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iPod touch Realistic Expectations for iPod Touch 3G

iPod Touch 3rd gen announcement

I can't wait for the 3rd gen iPod touch to come out, and plan to get one as soon as they come out.

I know that iPods are usually released in September, but when are the details about the new specifications/features usually released? Are they usually leaked a few weeks in advance?
 
gps

I dont think apple will release an ipod touch with a gps this year. they cant just release everything at once. this year will be all about the camera. next year, there will be a possibility of gps. dont get me wrong, i would love to see gps, but i just dont think it is going to happen:eek:
 
ipodtouch3g said:
I dont think apple will release an ipod touch with a gps this year. they cant just release everything at once. this year will be all about the camera. next year, there will be a possibility of gps. dont get me wrong, i would love to see gps, but i just dont think it is going to happen:eek:
Click to expand...

You could be right, but with all the improvements they are putting into 3.1 aimed at the GPS chip, I hope they have been clever enough to put the chip into the new Touch.
-Tig
 
Ammo said:
GPS will be in the touch for this reason...

TomTom will be in the App Store.

There's no reason to turn away a potential base of MILLIONS of apps sold (which means more $$$ for Apple) when a simple chip just needs to be implanted into the touch.
Click to expand...

That's the same as saying a camera will be in it also. Although i do think it will have a camera. And i really doubt there is millions of apps that use a gps.
 
Tigger11 said:
You could be right, but with all the improvements they are putting into 3.1 aimed at the GPS chip, I hope they have been clever enough to put the chip into the new Touch.
-Tig
Click to expand...

what improvements have there been in 3.1 aimed at the gps chip?:confused:
 
I don't think the touch will have GPS or 3G as so many people are predicting.

I mean, it's a given that a camera and microphone will be added; if GPS and 3G are also added, isn't it just an iPhone?
 
Mexbearpig said:
That's the same as saying a camera will be in it also. Although i do think it will have a camera. And i really doubt there is millions of apps that use a gps.
Click to expand...

He didnt say there were millions of Apps, he said they would be missing out in the sale of millions of apps. 1 App selling to 3% of the market is a million apps (there are over 45 million iphones+Ipod Touches). There are several dozen apps that I personally know use GPS, and more on the way.
-Tig
 
Apple should be sued for their ongoing use of metal backs that scratch immediately upon a wipe of even a soft cloth. The finish is substandard and virtually obliges owners to buy a case, which itself usually marks the horrible original surface.
There is no reason whatsoever for this. Metal finishes on other manufacturer's phones, Walkman audio, razors and even cheap saucepans are of higher quality than what Apple is selling at premium price.
The back surface of an iPod is more vulnerable to wear (or even a wipe of the finger!) than the playing surface of a CD. For a portable device intended for continual transport and outdoor use, this level of craftsmanship and durability must surely fall into a category of deficiency and design negligence.
 
Brien said:
I don't think the touch will have GPS or 3G as so many people are predicting.

I mean, it's a given that a camera and microphone will be added; if GPS and 3G are also added, isn't it just an iPhone?
Click to expand...


I dont think anyone is really predicting it will have 3G. GPS is a whole different beast, its a $2.25 part that will sell alot of apps, it makes alot more sense, as does the movie camera at $9.95. If they dont add these things, why on earth would you ditch your 1st or 2nd generation Ipod Touch and get a 3rd generation. 1st Generation at 32 GB are $200 on ebay, I'm not going to pay lots more for a 32 GB 3rd Generation unless it gets me some cool new things, are you?
-Tig
 
In my opinion

My first post

In my opinion

Plastic Backing: No
I would not want Plastic Backing. I love the traditional iPod backing although it is very prone to scratches. Although if a camera is present on the new gen it will look odd on silver backing.

64 GB: Yes
Very possible. Apple needs to add a feature that is not available on the current iphone. The only way to do that is to add more onboard flash memory.

Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating: Yes
Why not! This was done on the 3GS. It will be a slight benefit for the iPod touch.

Camera: Yes for sure
If there is one feature that we know for sure gonna be on the 3rd gen iPod touch it will be the camera. I got a gut feeling it would feature the 3 megapixel camera WITH video recording hence the new iPod having a microphone.

GPS: Maybe, No
This is one of the features I am very unsure of. Having reading the arguments between Crackbook and Tigger they both made valid points. I would certainly love to see GPS on the 3rd gen. I think the navigation apps on the Apps store will benefit from this and this would boost sales if you can use the touch as a Sat Nav.

But saying this there is a good chance this might not happen. We will have to wait till september for this to happen.

Microphone: Yes
Another feature that I believe will be on the new iPod touch. As firmware 3.0 include a recording feature it makes sense to add it so no accessory is needed. Also I believe it would be used for voice control.

3G: No
There is no need to implement 3G on a iPod touch simply becuase it is not a phone. This is one of the core features that differiates the iPhone from the iPod touch.

Thinner: No
With a few features up its sleeve. I find it hard to see Apple release a thinner iPod.

Better battery life, faster performance: Yes
Yes the iPod 3rd gen will have better battery life and similar (if not better) performance like the iPhone 3GS.

Although the 2nd gen iPod Touch had a faster processor to the iPhone 3G of last year. I feel that the processor and ram would be bumped up to match the iPhone 3GS and will not have a huge significant increase. Who knows Apple could surprise us.

Compass: No
I don't think that 3rd gen will have compass unless it has GPS. Although saying this it could be used in games and other apps other than location services.

Voice Control: Yes
This is likely as the new iPod will come with a microphone. This feature is already implemented on the iPhone and iPod shuffle as well.

Front-facing camera: No
I don't think they will add this. They are more likely to add this the the 4th gen iPhone.

Better speaker: Yes
Yes hopefully it would be louder and clearer than the previous generation.

AM/FM Tuner: No
They would have added this already. Apple can easily addd this as a accessory so why built it in the internal hardware when some people will not use it.

Aluminum unibody design: No
I don't think so. I think the appearance will be similar to 2nd gen with minor differences. But it would be nice to see a major change in appearence.

There goes what features I think will be on the new iPod touch when it releases early September. The performance bump like iPhone 3GS and camera alone is one of the few reasons to purchase this. It would be great to have GPS but i feel it will not a lost cause if it does not.

Having owned the 1st and 2nd gen iPod Touch i would gladly purchase the new iPod Touch. I just hope it will not have mediocre battery life that the iPhone 3GS has.

Hopefully Apple surprises us in September.
 
as for the gps

My theories about the GPS.

What you have to remember is that in iPhone OS 3.0, Apple made it possible for apps to interact with accessories connected via the 30 pin connector dock. So what's to stop a company like TomTom from making a gps attachment that would work better than the iPhone's built in gps, and would even work with the iPod touch? I was surfing the web the other day, and I found a site that said that TomTom had made a deal with Apple so they could make just such a device. It would be pretty smart. $100 dollars for TomTom's app, and another $100 for the attachment and BANG you have gps.

Either way, I would LOVE to have gps on the iPod touch, since I plan on buying one myself.

These are just my theories. :)
 
Mark my words...

Camera-We all know it.

Oleophobic coating- Were all hoping for it, yes.

Mic- Probably not on the unit as it wasn't seen in the prototype

better battery life- they're going to try, yes.

Performance- is going to stay the same

802.11n-I wish, but its not going to happen.

better speakers-Nope

plastic backing- nope, use the zagg shield

white color option- Gosh this would be great but nope.

gps-Not happening. Im telling you!

increased capicity at same price-yes

p.s- when is the "macrumors newbie" thing going away? it bugs me.
 
RareEarthMetal said:
Camera-We all know it.

Oleophobic coating- Were all hoping for it, yes.

Mic- Probably not on the unit as it wasn't seen in the prototype

better battery life- they're going to try, yes.

Performance- is going to stay the same

802.11n-I wish, but its not going to happen.

better speakers-Nope

plastic backing- nope, use the zagg shield

white color option- Gosh this would be great but nope.

gps-Not happening. Im telling you!

increased capicity at same price-yes

p.s- when is the "macrumors newbie" thing going away? it bugs me.
Click to expand...

If you're right on all of the above, it should be removed ;)
 
Just an addendum to an earlier subtopic in this thread, I found this on an HTC Dream wiki (and any handheld mobile device is going to work the same):

"includes a GPS receiver for fine-grained positioning, and can use cellular or wifi networks for coarse-grained positioning"

Those involved will understand the reference.

Ciao

- bd
 
Ill happily pay $100 to have full GPS capabilities in an external device connected to the Touch, if Apple doesn't provide GPS. Sure would be nice to have it, though.
 
We can assume there's going to be more memory at the existing price points, $299 should get you a 32GB iPod Touch 3rd Gen. Beyond that, let's see...

The first Gen Touch was of course the first and thus a totally novel device. The second was largely a refinement of the first, and not a huge upgrade IMO beyond the memory bump. For awhile no one thought an external speaker would be added for various reasons, but in retrospect it made perfect sense considering the App Store.

Nowadays every cell phone maker and PMP maker is coming out with their own touch screen device and wanting to promote software. I'd like to think Apple would really like to make the 3rd Gen a bigger leap forward than last year. 'Cannibalizing' iPhone sales doesn't matter, it's an Apple sale either way and they add to the App Store userbase. Keeping their platform ahead of other companies though is more important.

I think if they bring in the upgraded processor and memory from the iPhone 3GS and it's still/video camera, that will probably be enough in their eyes. They will spend more time demonstrating great looking games that push the new hardware, I think that is more important than GPS apps.

I would like to see them add at least 1 more major feature- OLED, GPS, something. Because if the camera is the major new feature, it's a bit disappointing since we all have cell phone cameras now. But the upgraded hardware will be a pretty significant boost 6 months down the line IMO.

If GPS really is that cheap to add (someone mentioned $2.25), I could see Apple doing this to further differentiate from the new Zune HD., but just maybe without the new compass.
 
madmaxmedia said:
We can assume there's going to be more memory at the existing price points, $299 should get you a 32GB iPod Touch 3rd Gen. Beyond that, let's see...

The first Gen Touch was of course the first and thus a totally novel device. The second was largely a refinement of the first, and not a huge upgrade IMO beyond the memory bump. For awhile no one thought an external speaker would be added for various reasons, but in retrospect it made perfect sense considering the App Store.

Nowadays every cell phone maker and PMP maker is coming out with their own touch screen device and wanting to promote software. I'd like to think Apple would really like to make the 3rd Gen a bigger leap forward than last year. 'Cannibalizing' iPhone sales doesn't matter, it's an Apple sale either way and they add to the App Store userbase. Keeping their platform ahead of other companies though is more important.

I think if they bring in the upgraded processor and memory from the iPhone 3GS and it's still/video camera, that will probably be enough in their eyes. They will spend more time demonstrating great looking games that push the new hardware, I think that is more important than GPS apps.

I would like to see them add at least 1 more major feature- OLED, GPS, something. Because if the camera is the major new feature, it's a bit disappointing since we all have cell phone cameras now. But the upgraded hardware will be a pretty significant boost 6 months down the line IMO.

If GPS really is that cheap to add (someone mentioned $2.25), I could see Apple doing this to further differentiate from the new Zune HD., but just maybe without the new compass.
Click to expand...

The GPS debate is not solely about cost :confused: ...speed, accuracy, and battery life are what comes into play ;)

The camera is a major major feature MadMaxMedia. The camera with video recording will enlarge a huge crowd, and add an extensive list of apps. Plus, this really comes down to what "Apple" can do to a "pic" - Apple can innovate a whole new world. I will be able to take a pic or record video, and edit it, right there on the spot. Can you do this with most cell phones???

You watch... People will be uploading tons of pics to sites like flickr, etc. And people will be uploading tons of video to youtube - just because the new Touch has a camera w/video recording. :cool:

The Camera is a huge push for an increase of sales in the iPod Touch... Apple will benefit more from a camera than your suggested 1 major feature of a GPS or OLED screen. :confused:

If the camera comes out in an iPod & iPod Nano (as predicted), you will see even more reason why they are doing it - with the increase in app sales.

The camera is big news for me the consumer, and even bigger news for Apple!!!

CrackBookPro:cool:
 
I think one of the biggest feature Apple would introduce is In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic!!! It would be awesome!! iPod Touch is a really expensive MP3 and it should include those in the box!! Am I wrong??
 
Pipe said:
I think one of the biggest feature Apple would introduce is In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic!!! It would be awesome!! iPod Touch is a really expensive MP3 and it should include those in the box!! Am I wrong??
Click to expand...

Good idea although the Ipod earphones are still ***** no matter what. I always use my Sennheiser In-ear and those are perfect. If the included earphones will have remote/mic (which I think they will) I will use them for a while though.
 
Pipe said:
I think one of the biggest feature Apple would introduce is In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic!!! It would be awesome!! iPod Touch is a really expensive MP3 and it should include those in the box!! Am I wrong??
Click to expand...

You're wrong. Putting those $80 headphones in something that costs $220 is crazy.
220-80=140.
An iPod Touch effectively for $140?
I don't think so.
 
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