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^This! I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees this. The 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touches had curved backs, and they wobble if you try to use them while laying on a table. But does that really matter? Who the heck lays their iPod down on a table to use it for any extended period of time? That's what iPads are for. iPods are much better suited for in-hand use, in which case a camera protrusion will make no difference whatsoever.
Don't agree. Yeah 2/3gens wobbled, but only to some extent and while they wobbled most of their surface that touched table remaid pretty flat. As for the iPod touch 5 it wobbles in any direction and when iPod lays on table it only have minimum contact with the surface and most it is the camera that receives the most preassure, which is not fine. The only solution for this is buying the case, but again I epected touch 5th gen to be the first iPod which doesn't need the case since the back of it is anodized aluminium just like the iPad or MacBooks.
 
Earphones were crap anyway

I have a 3rd gen iPT also and even though the earphones had a remote and mic they were really poor as far as sound quality. You're better off buying a third party set with the remote if that's what you're after.

As for the wrist strap loop thing, not sure how that will work if the iPod is inside a case, even if it has a hole for it. As far as I can tell the loop thing doesn't pop out far enough. But I guess if the hole is big enough it should be okay.

Lastly and getting back on topic, I see the concern with the rear camera. I'd be concerned about it getting scratched too easily due to its protrusion. However as you're going to want to keep the device in a case of some sort that should resolve that issue.
 
apple has become very tricky to customers nowadays. actually, $29 earpods doesn't make cost higher for the whole package. I can't believe that apple just did it. if Steve Jobs would still be alive, this ******** won't be happened. so sad. apple just wants to make more money. they don't care about customers anymore. die, apple.

Do you like making facts up ? The iPod Touch 4 earbuds didn't have the remote or mic and Steve Jobs was alive then.
 
This has to be the silliest thing to complain about in the history of silly things people have complained about. What you have here is a design choice - they couldn't make the camera any thinner but wanted the overall device to be really thin... so they made this choice. It's a trade-off. The remaining options would be to make the entire device thicker or make the camera worse. They chose to keep the device really thin and allow a small protrusion for the camera. I can't see how that's a bad choice compared to the others on the table.
 
This has to be the silliest thing to complain about in the history of silly things people have complained about. What you have here is a design choice - they couldn't make the camera any thinner but wanted the overall device to be really thin... so they made this choice. It's a trade-off. The remaining options would be to make the entire device thicker or make the camera worse. They chose to keep the device really thin and allow a small protrusion for the camera. I can't see how that's a bad choice compared to the others on the table.
It's silly how you can't see it as a bad design choice. I bet most people would've preffered 1mm ticker device without camera sticking out (not to mention battery life would've got better too). The lens are covered by sapphire glass, but it's not unbreakable and it can get scratched, which is very likely since most of the time iPod will be layed on the camera cover. Without the case it's easy solution to demage the camera. And now that iPod touch for the first time ever is made of anodized aluminium we'll still gonna have to protect it like a porcelain just like the glossy metal in previous iPods. Maybe that's perfect for you, but not for me.
 
It's silly how you can't see it as a bad design choice. I bet most people would've preffered 1mm ticker device without camera sticking out (not to mention battery life would've got better too). The lens are covered by sapphire glass, but it's not unbreakable and it can get scratched, which is very likely since most of the time iPod will be layed on the camera cover. Without the case it's easy solution to demage the camera. And now that iPod touch for the first time ever is made of anodized aluminium we'll still gonna have to protect it like a porcelain just like the glossy metal in previous iPods. Maybe that's perfect for you, but not for me.

OK - so for you a bigger device is better... guess what... you can put a cover on it! See? Bigger device and no protrusion. It also solves your scratching worries. But for those who wanted a slim overall design without compromising the camera, Apple made the right choice.

Of course, yes, this is a personal taste thing. And you're absolutely entitled to your opinion regardless of how facile your complaint it. Yes... there's a tiny little protrusion where the camera is... SOMEBODY HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!!!
 
OK - so for you a bigger device is better... guess what... you can put a cover on it! See? Bigger device and no protrusion. It also solves your scratching worries. But for those who wanted a slim overall design without compromising the camera, Apple made the right choice.

Of course, yes, this is a personal taste thing. And you're absolutely entitled to your opinion regardless of how facile your complaint it. Yes... there's a tiny little protrusion where the camera is... SOMEBODY HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!!!
1mm thicker would've solved the problem + iPod would still be thinner than already very thin iPohne 5 + there wouldn't be a need to buy protection case since the back of the iPod is anodized (that was the whole idea behind this choice). Camera sticking out ruin the whole idea not to worry about case-free iPod touch. At this point since they came with this weird design choice, they would've opt for a glossy metal back just like the previous iPods, since most of the people gonna have to wear it in case anyways...

I'm not trying to make it like a huge deal, I just don't get how some of you are desperately trying to put this design decision in a good light. I guess most of you already preordered the device and just don't wanna feel bad about it. That's why you're justyfying everything Apple has done and fighting back any critisizm.
 
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Or they, like I, just don't care enough to think it's all that worth complaining about. Overall, its a very nice design and a huge improvement from the last one, and more importantly "it is what it is." Many aren't really adamantly defending, most seem to me to be saying, "it's not worth complaining about how they could've done this or that and changed it 1mm."

I'm not one of those ifanboy defenders of all things apple (i think some of what they do sometimes makes no sense and is total crap), but I like it so I'll buy it. If you don't like it don't buy it. Apple is not combing this forum to decide what to release as a mid production change of 1mm.


Also, the device is not going to sit directly on the camera lens. If anything it will lean on the metal lip around the camera and the bottom of the ipod (at an angle/slope/w.e.) - making it less likely that it'd scratch than if it were to lie flat on the back and the camera lens came into full contact with the surface.

I don't think the anodized aluminum was done "so you can use it without a case." Aluminum still scratches (go check out the iphone 5 forum).
 
I'm not trying to make it like a huge deal, I just don't get how some of you are desperately trying to put this design decision in a good light. I guess most of you already preordered the device and just don't wanna feel bad about it. That's why you're justyfying everything Apple has done and fighting back any critisizm.

That's part of it. As a high school student who doesn't make much money and is supposed to be saving for college, I don't take dropping $300 on something very lightly. I want to be satisfied with my purchase and it's somewhat obnoxious to see people nitpicking at the new iPod touch. Really though, complaints such as this one are, in my opinion, incredibly specific and really ridiculous. A favorite podcast of mine used to call stuff like this "white peoples' problems". We find the dumbest crap to complain about. That's more my problem with all of the complaints. At the end of the day, I don't think the rear camera protrusion on your magical computer math machine that cost hundreds of dollars is really going to inconvenience you that much. But I digress...

In the end, you can think what you want, and if the fact that it's going to wiggle around when you set it on a table is a deal-breaker for you, then don't buy one.
 
In the end, you can think what you want, and if the fact that it's going to wiggle around when you set it on a table is a deal-breaker for you, then don't buy one.
Correct. Camera sticking out isn't huge deal to me "buy or not to buy", but it is a letdown. However, I am going to wait a little more and see users reports about scratching and stuff. If their iPods survive usual wear and tear then I'm gonna make an order. Till then I'm just too scared to order now without any tests or reviews.
 
Correct. Camera sticking out isn't huge deal to me "buy or not to buy", but it is a letdown. However, I am going to wait a little more and see users reports about scratching and stuff. If their iPods survive usual wear and tear then I'm gonna make an order. Till then I'm just too scared to order now without any tests or reviews.

Fair enough. I'll definitely be one of those users who puts it through the toughest test, as I don't believe in putting cases on my Apple products. I'll let everyone here know how well (or poorly) the iPod's back, screen, camera, etc. hold up :)
 
My iPods are always covered in some kind of nice (sturdy) leather case/jacket or a rubberized case, which ends up giving them a "flat back surface" anyways.

Yes, this is a minor design quibble, I suppose. But doesn't detract from the functionality of the device itself .... UNLESS you were going to use your iPT5 as a touch-based digital typewriter or word processor???? Que?
 
I actually LIKE the protruding camera, seems like my iPod will get less scratches now.
Smiley face in all my posts:)
 
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fAIL. Recess the lens shroud-Steve would have made it happen.

I really hope you're being sarcastic. Either way, I'd like to take this time to say that I am so sick of the "Steve would have done this" and "Steve would never have done that" comments. Let's face it, guys, he's gone. Yes, his passing was sad but it was a year ago. It's time to let go. It doesn't matter what he would do because he isn't around to do anything anymore. Other people are calling the shots at Apple now, and if you don't like the shots they call then complaining about it or saying that Steve would have done it better isn't going to get you anywhere.
 
I really hope you're being sarcastic. Either way, I'd like to take this time to say that I am so sick of the "Steve would have done this" and "Steve would never have done that" comments. Let's face it, guys, he's gone. Yes, his passing was sad but it was a year ago. It's time to let go. It doesn't matter what he would do because he isn't around to do anything anymore. Other people are calling the shots at Apple now, and if you don't like the shots they call then complaining about it or saying that Steve would have done it better isn't going to get you anywhere.

It makes me and others feel better and at the same time celebrates Steve's uncanny drive for perfection. This design is just sloppy. A protruding lens ring, it's very Busch league. It interrupts the flow and smoothness of the back.
 
"Steve would never have done that"

Yep, I remember before Steve Jobs passed away, he told everyone in Apple to think outside the box! Forget the past, and stop thinking what he would have done if he is still alive. Because he knew that even he could not predict the future himself.
 
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It makes me and others feel better and at the same time celebrates Steve's uncanny drive for perfection. This design is just sloppy. A protruding lens ring, it's very Busch league. It interrupts the flow and smoothness of the back.
Agreed, although maybe it's not that huge deal as we make it, but no matter how you look at it it's not an adventage. It's a bad design choice, totally not ergonomic, more likely to demage, and just ugly. However I see the omission of ambient sensor even worse decision than camera sticking out, just because it affects usability forcing you to adjust brightness whenever you use the device at day or night/dimm conditions.
 
Maybe, but...
1) The material covering and around the camera will probably scratch pretty fast due to the fact it's gonna have the most frequent contact with surfaces when laying flat. And yes sapphire glass scratches as well :)
2) It's probably gonna need some good case.
3) Steve wouldn't have allowed this...

Steve arrogantly thought he was above dying from cancer. Not sure how much stock I'd put into anything he supposedly would or wouldnt have done.
 
However I see the omission of ambient sensor even worse decision than camera sticking out.

This I do agree with. Auto-brightness is a really nice feature. Why they would take it out is beyond me. Is there anything that would warrant its omission from this generation of the touch?
 
I mentioned this on these boards as soon as it was released and people said no way. Well, here it is- but I imagine for most it won't be an issue since if you buy a case it will be as thick as the camera ring protrudes to even things out. And yes, they were pretty slick with the remote/mic-less EarPods. On the site they are careful only to show the heads of the EarPods and a bit of the cord- just enough that you can't tell if it has the remote & mic or not.
 
I will wait to see it in the metal before I pass judgement on whether to buy one.

However, from what I see here I agree with the OP, it looks like sloppy design and no amount of lame excuses will make it look 'right'. The overall look and feel of Apple kit it paramount, and sticky out lenses sound very naff!
 
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