Face the facts: ...
Maybe I'm too cynical, but my guess is that they added the Nike feature for one reason only: because Nike is probably paying them to add it.
They didn't add other features (camera, GPS, whatever) because:
1) No other MP3 players already offer such features to fuel competitive expectations, and
2) No outside agency was offering them a licensing deal to sweeten the pot.
I'm going to totally agree with
Goosnarrggh here [awesome name, man].
I actually really want GPS on my ipod touch, but let's not be dense about it.
The reasons Apple included Nike+ and did not include GPS are all about $$.
Nike+ is a pre-licensed technology in large part pre-developed by Apple. Including it cost virtually nothing for them, and in fact, helps them to sell more Nike+ transmitters, as well as getting more people to subscribe to [potential] Nike+ mobileme or whatever platforms. That increases revenue. It also is a feature that, from Apple's perspective, users who don't want it, don't ever have to use it. It's not a "winner" for them, it's a "no-loser." That also makes it a no brainer.
GPS- think about it. The cost of the antenna and all in GPS isn't really all that much. Apple can develop or license that hardware very cheaply. ( It might, however, change the aesthetic of the ipod touch- why do you think the iPhone 3G went to plastic backs instead of metal? You'd likely have to expect a similar change in the Touch. )
But that's not the primary issue. The primary reason GPS is not on the touch is this:
MAPS!!!
You have to either create or license maps for GPS- and that's very expensive. You can
make them [yeah, right.],
subscribe to them, or you can... hint hint... download and access them for
free on googlemaps.
This is very easy on the iPhone, because it has a very regular and constant connection to google data servers. That's what 3G and EDGE buy it. The iPod Touch only has WiFi access, which in regular use around town can be very very patchy.
Even if you had GPS on your iPod Touch, you'd only be able to access and use the information from the GPS in relationship to the map which could give you any useful information when you're standing in a Starbucks. Woo hoo. You likely, then, know exactly where you are anyhow.
The only option Apple would be left with would be downloading or subscribing to map provider services.
This is troublesome from several perspectives. The consumers [us] would be moaning about the added costs of downloading GPS maps, and how much space they're taking up on our precious, measly 8GB iPod Touches.
For Apple, they'd also have to develop dual-track map guidance technology. one for tying the iPhone into googlemaps, and for use on the ipod touch when there's wifi access [free use of the map]; and another for using the subscribed or licensed map, which is virtually pointless on the iphone.
So the advantage of sharing the technology becomes a big liability of cost and unnecessary development. It doesn't really help them to include GPS in a way that is unified.
I want it, you want it, but it's not going to happen until they can buy it cheaply, or hide the costs of it. And they can't do that yet.
/diatribe.
