Is iPod Touch getting a camera?
One of the features that iPod Touch users have been requesting from Apple is a camera. According to reports, they may be getting their wish.
Apple's iPhone 3GS still-camera autofocus feature.
(Credit: Apple)While attributing its information only to a "sources in Asia," TechCrunch claims that Apple has placed an order for camera modules destined for the next version of the iPod Touch. The size of the order, according to TechCrunch, is "massive."
MacRumors is taking the camera information a step further, claiming that both the iPod Touch and iPod Nano will receive cameras when they are updated. New case designs, purportedly for the iPods, show a hole for the camera.
This isn't the first time rumors of iPods getting a camera have come up. In May, AppleInsider said that iPods would get cameras similar to those found in iPhones.
At this point the only handheld device from Apple with a camera is the iPhone. All three models of the iPhone come with a one.
In addition to its 3-megapixel still camera, the iPhone 3GS includes video recording and basic video-editing software, which allows chunks of video to be uploaded to YouTube or MobileMe.
Jim Dalrymple has followed Apple and the Mac industry for the last 15 years, first as part of MacCentral and then in various positions at Macworld. A guitar player for 20 years, Jim also writes about the professional audio market, examining the best ways to write and record songs on a Macintosh with Logic Pro and Pro Tools. Jim is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. 
The iPod Touch already cannibalizes the iPhone as it is.
If they keep adding iPhone features to the iPod touch people are going say hell why should I get locked into a contract when I can have get a iPod Touch and have everything but the phone.
Way I see it. iPod Touch = iPhone w/o a sim card
Some people will always want just one device in their pocket and will pay extra dollars for the privilege. You don't get visual voicemail or SMS on your iPod touch, nor do you get full integration with your Address Book, etc.
Also, without a cellular data connection, the iPod touch can't work as an effective GPS device for turn-by-turn directions. Unlike dedicated GPS units with preloaded maps, the iPhone and iPod touch download maps on the fly. Any app/service that streams content is far more effective on the iPhone (e.g., last.fm, Pandora, SimplifyMedia) since you can be on the go and still have a data feed.
It's up to the individual to decide if the always-on data connection is worth it.
IMO, what really holds the iPod Touch back from greatness is an integrated mic and ear speaker for utilizing Internet phone services, such as Skype. But as I understand it, Apple doesn't only get an iPhone sale through AT&T. They also receive a portion of the monthly fees paid by customers. So it is unlikely we'll see these additions to avoid the large scale cannibilizing of which you speak--and it would be large scale as millions of people could eliminate their monthly phone service altogether! Hmmm...perhaps this could be the perfect feature for an Apple competitor to gain ground in the market??
Cameras on cell phones make Cellular Service Providers money since the MMS portion is often an extra fee on top of the normal plan. CPS's can't make money off a Touch in the same way so...
Nope, I'll put this into the same category as a Mac Tablet for likelihood to come true.
The way you see it?? Thank goodness a lot of people don't see things through your eyes. They would all be blind. As usual, you take an ounce of truth and mix it with a pound of FUD. Camera or not, the iPhone does more than the Touch (SMS, Navigation, Visual Voice mail, being dependent of WiFi for a connection). They do share some traits for sure, but there is enough to distinguish the two so as to keep the "cannibalizing" to a minimum.
Remember though, you cannot use the GPS for long periods of time, or in direct sunlight! ;) Apple blames that pesky sun for the overheating problem, especially when using the GPS for long periods of time. The irony is, for short trips, most people already know where they are going and really do not need a GPS... they only come in handy when traveling outside of your general living area and thus, long periods of time. So unless you plan on visiting unknown neighborhoods in the middle of the night, Apple more or less recommends that you do not use the GPS ;)
Personally, I'd rather have integral GPS in a future Touch over a weak, kneecapped resolution camera...if the iPhone 3Gs's camera is any indicator. But adding a camera makes sense; netbooks almost universally have them, and Apple DOES push the Touch's Wi-Fi capability. If the Touch is supposed to be some sort of functional alternative to hauling a netbook around, then it makes a lot of sense that the next Touch has to have a camera.
The iPod Touch already cannibalizes the iPhone as it is.
If they keep adding iPhone features to the iPod touch people are going say hell why should I get locked into a contract when I can have get a iPod Touch and have everything but the phone.
Way I see it. iPod Touch = iPhone w/o a sim card
You know that would make the thing alot more expensive.
You can add a feature that none of the competition has but when your product cost 150 - 200 more cause of it then it really serves no benefit anymore.
But honestly, i dont see how the touch can remain competitive (at least feature wise) with so many similar devices coming to market. But least face it, if they put a 0.3MP camera on it, Apple's Sheople will snap it up like its the best tech ever.
Remember that for video, the shutter speed is basically 1/60 sec. An image sensor with bad low-light performance is basically useless in poorly-lit venues (like rock clubs). You basically get a bunch of shadowy, highly-pixelated blobs moving around on a mostly black background.
@terminalblue--That sounds like the same thing that some people said about iPods (i.e. classic and nanos). I don't even have to comment any further about how that has turned out over the years. BTW, the only "sheople" are the drones on this post that continue to post the same FUD. I know their some over-zealous Apple fans, but some of you people (the Apple bashers) take the cake sometimes.
and finally...
@ apple lover ckh1272...
Fear...i dont think the camera is a bad idea
Uncertainanty...People will buy it
Doubt...it will work just fine
There is no FUD in my comment, i just would like to see tech that isn't low end or rehashed put in a pretty package (like almost everything apple releases in hardware). I am sorry that you have such a deep and undying infatuation for a computer company, but some of us just arent into Apple like that.
@cvaldes1831 fair enough, i honestly didnt consider video performance. but thats a good point. still though, more MP's equals a bigger "wow" factor.
and finally...
@ apple lover ckh1272...
Fear...i dont think the camera is a bad idea
Uncertainanty...People will buy it
Doubt...it will work just fine
There is no FUD in my comment, i just would like to see tech that isn't low end or rehashed put in a pretty package (like almost everything apple releases in hardware). I am sorry that you have such a deep and undying infatuation for a computer company, but some of us just arent into Apple like that.
@terminalblue-You obviously have no clue about what I was talking about. It is FUD when people are saying what you were saying regarding the iPod's competition. Learn from history my friend, is all that I am saying. BTW, I am not some Apple fanatic. I have many different products form many different makers, so you are just slinging more FUD with that ignorant statement. Quit reading what isn't there.
apple would rather lose sales on the iphone and sell more touch's and create better brand loyalty, and by other apple products...even f its not an iphone.
people that buy the touch arent the same people buying the iphone. they are buyers without phones or on other networks. they are still creating customers and loyalty with reliable device. the touch is literally like the "my first iphone" .apple would rather lose sales on the iphone and sell more touch's and create better brand loyalty, and by other apple products...even f its not an iphone.
@terminalblue--I don't always agree with your posts, but I agree 100% with that statement. Apple will make their money regardless. There main objective is customer loyalty and there are many ways to achieve that.
actually, I bought the iPod Touch to make up for the shortcomings of the Samsung Instinct and Sprint's failure to live up to promises and hype. The iPod Touch provided me with features, apps and WiFi that the Instinct simply could not accomplish.
I purchased the 2nd gen iPod Touch around Nov. 08 and in a matter of days it became the best little gadget I'd ever put my greedy little fingers on. My love for the little guy grew and grew up until the point I decided to say screw Sprint and my stupidass Instinct, and I dropped them for AT&T and the iPhone 3G S and passed the iPod Touch on to my girlfriend.
While I miss Sprint's $99 unlimited plan, in the short time I have had the 3G S, I feel the extra cost of better service is worth it. Of course there will be those who disagree, because cell service varies city by city... but so far, I have faster speed and better coverage and not to mention a much better phone going with AT&T and the iPhone 3G S!
Why? Because there are great Internet radio apps (Pandora, last.fm, Yahoo! Music, FlyCast, etc.) as well as SimplifyMedia (which streams your audio content from your machine to your iPhone/iPod touch).
I'm hoping the next-generation iPod touch goes up to 64GB, but I already know it won't be able to store all my music. I just need more room for apps and maybe have some flexibility with video.
I will look into SimplifyMedia, though. I'd been using the Remote app to play the rest of my media from my computer when home, and having something that operates in the other direction
I just wish they'd fix
A) the podcast/audiobook synching issue with 3.0.The remembered position in iTunes /always/ trumps the one on the iPod touch after a sync, so if you listen to your podcasts or audiobooks on the Touch, and stop in the middle, you're always having to hunt down your place after a sync. Also, they need to...
B) Respect the Playlist Folder Heirarchy. I made those folders in iTunes for a reason, blast it. I've got dozens of different playlists, and I hate being forced to scroll alphabetically to find the one I'm looking for. Oh, and...
C) Non-letter characters sort /before/ letters in iTunes, but /after/ letters on the Touch's playlist listings. Vexing and nonsensical.
I rather see the Ipod Touch have features that the Zune HD will have (i.e: OLED screen, HD capability, etc, etc). To me that would be much better than a stupid camera. I already have a digital camera to take photos.
For playback of captured video, you'd really want a built-in speaker and certainly a microphone. Is there enough room in the nano for all this?
New iPod Touch 3G here I come!
I'm one of those people who is planning to buy a Touch but have no interest in the iPhone because of the monthly cost. I want the apps to replace my obsolete Palm but my cheap pay as you go cell plan suits me just fine. Yes, having iPhone net access from anywhere would be cool, but it's not affordable for me.
The reasons the iPod's still haven't received cameras is because they are due for an update yet. They are usually updated every September and I don't think it would be sensible for Apple to come out with such an upgrade less than a year from the previous update.
I considered the Touch until I noticed other players for less money with more features and more hard drive space.
Yes, I was considering the iPhone but in my area AT&T has awful service (people are fleeing AT&T here) and I am not going to pay $500+ to put an iPhone on T-Mobile (which supports the iPhone) when I currently have Blackberry service at a third of what people are paying for iPhone service on AT&T.
- by CreativeMalcolm July 6, 2009 1:59 PM PDT
- @beachfront
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (72 Comments)Dude what the heck are you smoking? More features? Like what an FM transmitter? How many other MP3 players can you update your Facebook on? The iPod touch is a lot of things, but feature poor it is not, there's thousands of optional apps that expand it's functionality.
As far as the camera I imagine we'll keep seeing the iPod touch regularly add new features that the iPhone introduces. This year we'll see a faster processor and graphics chipset as well as a camera. I imagine voice control will also be on this model.