HMMMM lets see...if the i"pod" had 3G....um that would make it...AN I"PHONE" YOU IDIOT!!! YA the only way to get an iphone is by paying $2000 over a locked in 2 year contract with at&t...so why not take away everyone's alternative, the ipod touch, and charge a locked $1500 over a 2 year contract just soo we can be idiots. NOOB, next time think of how stupid you are going to look before you post something as outrageous as thins bogus hypothesis.
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iPod touch Why the new iPod Touch will have GPS and 3G
- Thread starter Stuart in Oz
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I didn't buy an iPhone because I don't want to pay $80/month after taxes for a phone. I have a cheap pay-as-you-go phone and a hard line Vonage plan, and an iPod. Would carrying around 1 device instead of two be nice? Yes. But not for $2000 for 2 years.
nope, no way.
the touch will always be well differentiated from the iphone.
no 3g (of course), no gps, no camera, no speaker, no microphone.
media player with wireless interwebs and apps. period.
the touch will always be well differentiated from the iphone.
no 3g (of course), no gps, no camera, no speaker, no microphone.
media player with wireless interwebs and apps. period.
and uuhh how many countries do you know that would do that??
does australia do that???
where and how do i get a plan like that???
they did...and it was called the iphone....because it was a phone, and like a phone, it used edge, and like all newer phones the new iphone 3g uses(you guessed it) 3g...but seeing as the ipod isn't a phone, it's a music player, the best thing we can hope for is that tiny chance of gps(even though the only way for gps to work would be setting aside 2gb of space soley for maps because the ipod can't download them when needed so they'd have to be stored locally.)
ya i wasn't aiming that reply at you(sorry if it seemed that way)...i'm just still in shock at how stupid this proposal is.
Thanks for the lesson. Here's one in return. "3G" is actually a loose term for several competing standards for the wireless transmission of digital data. Digital data can be voice or video or maps information or whatever else you want it to be. 2G phone systems did this too but much more slowly than the current 3G systems can. That's what 3G at the technology level is.
At the moment most carriers around the world only offer access to their 3G networks on monthly plans with voice and data offerings thrown together. This is how they market their 3G offerings at the moment. It is not a technical requirement. They choose to do it this way because they believe it to be the most profitable way.
3G networks are equally at home providing data only. A lot of carriers around the world offer ExpressCard slide-in modems for your laptop that use the 3G network to provide general data access. These cards use 3G technology just the same as an iPhone does but they have nothing to do with making and receiving calls.
Just because your carrier doesn't sell data-only access to their 3G network at the moment doesn't mean they can't.
WiMAX is indeed able to do the same things with data. Some people think it is much better at it than 3G is, others think future incremental improvements to 3G technology will let 3G do everything WiMAX can offer with less investment required in new equipment and spectrum. I won't try and argue that one.
Oh, and I'm a he. Stuart is my real name.
Bob, an iPod with 3G data access would be... umm... an iPod with 3G data access. You may not have noticed but phones generally have speakers, microphones and software to run the phone features. An iPod with 3G data access would have none of these. What it would be able to do is use all the great software apps that don't work right without live data access.
Oh, and Bob? Leave off the personal abuse. And if you're going to throw it around, you might like to check member status and post counts before you call people a NOOB.
Walk in to your nearest major telco and tell them that you want a wireless 3G network card for your laptop. You'll be pulling data off a 3G network as quickly as you can say "Amex".
If you happen to be in Australia, try here - (but be ready to cry at the prices.)
There are also plenty of laptop makers building 3G data access right into their machines.
Good question. My best guess is because they had enough on their hands getting the iPhone working and selling. By keeping it to iPhone the marketing oomph stayed with iPhone, as did the tech and development teams. But as iPhone matures they could now afford the second product, both in terms of sales and development. Certainly Apple don't want to kill the golden goose of the iPhone, but in six months, when everyone who wants an iPhone 3G has one, then this product could reach those who want the features but not the phone. (If you know what I mean).
Exactly my point. Maps need mobile data access to be really useful. Which brings us back to 3G data access being logical.
If the iPod Touch is to stay relevant, it needs mobile data access. Which means 3G.
Pavlov's dog called. He wants his conditioning back.
Touch doesn't need 3G. Get a 12v 3G wireless router for the car and then the whole family can surf their brains out during those long trips.
It would also cost 90% as much as an iPhone. The speaker, microphone and associated chipset are cheap. The 3G functionality (and GPS) isn't.
So, a 3G iPod touch would have to be sold at around the same price as a pre-paid iPhone for it to make any sort of financial sense.
I doubt anyone would buy an 8GB "3G" iPod Touch for AU$700.
3G data would be nice from a technical standpoint, but it makes no sense from a cost perspective. You basically have all the design complexity of the iPhone with less functionality.
3G?? for real?
what does the touch need for 3G??..................... yep thats right a SIM card and if the touch had a sim card what would it be?....... an iPhone......... oh wait they already have them out
why cant people accept the touch is just an extended media player NOT A MOBILE PHONE!!
what does the touch need for 3G??..................... yep thats right a SIM card and if the touch had a sim card what would it be?....... an iPhone......... oh wait they already have them out
why cant people accept the touch is just an extended media player NOT A MOBILE PHONE!!
If you are going to pay for 3g service...then why in the world don't you just buy an iPhone!!! The iPod is an iPod not an internet everywere MID! It's fairly cheap and there are to contracts or monthly fees....and there won't be on the next iPod either. I'm sorry if your zoo dead set on this, but it simply isn't going to happen...why buy an iPod 3g if for a few $ more you could get an iPhone. I mean when it comes down to it the iPod touch is there for people who want an iPhone sans some features for an increadibly lower price...making it 3g would defeat it's entire purpose.
as already stated to have edge the ipod would need to turn itself into a........... *drum roll*........ mobile phone, now since this is the case hmmm why not just go ahead and turn the iPod Touch into a mobile phone....... oh wait they did
I never said you wouldn't need a cellular carrier. I said they would be selling you data access without voice calls.
Guys, really, it doesn't have to be a mobile PHONE to get 3G data capability. Can you get that?
3G is a means of moving data around wirelessly. Making phone calls is one application of 3G technology and one only. Email, video, web browsing are equally important others. Device manufacturers have always offered you both voice and data together up until now because that's just the way it's always been done in the past. But it doesn't need to be. Why do they have to go together?
And believe it or not, there are people out there who don't want a phone in their iPod but do want mobile access to get all the data the apps require.
Think an iPhone, without out the phone bit but with the data bit for less cost overall.
yes actually, you can get 3g as a network connection without a phone
currently $15 for 1 gb / month + 5$/month for the usb modem
http://www.three.com.au/cs/ContentS...ThreeLayout&p=1156241342637&cid=1154931041257
Don't be too harsh on the OP.
Here in Japan, you can get wireless service to use with computers via a USB dongle, PC Card slot and ExpressCard slots. Very convenient for those who need Internet access when on the go. Cost isn't cheap, but worth it if you need it.
If the Touch did come with something similar, it would be convenient for those who use the Touch for Internet related tasks when not in the vicinity of an open WiFi point.
Here in Japan, as least, I could see this.
GPS seems like a possibility.
One thing about the Touch that is really cool is it's size and thinness. Personally, I would prefer that it stays thin. If adding GPS and 3G data reception would make the Touch thicker, then I wouldn't be for it.
Here in Japan, you can get wireless service to use with computers via a USB dongle, PC Card slot and ExpressCard slots. Very convenient for those who need Internet access when on the go. Cost isn't cheap, but worth it if you need it.
If the Touch did come with something similar, it would be convenient for those who use the Touch for Internet related tasks when not in the vicinity of an open WiFi point.
Here in Japan, as least, I could see this.
GPS seems like a possibility.
One thing about the Touch that is really cool is it's size and thinness. Personally, I would prefer that it stays thin. If adding GPS and 3G data reception would make the Touch thicker, then I wouldn't be for it.
those telstra (pfft) plans that you provided look at the laptop arena and dont focus that much on sole use of a handheld device as a 'data' device. seriously, i dont see that being implemented.
to put a 3G device into the itouch would deminish battery life, cost a hell of a lot (seriously you know apple) and i dont see many people wanting the product. your an aussie, im an aussie. now we both know how expensive broadband is let alone roaming internet is. dont even give them the idea.
wow, thats an awsome offer (not). $15 a month is for your laptop, never seen anything that is for a handheld device that has 3G yet DOESNT use your phones capabilities.
yes it would be convenient for those who can afford it. wed be paying $20 for 1gb per month here is aus (AUD) ($17US). its very costly.
iPod Touch = iPod
The iPod Touch is an iPod. That means it's primary function is a mobile media player. The App Store gives you a couple of nice PDA features. But that's about it for the iPod Touch!
Apple would be hurting it's iPhone sales if they would include 3G in the Touch. And the Touch won't get GPS either. For the simple reason that you would need a constant data connection (e.g. 3G) to update your maps etc. on the iPod. There is no App that allows you to simply download maps onto your Touch.
PS: Don't forget that Apple designs their product with the US market in mind. I lived in the US. And you have lot's of public free wifi hotspots there. And when you look at the programs with location services, most of them are only working well/at all in the US. So as long as there are plenty of free wifi hotspots in the US, the iPod Touch won't get any other standard for wirelessly transmitting data.
The iPod Touch is an iPod. That means it's primary function is a mobile media player. The App Store gives you a couple of nice PDA features. But that's about it for the iPod Touch!
Apple would be hurting it's iPhone sales if they would include 3G in the Touch. And the Touch won't get GPS either. For the simple reason that you would need a constant data connection (e.g. 3G) to update your maps etc. on the iPod. There is no App that allows you to simply download maps onto your Touch.
PS: Don't forget that Apple designs their product with the US market in mind. I lived in the US. And you have lot's of public free wifi hotspots there. And when you look at the programs with location services, most of them are only working well/at all in the US. So as long as there are plenty of free wifi hotspots in the US, the iPod Touch won't get any other standard for wirelessly transmitting data.
I see your point.
However, Apple is also very good a localizing their products as well. At least I've seen this from a Japanese and Korean perspective.
Anyhow, what will the future of the iPod and iPhone lines be? This in a way, will determine the future of the Touch.
What is interesting to note, is that the first iPod was created so that Mac users could have a portable music player. It had a 5GB HD, FW interface, real controls and was very expensive. Many said that it would never sell, and that Apple was stupid for making a device like that.
Now, just a few years later, look how that market has evolved. We now have a completely different paradigm.
With the Touch interface, there are even more possibilities in the future.