Next Generation iPod Touch to Have Built-in Microphone and Camera?

[str1f3]

Adding a microphone to the iTouch does not turn it in to an iPhone in any shape or form. It's still lacking the actual phone-functionality for starters. You need a bit more than just a microphone to have a phone...

I was actually thinking about this few days ago. Adding a microphone makes sense if you are adding a video-camera. Otherwise the video you would shoot would be silent, unless you had separate microphone attached to the device.

You don't need much more. All you essentially need is:
-Verizon MiFi
-multitasking for having the ability to recieve incoming calls. I believe that's coming next year anyway.

It's not as seamless a solution as the iPhone but you would be saving money on monthly cellular payments and would have free tethering to boot.

 

[talkingfuture]

Looks like this will be the nearest yet to an iPhone without the cell phone part. I wonder if Apple will do a bit more with voice control on future versions of the OS.

 

[heisetax]

The obvious is that the iPod Touch does NOT a sim slot, a silent/ring switch, a real speaker, a real ear piece speaker and also it does NOT have GPS a compass or Bluetooth.

Those are the differences.

I was under the impression that the iPod Touch already has Bluetooth.



I think it is great too, but call me crazy, I can't HOPE for WIFI everywhere I go to be able to use the phone lol. This will NOT deter people from getting the iPhone that want a PHONE!!!


IT IS FOR RECEPTION!!!

I was under the impression that the iPod Touch already has Bluetooth.

The iPhone is or those that want/need always on telephone & internet as you have stated.

 

[miiles]

Why not? It'll just be an iPhone without the phone and internet. I like it.

 

[pika2000]

I've been using my 2G Touch as a Skype phone using Apple's in-ear bud + mic. Having a built-in mic will make it more convenient & usable as speakerphone.

I'm hoping the 3G Touch would get the same hardware as the iPhone 3GS, including the autofocus camera and video recording capability. I think it will make developers happier, having a much larger userbase (iPhone + Touch users) utilizing those features. With this, Apple will pretty much put the iPod Touch as a competitor with low end digicams and Flip camcorder. I don't think Apple would go half-way by using the crappy 2MP non-autofocus camera.

I doubt the Touch will get GPS though. iPhone's GPS is A-GPS, utilizing cell triangulation and data connectivity via the cellular wireless to get faster locking, etc. This is obviously not doable on the Touch. Apple could still allow fake geo-tagging using wifi triangulation. I don't think the compass would make it to the 3G Touch either, but maybe on future revisions.

Oh well, who knows. The rumor mill is not all-out yet. We need more blurry pictures.

 

[Truffy]

But the size and location of mic/speaker for a phone is not necessarily the same as for video use. So adding a mic to capture video is not necessarily going to make the iPod Touch a viable phone replacement (even if you can live with just wifi connection). As ever, the physical design (and components used) will dictate how far this encroaches into iPhone territory.

 

[Chundles]

I doubt the Touch will get GPS though. iPhone's GPS is A-GPS, utilizing cell triangulation and data connectivity via the cellular wireless to get faster locking, etc. This is obviously not doable on the Touch. Apple could still allow fake geo-tagging using wifi triangulation. I don't think the compass would make it to the 3G Touch either, but maybe on future revisions.

I'd be shocked if Apple add a camera but not a GPS antenna. You don't need internet for geotagging/GPS apps to work so long as the GPS apps provide their own map tiles.

Apple want as many people as possible accessing all facets of the App Store and adding GPS to the iPod touch with it's camera and mic would open up essentially every app out there.

 

[pika2000]

My point exactly.I am pretty sure Apple makes a lot more money off iPhone customers because of the monthly bills tied to the 2 year contracts. Why make the iPod Touch nearly identical to the iPhone? Beats me.

Starting with the iPhone 3G, Apple is playing the same game with AT&T like the rest of phone manufactures. No more revenue-sharing. Apple's money maker is now the App store, thus it would be in Apple's best interest to align both the iPhone and Touch closely to allow developers the same hardware platform on both. Apple want larger userbase for the app store, and one way to get people that don't want to be involved with AT&T is for them to buy the Touch.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

If an iPod touch comes with a half decent camera then I'm buying

 

[gatepc]

I am so excited for the iPod Touch 3rd gen! As soon as it is released I am grabbing one! lol the microphone would be great I would, like other people have mentioned, use it on skype.

 

[pika2000]

Apple want as many people as possible accessing all facets of the App Store and adding GPS to the iPod touch with it's camera and mic would open up essentially every app out there.

I agree with you, but even now, many location based apps work just fine on the current iPod Touch using wifi triangulation, and Apple could always use that for a fake geo-tagging. Who knows, Apple could surprise us. Digicam manufactures seem to be taking their sweet time in embedding GPS to consumer digicams for geo-tagging. Apple might see this as an opportunity. I still think it's unlikely though.

 

[Scottsdale]

To me 3G service available from AT&T would be a no brainer. It would make AT&T and Apple's relationship stronger. It would give those who want to use an iPhone but cannot use the phone part for whatever reason still spend money with both Apple and AT&T. I would probably consider one if it had 3G. The camera and mic are simple and cheap and yet add a lot of value, so Apple definitely should make that step.

Does anyone think it is way off to add 3G service for a fee from AT&T? Why wouldn't this already be out on the market? Seems totally like a perfect solution to me.

 

[Thex1138]

Digicam manufactures seem to be taking their sweet time in embedding GPS to consumer digicams for geo-tagging.

...Exactly

How or why they don't see an opportunity is a bit of a mystery...

All these brands that churn out consumer electronics... the GPS, compass chip sets are so tiny and consume so little power compaired to video and imaging usage...

Oh-well, their loss.

 

[TwinCities Dan]

The added functionality would preserve/justify the price-point...

 

[wywern209]

I myself is getting an ipod touch 2g next week for my bday as i have no need for the mic or the camera. i already have a HD video camera if i ever want to take a vid. and i don't plan on taking pics w/ a tiny little cell-phone camera sensor. As for the faster processor and stuff, im not bothered. 2G is fast enough.

 

[Peace]

To me 3G service available from AT&T would be a no brainer. It would make AT&T and Apple's relationship stronger. It would give those who want to use an iPhone but cannot use the phone part for whatever reason still spend money with both Apple and AT&T. I would probably consider one if it had 3G. The camera and mic are simple and cheap and yet add a lot of value, so Apple definitely should make that step.

Does anyone think it is way off to add 3G service for a fee from AT&T? Why wouldn't this already be out on the market? Seems totally like a perfect solution to me.

I don't think Apple wants to ( or should ) throw all it's eggs in one ( AT&T ) basket. Too many problems could arise.

 

[Evangelion]

You don't need much more. All you essentially need is:
-Verizon MiFi
-multitasking for having the ability to recieve incoming calls. I believe that's coming next year anyway.

what you are describing I a kludge that no-one would go through with. Also, you still couldn't actually make or receive normal phone-calls. And where did you get the idea that we would be getting multitasking?

It's not as seamless a solution as the iPhone

There's an understatement of the century. It woul be a kludgy hack that no-one would go through with, apart from few propellerheads.

 

[McBeats]

it says...'all signs pointing to yes' on the magic 8-ball (macrumors)

lets hope the magic 8-ball is right.

 

[surfingmonk]

This sounds amazing. I was loathe to get an iPhone this year as I didn't want to tie myself down to a 2 year contract (as I'm not planning on living that long in the UK), and the £550 PAYG price is crazy.

But if the new iPod Touch comes with the 3MP videocamera and a mic (plus all the stuff it already has) it will have covered pretty much all I wanted the iPhone for except the GPS (and if it even has that it will be insane).

Anyone know when is the release date exactly?

 

[pik.]

i think that what people want is:

an iPod touch with metallic cover and 9mm ''fat'' wich can ALSO do calls and receive do sms(only calls via gsm and sms no 3G no edge) it would be a hit...

 

[catracho]

mic, cam and 64 GB?

hmm...

 

[GarySky]

Am I the only one who thinks that the iPod Touch is merging closer to the iPhone? If this is so, the iPhone will only have a phone, SMS and MMS functions over the iPod Touch?

I wonder what is Apple doing this year.

 

[emulator]

Am I the only one who thinks that the iPod Touch is merging closer to the iPhone?

as the ATT exclusivity expire sometime, sooner or later there will be essentially one device, the high end model that can make/receive GSM calls, and the other device, that cannot; all sold by apple. you can stick in the high end model whatever SIM you want.

 

[archi17]

Awesome if true, I am a owner of current gen touch, and you can tell the microphone is most likely definately coming, since apple put the voice memos app on 3.0 software and most touch people do not have an external microphone. and the camera would go great with the interface, just like the iphone

 

[pika2000]

..., sooner or later there will be essentially one device, the high end model that can make/receive GSM calls, and the other device, that cannot; all sold by apple. you can stick in the high end model whatever SIM you want.

Ironically, that's already happening in countries like Hong Kong, where Apple is selling unlocked iPhones straight from Apple store.