Leaked iPod Touch with Camera Photos Were Real

[MacRumors]

Top image from Covino & Rich, Other Images from iFixit
While there has been an ongoing belief that Apple was indeed planning a camera module in the latest iPod Touch, one reader has found the most convincing proof when comparing the iFixit teardown of the new iPod Touch with the previously leaked images of an iPod Touch with camera.

When comparing the tear down images to the leaked iPod Touch with Camera images from radio show Covino & Rich, it becomes obvious that internals of the leaked images line up convincingly with the internals of the 3rd Generation iPod Touch. Meanwhile, they are both distinct from the internals of the 2nd Generation iPod Touch. Such a finding is beyond the realm of coincidence, which means that this image of a camera-enabled iPod Touch was indeed a real Apple prototype:

It's not entirely clear why the camera was dropped from the iPod Touch, though rumors suggest Apple is still interested in adding a camera to the iPod Touch.

Article Link: Leaked iPod Touch with Camera Photos Were Real

 

[mathcolo]

Well, I'll be selling my 3rd gen without a camera as soon as this comes out...

 

[leomac08]

something is telling me we are going to see a camera very soon....

isn't best buy accepting pre-orders for camera protection cases for the ipod touch 3G on Oct 14th!

 

[Macnator]

Hmm, I wonder why Apple decided to not include the camera?

This is very interesting indeed.

 

[michael.lauden]

for some reason i was let down by them not including the camera. however if they include the camera from the 3GS (which hardware won't support due to the thickness as posted by MR) then it would def take away from sales IMO

i'd def buy an iPod Touch like that instead of a 3GS

 

[arn]

this also means the photoshop experts who debunked these images were wrong (again).

arn

 

[ruinfx]

the question is, will the eventual ipod touch with a camera only be able to take video?

 

[Lesser Evets]

I bet it comes in January through March.

 

[Cask]

Something I had noticed is that this leaked images showed a small hole next to the lens. I believe the iPod nano also has this small whole next to the lens, which means it is the same camera module or a very similar one.

 

[mmendoza27]

I wouldn't be surprised if another iPod touch update comes out next February or March and includes a camera. I wonder if Steve was pissed when the camera upgrade was leaked.

 

[zap2]

I believe it...Job's reasoning on why the iPod touch doesn't have a camera(lower price to make it a great game machine) is quite believable...for the 8GB model. For the 32GB and 64GB model, not so much

 

[Mr.Texor]

Hmmm, what if Apple decided to release the ipod touch with camera right before or right after the zune with touch controls is going to be released. That way they steal from microsoft all the free advertisement that the tech news media would create. I wonder if the "camera problems" they were supposedly having, were a rumor started by apple.

But then again, it's not cheap to create lots of new 3rd generation ipod touch (the 32 and 64 GB ones) just to have them replaced in a few months. Unless they think it's a good trade off. Also, you would have a few 3rd generation ipod touch buyers pissed.....

 

[gianly1985]

the question is, will the eventual ipod touch with a camera only be able to take video?

Apparently (iFixit) there's no room in there for a 3GS-sized-Autofocus-camera_module, so probably yes, no stills, only video. Kinda disappointing on an App-Store_Powered device (with social-upload stuff and micro-photoshop stuff). Maybe that's the reason they eventually dropped it. Video-only may be acceptable on the Nano, but inacceptable on a iphone shaped appstore-powered thing.

 

[alexbates]

I don't think Apple will be adding a camera anytime soon... that was probably just something Apple wanted to try to add to the iPod Touch but changed their minds last minute. Apple might be trying to get more people to buy the iPod Nano by not adding features such as a video camera and FM radio to the iPod Touch.

 

[LizKat]

Something I had noticed is that this leaked images showed a small hole next to the lens. I believe the iPod nano also has this small whole next to the lens, which means it is the same camera module or a very similar one.

I would rather have a still cam than video. Showing my age, perhaps, or my personal aversion to moving pictures not shot by professional cinematographers (I loathe most YouTube experiences at a rate exceeding 90 percent). Anyway a video-only camera added to the iPod touch next time around would not in itself make me go out and get it. I am not 100% sure that a still cam would be a deal maker either, but it would be closer for me than video as per the new nano's video feature. I'm still going to get a 64GB 3rd gen touch though, I think. Just for the performance boost and the added real estate. Still pondering.

 

[onionperson654]

I believe it...Job's reasoning on why the iPod touch doesn't have a camera(lower price to make it a great game machine) is quite believable...for the 8GB model. For the 32GB and 64GB model, not so much

EXACTLY! In fact, they could do much more to differentiate the premium (i.e. 32GB and 64GB) models from the standard version. As it stands now, the only visible difference is the storage amount (the speed upgrade won't be obvious to most consumers, unlike the macrumors crowd).

 

[iMaconApple]

i think next year they will bust out a came for ipod touch..speaking of camera iphone next year will get a front cam..apple is teasing for now..

it would make more sense for ipod touch to get the camera not nano..because ipod touch has wifi that for you can upload to youtube instead of ipod nano plug to computer then upload..

i do like the new shiny nano colors they look yummy to eat
and wow FM. radio is so 2010..

 

[jaw04005]

I don't understand Apple's reasoning for not just making the iPod touch an iPhone (same dimensions, shell, electronics, etc) without the cell circuitry.

Seems like a waste of engineering effort to maintain two separate internals, but what do I know.

I guess it all comes down to costs, but the iPhone has to have at least a 60-65 percent mark-up price unsubsidized.

 

[KnightWRX]

this also means the photoshop experts who debunked these images were wrong (again).

arn

Only good point about this whole story IMO (who doesn't like proving those photoshop "experts" wrong and throwing mud in their face ?).

I think it's time to drop this whole camera thing. It didn't happen, it's not the end of the world, there are dozens of devices out there with a camera if you really do need one. Let's face it, the iPod touch wasn't going to be the pinnacle of photography.

 

[onionperson654]

Perhaps Apple wants to put in a higher quality camera. Lacking picture capabilities and autofocus is a big ding, and while the nano can now be a quick and dirty video recorder, the touch might need better quality.

The number conceivable could work (and ifixit.com agrees )

6.2 mm- iPod Nano thickness
3 mm- camera in iPod Nano
6 mm- camera in iPhone
8.2 mm- iPod Touch thickness
12.3- iPhone thickness

It would, however, be quite a feat of engineering, as the iPod Touch only has 2.2 mm extra, while the iPhone has 6.3. Perhaps they are specially ordering a slightly thinner autofocus camera.

 

[Mjmar]

Very odd... I think we may see 2005 all over again. Nano first, Touch soon after. It just seems weird that they'd update the Touch at all before they add a camera... Even if the updates were minimal. There's gonna be a lot of angry iPod buyers.

 

[onionperson654]

it would make more sense for ipod touch to get the camera not nano..because ipod touch has wifi that for you can upload to youtube instead of ipod nano plug to computer then upload..

IF they ever do add a video camera to the iPod touch, it will come to dominate youtube.

 

[Beric]

The question is how soon this camera update will be. Happy to wait a month, but if it's 6 months, I'll just buy the 3G now and upgrade at the next September refresh.

 

[joueboy]

Prototype!

Of course the prototype of iPod Touch with camera does exist. What else would we expect, even the prototype of next year's iPhone already exist too. Like what SJ mentioned this product is being promoted as a portable gaming device for now. Are we getting a camera on the next iPod Touch update? Absolutely! This one reason for you to buy an upgrade because you're all suckers like me!

 

[johnhw]

So that XM Idiot is right, crap.