Sorry, I meant they got rid of the education discout on the iPod product line. Their computers (they still make computers, right?
) still are usually about 10% off for education.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPod touch Released
- Thread starter smurfy
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Sorry, I meant they got rid of the education discout on the iPod product line. Their computers (they still make computers, right?
) still are usually about 10% off for education.I don't think anyone really knows until it ships and the hackers get their hands on it. People say that it should be identical to the iPhone, so anything you can do on the iPhone software-wise should be portable to the iPod touch.
The new iPod Touch with 80GB storage and 5 hours of video playback...
LOL! now there is a thick iPod. It is thicker than my 4g 20gig color
.
To the people expecting 128GB in 2 years, don't get your hopes up. Silicon tends to double transistor count every year and a half (Moore's "law"), so you're looking at about 5 years to get to 128GB. Flash is a hot technology right now, which would tend to speed its development, but the physics of how Flash works also imposes some rather severe restrictions on how it can be scaled. Our best hope would be finer grained multilevel-cell technologies, but that's a whole other nightmare.
AirTunes would be great for the HiFi, or if you want to listen to your iPod at home, but it doesn't do me much good on the road...
It's not better in every way-- it has the same display size. The classic is great if you have 80GB of music, but I do think that's a rare thing. What's so frustrating is that if you want to carry video and pictures along with your music you want a classic, but if you want to view pictures and video you want a Touch.
Haven't heard anyone say they want a hard drive in an 8mm form factor. What I've been hearing (and saying) is the 5G was just dandy at 14mm, and the 3G before it was fine and it was almost 16mm.
Will you be sympathetic a first time?They could find a cure for AIDS and people would complain. ... I will not be sympathetic a second time
First, the circuit boards are not the same-- the dimensions of the units are different and there's no Bluetooth or cell radio. Second, once you're running a million boards at a time, there's very little cost benefit in doubling the volume. The benefits are in common components, but there isn't much benefit in having higher Flash volumes right now given the crunch. (Does make me wonder though if the reason there's no hard drive has to do with available hard drive volumes). Third, I'm not sure the Flash is soldered to the board rather than being a SSD module-- I think they need at least 4 chips to get that capacity and that might be easier to do as a module. I'm looking forward to a tear down to confim this.
Well, yeah. But it's not worse either
You might want it, but you might not need it. People were watching video on 5G, and they could watch them on the 6G as well.
The _device_ is of different size, but the circuitboard might not be. As to missing BT and cell... It just few chips that can be removed (or rather, not installed to begin with). But if they wanted to have HD in there, they would need to replace and/or add chips and interfaces on the board, and that costs money.
IIRC, they have been soldered in past flash-based iPods.
Well, biggest Flash-chips today is 8GB
Who's got the 8GB chips? I've always assumed "no more than 2 Flash chips" myself, but checking Samsung they only show 32Gbit parts.
Of course. They cater to a different purpose. I, for one, have a 40GB I haven't upgraded since rumors of full screen have been prevalent, but I've also owned two Nanos, which I use at the gym and while running, to avoid carryng around a full-size iPod. Lots of people only need something for the gym. Lots more buy Shuffles as corporate gifts. I've gotten one myself. Had no use for it. Gave it away. The market will always be bigger for lower end products, which doesn't negate the demand for higher-end products.
Whether or not you need to, you might want to. However you manage your library, many people would rather have the option of having their whole libraries with them, even if it's for the sole purpose of not having to constantly resync. I don't get why people who don't want that are here trying to convince all those who do that they shouldn't. The whole point is that Apple is removing that option from the table. And don't tell me the Classic is the solution. It has been made officially antiquated by the launch of the Touch. If you only need 2 GB of music, you only need the Nano. It plays video too. But you want the bigger screen and add-ons of the Touch? Well, so do we. So, the Classic is no appeasement.
Great. Get a Nano. Ah, but you want the capabilities and bigger screen of the Touch, don't you? Well, so do we. So, don't tell us to get a Classic and shut up.
I didn't say idiots. Again, you're adding your own words to turn my arguments into hyperbole. Hype-driven? Definitely.
Am I smarter for not getting a product that's less than functional for one of its main purposes and is being launched counting on larger storage for the same prices not so far into the future? Don't know. Are people who waited to get their iPhones smarter than people who got in line and bought it the first day? Many will say being able to show your friends you got the coolest thing out there before anyone is worth $200. Apple knows that. Hence the Touch.
At least you have the option.
Again, idiot is your own term. I never used it. I did use suckers once, for the people who bought iPhones right after the launch. I think that one has already been proven right.
They also have a product that fits the needs of all the people here claiming you can resync and carry only a fraction of your library at any given time. It's the Nano. But you want all the other features of the Touch? So do I. Somehow that makes me a whiner.
Untrue. They have always used the largest capacity media available in scale under existing technology. Now they chose not to.
That's all they had. Now it isn't. And they're deliberately selecting which swatch of the market can have the latest technology. For marketing, not technical reasons. It's their right. Much as it is ours to complain about it and hope they hear our complaints.
Does saying so make you a whiner? Am I here telling you to go get a Dell if you think their line of computers in incomplete?
No one's opinion is. Not mine, not yours. I can have and voice mine, however. It's a forum after all.
And why isn't it, when obviously it could be with just one more option on the lineup? With existing technology, that is.
If they had launched a 160GB Touch, thicker with HDD and even without WiFi, for $600, I'd be content. If tomorrow they launch that and do away with the current WiFi touch, will you think you have a right to complain, or will you just be ok with saying it's not for everybody, that their marketing research knows what's right, etc.?
Like I said, nothing.
Why does everyone keep saying the iPhone is cheaper than the iPod Touch? I see a $399 price tag on the 8GB iPhone. The iPod is $299 for 8GB and you get an even bigger iPod at 16GB for $399. I would like the Mail and iChat apps... could be given to us in a simple firmware update in the future so no worries there. If the iPhone can do it, why can't the iPod do it too?
Oh, I also forgot about paying for the phone plan and being tied into a contract. Also, I heard that if you don't choose a plan, then none of the iPhone's features work at all.... at least that's what I understood.... am I wrong?
Oh, I also forgot about paying for the phone plan and being tied into a contract. Also, I heard that if you don't choose a plan, then none of the iPhone's features work at all.... at least that's what I understood.... am I wrong?
Well, the reason the previous flash models sell/sold so well is that they're CHEAPER. Most people would rather pay $80 or $200 for a shuffle or nano instead of $250 or $350 for a regular iPod, and that was even with the most recent 5G iPods. Before the 5G, the margin was even bigger. My 30 gig iPod Photo was $320 with a student discount. It would have been $350 without it, and the 60 gig version of the same thing was $450 if I remember right. At the time, you had the mini and the shuffle both selling for a lot lower prices ($200 or lower). And obviously, the flash based iPods have always been much smaller and people are attracted to that as well. But price is the number one thing.
Here's my issue with Apple. If they didn't have a legit touch ready for release, then DON'T RELEASE IT. They should have waited until they could have a low end of 30 gigs before releasing it. This should have been just a 6G update to the 80 gig and 160 gig iPods. They are forcing a tough choice on many people. And as I say this, my iPod started dying today. The battery is randomly not holding a charge anymore. It'll go from 85% to turning off and saying that the battery is drained. I tried restoring it just now so I'll see how it holds up, but I might end up needing a iPod classic just to replace the functionality. I do like the classic, it's just that I'd rather keep using my current one but I'm not gonna waste money on a battery replacement when the classic is so cheap even though I'd rather just wait for another year or two until a REAL video iPod finally comes out.
After 2 years of rumors they finally introduce the iPod touch; but it only has 16Gb at max. Where's the iPod touch 160Gb!!!
The iPod 'Classic' start at 80Gb while the top model is 160Gb... Why don't put it in the high end iPod touch?! There finally is a 3.5" full screen device with not enough storage to put a couple of movies and music on it...
BUMMER!!
you clearly don't understand the difference/cost between flash based HDs and spinning disc HDs
Oh well, I really wanted a touch with large capacity. I thought that was the point of the ipod without the iphone features.
ArGH! Are we back to this again?! Try starting from the assumption that the people who want more storage know quite a bit about the differences between Flash and rotating media.
From reading all the posts up to this point, I'm seeing far more pseudotechnical responses from the "hard drives in a touch are impossible" folks than I'm seeing from the "nice screen, wish I could use it" folks...
Please, enlighten me and 4np on what the differences are-- but allow me to suggest you find differences that haven't been discussed before (which have almost all been bunk) and that don't mix in the assumption that we think we can get all this and a hard drive too for the same price at the same 8mm depth which I haven't read a single post suggesting was possible.
If I worked for Apple and spent days, weeks, months, years sweating over these products getting them 'just so', places like this would do my nut in. The first page in particular - "why don't apple make a 1TB ipod touch in the same size hardware and only charge £5 for it". I suppose if you put yourself on a pedestal then you're asking for people to knock you down, but there's a reason there's no ZuneRumours.com - because nobody cares. Their design isn't up to scratch and they don't care enough to change it. There's no point moaning because Flash is expensive right now, that is absolutely pointless.
I'll be picking up one of these bad boys for sure.
I'll be picking up one of these bad boys for sure.
Sorry, I meant they got rid of the education discout on the iPod product line. Their computers (they still make computers, right?
Ya, what gives? Maybe after two months they will offer a 50% education discount.
but can you use regular headphones with it? or does it have that stupid inset jack?
no, it has a normal headphone jack. Thank god! I just wish it had bluetooth for my friggen bluetooth stereo headphones!
What headphones do you use? I've got a pair of BlueAnts here at work and they sound like crap. I like wireless, but they just can't compare to having a wire.no, it has a normal headphone jack. Thank god! I just wish it had bluetooth for my friggen bluetooth stereo headphones!
My god you people are freakin' cry babies...
My iPod died about a month and a half ago and I was waiting for this before buying a new one. I had a 20GB 4G that died of HDD failure, so this is a not a disappointing press event at all.
+ No moving parts, so I don't have another drive failure
+ Only lose 4GB, but gain WiFi, web, etc.
+ Great interface
- I don't get to carry my entire music and video libraries. Boo-f***ing-hoo
- I spend 5 minutes moving new music/videos when I want something different. Oh, save me Jeebus!
Western society's need for instant gratification can be really f***king disgusting...
Wonderful post, my thoughts exactly. The iPod touch is my new favorite iPod, I will be buying one shortly.
I have a cell phone that has been paid for through Verizon that I love (I get signal in loads more places than AT&T does at this time), so I don't yet want to switch to AT&T. This makes the iPod touch the perfect iPod for me- I get all the iPhone's features without that pesky monthly fee!
16GB is PLENTY of space, folks! I could easily fit 2,500 songs plus quite enough video to keep me entertained for hours. And if I get bored? Just sync up and put new videos on! Presto change-o.
I can't wait for September 28th to come. I'm ordering on Amazon to save on tax.
Well, it might be that I was mistaken and that they top out at 4GB (32gbit). In which case it would be even harder for Apple to have more than 16GB in the touch
I'm not telling you wht you should do. I'm just questioning that is there any point in having everything with you. I actually created a smart playlist yeterday that only lists songs that I have listened to three times or more. What happened? My 1000song/5GB library was shrunk to 225 songs/1.18GB. All those other songs go pratcically unlistened. Why would I want to carry those unlistened songs with me? Because I MIGHT suddenly decide to listen to them? Well, I haven't really listened to them so far, the chance that I would sudenly get the urge to listen to them now is quite small. And if I DID want to listen to them, I could quite easily wait for the time untill I resync.
As to "resyncing all the time"... Well, that practically happens anyway every time you charge your iPod.
Do you own 5G iPod? If you do, then why isn't classic a valid replacement?
But classic has the storage you want, whereas touch does not. And throwing temper-tantrums about that does not change that fact. Why do I get the feeling that this problem would not exist had they not released the touch at all. You would be buying the classic as we speak, and you would have no propblems with it.
You implied as much. And how exactly am I or anyone sle who is going to buy the touch "hype-driven"? Because our needs for the new device are different from yours, and your needs are the only valid ones? Like I said, I can see the touch replace several devices I currently own. It replaces my Mini. I would also like to watch video on my iPod, and touch does that just fine. It can also replace my Nokia 770.
But it IS functional for one of it's main functions. You might have the need to carry your entire video-collection with you. I do not. Does that mean that you are smart and I'm dumb? No it does not. It just means that we have different approaches to this situation, and neither approach is right or wrong. It all depends on the user. I don't carry every single podcast I have with me either. And it just happens that for my way of doing things, touch works just fine. It might not be for you, but that does not mean that it's a failed device.
Will there be a touch in the future that has more storage? Absolutely! But you know, why should I get that 24-32GB touch next year, since if I waited a bit longer I could get a device that has even more storage? If I started waiting around because even better product will be released in the future, I would be waiting for a very very long time.
Don't make it sound like I and anyone else who buys the touch will buy it for the sole reason of showing it around
. Like I have said: it fits my entire library with ease. Now you might argue that I'm not "power-user" or something, but should I be? Is this somekind of club I can't join unless I have 20+GB music-library? Fact of the matter is that my content fits to the touch just fine. Could I get the nano instead? As far as capacity goes, maybe, but why should I? To me touch has features and capabilities that are worth the extra money.Granted: there ARE two people who I will be showing the touch. One is my colleague at work, so he could get the idea what the iPhone is like (it's part of his job to evaluate cell-phones, and iPhone is not here yet). Other is a co-worker of mine who just loves gadgets of all kinds, and hew would propably be interested in seeing the touch.
Just because you do not say it aloud, does not mean that that is not what you are meaning. You said that people who buy the touch are "hype-driven". Now, I don't know about you, but I think that anyone who buys anything just because hype, is pretty dumb.
Well, yes it does. There is a difference between wishing something to happen, and throwing temper-tantrums about it. We have had the latter in here mostly.
They couldn't really fit any more storage to the touch, due to size-limits of flash-chips. I thought that biggest chips are 8GB, but it seems the upper limit currently is 4GB. That means they have 4 flash-chips in the 16GB touch.
Instead of complaining about it here, complain to Apple directly.
No, since I do not complain about it all the time. Do I wish Apple would plug the holes in their lineup? absolutely! Do I throw temper-tantrums about it? No. I picked and chose the best possible option from their lineup, and that was it.
Because it would have meant compromises they were not willing to make. I do not know what HD-based touch would be like, do you? No you do not. We can make educated guesses, but those might be far off the mark. And I'm pretty damn sure that Apple knows EXACTLY what hdd-touch would be like, and they decided that "there's no way in hell we will release that product!". It quite simply might not be doable realistcally.
well, since they already announced the product and then yanked it away, people would be complaining. But you are complaining because they did not release your dream-product. The two situations would be completely different.
My point was that the reduction in value is true for all iPods, not just touch.
