Fourth-Generation iPod Touch Offers Only 256 MB of RAM

[misfit356tsw]

I've been playing around with mine for the last 2 hours or so.

I bought the 32GB model, seemed to be the best value.

It's very fast, as fast as my iPad.

The headline is pretty negative. It should read:

iPod Touch 4G Offers Amazing 4 times the RAM of the PSP!

Really, it's the same RAM as the Sony Playstation 3... And no one seems to complain about that.

Umm, wrong. The Playstation 3 has 256 MB of main memory and 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory.

I think the issue I have with memory has to do with a bit of future proofing. 256 MB may be fine right now, but what about IOS5. All of you saying 256 MB is all you need remind me of Bill Gates "640 KB ought to be enough for anyone." A bunch of Gates clones I say.

 

[beginnersview]

We're not talking about mass-produced DDR2 sticks, but rather custom made ram that must be built in the A4 package. I guess it adds one layer per chip, hence adding much more than the cost of the chip itself.

OK, that I will agree puts a different light on the situation.
Since they are not then able to use 'off-the-shelf' inexpensive SDRAM, they must custom fab the memory right into the processor die.
Sort of makes sense then that its cost would be way higher.
Thx.

 

[mex4eric]

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...

Theoretically 720p video is 1280x720 resolution (16x9 format), less than 1 megapixel, while the iPod's still pics are 960x720 (4x3 format), even more less than 1 MP, so maybe the sensor chip is 960x720 and the video is stretched or the chip is 1280x720 and a few columns of the sensor are ignored for the stills.

Strange, but not as strange as the combo still and video cameras (such as the Canons) that have 12 MP stills and 720p movies.

 

[firewood]

I will also add that he lied in this statement, "iPod touch more popular than Nintendo DS and Sony PSP combined".

The slide behind him elaborating the point, say "Outsells", NOT "Outsold". That's implies the current sales rate in units per day. I'll bet that it's quite true most days of recent.

As for confusing minor features between the new iPod with the new iPhone, he's over 50. Chalking it up to an aging brain is more reasonable then assuming a CEO is deliberately trying to get in trouble with the SEC.

 

[Master Chief]

...

It seems you don't understand what outsells means, is all.

Don't get me wrong. Apple is doing an amazing job, but...

Let's have a look at the facts: Nintendo sold 125 million DS systems and Sony more than 62 million PSPs. That's over 187 million units combined. The iPod Touch on the other hand doesn't even make up for a third of this number – which is estimated at 45.2 million – and thus Apple still has a long way to go.

Now look at the 6.9 million units being sold by Apple [per month] of which roughly 37% accounts for the iPod Touch. That's about 2.5 million units per month.

So how long does it take Apple to become the real #1? To surpass Sony alone in terms of sold units?

And sure. Apple may be selling way more units these days, outperforming others. Even crushing combined sales of Nintendo and Sony, but a next new Nintendo/Sony device may sell equally well. Causing a slow down.

I don't expect this to happen any time soon, if ever, but what I meant was that in terms of sold units... Apple isn't the #1.

Yeah yeah. It's all about being the #1 in terms of current sales [see also firewood's post] so here's your cookie. Big deal.

 

[kernkraft]

You what?

I simply can't even begin to bother retorting to this statement. You must be a twelve year old. Apple have been and the forefront of consumer tech . . . . . . No I actually can't be bothered.

Go read some tech spec bumf from toshiba.

I'll sell you a toothbrush with 1GB of RAM. No other toothbrush has anywhere near that kind of computing power yet, you'll be way ahead of the game.

Don't worry, I can't be bothered. I just go back to my Core2Duo MacBook Pros and wonder, why they were even around in that price range in 2008 and 2009. I am fairly confident that I am older than you are.

Once again you probably don't have any apple products...

256mb of ram is enough...ask any Ipad users. The issues that the Ipad have is with iOS 3.2...when it gets iOS 4.2...the world with change and it will be magical!

I get that a lot, actually from kids. Their brain don't seem to be able to process that you don't have to become brain dead just because you own Macs.

To your second point, I was just arguing, how easily the iPad's memory can be proved to be insufficient and you tell me to ask any iPad users. I don't have to, as I said I have been using the device for a while.

You could make a fortune working as a clown, did you know that?

You could make a few cents by licking my backside, did you know that? If your response to my comment is what you wrote, I might not even pay that much. Monkeys like bananas.

 

[RollTide1017]

I want iMovie for the 3GS, we all know the hardware can handle it. I know my camera doesn't shoot HD videos but, I'd still like to edit the videos it does shoot. If it can run on an iPod Touch, it can run on the 3GS.

 

[E.Lizardo]

It's pretty clear that the iPhone is the flagship.

 

[txhockey9404]

I think its ridiculous to complain about the RAM in the 4g touch. 256mb is still a lot for a mobile device. My old touch 2g, jailbroken to enable Apple's multitasking, with 128MB RAM and a significantly slower processor chugged along just fine on 4.0.1 until it broke after 2 years of hard use. Needless to say, I ordered a 4g touch that's on its way from China right now, and the thing has come a long way. The 2g is ridiculously thin, and to think they made it thinner while adding 2 cameras (of any quality, that's impressive--I have a 5g nano, and the camera in that, though considered by many to be bad, actually takes decent quality video), 128MB of extra RAM, 32GB of storage (I had a 32, upgraded to 64), a gyroscope, a significantly faster processor, and a display with 4x the resolution for the same price is still amazing.

I am a bit disappointed that they left out 256MB of RAM and put in a cheaper camera, but honestly, I had a computer not too long ago (probably 7 years now) that had 128MB of RAM, 20GB of HDD space, and a 1.8ghz processor that managed to run Windows 2000 just fine. I think an iPod running with a slower processor and 2x the RAM is just crazy, especially considering the price and size difference.

 

[millertime021]

Don't worry, I can't be bothered. I just go back to my Core2Duo MacBook Pros and wonder, why they were even around in that price range in 2008 and 2009. I am fairly confident that I am older than you are.



I get that a lot, actually from kids. Their brain don't seem to be able to process that you don't have to become brain dead just because you own Macs.

To your second point, I was just arguing, how easily the iPad's memory can be proved to be insufficient and you tell me to ask any iPad users. I don't have to, as I said I have been using the device for a while.



You could make a few cents by licking my backside, did you know that? If your response to my comment is what you wrote, I might not even pay that much. Monkeys like bananas.

You sir, just won.

EDIT: Also, you must have quite an Apple fund with all your computers. I'm quite impressed.

 

[Minimoose 360]

ITT people are mad.

 

[kernkraft]

Thanks!

You sir, just won.

EDIT: Also, you must have quite an Apple fund with all your computers. I'm quite impressed.

I'm probably eleven and by saving up the lunch money, I bought myself a bunch of computers and a house with cars outside.

Anyway, that's just my home office (hence the all-Mac environment) and I have a couple of other Macs, mostly older ones like the eMac on one of the pictures. I had two Airs but I sold them. I went through about a dozen unibodies and Airs in the last two years and even during that time, there was a price increase. So my next Mac will either be a 13" matte screen i3/i5 or nothing. I am getting sick of paying premium price for dated hardware. That black thing on the table is my second iPhone 3G. And yes, 256MB RAM is not a lot for these devices just as 128MB wasn't either.

Anyway, from time to time, people question whether I even have a Mac. Bloody hell, of course I have. Otherwise I wouldn't moan about them!

 

[LunaticRed]

1. The Screen.

2. Calling it an "iPhone without a contract". It is far from it.

Edit: My complaints are, for the most part, not with this device, they are with people who lie or mislead or support those who do. My nephew has the 2g/3g 8G Touch that is about 2 months old and it is a great little device. I'm sure this version is a lot better.

I think the problem is based on assumptions you may have made.

1. The screen - It's a retina display isn't it? I don't recall Steve mentioning IPS during the event. It may not be identical to the iPhone 4's display, but I don't think he lied.

2. Its fair to say the 4th generation iPod Touch is "like an iPhone without a contract", just not "like an iPhone 4 without a contract". Apple is still selling the iPhone 3GS and the Touch is, in most regards, superior to it (not counting GPS, phone, 3G etc.).

 

[4nNtt]

Good,

the 256MB ram will extend the life of the 1st gen Ipad if newer hardware is coming out with the same RAM footprint.

Still doesn't make sense that neither Ipad or new Ipod touch came with more than 256MB though.

The way multitasking works in iOS, the RAM isn't as important as a desktop machine. The A4 processor and seemingly faster access to flash memory make a bigger difference.

If Apple were to charge the true cost of the iPhone minus the cellular hardware, then people would really complain. Even with the hardware cuts, they are still better then the competition. Even though Apple tries to stay mostly out of the hardware specs game, they probably wanted it to really blow away the Android specs too.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

I think we're all missing something here. The iPod touch has no serious competitor. None. As nice as the Zune is - it only does music and video.

There is very little motivation for Apple to make that device better than it is. What else are people going to buy if they don't want/can't afford the iPhone? Just like there is no iPad competitor. The competition has been caught with their pants down. FOR YEARS.


http://daringfireball.net/linked/2010/09/05/ipod-touch


I really want that new touch. But I think I can wait until Apple gets over the "thin is in" phase and puts some real meat inside that machine (a real camera, come on!), or until a real competitor emerges. Microsoft has the gaming know how and Xbox live and WinMo7 around the corner. Let's see if they can bring the design as well. The Zune was beautiful case-wise but ultimately stillborn when compared to the App Store ecosystem.

I got to use a windows 7 phone the other night at a local tech group meeting. The microsoft guy was happy to show it off. Not bad.

 

[Max(IT)]

It just keeps getting worse! Crappy camera, non IPS display, half the ram of iPhone 4.

... And half the price ...

Your 3GS has the same RAM and a slower processor.

And a much lower resolution.
People here just have to complain about something.

 

[greg555]

I think we're all missing something here. The iPod touch has no serious competitor. None. As nice as the Zune is - it only does music and video.

There is very little motivation for Apple to make that device better than it is. What else are people going to buy if they don't want/can't afford the iPhone? Just like there is no iPad competitor. The competition has been caught with their pants down. FOR YEARS.

True, they are just competing with themselves to prevent others from catching up. Similar to when they discontinued the iPod mini (their bestselling model) and came out with the nano which had less storage. By doing that they left all the hard drive based players behind and took even more market share.

If you consider past upgrades this one qualifies as a very good one:

First to second gen they added the speaker and volume buttons (and dropped Firewire charging)

Second to third gen they increased the CPU speed (32 and 64GB models only).

Third to fourth gen they increased the screen resolution, changed to a better processor, added two cameras, and added a gyro chip. Pretty good in comparison to past updates.

Greg

 

[Max(IT)]

Don't worry, I can't be bothered. I just go back to my Core2Duo MacBook Pros and wonder, why they were even around in that price range in 2008 and 2009. I am fairly confident that I am older than you are.



I get that a lot, actually from kids. Their brain don't seem to be able to process that you don't have to become brain dead just because you own Macs.

To your second point, I was just arguing, how easily the iPad's memory can be proved to be insufficient and you tell me to ask any iPad users. I don't have to, as I said I have been using the device for a while.



You could make a few cents by licking my backside, did you know that? If your response to my comment is what you wrote, I might not even pay that much. Monkeys like bananas.

And your point is? Having a bunch of Apple's products doesn't change the fact you are whining about everything lately ....

 

[Thermonuclear]

I've got a 1st gen iPod Touch, and this new model is much better in many ways. But still there are concerns:

1) The relatively low quality of the cameras, particularly for still photography. Apple is behind its competitors here. I think that many potential purchasers wouldn't mind a lightly thicker and more expensive model if only the camera specs were better.

2) Apple is surprisingly resistant to the idea of supporting 1080p video. Everyone has, or is moving towards, 1080p video on quality HDTVs and monitors. Source material generated in 720p or less will be distorted or have artifacts when played on a 1080p display. I've seen small but full featured 1080p HDTV models available for under US$250. Why would anyone want to use 720p? Things are moving forward, not backward.

3) Personal annoyance with Apple for dropping software support for products only a few years old. My 1st gen iPod Touch hasn't seen an update in quite a while and I doubt if one will ever come again. The new iPods all require iTunes 10, and iTunes 10 won't install under Mac OS/X 10.4.x or anything earlier. If I get an new iPod Touch today, will it also be abandoned in a couple of years?

4) Will FaceTime be extended to desktops or notebooks equipped with a camera and microphone, or will it remain limited to 4th gen iPod Touch owners? Will Apple allow third party applications that duplicate or extend FaceTime functionality? Consider: would you buy a Brand X phone if it could only make calls to another Brand X phone?

 

[Max(IT)]

pardon me if i may have misquoted but seriously people are idiots acting like apple disenfranchised them because they didnt get the 512mb of ram that they are ENTITLED TO! how much ram is on that there oled zoon? wha? oh yeah... it completely sucks! what about the sandisk mp3 playe... err they all suck. the ipod could stand to still not have an update and still be the best portable computer/ mp3/ multimedia handheld device on the market. Period.
that being said, it would be nice to have 512mb but it's still the best thing out there without it. they dont owe me 512mb of ram or 128GB of memory. freaking spoiled rotten people on this forum piss me all the way off. the most undesirable character trait is the sense of entitlement these people have. i want to remove the needlessly disgruntled masses and banish them to ZUNETOPIA!

Well said.

 

[DARKJ3DI]

seriously, what apps on an iOS device would use more than 256MG of RAM?

 

[heisetax]

Not so good

My 3rd gen iPod Touch has been so underwelming that I have stopped using it over 8 months ago. This caused me to change from Verizon to Sprint. My wife & I both use an HtC EVO 4g phone. I'm sure that the new iPod Touch is nice but it will be sometime before I am ready to look at the iPod Touch. In fact this is the first article that I even glanced at & probably thee last. There is not much to read about in the Mac area without reading about the iPod/iPhone/iPad line of equipment.

 

[Mooey]

I would pay $200 more for an iPod Touch that included the things the iPhone 4 had, but that doesn't mean I want to go to AT&T's ****** phone service. For those who are telling us to buy an iPhone, I'm just bringing this up.

Also, for those who are calling others selfish, I've waited three to four years for the iPod Touch that I wanted to come into existence; however, I thought they would include at least the same amount of RAM as the iPhone.

Think about this: Developers will fall back on the iPhone's amount of ram like a fluffy cloud whereas they'll struggle to keep up with the iPod Touch's measly morsel (I may be incorrect here though; I'm not a developer so I don't know if there are RAM guidelines for programs).

I couldn't care less about anything else except for a jump in HDD space. It's been a year, and they still can't get flash memory up to 128GB? I guess I'll wait one more year. It hasn't hurt me this far into the race.

 

[Stelph]

I want iMovie for the 3GS, we all know the hardware can handle it. I know my camera doesn't shoot HD videos but, I'd still like to edit the videos it does shoot. If it can run on an iPod Touch, it can run on the 3GS.

Try ReelDirector in the app store, you can use it on a 3GS to edit video and it's pretty good really for editing videos and making short movies.

It also came out before iMovie as well so it's a bit established

 

[Mooey]

Really, it's the same RAM as the Sony Playstation 3... And no one seems to complain about that.

PS3 also has a stand alone GPU that has 256megs of RAM, and 8 co-processors that do most of their graphical work. Please do not compare this to the most powerful gaming console.