Images of Next-Generation iPod Touch Surface?

[wizard]

Good enough for some does not assure the devices future.

I don't think Apple wants to make too many design changes.
really you get a faster processor and better graphics chip along with a camera and mic. for me that's ok for now

it is certanly nothing to dismiss it is just that keeping Touch to limited is a sure way to limit the devices future. I certainly would like to see a faster processor and the other features you mention, especially if they can double overall performance. The problem with the lack of sensors, like in the IPhone, means limitations in what software can run on Touch. Plus Touch with GPS would be one excellent device for many people and would wipe out many a GPS maker.

maybe they'll add the compass, GPS, and OLED later. after all if they gave us all this now what would they do for the 4G?

Actually there are lots of things they could do or add as you say. Voice recognition for one. Shortly Apple will need to switch to another source of reprogrammable memory as flash runs into physical limits. Actually what could be added to a Touch sized device is almost endless.

In any event the lack of GPS and compass is a significant limitation. Frankly I'd rather have these before a camera.

Dave

 

[ipodguru22]

Not fake!!!

The case for it is here: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26586
I think this is totally legit!

 

[macshill]

Why would Apple put a camera in the iPod?
I can understand why we have cameras in the iPhone, but why would someone want one in an iPod?
Aren't most iPod Touch buyers children, anyway? Do parents want their children to be walking around with candid cameras? I don't think so. Keep the camera on the iPhone, for adults.

Boy, is that ever an arrogant, elitist, out of touch statement if I've ever heard of one.

 

[FSMBP]

Boy, is that ever an arrogant, elitist, out of touch statement if I've ever heard of one.

I know.

Why would Apple do that? It increases the product lifecycle. Also, adults, who don't want a smartphone or don't want to fork over $30 for data service to AT&T a month, would like it and use.

Hell, I'm 22 - I want to get an iPod touch. The camera on it would get used a lot more than my cellphone (which doesn't even hook up to my Mac - I gotta waste texts to send pics to my computer). Not to mention, kids would eat this iPod touch w/ a camera up (Apple's a business, goal is to increase sales). Cameras take pictures - the harm in that is what exactly?

 

[wowipod]

All I can say is Apple have lost all innovation. It happened to sony and now it is happening to Apple. The 3GS was a let down and if this is the new touch that too is a let down. They must have designed this while Jobs was sick or something because I am sure Jobs would have made sure the new iPod was just as innovative as any of their other products.

 

[wizard]

That cell capability makes the iPhone, it is the only difference needed.

Wtf is this....The ipod touch will be more closer to the iPhone then ever

Touch always has been an iPhone without the cell capability I'm not sure why this is a big deal to you. Or for that matter why you would want a significantly different device in Touch.

To put it simply Apple needs Touch to provide everything iPhone is without the cell liability.

Only thing missing is the cell networks, data networks, and GPS. If it has a mic, what's the damn point in buying an iPhone...

it is pretty obvious as you mentioned it at the begining of your sentence, iPhone provides that cell connection. It is the reason for iPhone.

I hope it does not have a camera tbh because it's will make them lose thier iPhone sales.....iPod touch with a 3.0 mpx camera, and mic + a regular/another smartphone phone = more then an iPhone...

Terrible at math or what? In pocket math 1 + 1 always equals bad. In effect 1 > 2 when it comes to devices in your pocket. In any event Touch can't cut into iPhone sales as it is not a phone.

Apples bigger concern ought to be the competition. If they don't keep the device competitive, innovative and modern they will have problems with the competition. Apples market share with respect to MP3 players is not a given and can be easily lost. Keeping on top of hardware features is mandatory for Apples long term play in this market.

The interesting thing though is just what market is Touch in. Is it an MP3 player or is it the begining of Apples tablet play? We will know soon but I suspect Touch is seen more as a tablet computer at Apple than anything else. Frankly this means more features than a MP3 player.


Dave

 

[jmann]

I wonder if this is real, or just a really good fake out?

 

[wizard]

Afraid of men in black tracking you?

I don't want GPS in my iTouch, if this thing has GPS then I'm staying away from it, how do I know people won't have access to knowing where I am (given I have a wifi connection)..

Do you know how this sounds to people reading this. Even without GPS if you have a network connection you can be tracked. But really this isn't as effective as the chip the little green men planted in your head.

also I find it funny how just because engadget posts that its fake everyone starts following them. I'm not gonna say that from that pic it clearly was not a fake, but there was no good evidence it was a fake just because that camera was pixellated when zoomed in...the whole iPod was pixellated when zoomed in, not just the camera!

Yes a bunch of lemmings if you ask me. The photo could be a fake or it could be a prototype or possibly the next Touch. I don't know but I'm not going to dismiss the possibility based on a web site with a terrible record of things iPod related.

As I stated before this really is sad because it doesn't meet my expectations if the new Touch is a simple speed bump. So in a way I hope the pic is either a fake or does not disclose all the features of the device.



Dave

 

[timewarp424]

God, the back of the Ipod Touch looks dreadful. When is Apple going to fix it rather than adding more crap on to the back?

Seriously, how hard is it to extended the plastic on the top left corner to encapsulate the camera and upper right corner, or heck, make the entire back black plastic. It's so unapple. What are they doing?

 

[andy721]

its so easy to take apart the ipod/iphones its obivously not the ipod. you can swap out parts n stuff.

 

[loslosbaby]

Photogrammetry...

...is the science of measuring things from the sizes and angles of known things.

I'm a very, very crappy photogrammetrist, but, I can tell you, the lens of that "camera" has been morphed geometrically. It has to do with angles of the ovals inside the "circle".

This technology was initially developed in the late 80's to help bomber pilots "see" their target from the desired compass direction, from the correct angle reflecting distance, and desired dive angle (depending on the aerial platform and the munition). This was THE STUFF back then.

Now its a free download. Oh well...your tax dollars relaxing on a beach.

Next: Analysis of chromatic aberrations: take the image, put it in lab color, smash the chroma, and then invert it. It looks like a little kid stuck a decal on it.

...BUT, the circuit board picture is the only one that's interesting...the question is, why did they put the supposed "credit" stamp on the key component at the end of the big, wide, PWA?

Hmm.

Photogrammetry can be wrong, but, it shows key things when looking at objects of known sizes. Take that black oval, determine the centers of the ends, draw a line through it...then take the ovals of the lens (the lens parts inside the port in the case) and do the same....those lines are not parallel, nor, do they converge to the infinity point suggested by the top of the case.

FAIL.

G.

 

[Target362]

The "black thingy" is the Wi-Fi antenna, so if you want any Wi-Fi reception at all, you'll leave that alone. Goodbye kidneys.

you do know it can be moved right?

that space is too thin and that's where the sleep button is. I wish they'd make it a rubber Apple logo and put the Wi-Fi antenna behind it... the rubber would also help slightly with stability (iPods touchs with curved backs not spinning on desks while being used as calculators) but for now the Wi-Fi spot is here to stay and so is the sleep button is here to stay so the other alternative is the thicker center area

thats a nice and unique idea.

IF THAT IS THE NEW IPOD I think Apple it's losing their track. They are getting old with the gadgets, Apple always change the standards... but they are stuck in their own standard going no where.... the innovations are over?

+1. theres a lot more then a silly unibody design

I still think its fake even with the video. It could be possible for the person to make a hole in the previous iPod Touch 2nd gen casing and placing an iphone 3G or 3GS camera there. I know it would be very difficult to do that... just an idea.

Exactly. Some people spend time on that sort of stuff. Just because you won't doesn't mean other would

that's been suggested before. I think the idea is stupid as that looks of excellent build quality like it was built with that and not as an add on

and? There is such thing as a "fake looking real"

I mean.. It could very well be a Chinese fake, with an added camera. Just a thought. Personally I think the position of the camera looks to arbitrary for an Apple product. Instead they should've extended the plastic part (antenna) so that it would include a lens and a mic..

Exactly. I would think they would make it look like the iphone.

Hmmmmm either the person who took this picture has the world's best drill tool, or took some hours or weeks to photoshop this.

I mean I don't know how you can drill a hole into an ipod without cracking it.?

It looks so perfect! (the camera)

Its possible. Hell, they could have even taken it and super glue it to the backing.

We have not seen the other side of the backing - bellow the board.

Well.. That's good idea, but the hand would cover the antenna whilst holding it. Otherwise the logo would have to sit high on the back of the device, and that wouldn’t look right.

not really the case.

the nail in the coffin for that theory then

I'm not 100% sure either but can these people just admit this is real? why must everyone here keep coming up with reasons it's fake? "it's photoshopped" "they drilled a hole in the back" "why would they keep the same design" "it's chinese" it's real just shut it and admit it

See, you admited you are not 100% sure if its real. Then you go on to say it is. so....

No one knows for sure if its real or not. That includes you boy.

So I sugest YOU shut it.

Why would Apple put a camera in the iPod?
I can understand why we have cameras in the iPhone, but why would someone want one in an iPod?
Aren't most iPod Touch buyers children, anyway? Do parents want their children to be walking around with candid cameras? I don't think so. Keep the camera on the iPhone, for adults.

are you serous?

Most "children" buy the nano. Wait, their PARRENTS buy it...

In my opinion, kids shouldnt have any expensive gadgets. It will get all banged up or stolen. Kids are stupid.

I don't want GPS in my iTouch, if this thing has GPS then I'm staying away from it, how do I know people won't have access to knowing where I am (given I have a wifi connection)..

\

thats why you add a password to your network.

Also, thats not really how GPS works my friend.

 

[Erasmus]

I think the photos and video are real (the evidence is pretty compelling). I however am not so convinced that this will have all that much bearing on what the next iPod Touch models will be like.

I would say the story about finding it in the trash is BS. Would the person really want to tell people how he really got it? No. Fact is he has one. The relevant question is one what. I would say it is simply a proof-of-concept, iPod + camera. He says it has 2009 on it? That means it could've been made in January. Before the iPhone 3GS was released.

Finally, I would say that the next iPod Touch will have a camera, magnetometer, faster CPU and GPU and probably double storage. I hope it has GPS, but probably not. Very likely it will have a considerably redesigned case. I'm sure Apple now realise that the shiny metal back of the Touch was not the best idea.

Why should the iPod not have a camera? I take my iPod everywhere. I very rarely take my camera with me however. If the iPod were to get a 3MP camera, I would have very little reason to take my proper camera with me at all, and would always have a camera conveniently with me for photo opportunities, the vast majority of which tend to be unplanned. I would buy an iPhone 3GS if I could get it without a contract (because I spend less than $200 a year on my mobile) and without having to pay what amounts to double the cost for a device which has for quite some time only offered phone calls and SMS over the iPod.

And I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of people complaining about the iPod and iPhone becoming too similar are only doing so because they have recently become new owners of an iPhone 3GS.

 

[Bonte]

This could well be the prototype that killed that Chinese worker.

 

[MrCheeto]

I notice 2 things here that seem to add to the authenticity.

1. Apple's prototypes always seem to have red circuit boards, look at the prototype MacBook Air.

2. Apple doesn't put their logo or name on prototypes, as was the case with iPhones and the first iPod Touch's.

 

[CQd44]

Looks nifty :]

 

[Beric]

I'm just hoping for GPS. If it gets GPS, there is no doubt I will buy it. If not, I may have to think a bit, because it would be a pretty lackluster update, and I might as well pick up a previous gen. A camera, while convenient, is not a significant feature,

 

[Donz0r]

Confirmed FAKE


http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/14/next-gen-ipod-touch-photos-supposedly-leak-out-cocktail-part-of/

 

[Beric]

Confirmed FAKE

Did you see the follow up pic? It's a lot harder to call that one a fake. I wouldn't venture to, although the obvious photoshop of the first pic makes me a little uneasy.

 

[iGuardian]

Confirmed FAKE


http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/14/next-gen-ipod-touch-photos-supposedly-leak-out-cocktail-part-of/

Confirmation FAIL

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/14/hey-maybe-that-ipod-touch-with-a-camera-is-real-after-all/

 

[Target362]

To be honest, this is something that may make many current touch owners to skip the upgrade. Why something that small? Ro please the old farts who dont like change or the wanna be tech kids?

 

[Target362]

FAIL

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/14/hey-maybe-that-ipod-touch-with-a-camera-is-real-after-all/

How old are you? No one says "Fail"

 

[Beric]

How old are you? No one says "Fail"

It's regular internet speak. Poor grammar and immature, to be sure, but it is the internet.

 

[Target362]

It's regular internet speak. Poor grammar and immature, to be sure, but it is the internet.

Only kids use internet language.

 

[e12a]

I don't care if there is a video or not; but that design with the centered camera and the last get plastic black patch in the left upper corner - just doesn't look right.

Shenanigans!

it's black patch or really weak wi-fi.

it's not much different than the previous ipod touches.