UK Retailer Claims September iPod Touch Refresh to Bring 5-MP Camera, HD Video Recording, FaceTime, and More

[RonHC]

I dont see this happening

The only thing i would see coming new to the iPod Touch is the 2MP Camera that was rumored not to long ago
I dont see FaceTime coming to the iPod Touch anytime soon
Maybe A4 Chip with the 512MB RAM

But anything else that is "rumored" would probably require the iPod Touch to be thicker

 

[Biker]

I think the ipod touch will be like the new iphone 4 but it won't have a front camera.

 

[EOTW]

I haven't bought an Ipod Classic yet. If htey do discontinue it, I'll buy two of them when they announce it's a goner. Got no need for an Iphone or a Touch. I just want a large capacity music player. Would LOVE to see a 300GB Ipod classic. I've go over 8 TBs of music and counting as iti s.

 

[Bytor65]

I'm not complaining. It just makes no business sense to make them identical devices, minus the phone. None whatsoever.

Why do you think that? Your stance doesn't make any sense to me.

I was looking at the Dell streak. My main issue. It's a PHONE. Thus I won't buy it. I don't want contract fees, lock ins and all the other nonsense.

The same goes for the IP4. I don't want a smart phone. But a Touch with higher res, faster processor might make the cut.

You don't need any other feature to differentiate it, because one is a phone and one isn't, they end up being in different markets.

 

[Speedy2]

10's of millions FaceTime devices probably simply means that the next iMacs and Macbooks will also get the feature.

However, I could imagine that they put it into the iPod for the sake of pushing the technology. A simple front facing camera would fit into the case, and they could leave the speaker as it is, preventing the use for "regular" phone calls.

They are openly attacking Skype then. I guess they see Skype as another Flash-like closed system over which they have no control and which they dislike as a consequence. iChat for Windows would be a necessity then, and allowing other IMs to use the technology.

 

[hellomoto3485]

Not saying that apple can't find another way to make this work but.... even though you can only use it on wifi, facetime uses the SMS system to initiate the facetime calls. So I'm thinking that the touch will not see this feature.

that's what i was going to mention, because facetime doesn't have "usernames" so to speak, they rely on your phone number. hence why they say if you call someone with facetime, your number is shared with them.

which really confuses me, because i really don't see how they could bring that to ichat, ipod, ipad, and other devices.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Doesn't FaceTime require a texting plan as is the case with the iP4? How's this going to be possible with the Touch?

Or maybe they'll make exisiting iP4 FaceTime "accounts" compatible and able to connect with iChat and it'll work just like iChat using a screenname on the Touch. The tens of millions of FaceTime devices will include Macs as well.

 

[catracho]

In only need two things in the new iPod Touch:

- same iPhone 4´s processor and RAM
- same iPhone 4´s front and back cameras

Amazing device!

 

[Jayomat]

This is interesting. I always thought that Apple intentionally withheld features from the iPod Touch in order to try to persuade people to go with the iPhone. Putting a 5 MP camera w/flash, front camera, Facetime, and improved display on the Touch seems great for consumers, but also removes a lot of the incentive for people to buy iPhones, thus depriving Apple of 2 years of monthly revenue from customers.

An iPhone is a phone, an iPod Touch is not a phone... People who want a phone won't consider buying an iPod just because they share some features, because it is not a phone. And if you are happy with your phone, why would you buy an iPhone (with or without contract) if you want a portable mp3 player with some extras?

I don't really see how one would chose an iPodTouch over an iPhone if he wants a phone as well.... !?!?

that's what i was going to mention, because facetime doesn't have "usernames" so to speak, they rely on your phone number. hence why they say if you call someone with facetime, your number is shared with them.

which really confuses me, because i really don't see how they could bring that to ichat, ipod, ipad, and other devices.

Why not use the MAC address for example? Every device has a unique mac-address which can be accessed over Wifi... just a thought though

 

[mambodancer]

iChat to become Facetime

It's my belief that Apple may likely rebrand iChat as Facetime and integrate it with the desktop and iPad versions of Addressbook. Millions of Macs already would be Facetime capable given built-in webcams and wifi connectivity. If they upgrade the feature set of iChat to make it more of a Skype contender too, this could be a very welcome upgrade.

 

[rwilliams]

Why do you think that? Your stance doesn't make any sense to me.

I was looking at the Dell streak. My main issue. It's a PHONE. Thus I won't buy it. I don't want contract fees, lock ins and all the other nonsense.

The same goes for the IP4. I don't want a smart phone. But a Touch with higher res, faster processor might make the cut.

You don't need any other feature to differentiate it, because one is a phone and one isn't, they end up being in different markets.

Unless I'm mistaken, Apple gets a percentage of every iPhone user's monthly bill. That's monthly revenue that they can count on for at least 24 months. Common sense says that if you're earning money every month from iPhone customers, you give it premium features that will entice people to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T. If you make the iPod Touch identical to the iPhone, then the incentive for people to leave their current phone carrier and sign a contract with AT&T is out the window. They can stay where they are, buy an iPod Touch, and have all the same features, all without paying anything to Apple outside of the initial purchase. That's why it makes no business sense to make them identical. You're running a huge risk of killing your own profits. The smartest thing that Apple can do is to give the new Touch a couple of features that the iPhone 4 has (new design, front and rear cameras, faster processor) without giving it all of the iPhone 4's features. That way you still upgrade the Touch, but still leave enough premium features exclusive to the iPhone to try to lure people into signing that contract.

I don't really see how one would chose an iPodTouch over an iPhone if he wants a phone as well.... !?!?

If you don't want to switch to AT&T or pay an ETF, and the iPod Touch gives you literally everything the iPhone has minus the phone, then you'll buy the Touch. That's exactly what I did, until I decided that I was tired of carrying two devices.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Why?

Seriously, is it that difficult to work out that Facetime is Apple's first serious attempt at getting away from the carriers? Devices with the capability to make video calls are rapidly becoming the norm in consumer electronics. Almost all laptops have webcams and most desktops can have them added for just a few pounds. More smartphones are starting to offer front facing cameras as standard and that number will surely increase over the next few years. Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 have existing camera attachments and new add-ons coming out this year which will also include that functionality.

The problem is everything works on their own standard. Skype and other VoIP services are out there yet somehow it's not tying together (and video call quality can be... dodgy). With Facetime Apple's looking to not only present an open standard for this sort of thing going forward but also provide such a large pool of devices that use it it makes little sense for anyone to compete. All the existing providers of video calling services are being offered the incentive of having access to all those iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad users (as and when the devices get updated). And Apple themselves will more-than-likely integrate Facetime into iChat at some point (10.7?)

Yes, it's wi-fi only for the time being but that's just fine. 3G networks are already over-capacity in many areas and 4G is on the horizon. In a couple of years 4G networks will start full blown rollouts and provide enough bandwidth to support this properly. At that point I'm sure Facetime will be extended to support it (or, if you prefer, the restriction on Apple's devices will be lifted, not sure if that's in the spec for the standard or not). At that point Facetime has the potential to be positioned in such a way as to make voice minutes almost an afterthought for a lot of users.

THAT'S the angle Apple's looking at with Facetime, breaking carrier dominance over voice and finally turning them into basically one big data pipe and nothing else or, at the very least, radically reducing the reliance on their voice network. Why wouldn't you want that option on every device you have (at least, where it makes sense to have it)?

Very well thought out reply, I agree

 

[AbSoluTc]

I hope they don't bring all the goodies from the iPhone 4 to the ipod touch. It would make me a little angry. iPhone people pay a premium for their phones and on top of that, a 2 year contract. iPod touch people just buy the device. On top of all this, my phone is pretty much a glorified iPod touch as it is now with the reception issue. With a 2 year contract to boot!

There better be a fine line between the lines. No pun intended. Otherwise there will be a lot of pissed off people.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Unless I'm mistaken, Apple gets a percentage of every iPhone user's monthly bill. That's monthly revenue that they can count on for at least 24 months. Common sense says that if you're earning money every month from iPhone customers, you give it premium features that will entice people to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T. If you make the iPod Touch identical to the iPhone, then the incentive for people to leave their current phone carrier and sign a contract with AT&T is out the window. They can stay where they are, buy and iPod Touch, and have all the same features. That's why it makes no business sense to make them identical. You're running a huge risk of killing your own profits.

They've discontinued revenue sharing ever since iPhones became subsidized.

 

[alm99]

Please, Steve, PLEASE bring the all the goodies from the iPhone 4 to the iPod touch. I want a data plan only with it. I don't care if it's still with AT&T I don't like spending $80 a month on sub par phone service. I can do without the phone.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

isnt FaceTime supposed to be one of those ya know...PHONE features. Id be kind of upset if they start putting it on every new device...

I think facetime is one of Steve's "big things." I think he might integrate that sucker everywhere possible.

 

[Mitchelino]

I hope the latest rumor is not real. Or else it proves me wrong. Not that I don't like being wrong; I just can't see the iPod having every iPhone feature

I wont lie, though. Before I bought my first iPhone, I had wished that the iPod touch could receive a camera & internal microphone to take advantage of the many apps in the app store. I'm fine with the camera in an iPod, but FaceTime calls is taking it pretty far. If they incorporated it with iChat, that would do well for the Mac line too.

I hope they don't bring all the goodies from the iPhone 4 to the ipod touch. It would make me a little angry. iPhone people pay a premium for their phones and on top of that, a 2 year contract. iPod touch people just buy the device. On top of all this, my phone is pretty much a glorified iPod touch as it is now with the reception issue. With a 2 year contract to boot!

There better be a fine line between the lines. No pun intended. Otherwise there will be a lot of pissed off people.

Agreed. And for some of us it's a 3 year contracts I'm with Rogers in Canada, and I'm locked in a 3 year contract @ $100/month. By the end of my contract (2012), I will have paid for a fully loaded 27" iMac

 

[JakeDTS]

iPod Touch

iPod Touch specs aren't my strong point but I didn't think they had a camera at all currently.

Why does the poster in the picture say "Improved 5MP camera?" are they speaking of the nano? It's a bit confusing unless they are adding wi-fi to the nano because it says "upload to youtube"

 

[HLdan]

iPod Touch + Skype

This is going to be fun and with a camera. :3

I use mine that way right now except no camera. I think the iPod Touch would be sweet with the 3G and all the rest of the iPhone 4 features.

 

[Eidorian]

I use mine that way right now except no camera. I think the iPod Touch would be sweet with the 3G and all the rest of the iPhone 4 features.

I've saved money for months now. It's time to enjoy it. I'd like all of the iPhone 4 features just without the phone part. I pay for Skype Out Unlimited US/Canada. It'd be great to have that portably.

I should be getting a GTX 460 next week as well.

 

[HLdan]

10's of millions FaceTime devices probably simply means that the next iMacs and Macbooks will also get the feature.

.

Why would they need to add Facetime to the computers, they already do video chats with iChat and Skype?

 

[Eidorian]

Why would they need to add Facetime to the computers, they already do video chats with iChat and Skype?

It might just be FaceTime from computer to phone/Touch/etc.

 

[Mitchelino]

Why would they need to add Facetime to the computers, they already do video chats with iChat and Skype?

It would be cool if they combined iChat and FaceTime, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. They would have called FaceTime iChat if they intended to have it work from Mac to iPhone to iPod touch. I could be wrong though. I'd like the ability to do face chat from an iPhone/iPod to a Mac. But I guess Skype handles that already, or will eventually handle it.

 

[HLdan]

It might just be FaceTime from computer to phone/Touch/etc.

Ah, I see. That would be cool too. Knowing Apple it won't be available until 10.7.

 

[iMacmatician]

The smartest thing that Apple can do is to give the new Touch a couple of features that the iPhone 4 has (new design, front and rear cameras, faster processor) without giving it all of the iPhone 4's features. That way you still upgrade the Touch, but still leave enough premium features exclusive to the iPhone to try to lure people into signing that contract.

How many people would pay a 2-year contract to get just a few more features?