iPod touch Will they update the iPod Touch this year?

[apolloa]

Just wondering if people think Apple will update the iPod Touch this year? I have a Nano 3rd gen I use for the car, and it works great, but was toying with the idea of upgrading to an iPod Touch as I have no iOS devices, left those for Android, but I have collected a lot of iOS apps over the years and my Mac won't run them haha. So was toying with a Touch as iPod tend to be the one device you never get rid off or change often, unlike a phone.

Now I could hold out until Christmas and have the 16GB one as a present (daft thinking about this in February I know), but will it be updated by then, or still around even? The plan is I would just leave it in my pocket and use bluetooth for the car, I'll put one of those thin sticky plastic armour cases on it, but the key is it's small enough to leave in a pocket. If they update it then it may be too big for that if they give it the iPhone 6 screen? Because I have my mobile in the pocket too.

And as to why I use an iPod for music? Simple, I haven't found anything better than iTunes for me, so I stick with it and the iPod, can you also purchase music direct to the iPod Touch, and download podcast to it?

So yeah, most of my apps are games, I know the 5th gen will happily run my older titles like Robocalypse, but will it run Real Racing 3 or Sky Gamblers Cold War? Which came out last year or 2013.

 

[ackmondual]

Just wondering if people think Apple will update the iPod Touch this year? I have a Nano 3rd gen I use for the car, and it works great, but was toying with the idea of upgrading to an iPod Touch as I have no iOS devices, left those for Android, but I have collected a lot of iOS apps over the years and my Mac won't run them haha. So was toying with a Touch as iPod tend to be the one device you never get rid off or change often, unlike a phone.

Now I could hold out until Christmas and have the 16GB one as a present (daft thinking about this in February I know), but will it be updated by then, or still around even? The plan is I would just leave it in my pocket and use bluetooth for the car, I'll put one of those thin sticky plastic armour cases on it, but the key is it's small enough to leave in a pocket. If they update it then it may be too big for that if they give it the iPhone 6 screen? Because I have my mobile in the pocket too.

And as to why I use an iPod for music? Simple, I haven't found anything better than iTunes for me, so I stick with it and the iPod, can you also purchase music direct to the iPod Touch, and download podcast to it?

So yeah, most of my apps are games, I know the 5th gen will happily run my older titles like Robocalypse, but will it run Real Racing 3 or Sky Gamblers Cold War? Which came out last year or 2013.

No clue. I've heard both sides of the argument, and they're both compelling arguments...

in favor of... (where I hope they'll go with this)
-get even more people into iOS via cheaper iDevice (esp. without a contract)
give to kids (they're cheaper to replace, as kids tend to be more reckless here), or companies that buy them in volume (a few hundred $$ per unit really adds up when you need dozens or hundreds of them. Too expensive to do that with Iphones).

-Iph that can be had for real cheap (or cheap enough) don't seem to be able to support ios8. Or not confident in them supporting ios9. The Iph that are much better 'future proof' still go at a premium (w/or w/o contract)

-no sabotaging Iph line
if people want an Iph, they'll get an Iph. No "gymnastics" of trying to have an IpT with on the go internet access either. People who don't want a cell plan are shooting for an IpT line.

-IpT aren't selling well because they're severely outdated. Combined that with approaching what's traditionally been time for the announcement of a new IpT line... some of us already got our sights set on the (supposed) IpT6

against...
-AFAIK, already canned the Ipod Classic line
Not enough sales, or they want people to spend more money via ITunes/cloud services, and that and the IpT isn't as conducive to that sales model.

-they want to force IpT users to get Iph even for handheld usage
-steer us towards Ipad Mini line? (even though they're too big for most IpT users? and this is also slumping sales?)
-trying to steer us towards iWatch?
-not selling well enough

 

[apolloa]

Thanks for the reply, it's a tricky one isn't it.

Let me ask another way, I played with an iPod Touch today in a shop and for me it is fine as it is, I like it's design as it is. So if they DO upgrade it, will they change it's size and design with a bigger screen?
Because I would rather have the current design and sized device, plus it actually runs iOS8 not too bad which surprised me.

 

[ackmondual]

Thanks for the reply, it's a tricky one isn't it.

Let me ask another way, I played with an iPod Touch today in a shop and for me it is fine as it is, I like it's design as it is. So if they DO upgrade it, will they change it's size and design with a bigger screen?
Because I would rather have the current design and sized device, plus it actually runs iOS8 not too bad which surprised me.

Sorry to rehash, but I sure as heck don't know this either, and it's also "killing me" (as much as it would for a casual techie).

Honestly, I'm hoping they come out with a 4.7" IpT6, as that would be my main motivation to get it. It was so when I went from IpT3 to 4 (Retina), and IpT4 to 5 (an extra row of home icons, or 0.5" seems shallow, but hey, it worked ).

Don't get me wrong... the improved digicam meant that even though I have my Samsung Galaxy s2/s4 for pics, it's still a handy backup (that doesn't suck). Extra processing power to be able to do games and stuff better. Stupid colors did give it added flare. Being able to use the more updated versions of iOS well (because every time a new version of iOS comes out, your blazingly fast processor now chugs like molasses). But here, I'd bet that the larger screens on the Iph6 and Iph6+ were the main attractions.

 

[apolloa]

I think I'll just get a current iPod Touch 16GB, I think any new model they make will have a bigger screen, the current one will run all my apps and games I've ever collected, which is a lot over the years haha. The next dilemma is what colour?

 

[ackmondual]

I think I'll just get a current iPod Touch 16GB, I think any new model they make will have a bigger screen, the current one will run all my apps and games I've ever collected, which is a lot over the years haha. The next dilemma is what colour?

Hint, if you want red, it's only through Apple.com

 

[apolloa]

Hint, if you want red, it's only through Apple.com

Nah, thinking white and silver or green.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My strong recommendation would be to get one now if you think you will both need it and (or) want it.

The iPod Touch is a wonderful device and has both excellent battery and excellent audio; I have one, and recommend it highly.

As to your question, I cannot say whether or not Apple would (or will) choose to upgrade or update it this year. They may do so. However, they may even choose to discontinue it, as they have already done with the iPod classic.

My personal suspicion is that they are seeking to phase out the entire iPod line over time, in favour of the newer 'rentier' system of 'renting' access to music from an online source, rather than buying it outright.

 

[apolloa]

My strong recommendation would be to get one now if you think you will both need it and (or) want it.

The iPod Touch is a wonderful device and has both excellent battery and excellent audio; I have one, and recommend it highly.

As to your question, I cannot say whether or not Apple would (or will) choose to upgrade or update it this year. They may do so. However, they may even choose to discontinue it, as they have already den with the iPod classic.

My personal suspicion is that they are seeking to phase out the entire iPod line over time, in favour of the newer 'rentier' system of 'renting' access to music from an online source, rather than buying it outright.

Yeah that's what I think, Apple have had plenty of opportunity to upgrade the iTouch so the fact they haven't is a worry, plus the 16GB model has a lot of offers on it now in stores. As I said I like it's design. My iPod Nano 3rd gen hasn't missed a beat, it's lived in my car pretty much in a little plastic case. iPods seem to be pretty resilient little devices, even my brother in laws iPod, not the classic but the older hard drive model that played videos, sprang back to life after it stopped working and he restored the software.

With an iPod in a car it's a no worry situation, if you use a phone then you have to copy your music across every time you get a new phone.

 

[MacSince1985]

If you look at the buyer's guide or MacTracker, you can see that the iPod Touch, Nano and Shuffle's last real update was in 2012. Since then, it's only been color changes and upgrading the 16GB model to match the 32 and 64GB models.

There's room for improvement (updated processor, memory, graphics card, screen, camera) and still keep the entry price at $200. But it can't be an iPhone without the phone at that price. Only Apple knows whether they'll make that update.

I still use my 3rd gen iPod Touch and it continues to works well. Only drawbacks are the shortened battery life and it doesn't meet the system requirements for some newer apps.

 

[IpadSC400]

They are due...I'm guessing they will. A major design update is a must if they want to keep sales up.

 

[jedisaga]

They are due...I'm guessing they will. A major design update is a must if they want to keep sales up.

That's part of the problem with the IPT. Sales are down. There isn't much of a reason to keep this line alive aside from parents giving one to a teen or kid. The market has significantly changed over the last few years. I'm hoping Apple will release a new IPT this year, but I believe the 5G was the last big update it will ever receive. Any future updates (if any) will be minimal at best.

J

 

[617aircav]

Will they update the iPod Touch this year?

No. Times have changed and young kids now have access to cheap smartphones. Why buy an iPod for a kid for $200 when you can buy him a phone for that. Even an iPhone.

 

[apolloa]

That's part of the problem with the IPT. Sales are down. There isn't much of a reason to keep this line alive aside from parents giving one to a teen or kid. The market has significantly changed over the last few years. I'm hoping Apple will release a new IPT this year, but I believe the 5G was the last big update it will ever receive. Any future updates (if any) will be minimal at best.

J

I think they will do an iPod Touch 6 Plus if they do anything at all. it would be a kinda mini iPad I guess and could make sense. But it would cost a fair bit more I would guess?

 

[ackmondual]

No. Times have changed and young kids now have access to cheap smartphones. Why buy an iPod for a kid for $200 when you can buy him a phone for that. Even an iPhone.

What kind of Iph can you realistically get for $200? AFAIK, Iph4/4s. 16 GB. If they need more modern Iph and/or larger storage, I doubt we're still within that budget.

 

[940272]

That's part of the problem with the IPT. Sales are down. There isn't much of a reason to keep this line alive aside from parents giving one to a teen or kid. The market has significantly changed over the last few years. I'm hoping Apple will release a new IPT this year, but I believe the 5G was the last big update it will ever receive. Any future updates (if any) will be minimal at best.

J

Sales are down because Apple didn't promote the iPod line as they used to when it was refreshed in 2012; also a lack of sales comes from a lack of updates.

At best, I see the iPod Touch becoming iPad Nano and the rest of the iPod line being killed off, because this is the most likely scenario.

 

[617aircav]

What kind of Iph can you realistically get for $200? AFAIK, Iph4/4s. 16 GB. If they need more modern Iph and/or larger storage, I doubt we're still within that budget.

You can get them for $200 on contract and add a line for $20 to a family plan or get any number of android phones for that or less. There is no need to get a kid an iPod and another phone, just get him a smart phone.

 

[MacSince1985]

You can get them for $200 on contract and add a line for $20 to a family plan or get any number of android phones for that or less. There is no need to get a kid an iPod and another phone, just get him a smart phone.

According to your math, your iPhone would end up costing $680 ($200 cost + 24 months @ $20) since most subsidized phones require a 2 year contract.

There is still room in the Apple ecosystem for the Touch. Affordable purchase price => open iTunes account => purchase apps and content. The shuffle still has its fans (cheap, small, sturdy, easily replaced if lost/broken). The Nano, with its pseudo iOS interface and very few apps is a too much of an in-between. If an iPod model gets dropped, that would be the one.

My guess is that any updates will be minimal spec improvements and/or price drop on the entire line.

 

[617aircav]

According to your math, your iPhone would end up costing $680 ($200 cost + 24 months @ $20) since most subsidized phones require a 2 year contract.



There is still room in the Apple ecosystem for the Touch. Affordable purchase price => open iTunes account => purchase apps and content. The shuffle still has its fans (cheap, small, sturdy, easily replaced if lost/broken). The Nano, with its pseudo iOS interface and very few apps is a too much of an in-between. If an iPod model gets dropped, that would be the one.



My guess is that any updates will be minimal spec improvements and/or price drop on the entire line.

You are assuming the person would not have a smartphone anyway. Parents would rather buy a smartphone for their kid than an iPod touch plus a smartphone. The market keeps shrinking for the iPod touch as more and more people switch to smartphones.

 

[940272]

You are assuming the person would not have a smartphone anyway. Parents would rather buy a smartphone for their kid than an iPod touch plus a smartphone. The market keeps shrinking for the iPod touch as more and more people switch to smartphones.

No, parents would rather buy just an iPod Touch for their kid. They don't necessarily need to have a smartphone with it as well.

 

[617aircav]

No, parents would rather buy just an iPod Touch for their kid. They don't necessarily need to have a smartphone with it as well.

Not true. More kids are getting phones today than when the iPod was launched. Bottom line is apple recognizes that the iPod touch market keeps shrinking, thus the lack of updates.

 

[loon3y]

iPod touch will be essential to businesses and apples b2b App Store.


in terms of inventory, retail, trade shows.

i've said this plenty of times before. they will sell as more business apps are made.


Why pay near $700 for an iPhone, in which you're not even going to use data.

When you can pay $200 dollars for an iPod touch? The dollar amount does add up, You're spending 500 extra dollars in expenses when you don't need to.


I've said this plenty of times, but some people have no idea about running a business. They say it doesn't matter and they should be able to afford it, but what company just intentionally wastes money on unneeded expenses? companies even fortune 500 companies try to cut expenses.

Anyhow, not to mention not every company is a fortune 500 company. Yes some companies/businesses can afford wasting the money to get an iPhone, others can't.

If they drop the iPod touch, business would be only getting 2 devices where as if they don't drop it they'd get 8.


the biggest issue with the iPod Touch is that its antique specs. 512 GB of ram? a very old processor? it makes running memory intensive apps on the iPod near impossible. with iOS 8 Apps crash at the 200GB mark.

Partly because something weren't coded right, but its really tedious fixing it for one device when other devices work fine (iPhone 5/5S/6/6+, iPad 3/4/Air/Air2,)

----------

Not true. More kids are getting phones today than when the iPod was launched. Bottom line is apple recognizes that the iPod touch market keeps shrinking, thus the lack of updates.

you guys keep thinking about the "kids" and the retail consumers.

the iPod touch is the way to go for businesses.



as for the retail consumer end, some people might like androids but want a cheaper iOS device, and not necessarily a tablet (aka iPad Mini 1 which is what $250 now, which is completely outdated, non-retina), because some people don't carry a man purse/purse to carry a tablet everywhere.



As for the OP, buy it with caution, knowing that this device isn't going to support iOS 9. Apple could of milked this model longer if they just updated the processor and gave it 1 GB of ram.

 

[Plutonius]

As for the OP, buy it with caution, knowing that this device isn't going to support iOS 9. Apple could of milked this model longer if they just updated the processor and gave it 1 GB of ram.

Apple will not keep selling the Touch if it doesn't support IOS 9. Apple will either

1) Stop selling the Touch by late spring / early summer if a new Touch isn't released and the Touch 5 will not run IOS 9.

2) Release a new Touch by late spring / early summer if the Touch 5 will not run IOS 9.

3) Allow the Touch 5 to run IOS 9.

My bet is the Touch 5 will run IOS 9. In any case, we should have a better idea in late spring / early summer on what direction Apple is heading.

 

[oldmacs]

Apple will not keep selling the Touch if it doesn't support IOS 9. Apple will either

1) Stop selling the Touch by late spring / early summer if a new Touch isn't released and the Touch 5 will not run IOS 9.

2) Release a new Touch by late spring / early summer if the Touch 5 will not run IOS 9.

3) Allow the Touch 5 to run IOS 9.

My bet is the Touch 5 will run IOS 9. In any case, we should have a better idea in late spring / early summer on what direction Apple is heading.

If its true iOS 9 will be an optimisation release, its almost a certainty that the iPod Touch 5 will run it. All Apple devices (besides the Touch 4) have received 1 year of updates post being dropped (and the Touch 4 was a completely different situation).

 

[loon3y]

Apple will not keep selling the Touch if it doesn't support IOS 9. Apple will either

1) Stop selling the Touch by late spring / early summer if a new Touch isn't released and the Touch 5 will not run IOS 9.

2) Release a new Touch by late spring / early summer if the Touch 5 will not run IOS 9.

3) Allow the Touch 5 to run IOS 9.

My bet is the Touch 5 will run IOS 9. In any case, we should have a better idea in late spring / early summer on what direction Apple is heading.

the 5th generation touch isn't going to support iOS9


they already announced this will be the last iOS update the iPad 2 will get, which is the same specs as the iPod Touch.


unless iOS9 is REALLY optimized, which i highly doubt. the touch can only handle less then 200MB of ram (crashes at 200MB) with iOS8