Leaked iPod Touch with Camera Photos Were Real

[SactoGuy18]

I still think Apple may release the 3G iPod touch with the camera in January 2010. And purchasers of the 3G iPod touch now at the Apple Store can bring their old iPod touch player to the store for a trade-in, where there will be a free service to move all your data from the old player to the new player at the retail location.

 

[MarcelV]

Ok... Before I make my comment, I make the disclaimer I am not a troll or M$ fanboy or anything... If you think that, read all of my earlier posts on this forum...

That said, am I the only one that think that the Zune HD is really clsoing a current gap, and the ipod touch options don't look that well? The previous generation 8GB iPod Touch for 199, or a 16GB Zune HD for 219?

Apple will need to have something up their sleeves, else may become not such a successful holiday season.
The Zune platform wasn't close to the iPod platform, but are now providing an reasonable alternative for non Mac users...

 

[Thex1138]

Shrinkage

Well it now seems pretry apparent judging by the tear down and the apparent prototype that it wasn't a case of not wanting but more likely a case of engineering…
They may have left it out for now but dare I say that in the not too distant future given the genius of the miniaturization engineers that if they push new boundaries in smallness that they will provide a minor hardware revision in 3 to 6 months.
Jobsu said himself that they couldn't squeeze in a video with still camera with focal lense into nano…
so wait and see half glass fullers

 

[mrgreen4242]

Bottom line here is if the iPod Touch received a VGA camera the entire intarwebz would be going nuts because it would have been so substandard to the iPhone 3GS with still photos and higher quality (?) video. Why not just wait and do it right? No camera in iPod Touch til quality is on par or greater than iPhone.

Meh, VGA video and stills would have been fine by be, as long as the clarity was decent and colors bright, etc. I mean, back in the early 2000's I had a Sony digital camera that was "only" 1.3MP but out shot all the cheaper cameras of the day with 2.1 and 3MP. It had a better lens, basically. All I'd want to be able to do is record images for use on the iPod itself most likely, or upload to YouTube or a photoblog, etc. Places where 640x480 would be sufficient.

That said, now that we have to wait, I'm hoping we get the camera from the 3G. Even without (official) video. If the nano was a video recorder, the touch a decent still camera, and the 3GS did both of those with autofocus and more resolution I don't think anyone could complain. Of course, enabling video, even the frame rate was low or something, on the 3G camera would be nice, since we know it works (that's true, right? There's an unoffical app for video on the older iPods isn't there?)

 

[mrgreen4242]

Ok... Before I make my comment, I make the disclaimer I am not a troll or M$ fanboy or anything... If you think that, read all of my earlier posts on this forum...

That said, am I the only one that think that the Zune HD is really clsoing a current gap, and the ipod touch options don't look that well? The previous generation 8GB iPod Touch for 199, or a 16GB Zune HD for 219?

Apple will need to have something up their sleeves, else may become not such a successful holiday season.
The Zune platform wasn't close to the iPod platform, but are now providing an reasonable alternative for non Mac users...

I've not looked TOO closely at the Zune, but from what I gather, it's touch like a couple of neat, but not groundbreaking, features (HD radio tuner, and HD video output). What it lacks is the App Store. Without THE App Store, not just any app store, it's still just an iPod. If MS can't attract the same number and quality of developers that Apple has whatever they do with the device simply won't matter. (And for the record, I don't think they will).

 

[robogobo]

somebody is ***** with my head.

 

[mrgreen4242]

What I'm thinking may happen down the line is that the iPod touch is discontinued in favor of contract-free iPhones.

I think this is the end game as well. As the end of the Apple/ATT contract approaches the tech will get better and we'll see the iPhone slim down some and production costs will drop and the devices will merge. I think that the "touch" will stay but it'll be the nano. It'll be the slimmer, lighter model, cheaper, have the same number of pixels but on a smaller screen, less features (no cell, maybe no wifi, etc).

I also think that while Apple will dabble in being an VMNO or whatever that acronym is, like Boost. They'll re-sell network access from other network carriers. This will allow them to do some things no one else is doing - they could offer data only devices, with and without contracts. They could do a device with JUST texting access (I can see Apple using SMS/MMS to do things beyond the normal scope of the service).

 

[hashholly]

I still think Apple may release the 3G iPod touch with the camera in January 2010. And purchasers of the 3G iPod touch now at the Apple Store can bring their old iPod touch player to the store for a trade-in, where there will be a free service to move all your data from the old player to the new player at the retail location.

LOLOLOL. Thats never going to happen, i dont remember Apple allowing people to bring in their old 13" Unibody Macbook to get the new 13" Unibody Macbook Pro with the SD card slot, backlit keyboard, and less ****** screen.

Just not something Apple would do, or really any other manufacturer i can think of,

 

[Takuro]

I still think Apple may release the 3G iPod touch with the camera in January 2010. And purchasers of the 3G iPod touch now at the Apple Store can bring their old iPod touch player to the store for a trade-in, where there will be a free service to move all your data from the old player to the new player at the retail location.

And maybe Steve Jobs himself will come out with your new iPod cradled atop a blanket of the finest Japanese silk resting on a silver platter with your name engraved in diamonds.

[/sarcasm]

Ok, let me give you a nice, healthy dose of perspective: If Apple charged iPod users $10 just to update to the 3.0 firmware, which should have been free in the first place, then under what crazy circumstances would they give you a free trade-in for a device that costs at least $100-200 to make? Apple has never, and never will, give you something even semi-substantial for free. Maybe if you ask nicely, you'll get a few of those white Apple stickers, but that's it.

Besides, they'd lose more money than they'd ever gain. Not only are they in essence covering the manufacturing costs of the newer model for you, but they'd be left with hundreds of thousands of useless, barely-used, camera-less iPods. You may have never learned this in school, so let me spell this out for you: A company's main objective is to make a profit, unless they explicitly state that they're non-profit... I know this might hurt your brain a bit, but try to bear with me. In other words, they don't want to lose money. They want to make money. How? by charging for crap whenever feasible. In other words, no free trade-ins. Ever.

[/rant]

Ok, I feel this post has accomplished its main objective. Takuro out.

 

[philipt42]

That makes me kinda mad!
If I were to get a touch, 128 gigs would me nice, and so would a camera. Alas neither seems like it's gonna happen!

 

[Takuro]

That makes me kinda mad!
If I were to get a touch, 128 gigs would me nice, and so would a camera. Alas neither seems like it's gonna happen!

It will, but just not now. If you haven't noticed the general trend, the maximum amount of flash memory available in the Touch has doubled each year as a direct result of the steadily decreasing cost behind the technology.

Next year, the top model will probably reach 128GB.

However, technologies often have a "ceiling" - a.k.a., a maximum metric (metric means a measurement, such as GHz, GB, or anything else that designates a type of measurable aspect of a certain device) that can't be surpassed without ridiculous cost increase. Eventually, as with the iPod classic, which has been hovering at around 120-160GB for the last few years, the Touch will reach a maximal capacity and annual storage increases will start leveling off and becoming less dramatic. What exactly that maximum value is has yet to be determined, but I have a feeling it won't go too far past 128GB.

 

[wizard]

How could any possible purchaser be angery when the cameras come out?

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.

I keep hearing this refrain about angry iPod purchasers and have to ask how could they possibly be angry after all the news surrounding this development? Frankly they can't and if they do, well to paraphrase my father; do you all need to have your head examined!

All the evidence is there to make an informed buying decision. If you are not willing to do that then don't come to me with whining and watery eyes. I'm not sure why everbody thinks this is a big deal anyways, personally I'd rather see GPS and a compass first. But I don't whine about it and frankly believe that Apple is atleast partially correct in trying to keep prices down. The problem with Apple is that they don't seem to realize that they can have different models.

In any event the new Touchs are a far better value than they where and I'm tempted to get me one. Maybe if the economy picks up. Oh buy the way that would be to supplement my iPhone which is thin on memory.

To go back and touch upon the different models comment, that was in reference to the Touch. Now I know Apple thinks that fact that they have different capacity devices means they have different models, this to me is BS. Up until this recent release they had one model of different capacities, now they have two. By being more flexible Apple could debut an iPod Touch that is thick enough to handle a decent camera and provide the added benefit of a thicker battery. If the have to they could add a few millimeters of length too. It would be far more impressive if they came out with a Touch built around a good camera. It is sort of like the A10 which is built around a nice gun. The problem is I can't see a run of the mill cell phone camera really making that good of an impression, especially if built upon Nano like hardware. If there is ever to be a Touch Camera model then make it be something Apple can be proud of. The last thing we need is a half baked Touch WITH camera device.


Dave

 

[commander.data]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/10/ipod_touch_with_camera_remains_in_apples_pipeline.html

Appleinsider reported a few days ago that "sources" say Apple would still like to introduce the camera as soon as possible. That goes along nicely with technical problems being the culprit for the cut seeing the photo evidence shows that the 3rd gen iPod Touch was designed with the camera in mind. Certainly, besides the space for a camera, iPod Touch getting iPhone OS 3.1.1 while iPhones got vanilla iPhone OS 3.1 seem to indicate that some last minute revisions were needed just for the iPod Touch. Perhaps the close proximity of the camera/mic and the WiFi/Bluetooth chip caused interference which could be resolved with shielding or different camera/mic choice?

Steve Jobs' explanation of the Touch needing to be cheap could just be a smokescreen and delaying tactic. The cost of the Nano's camera is only going to be in the single digit dollar cost (the iPhone 3G S's autofocus camera costs $9.95 according to iSuppli) so it's highly doubtful that adding a camera would make the Touch unprofitable at the $299 and $399 price points. The reduced profit margins would probably be made up by the additional sales having the camera will bring. Similarly, if Apple was really wanting to drive iPod Touch sales by low prices, the 8GB 2nd gen iPod Touch could be sold cheaper than $199. Afterall, it maintained a $30 price delta with the 8GB iPhone 3G subsidized price when the iPhone 3G was $199, yet the delta has expanded to $100.

I think it's likely that the camera will be introduced in a mid-life January refresh of the 3rd gen iPod Touch. I can't see them doing it before the holidays since it would be disruptive to the supply channel at a critical time. But a post-Christmas introduction is definitely possible and would be similar to what was done to the 17" MacBook Pro which was updated but kept non-Unibody when the rest of the Unibodies were released last October, before being replaced with a 17" Unibody just 3 months later in January 2009. If the iTablet is released early next year as predicted, then it'd make sense to give the iPod Touch a mini-refresh whether in features or pricing, perhaps a silent one, at the same time to better realign the product lineup. I'm thinking the camera will be introduced for free for the 32GB and 64GB's $299 and $399 price points and a camera equipped 3rd gen iPod Touch with 16GB of memory will be introduced at $249 if the 8GB 2nd gen model is kept at $199 or the 8GB Touch could be discontinued and the 16GB 3rd gen Touch could debut at the regular $229 price to better compete with the Zune and perhaps a 32GB iPod Nano will be introduced at $199.

Even if it uses the same camera hardware, I'm hoping to differentiate the iPod Touch's camera from the Nano's, the Touch could get photo capability which can probably be helped with software enhancement using the Touch's better processor. The Touch could probably leverage the motion compensation algorithms developed for iMovie.

I'm guessing that the 3rd gen iPod Touch didn't get a digital compass or the oleophobic screen coating? These would both be sensible additions where the coating goes to the quality perception of Apple products, while the digital compass could use wider adoption as a complementary control method with the accelerometer. Beyond the obvious compass direction applications, I would think more advanced algorithms could use the digital compass data to assist the accelerometer is detecting and refining how the device position is changing leading to more accurate controls in things like games (supposedly the Touch's selling point), which can only be a good thing.

Seeing all the rumours before of the iPhone getting dual cameras, namely a new camera on the screen side for video chat, I think it's likely that this feature will be coming in the fourth gen iPhone and will be using the iPod Nano's camera. There is no need for the thicker or higher quality 3MP autofocus camera since the Nano's camera seems decent enough for video chat and the thinner size will allow integration without taking up too much space. The faster processor on the iPhone could also be used for motion compensation and other enhancements to improve the image.

 

[wizard]

Let me rephrase that for you.

, but I have a feeling it won't go too far past 128GB…

with current technology Flash. Hopefully by the time Flash levels out we will see new tech come on line to replace it.

As to Flash hitting the wall that will happen sooner than some want to believe. So don't expect high capacity devices to keep their small size in the future. After Flash hits maximal density the only solutions are more chips on board or stacked chips to increase a devices capacity.


Dave

 

[wizard]

Well there always is more than what is publically available.

The new Nintendo DS just got a camera. Sorry about calling jobs a liar. I just think there is more to this story than meets the eye.

Of course there is but no body at Apple would be insane enough to discuss it publically. At this moment we don't know if this is a supplier issue, an Apple engineering issue or somebody in the front office calling the feature crap.

Frankly knowing that Steve is back I kinda lean towards massive dissatisfaction with the camera. Knowing what I do about this sort of hardware I'd have to say that the pics where likely pretty bad. That however shouldn't be interpeted as discounting other reported reasons which may have a real basis.

Still love Apple--this just doesn't sit right with me.

What doesn't sit right with you? Really I'd like to know. Apple had a deadlinethey had to meet, that is the Sept. Introduction of the new line up. Everything meet QA expectations except for the Touch so they followed a contingency plan and pulled the camera. Now people are upset because Apple has sound QA and won't let sub par hardware on the market? Really I don't get your attitude at all. Would you have preferred a Touch with a sub par camera? Please tell us why Apple trying to maintain quality doesn't sit well with you.

What is sad about this whole thing is that most people wouldn't have even cared if it wasn't for the leaks getting their hopes up. Thus Apples tight security. If you want to complain take your concerns to the people posting and harboring the leaks. It is not Apples fault you git hoodwinked into believing an alternate reality. I just don't understand this anger with Apple as they have had nothing to do with getting your hopes up or priming your wants for features that are not coming.

Note that I like this forum and others because I can with others speculate about future Apple hardware; tablets and XMac for example. However notice the word speculate and look up what it means. There is an almost infinite set of possible hardware configurations for such devices, even if some of us had inside info ( which we don't) describing any future Apple product exactly is impossible. Until Apple blessed hardware hits the shelf it is ALL SPECULATION. Got that? Informed speculation at times and other times pure fantasy.


Dave

 

[KnightWRX]

I still think Apple may release the 3G iPod touch with the camera in January 2010.

Maybe.

And purchasers of the 3G iPod touch now at the Apple Store can bring their old iPod touch player to the store for a trade-in, where there will be a free service to move all your data from the old player to the new player at the retail location.

If you truly believe this however, you are a raving lunatic. What would they do with an enormous back stock of refurbs ? No, if the iPod Touch with a camera even comes out in January (which with Jobs' comments in the interview probably won't) it will show up on the store and in retail locations and that will be it. People who bought the current 3G iPod Touch will get nothing if they want to trade up.

 

[Vulpinemac]

It seems a lot of people forgot...

An article came out just the day before that a significant percentage of one camera-equipped model was having difficulties--no explanation of which model or what kind of problem. Isn't it at least a reasonable analysis that the camera-equipped iPod Touch was held until they could resolve the issue?

 

[wizard]

Makes nonsense at all.

What I'm thinking may happen down the line is that the iPod touch is discontinued in favor of contract-free iPhones.

Just why would they do that. Those cell chips and IP are not exactly free you know. Beyound that they just use to much power. Rather I see Apple adding to the iPod Touch line up, there is lots of room for alternative model sizes and feature configurations.


Dave

 

[hapa5]

Im just glad that there is the 64gb ipod touch now.

 

[wizard]

Wow after reading this entire thread, people obviously need to go back to school.

First; everthing that a CEO or other management person at Apple will say at a meeting like this is carefully planned marketing. So get over what has been said.

Second; no company goes into a major refresh like this with out contingency planning. Ever indication right now is that one of these plans was activated at the last moment due to camera problems.

Third; no company, Apple included, wants to lay it's failures before the public eye. What ever the problem they will either correct it or scrap plans for a Touch camera. If the problem is solvable it will mean a new Touch soon afterward. Either way we will never hear the full details though official channels. At best a low level employee might spill the beans down the road some.

Fourth; the perception that Apple is screwing us is simply ridiculous. This sort of screw up is expensive and often leads to heavily strained relations with suppliers.

Fifth; nobody on this forum can reasonable complain about a camera based Touch debuting in the near future. If you don't understand what is written here then that is your problem. Further if the intention was to ship Touch with a camera the last thing Apple will do is to wait until September of next year to ship if they can resolve the problem.

Sixth; it looks to me like everybody on this forum is already primed to complain about the Touches camera when it does arrive. This leads to the unescapeable conclusion that people here don't care about the Touch but are pathetic whinners that really have never experienced life. If you think running a business is that easy then go out and start one of your own. I can assure you it is not a slick and bountiful path to riches. No matter the business there are always glitches.

Seventh; I bet every man & woman here, that is whinning so pathetically voted for Obama. He like the whinners here, are all part of the blame business for my pesonal misfortune culture.

If you guys could only hear yourselves.



Dave

 

[SeattleMoose]

So Who Is Gonna Buy The "Crippled" iTouch?

NOBODY!!!

Now everyone knows to wait...coz its worth the wait.

 

[celtikmind]

First; everthing that a CEO or other management person at Apple will say at a meeting like this is carefully planned marketing. So get over what has been said.

Second; no company goes into a major refresh like this with out contingency planning. Ever indication right now is that one of these plans was activated at the last moment due to camera problems.

Third; no company, Apple included, wants to lay it's failures before the public eye. What ever the problem they will either correct it or scrap plans for a Touch camera. If the problem is solvable it will mean a new Touch soon afterward. Either way we will never hear the full details though official channels. At best a low level employee might spill the beans down the road some.

Fourth; the perception that Apple is screwing us is simply ridiculous. This sort of screw up is expensive and often leads to heavily strained relations with suppliers.

Fifth; nobody on this forum can reasonable complain about a camera based Touch debuting in the near future. If you don't understand what is written here then that is your problem. Further if the intention was to ship Touch with a camera the last thing Apple will do is to wait until September of next year to ship if they can resolve the problem.

Sixth; it looks to me like everybody on this forum is already primed to complain about the Touches camera when it does arrive. This leads to the unescapeable conclusion that people here don't care about the Touch but are pathetic whinners that really have never experienced life. If you think running a business is that easy then go out and start one of your own. I can assure you it is not a slick and bountiful path to riches. No matter the business there are always glitches.

Seventh; I bet every man & woman here, that is whinning so pathetically voted for Obama. He like the whinners here, are all part of the blame business for my pesonal misfortune culture.

If you guys could only hear yourselves.



Dave

You had a good argument until 'seventh'. You seem to hear yourself but do you listen?

 

[KnightWRX]

NOBODY!!!

Now everyone knows to wait...coz its worth the wait.

What's crippled about the Touch ? The fact it lacks a camera ? No, Apple never promised a camera, never shipped a Touch with a camera and so the current Touch is not crippled. It had exactly nothing removed from it. The current Touch is the current Touch. A faster device than the previous generation with more storage at lower price points.

 

[only1one]

I'm wondering why does it has a hole for the mic right next to the camera, if the touch already has a mic.

 

[xterryx]

Ipod touch 2g/ ipod touch touch 3g w/ camera?

8gb 199/229 with camera
32 gb 299/329 with camera
64 gb 399/429 with camera???

maybe two models, the ones they just released, and then the ones they just released with a camera... not sure though