Okay so obviously many of us are disappointed that there isn't a camera on the touch. Now, I know many people will say that it was always a rumor, and that therefore nothing is official until there is an announcement. But there is too much that is weird here, and some evidence that a production issue is plausible. Here are some points I want to hit.
Should there have been a camera? The rumors suggest it
I know that rumors are rumors, but I have been following the rumor mill for years now and never have I seen anything have such unanimous support as a camera. There were dozens of stories about it on the major, respected rumor sites. Many analysts considered it a forgone conclusion. Tons of case makers made cases with a camera hole. And we even had a VIDEO of what looked like a Touch with a camera.
The Nano camera rumor was right
We got detailed rumors on cameras for the Touch and Nano, and the Nano rumors were dead on whereas the Touch was a bust. Most rumors are small and never happen, but rumors as big as this almost always happen, and a camera on the Touch and Nano seemed like guarantees. One could even argue a Touch camera seemed more likely than a Nano one. Yet, were supposed to believe that the Nano rumor was dead on, but the iPod one was wrong? I don't buy it.
Production Problems. Is this true?
I think this story is true. It seems odd for a reputable news outlet for Apple stories to say that there are production problems for adding a camera to the Touch, when a camera was never officially announced as a feature. This, in my opinion, is strong evidence that there really were production issues. That's on the edge of rumor and a news story. Here are some other things leading me to believe there were issues:
1) Apple hasn't listed this iPod as a new generation. Last year when the 2G came out, it was "the next-generation iPod." Apple is not saying that this time around.
2) There are almost NO new features to speak of on the "new" Touch. In terms of hardware, you have updated processing, which allows for voice control. And 64Gb. That's it. It is very un-Apple-like to have such a small and almost non-existent upgrade. Makes me think that the camera was supposed to be the big update.
3) The Nano got a camera.
4) There is no 16GB model. That makes no sense.
5) It has the exact same form factor.
Production Problems. Is it possible?
So now we have the real question. Is it possible that late production issues caused the Touch camera to be scrapped at the last second. I see some people saying that a camera was never meant for the Touch, because it seems odd for Apple to have a "3rd Generation" Touch ready to ship a couple days from now. But I think there were issues. And here's how I justify it.
Look at the iPod Touch that was released today. It has two, count em, TWO new hardware upgrades. It has updated processing speed, and a 64GB model. The form factor and everything else is the same. If there were production issues with a Touch camera, I don't think it would take long or be very hard for Apple to scrape together what they did today. They would continue production of iPod Touches just as they have for the last year, just they would insert larger memory chips, and faster processors into the iPods. From a production standpoint, it would be very easy to do. So IF there was an issue with camera on the Touch, I think it would be very easy for Apple to shell out the update it did today almost on a whim.
They wouldn't need to change all their production. There are selling essentially the same iPod again, just with slightly different chips inside.
So then, are we going to get a Touch with a camera?
I think so. And I don't think we're going to have to wait until next September. Though we might have to wait about 6 months. But I firmly believe that a camera was meant for this Touch, and that there was an issue preventing it at the last second.
Should there have been a camera? The rumors suggest it
I know that rumors are rumors, but I have been following the rumor mill for years now and never have I seen anything have such unanimous support as a camera. There were dozens of stories about it on the major, respected rumor sites. Many analysts considered it a forgone conclusion. Tons of case makers made cases with a camera hole. And we even had a VIDEO of what looked like a Touch with a camera.
The Nano camera rumor was right
We got detailed rumors on cameras for the Touch and Nano, and the Nano rumors were dead on whereas the Touch was a bust. Most rumors are small and never happen, but rumors as big as this almost always happen, and a camera on the Touch and Nano seemed like guarantees. One could even argue a Touch camera seemed more likely than a Nano one. Yet, were supposed to believe that the Nano rumor was dead on, but the iPod one was wrong? I don't buy it.
Production Problems. Is this true?
I think this story is true. It seems odd for a reputable news outlet for Apple stories to say that there are production problems for adding a camera to the Touch, when a camera was never officially announced as a feature. This, in my opinion, is strong evidence that there really were production issues. That's on the edge of rumor and a news story. Here are some other things leading me to believe there were issues:
1) Apple hasn't listed this iPod as a new generation. Last year when the 2G came out, it was "the next-generation iPod." Apple is not saying that this time around.
2) There are almost NO new features to speak of on the "new" Touch. In terms of hardware, you have updated processing, which allows for voice control. And 64Gb. That's it. It is very un-Apple-like to have such a small and almost non-existent upgrade. Makes me think that the camera was supposed to be the big update.
3) The Nano got a camera.
4) There is no 16GB model. That makes no sense.
5) It has the exact same form factor.
Production Problems. Is it possible?
So now we have the real question. Is it possible that late production issues caused the Touch camera to be scrapped at the last second. I see some people saying that a camera was never meant for the Touch, because it seems odd for Apple to have a "3rd Generation" Touch ready to ship a couple days from now. But I think there were issues. And here's how I justify it.
Look at the iPod Touch that was released today. It has two, count em, TWO new hardware upgrades. It has updated processing speed, and a 64GB model. The form factor and everything else is the same. If there were production issues with a Touch camera, I don't think it would take long or be very hard for Apple to scrape together what they did today. They would continue production of iPod Touches just as they have for the last year, just they would insert larger memory chips, and faster processors into the iPods. From a production standpoint, it would be very easy to do. So IF there was an issue with camera on the Touch, I think it would be very easy for Apple to shell out the update it did today almost on a whim.
They wouldn't need to change all their production. There are selling essentially the same iPod again, just with slightly different chips inside.
So then, are we going to get a Touch with a camera?
I think so. And I don't think we're going to have to wait until next September. Though we might have to wait about 6 months. But I firmly believe that a camera was meant for this Touch, and that there was an issue preventing it at the last second.
