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Third-Generation iPod Touch Teardown Reveals 802.11n-Capable Wi-Fi Chip

If the new iPT had a Nanocamera and the ability to transmit FM to a car stereo, I would have paid $100 more than current prices and purchased one.

As it is, last year's model is fine for another year.
 
So that's the production problem! Apple must have been working on a smaller auto-focus camera and had issues with it.
 
Jack Flash said:
So that's the production problem! Apple must have been working on a smaller auto-focus camera and had issues with it.
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There couldn't have been a production problem! There is no way Apple could remove cameras from manufacturing, remove all iPods with cameras from their stock, then produce thousands and thousands of units without cameras in just 2 weeks. The iPod touch was never going to have a camera.
 
SpinThis! said:
How does making your network N only make "security tighter?" 802.11n isn't any more "secure" than other flavors using, say, WPA2 encryption. If a hacker wants to hack your network, they're going to do it no matter what flavor of wifi you have and whatever band you have (2.4 or 5 ghz). If you're worried about neighbors or passerbys not using N so you're "invisible" you're talking about security by obscurity—which is hardly much of a reason to upgrade... along the same lines of people who think turning off SSID broadcast makes them safer.


What do you want, a roadmap so Apple can tell everyone else when they're going to release new stuff? Great business plan...
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N is a much better protocol with less overhead and better security. With G there were issues in the protocol making very easy to crack even if you had wpa2
 
Jack Flash said:
So that's the production problem! Apple must have been working on a smaller auto-focus camera and had issues with it.
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I was just going to post that. I think that is what happened. They were working on a good quality camera to fit that space. Whomever wasn't able to deliver in time. Instead of shoving the nano camera in there they said screw it.
 
Brien said:
They'd probably wait until the 4th gen. iPhone comes out, then enable it in both.
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I agree. Including additional functionality in iPod Touches that are disabled on release is nothing new. Afterall, the 2nd gen iPod Touch had Bluetooth that wasn't enabled until iPhone OS 3.0, a $10 upgrade or now iPhone OS 3.1, a $5 upgrade. Similarly, 802.11n in the 3rd gen iPod Touch won't likely be enabled until iPhone OS 4.0 next June/July alongside the next iPhone that will also has 802.11n. I guess it's one way to encourage iPod Touch users to upgrade when a new major OS is released and means that the iPod Touch isn't at such a disadvantage compared to the iPhone by having it's refresh date in September of each year instead of June/July.
 
I wonder if the itouch case makers that made cases with holes for camera will be reimbursed by apple somehow. They obviously were led to make them by apple and now they will have to sit on a pile of them that they can't sell...
 
Am patiently waiting for 802.11n to appear on the next iPhone revision... I'll be buying it in a heartbeat if it is... Hopefully this is an early sign that it's on it's way ;)
 
Inkling said:
I agree with others. It looks like the latest touch has at least the potential to become a gadget I'd want to buy:

1. WiFi N. Why? Speed isn't the issue. Because at home I could make my network N-only and make security a bit tighter. I'd also be ready when b/g becomes rarer.

2. FM transmit. Like others, I don't want to klutz with some external gadget to play through speakers. If the chip can do it, why not do it?

3. FM receive. Less a big deal, but not a bad idea.

5. Microphone. For VoIP and voice notes on the go. Without it, even a used 1-G iPhone makes more sense.

6. A decent camera with still and video photography. Again, handy for notes on the go and times when I didn't know I needed a camera. If space is an issue, make the touch thicker and put a bigger battery in most of that space. No one complains about the iPhone being too thick, they won't mind a less thin touch, particularly with double the battery life.

As it stands now, buying the new touch makes little sense. I can get the same features in a used touch for less and more features in a used 1-g iPhone, also for less. That's particularly true of the low-end touch, which ships without the remote earphones with mike. That makes it's real price $230.

Apple should quit being so secretive. If the current models are merely interim to fill in until the real 3-G touches come along, they should say so and give us dates.
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Although i agree with you that it might not be worthwhile for current ipod touch owners to upgrade to the 3rd gen, you shouldn't dismiss the value of buying the new one for those who have no ipoch touch yet.

Personally, as i live in Aus, if i buy a 2nd gen 32g ipod touch, that'd cost me about $320AU or more anyway, while the new one is priced at $399, which i can probably find at $390. Add in the price of purchasing earphones with a mic ($40, and which i really want) and your only spending like $30 extra to get the new one, which is faster as well.

So i do think buying this gen is worthwhile for people in my position.
 
Apple says the 32 GB and 64 GB versions are faster, leading me to suspect their guts are from the iPhone 3G S.

If that's true, the touch could have a camera and a mic in the near future.

I'm sure someone will come up with a way to get a camera on the new touch.
 
fenderbass146 said:
I love how people think N matters. I doubt most people have internet that is even near the max of wireless g, and even if you did you touch won't process web pages any faster. The device is a limitation, not the internet speed
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Well... "N" does matter if it also means that we can use 5GHz instead of the overcrowded 2.4GHz wifi space. Besides, it also has a much better range which is more important I think.
 
^^According to iFixIt, it's got better guts than those in the 3GS.
 
droz said:
Not going to happen. At this point Apple would have to eat serious crow to put a camera into the touch before 2010. Not to mention the consumers they would piss off that had bought the new one without the camera. Nope, I'd say end of 1Q10 at the earliest.
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Why would it piss off the consumers if the touch got a cam by xmas? Technology evolves, and the iPhones would still be as good as before (spec-wise, that is). If it wasn't worth the money, why did they buy it in the first place?

I'm looking forward to the iPhone 4th gen.
 
bjett92 said:
The Mighty Mouse has audio feedback. Try pressing the side buttons without plugging in the mouse and then press them with the mouse plugged in. Same with rolling the scroll ball.
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Come on a speaker and the logic to make a clicking noise... You could do the some thing with a folded piece of stiff plastic. Apple had to have some other plan for it that didn't work out.
 
"n" requires another antenna to get the full speed benefit.

I'm not sure the N support means much speed wise. For one another antenna would be required. Also Apple doesn't run the G interface as fast as it could go to conserve battery power.

N does have low power modes that might come in handy but I'm not sure what the speeds are in that mode. In otherwords it is nice that there is an improved chip in the tablet but I'm not convinced it means a lot.

I'm actually a bit underwhelmed with the hardware on this device. I'm wondering if iFixit has figure out the RAM allotment? Maybe later.


Dave
 
Gee, just wait until iPhone/Touch OS version 4.0 which will magically enable that 802.11N support for the low low cost of $10-20. As for the camera, Steve was afraid that raising the cost of the iPod Touch by an additional $20 (he wouldn't think of lowering the profit margin to cover it) would stop some people from buying it and so too freaking bad if you wanted a camera in the thing or a built-in microphone for Skype use. You're not going to get it...at least until the NEXT version. Expect a removable battery in about 12 years....
 
I'm curious, is there any indication they changed the 8gb model in this update, hardware wise?

I was thinking about ordering a refurb model but it seams like they are neglecting to do a tear down of the 8gb model. If there is a difference between the two, I may be inclined to buy the new 8gb touch, not the older refurb 8gb touch.

In other posts, there have been talk about they did change the number scheme of the 8gb model, it is not a 3g, something along the lines of 2009fall model? This seems worth a tear down since it indicates something has changed, since it is not a 2gen anymore.
 
deconstruct60 said:
Also just because there is postage stamp area for the camera die doesn't mean it would have fit. still would have go get connectors back to the rest of the system. Some that works better in a mock up but not quite as well when physically cram everything in.
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Now that I've had a bit more time to think of it, you're right, you would have to have evidence of unused connectors or a row or two of unused solder pads to reliably suggest that there was a plan for a camera but it was left out at the last moment, before the hardware went through the hardware equivalent of a "Golden Master".
 
Your anger simply isn't justified!

Vandam500 said:
I know about the phone approval time and I am not whining, I am just stating some opinions that I am sure I'm not the only with them.
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What you are doing is a classic definition of whining.
By the way, I have a Wireless N router and would of loved for the 3GS to have the Wifi chip like the new Touch even if it would get activated on a future firmware update.
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honestly I would love to have the option ofusing N on my older iPhone. Even if the chip was there though there is no assurance that the feature could be fully exploited. Generally full use of N requires another antenna.

What I don't get though is why everybody is up in arms over an N capable chip when the older hardware hardly fully exploits G.
But guess what, when that firmware comes out and activates the Wireless N for the Touch, us 3GS people aren't going to be able to enjoy it. What would we have to do to get Wireless N? Buy the next iPhone that does have it... that's why I am angry.
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Again I'm stunned by your statement as it indicates a total lack of understanding with respect to the tech involved in building this hardware. Do you realize that a couple of years ago building iPhone at all wouldn't be possible? It is only the combination of advancements at ARM, Imagination and Samsung that permitted Apple to move forward with iPhone. Like wise with support chips such as the WiFi processor. Things move gently from R&D to production and in parallel standards get approved and software written. Each advancement from vendors like Broadcom allow Apple to move forward with new hardware designs.

Well most of the time. Obviously the missing camera is a glaring example of something leaving R&D a little to early.

In anyevent I still don't know what you are angery about. The very processes that made iPhone possible in the first instance are also the processes that gave us the fast 3GS and in this case a chip that supports N WiFi. It is called continous improvement the opposite of stagnation. For Apple to make you happy they would have to stop all development and shutdown the implementation of new chip technology. I for one don't want to see that.

In a nut shell your position, your anger is ridiculous.



Dave
 
Who knows maybe the N on the Touch is so Apple can stream HD content from iTunes, so it will be a portable ATV. Maybe like the ZuneHD
 
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