Next-Generation iPod Touch Parts Reveal Hole for Front-Facing Camera?

[Plutonius]

so they will also add a mic. This means skype on ipod? Which means no need for iphone.

You all ready have skype on an iPod and they will not add an internal mic to the touch. You will still have to use the earbud (has a mic attached).

The only difference with the new touch (if it has a front facing camera) is that you will now have video along with audio.

 

[manhattanboy]

This is fantastic news because it may mean Facetime is coming to the iPod touch... which means that we may be able to get rid of the stupid text message requirement for facetime.... which means that we may be able to hack facetime to work over 3G!!!!!

 

[Stately]

I think come 2011, things are finally going to get as interesting around here as many of us had always hoped. For the longest time, I have pictured Apple releasing many different types of touch based communication devices with many different capabilities and form factors

 

[proYuzza]

Light senser

The hole in the front panel has always been there it's for the light senser. To see for your self take your iPod touch into the sun and look, you will see a brownish dot which is the same size as the hole in these pictures.

 

[guitargoddsjm]

Front cam already? Apple will make back camera first then front cam next year..that's how apple rolls...iPhone took a while to get front camera..this would be a big jump if apple does this..

Wrong (imho). Logically, that made sense LAST year before Facetime was released; however, with the "10's of millions of Facetime devices" slide, it means that the iPad line and iPod line will (most likely) gain Facetime capabilities --> which means they require front-facing cameras.

HOWEVER, I don't know about all of the other features people have been pushing around (e.g., A4 chip, Retina Display, high-res back camera, iPhone4-esque design). Implementing too many of these features would most definitely cause iphone cannibalization (the iPad form factor differentiates itself enough); however, I could see a couple of these being implemented:
- gyroscope (gaming performance)
- A4 chip (again, gaming performance)
- front camera for facetime
- possibly the retina display, but this may cut into the iPhone at the moment

I'd like to think there won't be a rear camera. Although it would be really awesome (the iPhone 4 camera is absolutely stunning), it's highly unlikely. That would be a bit too much luxury for the iPod line.

 

[Plutonius]

Nobody knows for sure but I believe the following about the next touch.

a) Same updated processor as the iPhone 4.
b) 64G max size.
c) Same display as the iPhone 4.
d) 512M RAM
e) No internal mic.
f) Front facing camera only (i.e. No rear facing camera).
g) Form factor similar to the iPhone 4 to allow for a bigger battery.
h) Silver back as per the touch line.
i) Gyroscope.
j) No GPS chip.
k) Much whining in the forums since the new touch doesn't have the rear facing camera.

 

[nopple]

Cant believe iPOD is going to have more features than iPad. Time for apple to release the real iPAD. Cant wait,

Multitasking
Retina Display
Front facing camera
.5mm thick like iphone 4
all the iphone 4 goodies on games related stuff
faster processor

 

[shanec2008]

Facetime?!?!?!

Is this another facetime device I suspect.... maybe like, each iPod touch had its own like VOIP facetime number and you can facetime people or something...just a thought. that might be cool!

 

[iZac]

This is sort of a no-brainer, yeah?

Apple really wants to push "Face Time", but to do that, they've got to get the devices out there. It also will distract people from the possible capacity downgrade... I think is coming. I believe there will be no 64GB model.

I hope I'm wrong, but we'll see.

Downgrade capacity? Nah.

They could wing that one if there was a big change in form factor (think mini to nano) but reducing capacity to squeeze some cameras in? I doubt it. The biggest gripe will be if:

a) They keep the same crappy design (advocate of G1 iPod touch here!)

b) If they don't bump it to 128gig. And seeing as the iPhone never made the jump, and the iPad maxes out at 64 gig, I’m willing to bet money on the iPod touch retaining exactly the same capacities.

 

[MacFly123]

I was thinking the same thing

Haha, there is no way a whole right in the middle of the front that big is just for an ambient light sensor! Especially when Steve pretty much comes right out and says they will ship 10s of millions of FaceTime devices THIS YEAR! It is pretty obvious.

Not sure how physically possible this is... but could the touch have a front AND back camera that is essentially the same camera? (It would simply turn within the device to whichever side you needed it for?).

No offense but that is ridiculous lol!

If it gets one camera, it will get both PERIOD! FaceTime = BOTH CAMERAS! Flipping the camera around is part of the user experience and features of FaceTime!

The new iPod Touch will have to be a bit thicker and have a new design, but it will still be very thin I am sure as it doesn't have near as many components as the iPhone.

 

[KnightWRX]

Nobody knows for sure but I believe the following about the next touch.

d) 512K RAM

k) Much whining in the forums since the new touch doesn't have the rear facing camera.

Really, I'd whine a lot more about 512K RAM then the lack of yet another camera device of which I have dozens already.

512K RAM means no apps at all would run. I doubt the OS would even boot. The last time Apple sold a computing device with such low RAM was 1988 when they stopped selling the Mac 512Ke.

 

[Plutonius]

If it gets one camera, it will get both PERIOD! FaceTime = BOTH CAMERAS! Flipping the camera around is part of the user experience and features of FaceTime!

I'll be sure to quote this once September rolls around. I love it when things people quote as absolute, never happen. It tends to make the people look very foolish .

 

[Biker]

Really, I'd whine a lot more about 512K RAM then the lack of yet another camera device of which I have dozens already.

512K RAM means no apps at all would run. I doubt the OS would even boot. The last time Apple sold a computing device with such low RAM was 1988 when they stopped selling the Mac 512Ke.

lol?

 

[Plutonius]

Really, I'd whine a lot more about 512K RAM then the lack of yet another camera device of which I have dozens already.

512K RAM means no apps at all would run. I doubt the OS would even boot. The last time Apple sold a computing device with such low RAM was 1988 when they stopped selling the Mac 512Ke.

heh heh, Typo on my part since I meant 512M .

 

[cvaldes]

You all ready have skype on an iPod and they will not add an internal mic to the touch. You will still have to use the earbud (has a mic attached).

The only difference with the new touch (if it has a front facing camera) is that you will now have video along with audio.

If Apple adds a rear-facing camera with video recording capabilities to the next-gen iPod touch, they have to add an internal mic.

 

[MacLawyer]

We've been down this road before, haven't we?

 

[KnightWRX]

We've been down this road before, haven't we?

Yep, last year. 3 months was a long time hearing about all the plans people were making for their new "Camera Equipped iPod Touch™", including but not limited to Business Plans, Travel Plans, Making new Friends Plans...

Then the inevitable 3 months of whining when said Camera didn't exist.

 

[Plutonius]

If Apple adds a rear-facing camera with video recording capabilities to the next-gen iPod touch, they have to add an internal mic.

Agreed but, as I said earlier, I believe they will only add the front facing camera and get the audio through the earbud mic.

 

[Plutonius]

Then the inevitable 3 months of whining when said Camera didn't exist.

People are still whining .

 

[kmiahali]

If this is real, it looks like the "retina display" is out (atleast for some models). The "retina display" LCD and digitizer glass are built as a single piece.
I would be interesting to see a standard display for the entry level and a RD for the high end model.

Wouldn't the current iPod Touch 3G (the high end model now) become the entry level iPod? and the new one would be the high end model. right?

 

[Plutonius]

Wouldn't the current iPod Touch 3G (the high end model now) become the entry level iPod? and the new one would be the high end model. right?

I have no idea what they might do for the entry Touch. One possibility is they may take the current 32G/64G touch and put either 8G or 16G in it.

 

[Horus]

Cant believe iPod (fix'd) is going to have more features than iPad. Time for apple to release the real iPad (fix'd). Cant wait,

Retina Display

Why do people keep saying this?

 

[tadad1]

The hole in the front panel has always been there it's for the light senser. To see for your self take your iPod touch into the sun and look, you will see a brownish dot which is the same size as the hole in these pictures.

Its not for the light sensor, I have a current model replacement digitizer sitting in front of me right now and the light sensor hole is much smaller, less transparent and practically invisible unless you hold it up to light.

 

[Full of Win]

I cannot wait for the explosions around here when Steve Jobs says that FaceTime on the iPod Touch is a MobileMe exclusive feature.

 

[huntercr]

Why would there be no 64gb model? It's already out.

That's my theory... that they'll drop the 64GB model. When the touch comes out, Apple won't want to take the shine away from the iPad
There's basically no difference between the iPad and touch if the screen is the the retina display ( which will definitely happen ). The only way to differentiate will be physical size, battery life and storage. Something tells me that's not enough. Apple would prefer to not have either cameras, but the public has come to expect it, and Facetime needs the users.

I don't want to be right , believe me. I hope I'm not. I'd really like a 64B touch.
Maybe they will come out with a 64GB touch and bump up the ipad in December to 96GB or something ( and the forward facing camera of course )