Apple Rumored to Release Updated iPod Touch Later This Year

[SteveW928]

And some might argue keeping the 4" screen size because they run, exercise and use it as a music player, but then you really should be using the iPod Nano as a dedicated diminutive music player because a lot of people buy the iPod Touch as a "cheaper" tablet for their kids.

Some people actually like a device that fits in their pocket well too. And, the nano is just for playing music and such. That said, I wish Apple still made a reasonable sized iPhone as well.

Hopefully this phablet trend will go away one of these days and we'll get back to phones that don't start reminding me of my bag-phone days any longer.

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I have the most recent Touch, and it's a dog on iOS 8.

Yea, Apple really shouldn't be selling a number of their devices at this point anymore. Anything with less than 1GB of RAM is somewhat useless with iOS 8 and beyond... and Apple still sells several devices like that.

I guess Apple has always pushed that line with entry level models, but at least in the past, it was mostly computers that were upgradable in some way. Now, these devices just become sore-spots in user experience in order to save Apple a few bucks. It's a REALLY bad strategy on their part.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Interesting. I just now (literally) upgraded my touch from 8.2 to 8.3 and while certain things are definitely still slow (lock screen, animations, etc), at least now I can consistently move around within a song, something I could not do at all in previous iOS 8 versions.

Yeah, I couldn't shuffle music without it crashing on me eventually before 8.3. It's kinda hilarious that they fixed that now just before revamping the whole app for 8.4. I'm pretty excited though.

 

[SteveW928]

I really don't think that there are too many people out there who are agonizing whether to buy an iPhone or a Touch. People who want iPhones will buy them, and those that don't, won't, but might buy a Touch instead.

Exactly! I think too often Apple's decision-makers don't get out of the Bay Area enough to know that people not living there might need the extra money for a car-payment rather than a phone.

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The iPod Touch makes no sense in today's product matrix.

– For music you have the more portable iPod nano, Shuffle or Apple
– For gaming you have the larger screen of the iPad mini while still remaining portable.
– For children who's parents don't want to get them an iPhone, the iPad mini is better.

The iPad mini doesn't fit in one's pocket.

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Apple has not discontinued the Touch 5 yet so it will support IOS 9. Given the reports that IOS 9 should just be a maintenance upgrade with optimizations, it should in theory run on a Touch 5 better than IOS 8.

Gosh, that would be nice, but I doubt it. The touch 5 doesn't even run iOS 8 and I don't see Apple dumping the features that make iOS 8 run so horribly on devices with less than 1 GB RAM. IMO, that 1 GB RAM is the key... I'd not buy any new Apple device with less.

 

[pnvgordinho]

Why not put at least shoulder buttons on it?.
It would help a lot with games and because its not a phone, users would appreciate it. Hell, why not some small analogue joysticks?.
If the ipod touch ia a media player and a gaming device, why not make it the right way?.

 

[SteveW928]

I'm no teenager, but I love separating mobile-usage from smart-tech use. The ipod touch allows me to very cheaply get access to the entire app-infrastructure...

For sure... some adults like to spend their money wisely too!

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I'm going on the assumption that if they do introduce a new model it will be because it makes financial sense for them. And that doesn't necessarily mean in pure profits. I'm confident that sales of the Mac Mini and Mac Pro are dwarfed by MacBooks and iMacs. Most casual Mac owners don't even know they exist, in my experience. But they are still an important part of the Mac eco system. Apple may feel that while iPod Touch sales are low, they represent a valuable entry-level way of getting people to be lifelong Apple users, especially kids.

Well, that would assume Apple is making smart decisions in that regard... but I fear they aren't any longer. The bean-counters are now firmly in control, and I don't think Apple is really looking at the experience factor and how niche markets drive their brand... at least not even close to how they used to.

 

[xlost6]

Interesting. I just now (literally) upgraded my touch from 8.2 to 8.3 and while certain things are definitely still slow (lock screen, animations, etc), at least now I can consistently move around within a song, something I could not do at all in previous iOS 8 versions.

Don't get me wrong. It's doable and is worthy to be used. But I have no reason to keep a 5th generation that I just bought a few days ago knowing that this rumor could be true and releases revisions. I have a feeling they will release revisions this fall anyway. But I bought a 5th generation anyway because I wanted a iPod touch. But like I said it's pretty sluggish. The constant Safari tab reload is worse on the 5th generation than on a iPhone 6.

 

[Hankkk]

I agree. In my case, I got rid of all my cds and I have all my music on my iPod.
If I want to listen to music at home I don’t want to use my phone for that, let alone waste battery and no enough space for all my music .

Exactly. I also like to keep my phone clean, there's enough storage used by apps and photos - so I don't want to store a huge music library in addition to that. And battery life is possibly the biggest issue that totally disqualifies the iPhone as a device for dedicated music listeners.

 

[SteveW928]

iPod touch: $199
iPhone 6: $649

It's actually much worse than that... the iPhone has a massive monthly fee (in a few months, it would pay AGAIN for the iPod touch). Plus, no one in their right mind buys the entry-level iPhone, as 16 GB is kind of a joke these days.

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Interesting. I just now (literally) upgraded my touch from 8.2 to 8.3 and while certain things are definitely still slow (lock screen, animations, etc), at least now I can consistently move around within a song, something I could not do at all in previous iOS 8 versions.

It has gotten better (iOS 8.2+) on my iPad 2, but IMO, it's still unacceptable. The biggest problem for me, with the iPad, is keyboard performance, although I can see how that would be less an issue with an iPod touch.

So, I guess, yea, it's usable, but just a really poor user experience (something Apple used to care about).

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Don't get me wrong. It's doable and is worthy to be used. But I have no reason to keep a 5th generation that I just bought a few days ago knowing that this rumor could be true and releases revisions. I have a feeling they will release revisions this fall anyway. But I bought a 5th generation anyway because I wanted a iPod touch. But like I said it's pretty sluggish. The constant Safari tab reload is worse on the 5th generation than on a iPhone 6.

The key is 1 GB or more of RAM.

 

[McTaste]

I mount an ipod touch to my motorcycle handlebars on day-long rides. Would love to see a 128gb version and associated waterproof case!

 

[JohnApples]

I doubt it, as even the iPhone's GPS needs the cellular network to work well. I'd love to see it though.

Yeah, I was being a bit ambitious. Although they could make a GPS chip that does not rely on a cellular network, I don't know if I can see them doing that just for the iPod Touch.

 

[Plutonius]

While $250 cost difference is not insignificant, iPhone 5c is a lot more future proof than iPod touch.

Both the 5C and Touch 5 should support IOS 9 this fall but will most likely not support IOS 10 in 2016 (64 bits requiring an A7 or better). The 5C is most likely not more future proof than the Touch 5 although it should run IOS 9 better.

 

[SteveW928]

Both the 5C and Touch 5 should support IOS 9 this fall but neither should support IOS 10 in 2016 (64 bits requiring an A7 or better). The 5C is not more future proof than the Touch 5 although it should run IOS 9 better.

Does 'support' mean in the way my iPad 2 currently 'supports' iOS 8?

 

[mcarling]

Without cellular data, it can't support Apple Pay, since it needs to contact Apple (who contacts the banks) to pass the virtual temporary credit card #.

That is not correct. Apply Pay works just fine when an iPhone has no connection to the cellular network (outside the coverage area). Here is how it works: The iPhone sends a token to the merchant via NFC. The merchant sends the token to VISA/Mastercard/Amex who then map the token to the credit card number and then send the encrypted credit card number to the card issuer (usually a bank) to approve the transaction. Apple is not involved in the transaction.

I doubt it, as even the iPhone's GPS needs the cellular network to work well. I'd love to see it though.

Handheld GPS receivers work very well without using a cellular network. iPhones make use of the cellular networks when they can because it's convenient, not because it's necessary.

 

[retroneo]

... for a fraction of a price and no mobile service plan to worry about. I don't see why it's surprising that people might still be interested in it. Think teenagers, for example, who can't afford or their parents simply don't want to get them a smartphone.

I wouldn't have thought I would do this, but I just got an Android smartphone instead of a prepaid recharge because it was cheaper (A$40 and included a A$50 prepaid service). There's no contract and it costs $2 to unlock it.

It's certainly not as nice to use as the iPhone, but I could buy 25 of them for the price of the iPhone (and would never have to pay for service). I'm using the prepaid recharge with my iPhone and am going to use the Android phone as a security camera for the house.

For someone considering an iPod touch, there's plenty of apps for Android and a storage slot. The phone is super quick, has 4G LTE, 4.5" screen and amazing battery life. It has a 64-bit quad core processor that will get even faster if they ever bother to update the OS to Lollipop 5.0 - updates seem an unknown with Android. Kids get their spotify, Facebook and snapchat working outside the house, on the school bus and at the beach.

And at ~US$30, you could buy one every couple of months for the kids. I don't think an iPod touch is all that desirable anymore.

Plus, Apple are a bit stuck pricing-wise with an updated iPod touch. If they released a WiFi-only version of the iPhone 6 to replace it, it would have to either be sold at an excessive discount that would make the iPhone look overpriced or be too expensive for a phone that doesn't work without WiFi.

Even at a US$200 discount off the 16GB iPhone 5S price, a 16GB WiFi-only iPhone 6 would cost $349.

 

[unplugme71]

I really hope they release an updated iPod Touch. Even an 8GB model would be fine. By time fall comes around, I'll be finished with my HA setup and could use one of these in every room to control lights, devices, music, etc...

Right now I'm using two iPad Mini's, 1 in my living room and 1 in the hallway.

 

[jblagden]

Yeah

I wouldn't be surprised to see a new Nano with Wi-Fi and Apple's new streaming service built in.

Also, give the iPod touch a memory boost, so people who are mourning the classic can have a reason to live.

Yeah, though they should put an FM radio in the iPod Touch. Actually they should put FM radios in all of their portable devices. In the iPods, it would be a way to listen to music and news when it doesn't have an internet connection, while in an iPhone or a cellular iPad, it would allow users to listen to music and news without having to go through their data plan.

 

[Paddle1]

Both the 5C and Touch 5 should support IOS 9 this fall but will most likely not support IOS 10 in 2016 (64 bits requiring an A7 or better). The 5C is most likely not more future proof than the Touch 5 although it should run IOS 9 better.

I don't think so, they're not going to give the iPhone 5 a shorter life span than the 4s. If the 4S gets 9 then the 5 and 5c get 10. Also the 5c is more futureproof simply by being more powerful.

 

[retroneo]

Handheld GPS receivers work very well without using a cellular network. iPhones make use of the cellular networks when they can because it's convenient, not because it's necessary.

Handheld GPS receivers take 12.5 minutes to download the almanac data (it's only 50 bits per second) and the ephemeris data has to be redownloaded from the satellite every 4 hours.

Instead, mobile phones download this data over the internet so they can get a GPS fix in seconds.

GPS doesn't work indoors, so Apple & Google have a location database of essentially every WiFi access point in the world that is looked up over cellular or WiFi when indoors instead.

 

[FelixAng]

If only iPod Touch could be offered with a 4G LTE option (like iPads)...how cool would that be? I guess it might eat into iPhone sales--too bad

 

[retroneo]

Yeah, though they should put an FM radio in the iPod Touch. Actually they should put FM radios in all of their portable devices.

Not FM, most countries are well into the digital transition and Norway just switched off FM. DAB+ or whatever the standard is - maybe, but I'd rather not include it and encourage the spectrum to be reallocated for LTE - like what is happening globally with broadcast TV.

TV & Radio are proposed to be _multicast_ over LTE - it's long been prepared for the transition. Regulators are deciding on approaches to implement it. Equipment vendors like Ericsson and Qualcomm are courting all the stakeholders.

 

[Plutonius]

I don't think so, they're not going to give the iPhone 5 a shorter life span than the 4s. If the 4S gets 9 then the 5 and 5c get 10. Also the 5c is more futureproof simply by being more powerful.

We will have to wait until 2016 to see but Apple wants
1) All devices to be 64 bit.
2) Touch ID in the IOS devices.

Nobody will know until then but I wouldn't risk getting a 5C.

Does 'support' mean in the way my iPad 2 currently 'supports' iOS 8?

In my opinion, IOS 8.3 runs acceptably on my Touch 5. IOS 9 is just a maintenance upgrade with optimizations so it should actually run better than IOS 8.3.

 

[anek007]

I doubt it, as even the iPhone's GPS needs the cellular network to work well. I'd love to see it though.

The iPhone gps doesn't use cellular network. It uses gps satellites like any other gps device. The only thing u need is maps data. There are some apps with full maps download.

 

[retroneo]

If only iPod Touch could be offered with a 4G LTE option (like iPads)...how cool would that be? I guess it might eat into iPhone sales--too bad

Why on earth would anyone buy a low end iPhone then? Deliberately crippling a 4G iPod touch by not putting in a 30 cent earpiece would look ridiculous.

I have only had cellular data service with my iPhone for the past year as it's way cheaper and give me more data. I can't send traditional SMS or make voice calls but on the rare occasion I have needed to, I just use the Skype app.

The low end iPhone and iPod touch really need to converge into one product line.

 

[MacDarcy]

I'm surprised people still buy the iPod Touch. I figure everyone who would want one has an iPhone at this point.

No. Not everyone. I have an iPad mini grandfathered with an att unlimited data plan for $29 and an iPod touch 5. I travel a lot, and find this the perfect set up. I can make & receive calls and texts. Chat live with FaceTime or Skype. I have no need for an overpriced plan with an iPhone.

I use my iPod touch as my travel camera and am looking forward to this update.

I hope they improve the camera.

I have a feeling Apple will also offer the iPod 6 in two sizes. A 4.7" and a 5.5" just like the iPhone.

 

[retroneo]

The iPhone gps doesn't use cellular network. It uses gps satellites like any other gps device. The only thing u need is maps data. There are some apps with full maps download.

Sure it does.

If you don't have WiFi when you're charging overnight, the iPhone won't pull down the GPS almanac and ephemeris data for the next day. If the almanac is out of date when you use Maps or any location aware app, the iPhone will download it over cellular immediately. If there's no cellular coverage then it will take up to 12.5 minutes to pull it down over the satellites at 50 bits per second.

The almanac and ephemeris data is downloaded at least daily from: https://iphone-ld.apple.com/xtra/xtra2.bin