Wondering why Apple chose to
add a camera to the iPod nano, but not the
revised iPod touch? You're not alone, but one Mr. Steven P. Jobs has an answer for you: it's because the touch is a
game machine, you see. Seriously -- that's what El Steve told the inimitable David Pogue today after the
Rock and Roll event. According to Steve, Apple wasn't "exactly sure how to market the touch" at first, but once they listened to their customers and started to focus on gaming, "it just took off." That certainly explains the "funnest iPod ever" tagline, but still, why no cam? "We don't need to add new stuff -- we need to get the price down to where everyone can afford it." And... that's all he said about it, and Poguey didn't pursue the blindingly obvious followup: that's great for the $199 8GB model, but does Apple really think customers paying $299 and $399 for the larger editions would be turned off by paying slightly more for a camera sensor? Something tell us we won't hear Jobs say one more word about it until he's ready to actually unveil a touch with a camera -- at which point it will be a revolution.
P.S.- Make sure to hit the read link for the full interview -- it's short, but it's full of Steve saying things like "You notice
Amazon never says how [many Kindles] they sell; usually if they sell a lot of something, you want to tell everybody."
posted September 9th 2009 11:01PM
c'mon apple, let's face it, a camera on an a 3g ipod touch would be a shot in the knee for the iphone 3g. and comparing ipod touch to psp is a tiny but ridiculous, isn't it? the amazing fact is Mr. J keeps selling bullshit during all those present_ations and all the fanboy followers buy it with cream n cherry on top ;] this is the brilliance of marketing!
to make it clear I'm a great fan of apple computers. Still I can't stand that marketing cr*p and would buy ipod touch WITH camera + radio but that one would ruin the entire market model...
;]
Had a PSP - sold it. Not pocketable. Web browser was terrible.
Bought a DS, but thinking about selling it too.
Got an iPod touch from my wife for Christmas - no WAY would I sell it. I play way more games on this thing than I'd probably play on the other two combined. I also game on it more than or equal to time spent on the Wii/PS3/Xbox 360. Why? I can get cheap and free games, the accelerometer is very good, and the touch screen is great.
To all those saying that iPhone/iPod touch doesn't compare are missing the point. It may not compare if you are a hard core gamer or like adventure games. But if you prefer games like Peggle, matching and puzzle games, (some) driving games, and tower defense, the iPod is a really great choice.
Everyday, I see guys at my work spending the second half of their lunch break playing video games EXCLUSIVELY on the iPod Touch.For them, the iPod truly is a replacement for the DS/PSP. It really depends on the games you like to play.
Quick thought on the camera: Steve simply can't say "a camera is coming to the Touch", even if it's coming in January. He'd butcher holiday sales. The most likely scenario - the camera wasn't ready yet. Those in the know (readers of the Tech blogs) should not buy the iPod Touch right now. Those who need gifts for others will probably buy it anyway, though -- ignoring competing products due to Apple's rep, the app store, and like it or not, games.
That's a good point. It isn't a game system meant to compete directly with the DS and PSP, but it's more of a casual take on things like the Wii (or the public perception of the Wii, anyway) where it's marketed to people who might enjoy games but would never buy a dedicated game system.
Cameras are bag of hurt
One of these days everyone will finally give up on the PR spin bullshit. We know that he's lying; he knows that we aren't going to believe him; why even bother with the song and dance?
Just tell us that you dropped the ball on it but at the end of the day it isn't a big feature and it's still a great device without it. That would be honest and it would shut everybody up about it.
It is hysterical how Steve Jobs has gone from a Mecca-God, to a complete joke. This guy could say no wrong 4 years ago. Now everything that comes out of his mouth, sounds like a $2.00 an hour lawyer, making excuses for his pedophile client.
Or could it be, Apple wants people to buy an iTouch for music and apps, and then ALSO to buy a Nano for the video camera? I mean, why wouldn't you buy the Nano at that point, if you were looking to buy a pocket video camera? By not putting the video in the iTouch, Apple has sold 2 separate machines rather than an iTouch for perhaps $20 more (to cover the camera cost).
Remember, this is the company that wants you to buy a new iPod every year (its CEO's past words).
If only Apple was as consumer-friendly with its DAP lines as with its computers. Hmm, wonder if market share in each area explains matters ...
I had the money put aside for a Touch with camera and mic. As of this announcement, I am $399 richer.
Complete garbage.
I didn't know you could play games on the ipod touch until today...
Camera was the feature I was waiting for to upgrade from my 1st gen. Touch.
Really bad move Apple. In my opinion, the Touch is not that much of a great gaming platform. Playing thorough games on 3.5" multi-touch screen when most of the time you need to move the device to allow gestures in the game is not that handy. Maybe for playing 5-10 minutes...
And WTF, a camera on the nano!?
Now I just wish that the Zune HD would be available in Canada...
100% man.
Its just bs. It would be the perfect media player with the camera.
I love the zune for style, its insanely sexy, and looks like it will last. But the problem is there is like 10 hd radio stations in canada. at most. haha
so there really isn't a point for it here.
cowan has a really decent player.. but it don't got wifi, and honestly in a touch mediaplayer, today, its needed.
like I said earlier. I would maybe get this if they reduced the price by another $20 or so. but for $329 (cdn) for a 32gb, when you can buy a 32gb flash drive for $40? its just a ripp honestly. they have no excuse to be selling it for this much.
So what does that make the iPod nano 5G? A great camera device?
lol at apple's pretension in having the touch as a comparable gaming platform to PSP or DS.
Amazon doesn't talk about how many Kindles they sell? Does Apple talk about how many Apple TV's they sell?
I think they do not have a camera is because Microsoft saw the rumors and contacted Apple and gave some cash to take it away so the Itouch does not have anything more than the Zune HD. Which I am still going to get a Zune HD
lol I don't think so. such a deal would be made public, because it would not be cheap.
Look at how little of Steve Jobs remains... He'll be dead within a month.
Maybe it is just me. Apple has a following, of people who will want to spend money on their products. They give their products little upgrades each time, so every time the new hardware is released, those people with fairly new product will want to buy the product over again. Someone who bought the ipod nano, a year ago may want to but it again for the camera. Maybe one year apple will release a computer with bluray, so people will upgrrade to it. I doubt it though.
Maybe it is just me. Apple has a following, of people who will want
to spend money on their products. They give their products little
upgrades each time, so every time the new hardware is released, those
people with fairly new product will want to buy the product over
again. Someone who bought the ipod nano, a year ago may want to but
it again for the camera. Maybe one year apple will release a computer
with bluray, so people will upgrrade to it. I doubt it though.
It's gotten to the point where so many of us (me included) get excited for these Apple events and they don't even deliver. Jobs came back and there wasn't a "one more thing...", not even a half-assed one.
Apple isn't the innovative company they once were. Steve Jobs cares about his own opinions and desires, and I seriously don't give a fuck if he dies now, it will be good for the company to start fresh. I'm serious.
How many times have I defended you, Apple? No more. Listen to your customers or fade away.
The new iPod shuffle symbolizes everything I just wrote.
I'm an Apple fanboy and I thank you for saying that. Apple needs reform. Apple needs CHANGE. Apple needs Barack Obama.
Not really, but they fuckin need something.
that is so stupid that the put it in the gay nano that is so boring gosh please
that extra dollar to add a camera module definitely feels much better in steve jobs' pockets rather in your hands.
I'd gladly pay another $50 for an iPod Touch with a camera and GPS.