It was never supposed to be a carbon copy of the iPhone 4 when it came to specs and features.
If you allowed yourself to believe it would be, then you're to blame for false expectations.
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Fourth-Generation iPod Touch Offers Only 256 MB of RAM
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It was never supposed to be a carbon copy of the iPhone 4 when it came to specs and features.
If you allowed yourself to believe it would be, then you're to blame for false expectations.
Wrong -- iOS apps can use more than 32mb of RAM. On the 128MB iPhones and iPod touches, there was only about 30MB (actually a little less) available. On the 3GS, the OS didn't take up much more space, so apps could now expand into about 150MB or so. iOS 4 introduced multitasking, but apps in the background can still be closed if the OS or the foreground application need more RAM. Therefore, there is still a lot of RAM available to apps , even under iOS 4.
On the iPhone 4, there should be even more RAM available. If this rumor is true (I have some doubts given the lack of RAM on the iPad and the 4x pixels of the retina display -- waiting to hear results from a developer first), then there won't be many apps released soon that will take advantage of the extra RAM, since only the iPhone 4 will be able to support it (for now). But as time goes on and the 256MB iOS devices are replaced with 512MB and higher, there will be apps that use that extra space.
Just for sake of interest - I would like to know the unit cost difference between 256 and 512 Megs memory.
At the same time - I suppose auto manufactures wring hands over spending $18 vs $22 on a particular part - and that's when the item cost $25 grand...
At the same time - I suppose auto manufactures wring hands over spending $18 vs $22 on a particular part - and that's when the item cost $25 grand...
I was in the same boat. I had an Iphone 3g and got an Iphone 4. The Iphone 4 is the best phone I have ever had.
I also got an Ipad 3g 64gb also...I am just waiting for the iOS 4.2 to come out.
I got an Ipod Touch thirdgen....and I think I am gonna sell it...use that money for the Ipad 2.
Well, it kind of sucks from a consumer point of view, but this will extend the life of the other 256MB iDevices in terms of development "lowest supported spec' and prevent devs from leaning too much on the comfort of 512 MB.
I'm getting one for testing and (safely?) assume my apps run at least as smoothly on an iPhone 4. Also, I'm getting the one with least storage.
I'm getting one for testing and (safely?) assume my apps run at least as smoothly on an iPhone 4. Also, I'm getting the one with least storage.
And a demo using one of the most sophisticated game engines to reach the iOS platform, Epic Citadel, runs fine on 256 mb RAM devices. Which games are you expecting not to work due to only having 256 mb total RAM?
Somehow having 4X the resolution and a significantly faster CPU became less important to games than amount of RAM (game consoles traditionally have much less RAM than contemporary computers, the PS 2 only had 32 mb of RAM, the PS3 only has 256 ( it also has dedicated video memory, but still...)
Hopefully it's 256 for the one iFixit tore down. They tore down an 8GB iPod Touch. Let's see if Apple will give 512 for the 32gb and 64gb users 
iPod touch - 8GB - $229 - iPhone 4 - 16Gb - $599 (contract less price)
so apple has to make some changes (whether forced or cost based - we are not sure) .
also remember this year - the lower end iPod touch is actually a newer model (earlier years it is the old model for the base model)
i think it is a solid update - some given and taken.
IMHO - i would complain the storage is not 16Gb - other things are ok for the price and functionality it offers.
if we compare specwise - then $399 64GB is awesome compared to $699 (contract less price) - 32Gb iPhone 4 - is it not?
so apple has to make some changes (whether forced or cost based - we are not sure) .
also remember this year - the lower end iPod touch is actually a newer model (earlier years it is the old model for the base model)
i think it is a solid update - some given and taken.
IMHO - i would complain the storage is not 16Gb - other things are ok for the price and functionality it offers.
if we compare specwise - then $399 64GB is awesome compared to $699 (contract less price) - 32Gb iPhone 4 - is it not?
Not like it matters anyway. 256 is fine for this device. It's made for tweens and teens anyway.
You people make me laugh. Manufacturing cost is what this is all about. Apple runs a tight supply chain and is hailed as the benchmark. Name one alternative that comes close in the same league. 256MB of RAM does just fine for the 3GS, 3rd gen iPod Touch, and iPad, so will this.
And it's less than half the price of an unsubsidized iPhone 4! What a rip...
The iPhone 4 costs less then 200 to make, so the iPod Touch is even less.
The bottom line is apple likes high profit margins and see's no point in giving good specs to a lower-end device that sells for less, even if it's still profitable.
With a faster processor, quadrupled resolution, two cameras previously nonexistent, wireless N (I no longer need to run my home router in dual band), built in microphone and a complete redesign, I think you're wrong.
The average consumer will not have a clue about how much RAM the new iPod Touch has. It's still going to be one of the hottest selling items this holiday season. People are really excited about FaceTime and the Retina Display.
It would have been nice if it had the same RAM as the iPhone 4, but on the other hand the iPad and 3GS won't be completely outdated that quickly.
It would have been nice if it had the same RAM as the iPhone 4, but on the other hand the iPad and 3GS won't be completely outdated that quickly.
Errr.... (cough)...
the iPad has the same amount of RAM - 256MB. People are upset about the Touch having the same, but with the iPad, it's even more embarrassing.
I've had an iPad for a couple of days. I am one of the main moaners here when it comes to the iPad but in the end, I thought that I gave it another chance, several months after the initial hype.
My dear God, that thing is heavy for what it is and with multitasking (which it didn't have when I tried it the last time) and a few Safari tabs, the small memory becomes obvious in no time. I don't know whether Apple will keep the RAM and specs low in future releases or limit developers' chance to provide software for the best devices only; but at one point, these gadgets become an ignored breed due to their crippled specs.
Back in the 'naughties' I had a DV camera that would shoot SD video (720x480) and take stills at 1.3 MP. I don't know the relation between video resolution and still photo resoltion for a given CCD (if there's any; I bet it's more complicated). Maybe the new iPod Touch shoots HD video of lower image quality than the iPhone 4. Waiting for a report...
I bet it'll come with 4.2 iOS. Stream to iPad with airplay and then edit it all up. Plus it'll probably have a few tweaks for iPad with bigger screen kinda stuff. No biggie.
This is true. It's not much different from the megapixel myth when it comes to cameras. If the device works, and works well, who cares how much RAM it has?
RAM issue explained!!!
People!
Here's the deal w/ the RAM. It's not about whether it can run any particular app or game in 2010.
It's about the fact that we want these devices to LAST!!!
I don't want another phone/ipod that starts chugging along when I try to install iOS 5 or iOS 6!
The amount of RAM in the iPhone 3G is criminal.
And now the iPod Touch 4 is looking at a similar future.
People!
Here's the deal w/ the RAM. It's not about whether it can run any particular app or game in 2010.
It's about the fact that we want these devices to LAST!!!
I don't want another phone/ipod that starts chugging along when I try to install iOS 5 or iOS 6!
The amount of RAM in the iPhone 3G is criminal.
And now the iPod Touch 4 is looking at a similar future.
Hopefully it's 256 for the one iFixit tore down. They tore down an 8GB iPod Touch. Let's see if Apple will give 512 for the 32gb and 64gb users
They didn't for the iPad so why should the Touch be special?
I called this earlier. Apple will cut features to improve profits whenever they can get away with it.
And so the RAM flames have begun. HA!
Let me just throw this out there; don't Unix/Linux based systems handle RAM more efficiently in general hence the reason they can operate effectively with lower requirements?
These are not Windows OS systems that require gobs of memory. Maybe we are not giving enough credit to how well the A4 processor can manage or how well Apple manages the App Store offerings.
Let me just throw this out there; don't Unix/Linux based systems handle RAM more efficiently in general hence the reason they can operate effectively with lower requirements?
These are not Windows OS systems that require gobs of memory. Maybe we are not giving enough credit to how well the A4 processor can manage or how well Apple manages the App Store offerings.
