iPod touch with video camera set to ship in Spring - report
Many of us recall the shock when Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPod nano and its video camera - months of rumour and speculation had suggested a similar feature would appear within the iPod touch - it didn’t - but now it seems set to ship this Spring.
After the Apple event we found that the inside of the new model iPod touch has a dedicated space in which a video camera could easily slot. And third party accessory makers had created case designs featuring an aperture for the camera lens. Surely an iPod touch with a video camera was a certainty?
Not yet its not, but this morning’s slice of speculation from the “maybe one day” department says Apple will introduce an iPod touch with a video camera, but this won’t take place until next Spring.
Citing sources within Apple, The Examiner this morning claims the iPod touch set for a Spring 2010 release will “reportedly” have a camera.
“The iPod touch 3G with camera will allegedly have the same camera as the updated iPod nano, which shoots video, but not still pictures. Although the video quality on the nano is good for a portable device, it can't compare with the video quality of the iPhone 3GS.”
The report proceeds to state that Apple had originally planned to introduce an iPod touch with a camera last September, but prototypes didn’t make it through quality control.
Just before the September Apple event we heard that production problems had confounded the company’s intent to introduce a camera into the iPod touch.
“The issue would be linked to the new camera module. We did not get any further details, but the problem has been spotted in the first dozen of thousands units produced. Those units have been put aside.”
We think this particular slice of speculation has legs, it seems to fit what we were hearing both before and after Apple’s September iPod event, and we can’t imagine Apple would want to introduce an upgraded touch this side or soon after Christmas. So Spring seems the next hot moment for such a launch.
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Comments (35)
That's going to be pretty annoying to have the Nano's level of video/picture quality - Wouldn't people be expecting more from the Touch when it finally gets it?
That's going to be pretty annoying to have the Nano's level of video/picture quality - Wouldn't people be expecting more from the Touch when it finally gets it?
Yeah except that it will probably be the iPhone camera more than the nano camera, I don't see the point of putting such a tiny little camera on the iPod Touch... Plus, if the picture is not a fake, it seems to be an iPhone camera.
You can see it now - the keynote will go something like 'Our customers with the new nano love the camera, and so we thought "why don't we bring this to our next most popular model?". So, today we're introducing the new iPod touch with a video camera. And no, this definitely wasn't supposed to happen last September'.
This type of article has only one purpose. To try and freeze Apple's holiday sales. Can you say stock manipulation?
or, just maybe, it's actually meant to inform their readers?! sounds crazy, i know! many people, myself included, have been waiting for the camera-equipped ipod touch, and appreciate up-to-date information on its possible release, especially in advance of the holidays. nobody likes being surprised with a new model shortly after buying. if you're so anxious about your stock portfolio, try diversifying it.
If you look at the history of Apple rumors, you'll find that the vast majority of them to be incorrect. Maybe some rumors are meant to inform, but in reality they mostly do the opposite.
Apple almost never releases an iPod product update outside of 3Q. This rumor didn't explain this twist in the iPod release schedule because it is a fake.
Haha, anonymous rumors exist to manipulate people. That's why they're anonymous - they're made up.
I want the iPhone camera, not a crappy video camera.
Updating the product line in the Spring is stupid: sales are at their lowest from the early spring and into the summer. And by Fall, they need to overhaul the product line - a new weak camera added in the spring simply won't be enough to compete with other manufacturers.
Therefore, to maximize sales, Apple wouldn't release a new iPod in the spring.
This is a rumor by a competitor, trying to convince people to not buy the Touch for whatever reason.
There won't be any new iPods in the spring. Expect to see the next iPod round-up in the 2nd half of 2010.
...because not one single phone or gadget maker has introduced a camera that is fast enough and offers the IQ of a proper digicam. A few Samsungs (and the Nokia N82) come close, but unless Apple stick in a 5MP camera with good auto focus glass (lens) and a Xenon flash, then all it will be is for snapping fuzzy noisy when blown up photos for blogging. A waste because people want to archive their lives with high quality images - as was the case with 35mm film cameras.
It's my theory that the 3gS demand far outstripped expectations and that they had not contracted to produce the camera fast enough. Also, they had planned to put the same camera into the touch. The timing would be just about right for them to figure out that they had a choice: undersupply their high-margin, flagship phone or deliver the iPod touch without a camera. The correct choice was obvious, but disappointing to many. I think 3gS supplies are still pretty tight, worldwide. Maybe the camera has been the limiting factor all along. Just theory.
That isn't a bad theory at all and one we haven't heard. Keep them coming
The problem with that theory is that the iPod touch is not thick enough to fit the 3Gs camera, but the space that was left open is just big enough for the nano's camera.
I'm not an apple fan- boy, all my computers are PCs and I like them. But this seems to me like a report, released right before black friday, is designed to hurt apple sales as others have said above. I wouldn't trust it. I was intending to buy a touch soon and after thinking this over, I still will.
I'd happily forgo the camera in favor of a GPS...
I'm with you on this statement at least 80% of the way..
But wouldn't it be amazing to get GPS, digicam, a beefier processor & an espresso maker!!!?!?
I'm pretty much convinced that it was as originally theorized, that is last minute production problems scuttled the camera. The PC board pretty much highlights that there was an intention to put a camera in the Touch.
As to the type of Camera frankly I don't really care!!! As the Noob above states, I'd would rather that Apple put GPS into the units first. GPS would be far more useful in my estimation. In any event it would be even better if that upgraded model with Camera came with a new hight performance SoC from the PA Semi team, as that is my reason to wait for new hardware. So in order of preference, the new Touch needs a faster more capable SoC (with more RAM), GPS and them maybe a camera.
The other thing that bothers me is the idea that it needs to be still capable. I'd rather have a 1080P capable video chip that produces good results in a wide array of lighting situations. Maybe it is a hang over form my SLR days, but if I want to take pictures I grab a real camera.
Dave
The best camera is the one that you have with you - if you even have one. My razr's camera has never been satisfactory. I won't buy an iPhone because of monthly charges. I'd love to have an iPod with the current iphone camera for the pictures of unplanned events that I can't capture.
You can have that and more without monthly charges, in the form of a jailbroken Iphone.
I'm pretty much convinced that it was as originally theorized, that is last minute production problems scuttled the camera. The PC board pretty much highlights that there was an intention to put a camera in the Touch.
As to the type of Camera frankly I don't really care!!! As the Noob above states, I'd would rather that Apple put GPS into the units first. GPS would be far more useful in my estimation. In any event it would be even better if that upgraded model with Camera came with a new hight performance SoC from the PA Semi team, as that is my reason to wait for new hardware. So in order of preference, the new Touch needs a faster more capable SoC (with more RAM), GPS and them maybe a camera.
The other thing that bothers me is the idea that it needs to be still capable. I'd rather have a 1080P capable video chip that produces good results in a wide array of lighting situations. Maybe it is a hang over form my SLR days, but if I want to take pictures I grab a real camera.
Dave
There is no point in rushing the camera out early. It will be competing with development and testing with other advancements that will be ready at the traditional time. Sorry, I don't buy the rumor. They are far better off integrating an even better camera with next year's other improvements and releasing as regularly scheduled in September. It may sound reasonable, but this is the kind of mistake that Apple does NOT make.
I am pretty new to Apple but from what I have read/seen so far I think that what apple needs to do it allow the iphone to be sold without having to connect the phone. Then those of us who don't want to have AT&T service and who already have another phone that they like, can get the iphone and use all the other features including the camera and video. My understanding is the iphone is a better itouch with a phone and camera, am I right on that? Or are there other major differences?
There's no way Apple will sell you an iPhone without a contract in the U.S. unless you fork over the extra $400 that ATT pays Apple for each iPhone sold. ie You pay $500 for a 3g, $600 minimum for a 3gS. Still interested?
All the talk about the next version of the iTouch having a camera is
what I want to see happen next. Hopefully a 16 GB camera based iTouch
at the $199.00 level would be the lower end of the new iTouch line.
Also, with he camera, will no doubt come the built-in microphone
(and better internal speaker) that the basic iTouch desperately needs.
Come on Apple, I was ready to buy this new iTouch with camera, back in
September!
ipod's are really going high tech,i wish if i can expand its utilities by installing mobile softwares and applications in it
you can simply google to find more about it.
I hope its just an option. I don't want or need a camera in my Touch. I already have a camera in my cellphone that I never use. I would rather have a Touch with longer battery life and am/fm radio.
differntiation of lines- empty spot in the touch is for a projector, not a camera.
Wow if only i was able to take stills with it as well, but i suppose that the ipod touch and iphone would be too similar then
It's not exactly subjectrelated but I would rather see Apple come up with a new clickwheel Ipod comparable with the Touch but...eh with Clickwheel, I'm very satisfied with the clickwheel and I don't get the advantage of using a Touchscreen, it cannot be used blind...The Nano has become too childish since the first generation (which I own and am in love with..still), and the Classic is a bit too big and lacks in technology.