Leading up to the Apple event two days ago there were rumors that they would announce the camera functionality for both the Touch and Nano, but might not be shipping them because of manufacturing defects. At the time I thought that sounded very un-Apple-like because of their fondness for saying "available RIGHT NOW" for products. However, in retrospect I wonder if this rumor was spawned from some manufacturing problems with the iPod camera specifically. Let's look at the facts:
MANY manufacturers have shown iPod Touch cases with the included camera hole.
The software to utilize a video AND still camera is already in place with iPhone OS 3.0.
Apple has shown a lot of interest in video - calling it "HUGE" in their presentation on Wednesday.
The cameras for the iPod Nano and iPod Touch are likely different, because the Nano can only shoot video, whereas the Touch will most likely have the same camera as the iPhone. (or at least it would fit with an extra 2.5mm: www.cultofmac.com/teardown-shows-iphone-camera-cou... ) so they could have problems with one camera while being able to release the other.
The 3rd Gen touch actually has a SPACE for a camera! www.cultofmac.com/ipod-touch-teardown-reveals-empt...
Both their upper and lower tier portable products now have cameras, with their mid-range tier (with a larger install base than the iPhone) having none. Personally I don't buy the "it's a gaming machine" answer for a minute - Why would a gaming machine NOT want a camera? The freekin' DS has TWO. Right Steve, right...
My prediction? This is just Apple being Apple and not revealing the product until it's ready for launch. Weigh in - what do you think?
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No Camera: A thought-out plan or last-minute change?
more than likely.... but then, they chose their show date... why did they have the show if the main product wasn't ready?? just to piss everyone off??
My best guess is that they had a pretty serious and widespread manufacturing flaw. Also, the link I left above about the space that was left for the camera indicates that it WOULDN'T be a different camera than the nano - sorry, didn't read the whole article before posting it. So that means no still shots for the Touch...what the heck Apple? Who KNOWS what they're thinking. I wouldn't put it past Steve-O to give the industry a prominent viewing of his skinny middle finger just because he didn't think the time was right for an iPod Touch camera.
wasnt there another device ( i beleive an android type) that was bult physically similar to the touch that it could have been mistaken for it?
That was the Zii, looks almost identical for the most part, other then the fact that it has two cameras.
The Touch was designed for the camera.
Slash Gear - iPod touch 3G teardown: space for camera, WiFi ‘n’ & FM chip found
www.slashgear.com/ipod-touch-3g-teardown-space-for...
Slash Gear - iPod touch 3G teardown: space for camera, WiFi ‘n’ & FM chip found
www.slashgear.com/ipod-touch-3g-teardown-space-for...
Well that is true but i think they don't want it to be better then the 3GS since there is still a lot of people that don't have one. I still think that before the july launch of the 4G or whatever its going to be called the touch with be upgraded to hold the camera and the new product to have will be the new iphone.
The 3Gs still has tons going for it - I've always thought that the iPod Touch targeted a different type of consumer than the iPhone. Adding a camera to the Touch would improve it, and it would still be significantly less functional than the iPhone for 3 reasons: Phone, 3G, and GPS.
This is crazy. Adding a camera with still and video is what would guarantee an upgrade purchase for many of us. The touch is not just for gaming, it is something that after years, finally made me give up my Palm T3 to use the touch as my electronic organizer (Smartime app). It goes everywhere with me. Also what goes with me -most of the time- is my Flip camera. The convenience of having this in one device goes without saying. As for the iPhone, I refuse to pay large monthly fees when a cheap phone and 1000 minutes is plenty for my needs.
As much as we gadget junkies would appreciate a camera, what would really guarantee sales is hitting that magic $199 price point.
(Just look what Sony has done with the PS3 to get the price down -- they just started stripping out more and more features over time. At least Apple is delaying adding features -- not removing existing ones.)
And with so many camera apps available, they've either gotta have a great camera in the Touch or no camera at all -- a cheap little VGA number like the nano got would just cause resentment.
(Just look what Sony has done with the PS3 to get the price down -- they just started stripping out more and more features over time. At least Apple is delaying adding features -- not removing existing ones.)
And with so many camera apps available, they've either gotta have a great camera in the Touch or no camera at all -- a cheap little VGA number like the nano got would just cause resentment.
Lead times for rolling out a product like this means this cannot have been a last minute change. For the new touch to ship when it did everything would have had to be decided already several months ago.
So, no, this wasn't a last minute change unless the last minute was 3 months ago.
So, no, this wasn't a last minute change unless the last minute was 3 months ago.
I'm inclined to agree with you, although I'm not sure how you can be that specific on lead times. In general, you do need significant lead times to ensure product availability and quality. It stands to reason that in order to provide customers with these camera-less third gens last Wednesday, Apple would have had to pull the trigger to remove the camera more than just a few days before. So yes, a 3-month "last minute" decision is plausible, although I begin to wonder why the case manufacturers kept on announcing cases if that were the actual timetable...
Seems a lot of people are thinking what I'm thinking this morning:
gizmodo.com/5358327/that-beat-up-leaked-ipod-touch...
appadvice.com/appnn/2009/09/were-the-leaked-ipod-t...
www.cultofmac.com/proof-the-ipod-touch-had-a-camer...
Granted, these are all just saying that the Touch HAD a camera at one point, and most likely one of two things happened: manufacturing glitch (which was already rumored) or it just didn't pass the Steve Jobs litmus test. Or both. In any case, with space as limited as it is inside that shiny case, I don't really see a reason to put a little piece of plastic in as a place-holder unless we're going to see an update VERY soon. Like before Christmas.
gizmodo.com/5358327/that-beat-up-leaked-ipod-touch...
appadvice.com/appnn/2009/09/were-the-leaked-ipod-t...
www.cultofmac.com/proof-the-ipod-touch-had-a-camer...
Granted, these are all just saying that the Touch HAD a camera at one point, and most likely one of two things happened: manufacturing glitch (which was already rumored) or it just didn't pass the Steve Jobs litmus test. Or both. In any case, with space as limited as it is inside that shiny case, I don't really see a reason to put a little piece of plastic in as a place-holder unless we're going to see an update VERY soon. Like before Christmas.
Everyone has their own opinion:
gizmodo.com/5359199/why-people-are-barking-up-the-...
He makes a good point - who would want a crappy camera in the iPod Touch? Playing the devil's advocate though, what if they DID put the same camera in the iPod Touch? It would make the iPhone superior in some ways, while still giving the iPod an upgrade (not to mention that it would give them an angle to say it WASN'T a marketing move - it was an ENGINEERING LIMITATION...) Right. Anywho, not saying I think this is what happened, just postulating. Talk amongst yourselves...
gizmodo.com/5359199/why-people-are-barking-up-the-...
He makes a good point - who would want a crappy camera in the iPod Touch? Playing the devil's advocate though, what if they DID put the same camera in the iPod Touch? It would make the iPhone superior in some ways, while still giving the iPod an upgrade (not to mention that it would give them an angle to say it WASN'T a marketing move - it was an ENGINEERING LIMITATION...) Right. Anywho, not saying I think this is what happened, just postulating. Talk amongst yourselves...
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