiaplayer with the wireless store. A wrong name could be the reason Apple would have almost produced a PDA but had to whidraw. Those of you (as my self) who looking at an iPod as a PDA are actually making it worse for Apple. If this is true there is no hope Apple would give their iPod touch the editable calendar no matter how many requests.

I doubt it for a couple reasons. HTC is a nobody, just a small little company. Apple was able to snag iPhone from Cisco, they'd have no problem working with (or taking down!) HTC. Second, touch is a very generic term, IMHO - I don't see how someone could trademark it. Finally, if Apple somehow couldn't obtain the use of the "touch" name, they'd just name it something else.

The conflict with the iPhone was too strange a reason anyway to cripple the touch. Why would Apple have a problem with that - they are producing both. Only the 1/3 of the mobile market promise maybe, but then it would be odd of them to even come out with the touch in the first place.

Well, if rumors are correct, Apple is also getting a share of the monthly revenue from AT&T for the iPhone - even if they managed just $1/month per subscriber, thats $12/year x 1 million (and counting!) iPhone users. Apple may also have an agreement with AT&T not to produce a competing device, which the touch could be seen as if it had PDA capabilities.

All this is also speculation though. I'm still hoping Apple will release some PDA-like functionality down the road.

 

[astrostu]

Combining the iPod with a simple PDA would be such a great idea. Especially with Apple's new touch screen technology, it's a natural.

By not allowing PDA style input of info, Apple is, in effect, forcing people to either buy the iPhone, or lug an iPod, phone and PDA around.

I know this has been stated before, but not by me so I'll say it: I'm buying the Touch because I lost my 4G iPod (the one before color, video, etc.) and my 1G nano doesn't cut it (again, no video, etc.). I want a large screen, the cool interface, and the ability to play video, TV, etc.

You couldn't edit contacts, calendars, or even delete videos from previous-generation iPods, in fact you still can't do that on anything but the iTouch (I'm getting sick of typing "iPod Touch"). It's NOT a PDA, it's an iPod. And that's why I'm buying it. The other stuff is just a really cool inticement, not a deal-breaker in the least.

Do I think Apple will release a "real" PDA? YES. I think they're paying close attention to the iPhone and iTouch and assuming they sell well, are probably already working on a "true" PDA. And the logical extension to a tablet Mac. But the iTouch is an iPod (hence iPod Touch, not iPDA Touch). You couldn't do any of this stuff before, and yet you're complaining that you can't do it now. There seems to be a sense of entitlement floating around. If you don't want the product because it lacks (a) feature(s) you deem necessary, then don't get it! Plain and simple.

 

[balamw]

And the logical extension to a tablet Mac.

It's interesting to see how some of Apple's recent products are somewhere "between", e.g. the TV, which isn't quite an iPod, nor a Mac. So much so that they offer it for sale in both the refurb iPod store and refurb Mac store. The iPod Touch is more than an iPod, but really mich less than a Mac (unless hacked).

Thus, I imagine that if Apple really introduces a "tablet Mac" that it won't really be a full fledged Mac, but more a web browsing/media playing non-general purpose computing device, like an iPod Touch, but larger.

(I'd like one about the size of a trade paperback/small hardbound book and with 720p or greater resolution please!).

B

 

[dextertangocci]

Geez people get over it. It's a iPod not a friggin PDA. Get the iphone and unlock it if you want that... honestly

Anyway, a simple software update could fix it, so why cancel your orders

 

[awmazz]

But the iTouch is an iPod (hence iPod Touch, not iPDA Touch). You couldn't do any of this stuff before, and yet you're complaining that you can't do it now. There seems to be a sense of entitlement floating around. If you don't want the product because it lacks (a) feature(s) you deem necessary, then don't get it! Plain and simple.

Steve Jobs himself disagrees with you. He called it an iPhone without the phone. The iPod Touch shares more with the iPhone than it does with the other three iPods - appearance, operating system, applications etc.

And I've mentioned before in this thread the 'iPod Family' is featured on Apple's US website front page. On the far right is the iPhone. But its not labelled as an iPod phone, so there goes your 'name' argument.

All said and done though, if you're satisfied to see it as just a big-screen iPod and nothing more, then all the best to you and I'm sure you'll get many years of music and video enjoyment from it.

While you're enjoying yours as an mp3/4 player, I'll be enjoying mine as a full-on PDA (even though it's just an 'iPod' so I'm not supposed to expect it to do anything new that an old iPod can't despite the fact I'm paying for specs that aren't on any other iPod other than the iPhone.)

 

[shoelessone]

Geez people get over it. It's a iPod not a friggin PDA. Get the iphone and unlock it if you want that... honestly

Anyway, a simple software update could fix it, so why cancel your orders

<off topic> is the new season of dexter started yet? </off topic>

 

[awmazz]

Geez people get over it. It's a iPod not a friggin PDA. Get the iphone and unlock it if you want that... honestly

Excellent 'worldly' advice! I'll just get an iPho... d'oh! wait a minute... I can't because - They. Don't. Sell. Them.


PS. I'm curious now as to why so many are so emphatic in declaring '"it's not a PDA!". Have you not read the specs at all? Or does maybe simply the idea of people seeing it as a PDA somehow reduce the coolness factor of it, which you wouldn't want? I can't figure it. Hey, maybe that's Apple's reason for crippling it, to keep the cool music image rather than the geek/nerd/office image.

 

[skyfallenstar]

Hey, maybe that's Apple's reason for crippling it, to keep the cool music image rather than the geek/nerd/office image.

You may actually have a point, here. It almost seems logical.

 

[cliffjumper68]

An open letter to Steve Jobs:

I have read hundreds of comments from iPod Touch customers who are upset about Apple dropping the ability to edit calendar information one week after it went on sale. After reading every one of these comments, I have some observations and conclusions.

First, I am not sure that you are making the correct decision to remove this ability from the iPod Touch, and I think now seems like a really bad time to do it. iPod Touch is a breakthrough product, and you had the chance to 'go for it' this holiday season. iPod Touch is so far ahead of the competition, and yet now it offers the same features as the rest of the iPod line. It benefits both Apple and every iPod Touch user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPod Touch 'tent', especially internationally where the iPhone is not yet available. I strongly believe eliminating this particular feature will not help you do just that this holiday season.

Second, being in technology for 20+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and yet it seems weird that someone who bought a product before an imaginary cutoff date misses that one feature of the same operating system they were promised or whatever. This may be life in the technology lane, but it doesn't have to be. If I wait for the next feature addition or to buy the new improved model, I'll miss out on a great technology product because this was already something better and less expensive than any other products on the horizon. The good news is that if I buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple is supposed to do, I know that with a little encouragement and a well written email, I can expect years of useful and satisfying service from them starting before the product even ships.

Third, even though you are making the wrong decision to needlessly cripple the iPod Touch, and even though the technology road is bumpy, you need to do a better job taking care of your early iPod Touch customers as you aggressively go after new iPhone ones with a better feature set. Your early customers trusted you to deliver on your advertised specs, and you must live up to that trust with your actions in moments like these.

Therefore, I trust that you will decide to offer every iPod Touch customer who has or will purchase an iPod Touch from either Apple or a reseller, and who is not asking for any other sort of consideration, the simple privilege of being able to add and edit calendar information, something that has been available on a handheld device since the advent of the Newton. I hope that details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website in the near future. You can bet that I will stay tuned.

I want you to do the right thing for your valued iPod Touch customers. You have disappointed a great number of us, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple customers.

John Doe
Apple Customer

That was a great letter!

 

[cliffjumper68]

Excellent 'worldly' advice! I'll just get an iPho... d'oh! wait a minute... I can't because - They. Don't. Sell. Them.


PS. I'm curious now as to why so many are so emphatic in declaring '"it's not a PDA!". Have you not read the specs at all? Or does maybe simply the idea of people seeing it as a PDA somehow reduce the coolness factor of it, which you wouldn't want? I can't figure it. Hey, maybe that's Apple's reason for crippling it, to keep the cool music image rather than the geek/nerd/office image.

iPhone does not have 16G of storage space, further the only usable connection for either device is wi-fi since ATT is slow or non-existant.