Before Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S yesterday, they briefly talked about the iPod touch, and mentioned that it was no available in white. Other than that, there was no news about it.
Since the keynote, more info has trickled out about various products related to the announcement: apparently, the iPod touch doesn't receive the same A5 processor update that we see in the iPhone 4S.
This is pretty perplexing to me. Yesterday, Apple called the iPod touch one of the most popular gaming devices in the world. If that's the case, why not put the A5 inside of it -- it delivers something like 2x overall performance improvements compared to the A4, and 7x the graphical capabilities.
Apple likes to talk about the total number of iOS users (instead of total number of iPhone users) when they compare their stats to other platforms. One would think that they'd be pretty aggressive in getting their latest and greatest processor into a $200 device!
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Why didn't Apple put the A5 into the iPod touch, "the most popular gaming device in the world"?
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If there is one area Apple excels, it is in managing the supply chain. They have been very good at estimating demand and balancing that with the manufacturing throughput of their partners. I am sure they would have liked too, but are forced to wait if they want to be able to meet the initial demand for the 4S. Once they get ahead of the growth curve, I'm sure they will do everything in their power to saturate their product line with these chips.
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i'm assuming to keep costs low
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It could be related to the fact that the A5 would require more battery power than they could fit in such a thin device.
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Since iPhone is subsidized by carriers, I think they can be more generous on the hardware side. It may have been too much of a prize jump for the Touch.
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I had read something about the processors being in short supply so they could not upgrade the touch. At least that was one of the rumors. Some predicted the A5 would not be in the touch. I imagine it would get an update in the near future or possibly not till this time next year.
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My theory is still that Apple had an iPhone 5 planned, but it was delayed so badly that they threw the 4s together at the last minute. How else do you explain the 16-month wait for a product that Apple could have easily had ready by this summer, or all of the Chinese case leaks?
I'm still expecting an iPhone 5 next year, but Apple might be holding off on the touch to bump stock prices a bit - or maybe it's just not ready.
I'm still expecting an iPhone 5 next year, but Apple might be holding off on the touch to bump stock prices a bit - or maybe it's just not ready.
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