Apple reveals "touchscreen" iPod? Not so fast...

Ah Apple, what will we ever do with you? Leading us on to believe such incredulous things such as a next-to-definite Apple tablet, an almost-certain iPhone, sure-to-be-impending widescreen (and wireless) iPod, forthcoming iSight-ed Cinema Display, and an 802.11n-compatible iTV may actually see the light of day. So, here we are again, and this time it appears that some quick-fingered editor has some explaining to do, as we just so happened to have read the words "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are support for iPod models with display screens, beginning with the touch-screen models." while perusing through the October 10th edition of the iPod Notes Feature Guide. While fanboys will surely grasp on to this utterly amazing glimmer of hope, the skeptic in us has to wonder if this isn't just an unfortunate slight of hand, perhaps regarding the term "touch-wheel," referring to 3G+ model iPods. While we sure wouldn't complain if some "unplanned event" happened to unveil a snazzy new media device from the depths of Cupertino, we all know Apple doesn't like to leak anything from within before an official release -- but hey, we don't mind a bit of crow every now and then. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via MacDailyNews]

[Rohit Kapur @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:28PM]

"Scroll-screen" models, then?? Isn't that also nonsensical??

Anyway, I HOPE this is true. I've been waiting on buying this for a while. Still living with my 3G. No complaints, other than that my power supply just died.

[Jarod @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:28PM]

This can only be REALLY GOOD NEWS!! :D

Finally something worthy. I'm getting sick an tired of that 'ipod killer' garbage cropping up desperately for pathetic attention. More specifically, MS Sh*t (oops I meant zune).

[Matt Hutcheson @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:30PM]

Actually, the 2G ipod was the first to feature the "touch-wheel"

[Iamvery @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:30PM]

I think you meant replace "screen" with "scroll"... i.e. a "touch-scroll" still not making great sense, but better than "scroll-screen"

[andy @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:33PM]

Actually the second Gen had a non-mechanical wheel too.

[narco @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:37PM]

Unfortunately, this does not mean the Touch-screen iPod. It has already been confirmed that they are discussing the 3rd gen iPod which touch-sensitive buttons and such.

Fishes,
narco.

[telepheedian @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:41PM]

We will see.

A "touch-screen" does not indicate a touch control interface, it indicates a touch screen. A mistype? Maybe. But no one really knows until its out.

[CFlip2X @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:47PM]

what if they had touch sensitve controls on the side so if you want to scroll you justslide your thumb down the side and maybe other areas on the side for play, next, menu, etc.

[Adrian @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:25PM]

Well, if you would take your time and _read_ that note (meaning that you also _think_ while reading), then you'd understand quickly that this is obviously a typo.

The note starts with links that are supported in 5th gen models with firmware 1.2 or newer. Those links are "only" (quote) support by those iPods, because they are the _newest_ i.e. furthest developed ones. The note then goes one saying that all other note-features are support by all other (_older_) screen iPods, _starting_ with the touch-_wheel_ ones.

It wouldn't make sense, that the possibly-upcomming touchscreen iPods wouldn't support links in notes as the 5th gen iPods already do. The writer is clearly speaking about _older_ iPods that don't support this feature and the notes feature in general (which seems to have been intruced with the first touch-wheel iPods).

Of course, there's the possibility of a freudian slip. But I highly doubt that and would account it to dirty spell-checking.

[Joe @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:28PM]

For crimony sakes, why is this even a question or a curiosity. It's obvious that a touch screen 'something' is inevitable at some point from Apple, but this scribble or typo or whatever hardly rises to the point of being newsworthy. I'm surprised you're not reporting 'remote sensing' or 'download by just thinking about it' features by our friends in Cupertino. Then again, those may be in the offering anytime soon ... but then again, how would I know?

[aptmunich @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:44PM]

Read it rationally:

If the video and photo linking feature they describe is only available for the current iPod with video, then it MUST be a typo.

ALL other features relate to iPod's with displays from the touch model onwards. (i.e. from the 3rd gen onwards).

[Mike @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:07PM]

ipods out of touch will get sent to iraq... i mean, get us sent to iraq.

[PEZ @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:28PM]

yeah I heard ipods stink.

[Nilton @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:31PM]

It seems that they have changed the document. Now it reads:
"""
Note: ... All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models beginning with third-generation iPod (dock connector) models with touch wheel.
"""

That is: "touch wheel". Sorry for all of you. :)

[Jim @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:35PM]

The PDF seems to have changed. I looked at the PDF (page 10 under Advanced Uses Of Notes) and it now says "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models beginning with third-generation iPod (dock connector) MODELS WITH TOUCH WHEEL." Natch.

[Jeff @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:39PM]

"the skeptic in us has to wonder if this isn't just an unfortunate slight of hand."

That should be "sleight" of hand.

Unless you did actually mean that the writer's hands are just really, really small.

Probably wouldn't be cause him to confuse "wheel" with "screen", though.

[Grant Thompson @ Nov 2nd 2006 6:12PM]

What really hurts is 'incredulous'...

[Jeff @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:40PM]

"Probably wouldn't be cause him to confuse "wheel" with "screen", though."

Yeah, I should be correcting spelling and grammar mistakes.

In my defense, I altered that sentence after the fact, and just left a "be" in there.

[tread @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:48PM]

I've also been staying on with my 3G but now the battery life is down to a good 2 hours (on a good day). The worst part is that I'm holding out on the fullscreen/touch-sensetive/wifi model that Engadget keeps on telling me about. Damn you, rumors!

[chaos @ Nov 2nd 2006 2:56PM]

they changed it to "Touch-Wheel" models

[jbdoxey @ Nov 2nd 2006 4:24PM]

Why not just make a comment about a possible touch screen iPod rather than criticize each other's grammer and spelling?

I for one am looking at the Zune, but if Apple comes out with a touch screen with a larger screen, I may have to change my mind.

[steve @ Nov 2nd 2006 5:25PM]

Actually, touch screen is the phrase used to describe touchwheel within apple. A friend of mine had his 4G ipod serviced by apple because the wheel stopped working... and it was referred to on the work order and service ticket as 'touchscreen replaced'... he even called them to confirm the part that was replaced and it's the wheel. no big mystery here.

[Andy Govatsos @ Nov 2nd 2006 6:13PM]

I've been Ipod-less for eight months now having sold my prior model awaiting and anticipating the much ballyhooed imminent release of the touchscreen version that your website had me believing would surely be available around Easter 2006. On the positive side, that's eight months less of peripheral damage to my auditory and vestibular systems.

[Josue R Sencion @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:17PM]

Ive just checked page 10 of the document where this supposed leak lies (http://developer.apple.com/hardwaredrivers/ipod/iPodNotesFeatureGuideCB.pdf) and turns out the original word is "weel" not screen. check it out for yourselfs...

[Andrew @ Nov 2nd 2006 10:27PM]

On the list of soon-to-be apple products you guys also forgot the G5 Powerbooks; I promise that a reliable source's neighbor's son's dog's breeder's third cousin's golf partner heard someone at apple talking about its release in the near future!

[Edigeratimus @ Nov 9th 2006 1:19PM]

For The Patent Buffs:

E.digital partnered with Portalplayer, perhaps Apple chose the scroll wheel to avoid licensing this 1995 patent from them. Now with the need for larger screen, they move to the touchscreen application.

Interestingly, seems like the Zune would infringe the patent below as they have chosen a similar multidirectional switch. Other blogs call it a "D-Pad", I beg to differ.

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/fetch.jsp?LANG=ENG&DBSELECT=PCT&SERVER_TYPE=19&SORT=1172561-KEY&TYPE_FIELD=256&IDB=0&IDOC=800373&C=0&ELEMENT_SET=BASICHTML-ENG&RESULT=1&TOTAL=1&START=1&DISP=25&FORM=SEP-0/HITNUM,B-ENG,DP,MC,PA,ABSUM-ENG&SEARCH_IA=US1995005054&QUERY=%22multidirectional+switch+assembly%22