There's no denying that Apple let the entire world (yes, even the native Easter Islanders) down by not shoving a camera of some sort into
its iPod touch, but if a delicate teardown completed by the screwdriver-wielding fiends over at
iFixit is any indication, a seasoned modder could certainly add one. A 6- x 6- x 3-millimeter space was spotted between a
Broadcom chip and the wireless antenna, which is reportedly not enough room for an iPhone-esque sensor, but just enough space for the video camera module found in the
5G iPod nano. In potentially more interesting news, the aforesaid Broadcom
BCM4329 chip actually supports
802.11n. For the nerds in attendance, you'll recognize that even the iPhone 3GS can't handle those high-speed airwaves. Furthermore, the chip supports FM transmission, so at least theoretically, the device
could stream tunes to your old school stereo through an open FM station. Eager for more? Tap that read link, buster.
posted Sep 11th 2009 5:49PM
Guys, please get over the camera.
Pitch forks and torches! The townspeople are always surprised when Dracula bites someone, yet they keep going into the forest after dark.
"Hacker adds camera and FM capabilities to iPod touch" article in 3 2 1...
Exactly. I'm glad they didn't add the stupid camera. Once they realize that the Itouch is selling just as well, they'll learn to leave well enough alone and focus on the sound quality, which is severely lacking in comparison to other players (Cowon, Sony, Zune, even the Fuze).
It's not about the camera. It's about Apple flat out ignoring the fact that a camera was considered to the point that space was included for it in the design. And as for the 802.11n and FM transmission, it seems like another case of Apple giving customers what they think they should have and not what they want. I think most people who were looking to buy a new ipod touch would have waited a month or so for Apple to smooth out any camera, n, and FM issues - and if not they could always buy the 2nd gen.
-Happy owner of a 3G S (AT&T just rolled out 3G in my area today, so I guess I'm happy with them too right now)
@ichheissesuperfantastisch: The 3G S sounds pretty great as long as you leave the equalizer off. I don't even use my iAudio X5 or Walkman any more. I don't know if they're using the same tech in the Touch, but either way it's a step in the right direction.
I modded a camera into my ipod touch.... with duct tape.
@Jake E.
The last touch actually had a chip with the FM ability too! I doubt that this one will spark any more interesting in activating it, but I could be wrong...
Why not just mod an ipod touch into a dslr if you really want a camera...
its obvious that a camera is going to be put into the touch, however apple just needs to figure out something else that is common on every other device they can cram in at the same time to justify charging another $100 for a $3 camera.
Not having a camera in the Touch is not a life or death situation although it's hard to tell looking at some of the comments. Use your phone camera and stop moaning or buy something else.
If it had simply been a month or two delay Apple would have surely announced it. Most likely they are planning another event before X-Mas which will include an updated Touch or they are reworking the internals of the Touch/iPhone platform in a huge way and didn't want a semi-major revision of the Touch stuck in the middle before this change occurs.
Either way I don't really see why anyone gives a fuck anymore. If you REALLY want a device like the Touch with the camera I'm sure some company not called Apple, Inc makes one. Just buy something that suits you needs folks. Don't cry and scream like a three year old who can't have candy for dinner. Apple doesn't work on anyone else's time table. They don't care about deadlines. They aren't in any real danger of losing any significant market share. It's probably a fundamentally sound business move on their part to skip a semi-major rev in favor of a blockbuster rev. That's just how their game works.
I don't know why anyone would want the Nano camera. If it looks like crap on that tiny nano screen, it has to look like crap on a monitor or TV.
It's proably better this way.
I own a Mac Pro and a 3GS. I am so sick of Apple's stupid tactics. I don't want to buy a $2000 computer every two years and a phone every year because Apple decided to cut me out of some features for no real reason besides to sell me more crap. This is BS!!
it's not that the camera is really that big of a deal for everyday use, it's the fact that there are apps in the app store that only work (work best) if you have a built in camera. there are a handful of fun apps i never had the chance to use because i didnt have a camera in my ipod touch. the people saying to get over the ipod touch not having a camera have probably never owned or used an ipod touch for an extended period of time.
and to pre-emp the arguement of "just get an iphone", i got an ipod touch so i wouldnt have to deal with a monthly fee and 2 year contract.
but, it's already too late for me. i sold my ipod touch soon after hearing it wasnt getting any significant upgrades (other than processor).
good riddance to the first and only ipod i've ever owned. september 15th can't get here soon enough.
is apple going to charge $1.99 to activate the 802.11n and FM transmitter?
I don't care about the camera. I want a 16gb model with the faster CPU for $230.
Get over the camera? okey They're trying to pass this off that the ipod is a gaming machine
The iphone 3gs has actually more outdated tech them this as this has newer chips.. What should they market it as? O..M..G.. A PHONE.. so why the hell would you try and pass off an ipod ouch as a gaming machine when some of the most heavy games on the processing power are non game apps.. Oh yea did i mention ipod is for MUSIC?
No reason to not add a camera. appertain everyone was expecting one and it would have driven sales no matter the price, as i would have gotten the money one way or another *sells myself on craigslist*
I'm right with you killermojo. Although, I want a built in GPS in my Touch. iPod touch owners most likely have a camera in their seperate phone, which they probably keep in a more accessible place than there touch anyway.
However, the mapps app on the Touch is absolutely crippled without GPS. Yeah I've read the posts that some touches pick up GPS like data somehow out there, but some don't, including mine. What good is sitting in my room, or Panera and messing around with maps on WiFi, if I cannot take the maps with me on the road. Why don't I just fire up my full computer so that I can print directions out.
How unbelievably practical would it be to be able to use the Maps app as a personal GPS device and take the directions with you (in an Earth-Friendly, paperless format, mind you), without having to sign up for a 2 year AT&T contract (with data)? How easy would it be to include this on the touch (not to mention that nice compass from the 3gs)?
Apple we know the whole world loves you, but please give me a GPS in my $300 Touch!
I doubt they will ever enable the FM transmitter. They want you to buy an Airport Express instead. Or maybe an Apple TV.
Hmm. Well... announced when least expected.
hmm..still getting my Zune HD.
Uh oh, another apple tax, I mean paid upgrade coming to enable this. Just remember if you wait 3 months and the upgrade will be half price. Ala 2.0 to 3.0/3.1
:(
It would seem a tad unlikely that a software upgrade will fix the camera problem. That is not to say they won't do the ol' "new feature" upgrade.
Ahh, the joy of capitalism. No features until we have all bought the last features.
I think the ultimate example is the nintendo pulse monitor, or perhaps windows ultimate, or that the iPhone 3G "can't do video"
Gaming-machine my ASS....
Turns out it really was a hardware problem
in prison it would be.
Not necessarily. As far as I've seen from reading their tear down there weren't any extra pins or anything, meaning they made the motherboard with the expectation of not having a camera. If there really were hardware problems with the camera module, I'd expect to see some actual pins for the camera to plug into the motherboard with nothing there. Who knows what really happened, though.
How could they have a "hardware problem" if they have been making iPhones with cameras? I mean they basically know how to do it already
-.-
A sweet ass-gaming machine, if you will.
You guys are turning me into an Apple hater...
EMBRACE THE HATRED LORD VADER! *cackles like the emperor"
something had to have happened to that camera... maybe a bad shipment, maybe something code wise glitched out, maybe it was too much of a PITA to allow apps that used the camera on the iphone to allow 3g touch as well, like the api call not working the same... but I'm not buying their 'gaming machine' statement.
Really, the entire world? Its a media player (and arguably a gaming device), it doesn't need a camera!
Its good at what it does, the camera would only raise its price.
The camera is only half of the issue. The hardware is capable of doing quite a few things, the biggest issue is that Apple will probably just flip the proverbial switch and give the next gen itouch "new" features when the hardware is essentially the same as the last-gen.
your right, they should also get rid of bluetooth, wifi, email, contacts and a clock, because its media / gaming hardware
come on, its not a gaming / media device anymore than a pc is. Its a computing device that has many functions. A camera would be a welcome addition. and I think they are fools for not adding one, because the buz is now on what the iPod touch doesn't have rather than what has been added.
Honestly why would a price hike stop apple from putting one on the touch? This is a company that has some of the highest premiums for hardware that is not custom (they charge users a $1000 to install 8GB of ram on a macbook pro):
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC118LL/A?mco=Nzk2MDg0NQ
Is apple so broke that they would have to pass the price of a camera to the customer? The zune hd 16Gb costs $229. If you ask me the extra memory cost a lot more than a camera but microsoft is absorbing the cost in order to sell more products.
Please, stop defending a stupid move on behalf of apple.
(If this double posts sorry, i submitted once but it didn't go through.)
I'm not trying to defend anyone here, I'm not what you'd call an apple fanboy. In fact, I think putting the camera on the nano was a horrendous idea. All I'm trying to say is that there's logic behind that decision.
Pricing of a high-end laptop is not the same as pricing of a portable media player. People expect to pay a lot for a laptop, especially one with an Apple logo on it. iPods, on the other hand, are meant to be more affordable to the general masses or at least competitively priced, especially with the release of Zune HD coming up.
@cory3218
I certainly hope you see the difference between adding a calendar or a clock and adding a video camera. Things like wi-fi (easier software distribution) and bluetooth (wireless headphones) were put in to enhance the gaming/music experience on the device. A video camera, on the other hand, would do no good for their average consumer, which is why I think they decided to leave it out.
People are willing to pay a higher price for anything that has an apple logo, not just laptops. Take for example the shuffle, it costs $59 (2GB) while a sansa clip costs $49.99 and it has a screen.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8553834&type=product&id=1188561248598
The shuffle is more akin to a regular flash drive which is under $15 last time i checked. Do you think that the ability to play music adds $44? If it did at the most it should cost is around $40. Like this sony MP3 player:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9066404&type=product&id=1218016493868
(it even has an lcd screen).
PMP should be cheap but, as I stated apple knows people are willing to a higher price for their products even it the product has less features.
Apple controls the market for PMP's; therefore whatever they dictate people need is what they will sell. People will have to buy, because there is very little (real) competition. Apple has not enabled better sound quality on their ipods, because there are no competitors that offer better sound and is also gaining significant market share at the same time. That's why it is extremely important that Zune becomes success. If they fail the ipod may turn in to the next internet exploer. The consumer will have no choice but to use it, no matter how much it sucks (it will happen)
/rant
After sales slow down, the new features will be enabled. Only $20 for existing third-generation owners. (And, first- and second- generations can pay the same price for the upgrade too, but they won't get the features)
Most people want an all in one device. Less spending over all.
Me I want a tricorder like in Star Trek. :p
There must be a blog for that...oh wait...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/tricorder-pmp-09-wont-analyze-data-or-call-starfleet-will-lift/
Ahhm a usable tricorder. Not this fake crap that makes you feel like you are in star fleet. I mean a real honest (may cost 10 mil dollars though) tricorder that does everything from analyzing things to displaying data like a Ipod.
As I said when that comes along I will be excited. It does not have to look like it is in star trek...it just has to be everything in one.
The thing is, the camera on the other ipod sucks. It's Jelly vision.. Now that I see the results from that iPod, I see why they didn't want that showing up on the Touch's screen.
probably they tryed to put it in, but had some issues and they went with easy way....
no...they CHOSE not to put it in. That's the apple way. How old are you?
1. Apple makes product
2. Public catches on because its "Chic"
3. Apple announces next big "thing" at Macworld
4. DIY'ers and Hackers discover that it could be easy to add feature(s)
5. Apple charges large amount of money which is just a feature they could have easily included in the first place.
6. Public buys 10th version of iPhone that could have been the first version
:)
Cool features. I can't wait to pay for them.
The 2nd generation 8gb and 16gb 32gb ipods had the fm on the wifi also, not big news
Well it's rather stupid that they're not enabling it though. It's a very useful feature, especially to those of us with older cars with no other way to get MP3 player input.
Can they even enable it in a software update? Would they need separate FCC authorization? Is there an antenna suitable for broadcasting?
I had an MP3 player with a FM transmitter built in. It was nice, but the reception wasn't that great.
It has an 11n capable chip because the chip vendors are phasing out a/b/g chipsets. If they built in an a/b/g chipset into it then their orders for parts would be quite expensive beyond this year.
This doesn't even mean that there is a software way to enable it. It just means that a bulk order of these chips is cheaper than a bulk order of b/g chipsets. Everyone needs to calm down.
"This doesn't even mean that there is a software way to enable it."
Listen to yourself.
wow this is nice
g/l running something to get the camera to work. doesnt apple encrypt their software?
1) what camera? There's just a blank space where the camera should go.
2) encrypted firmware isn't a problem for jailbreakers.
Oh Screw Apple, its not even just this one little issue its their business Platform as a Whole. They just like to piss off their Loyal consumers and make it as difficult for them to Enjoy their products on purpose sometimes I think.
I'm throwing away all my apple products and selling my Macbook pro, its just not worth it anymore.
No you're not, shut up.
Oh yeah, Watch me.
Goodbye Apple, I've taken my absolute Last Bite.
Good bye to you too, and please take your random capitalization with you!
GLadly! And I will Never Stop, its so Much Better than YOU will Ever Be! ; D
its just an iphone with no camera, hence the "omg camera slot"
idiots
Dude...DUDE Apple are artists. They would never save money by using the same machines and parts they use to make Iphones to make Ipod touch...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkJuF1UXJI
kudos for the easter island reference
Anyone know if the 3GS chip has FM radio support? I could care less about wireless N.
Nope, it does not. It has always been the case that the touch has a slight edge on the H/W specs over the iphone.
Heh. The guys over at Apple are laughing their asses off right now. You see, they intentionally placed that little spot because they KNEW Engadget was going to rip the thing open like they do every device, and then marvel at the "camera slot" ;)
Then again, with little electronic "guts" background myself, I could be completely off ;)
Engadget didn't rip open the iPod Touch. This is a blog. They post links to other sites for your convenience.
Ack - My apologies. I fail at noticing the blaring obvious fact that it was "ifixit" that tore it down :)
I'll contribute more noteworthy next time :)
I don't get how they would have problems with putting a camera in it.
How is the iPhone and Touch THAT different?
They decided they needed a gimmick for next year since they had nothing else planned next year.
I do not know why people think Apple is still run like a group of artists who soul purpose is to make the perfect product. All they care about now is market share.
@ryan
It's as if they were a corporation, and trying to think of ways to ensure they have a new product each year and keeping people interested instead of going two years or more between new products and losing it.
It was never run like a "group of artists" and it's always been aware of the need to have decent marketshare. But more than that, they're concerned with keeping people's attention and maintaining large profit margins, which generally makes investors far happier than a huge share of the market with terrible margins.
I know that. I am just trying not to get the Apple fanboys down my throat. They like to think Apple is different than Microsoft. (even though Apple is structured pretty much the same)
The iPod touch is a gaming machine. You can't have cameras on gaming machines.
^ Nintendo DSi's front-face camera for games.
Stop believing every lie Apple tells you, noob.
"The holy vacuum" it shall henceforth be called.
Maybe Apple will be kind enough to let us pay $10 for an update to access the 802.11n in the future...
No, it'll be $2.
Apple is not the only company that installs hardware and then doesn't use half of it, take motherboards for instance, they often have multifunction chips of which parts are not used, like COM ports in many monitoring chips, or take sound codecs, many have the ability to use stereo microphones and use the phase differences to cancel echo and directional attenuation and do that kind of stuff, nobody uses it, it's there in the hardware though, sad really.
And it's been going on for ages, and half the time it's not enabled because they don't feel like bothering with patents and such, or with regional stipulations or with extra tax on devices that can do X or Y, or the cost of a pin header, it's so freaking annoying.
I never cared for a camera. I always wanted some kind of GPS or mapping software that would work without Wifi. It would be nice if there was a program that would safe a map of your city that would give you directions.
All I want is Google maps that doesn't have to access the internet to download the directions and map.
Why isn't everyone bitching about the lack of camera in the Zune?
Because there wasn't a zune nano released at the same time that did have a camera.
The Zune HD doesn't have a phone counterpart with a camera... likely when the pink comes out Microsoft will be smarter than apple and put cameras in both of them.
I know that the camera wouldn't produce great pictures but I still want it. I use my 2G iPod Touch mostly as a productivity device. It would be great if I could take pictures of things I wanted to remember and drop them into Evernote. There are lots of reasons a camera makes sense beyond traditional photography. I'd also really like to have a built-in microphone - again for use with Evernote and/or Jott. Plus, having all the necessary hardware for making Skype calls onboard would be pretty nice.
I want just want to FM radio, how the hell Im suppose to feel when I see those new Nano saving 15 minutes of live radio, and my Ipod Touch can't do it.
Pissed.
lmao Its not that serious, DH EnuZ WTF
I wish people would see why a camera is valuable, and its not to take stellar pictures to put on Flickr. Its to be able to use all of the apps the Iphone can. I know I for one would love some augmented reality action on an Ipod touch, and actually just wanted the camera for evernote. Through in the GPS, and then you have an Iphone without the service. What's so crazy about that? I would much rather have a cheap phone as a phone (like my Nokia 6300) and carry around my Ipod Touch, versus have a super nice phone all the time, and it get wrecked at the beach or at a club.
Just accept that it would have been super cool, and if they can justify it being a "mini computer" or "gaming device," I think they can also justify it being able to use all of the programs people write for the Iphone.
the apple itouch not having a camera is the same argument of the blackberry storm not having wifi people want it and others say you can live without it but who gives a flying fuck about that.
it could have it but it dosen't because apple does not care what you want they care about what they can make and you would still buy!
right now the spot light is on the new nano with a camera any other itoy music player wont have one untill the nanos heat dies down just to rattle the masses cages again and you will buy!
802.11n and FM transmission will be made available with the iPhone OS 4.0 upgrade next year... much like how Bluetooth was made available for iPod Touch 2G with iPhone OS 3.0.
Agree. N speeds would be great for me (phase out all G in my house) and if could be enabled in a future firmware release, I'm embarassed to say I would pay for that. 'Course this iPod only cost me $60.00 after my amazon points certificates :)
My son paid the $10 for the last firmware update for the Touch 2G and he's a happy camper tethering to his friends' cell phones and using wireless BT headphones.
The strategy is near-criminal on Apple's part -- I think it should be free firmware upgrades after we paid a premium for the device, but if I think there's enough value in it (for me) I'll fork over a little more.
Sigh.
.... so, i would rather see the N enabled that all this talk about cameras. You know, my phone has a camera.... why would I need one on my Touch?
And really, all this talk about cameras, its a bit jarring. The photo qualities are becoming saturated with so so image quality. I'm not saying everyone should have a dslr, but if you want photos for memories, shouldn't you just use a regular camera? What, apple wants to dominate that area too?
And the poster who says that people think apple is a bunch of artists trying to make the best product is right on. Apple is just another company, the *shock* that wants to make the most money for its shareholders. Hence all their products say, DESIGNED in CA, but really made outside of this country.
Please, enough of the missing camera. We'll see it in the 4th gen Touch and the N enabled with software 4.0, which coincidently, all old Touch users will have to pay $10, and then 2 weeks later, feel screwed when the software drops to $5.
On that note, I'm excited to get my first Touch 2nd gen in a few days. I look forward missing a 3mp camera and wifi sans N-.
:/
WWDC 2010 keynote: $10 firmware 4.0 update for 3rd gen iPod Touch users to enable 802.11n.
September 2010 event: 4.1 firmware update for $5 only.
Mark my words. :P
why would I want a camera? Hmm. that sudoku game that can scan in a sudoku puzzle from the newspaper. Thats a game right, apple likes games. Assassin's creed where you can put your own photo on wanted posters using the camera. Thats a game.
There are tons of reasons you'd want a camera and I wish people would shut up about 'your phone already has one'. Yes, but my phone doesn't run app store apps, so I want a camera on that
froghunter summed it up well. Having hardware parity with the iphone (apart from the cellular part) is good for consumers, who can buy those cool apps they see in adverts and recommended from friends, without worrying whether they have the right hardware. Its good for developers who can develop for nearly twice the addressable market. Its good for apple who get increased revenue from the app store.
if u put a camera apple will add it up 100 more dollarz
and then n slot is like another 50 buckz
so i dont wanna pas like 350 for an 8 gb ipod
if i were u id go to sony cuz u get 100 free download songs and it can do the same thing ipod touch can except appz
but look
everyone has a cellphone
everyone has a camera in their cellphone everyone has a camera
everyonr has a webcam! how many more camera do u need?
and the n just makes it faster they nvidia shold make super tiny nano chips for video that could use 1080p playback
Still considering switching to Zune HD. I want a built-in mic, not a mic attached to crapshit quality earbuds.
Why do I want a mic? I want Shazam. Freaking hate it when I hear a song, love it, and can't find what it was.
Camera, I could care less. 802.11n capability? Interesting, but I don't need it yet. FM radio? I'd like it.
i find it just weak not to add these features from the start.
don't give a shit anyway....just order my Zune HD....sorry but I still think concepts like TV-out/HD, HD radio are the future....
I love the 'everyone has a camera on their phone, so why need it on an ipod?' comments.
Everyone has an mp3 player on their phone these days, so why need music on an ipod, they could just make it play games.
Just because a phone does it, doesn't mean you should leave it off an ipod touch.
I have a 2ng get ipod touch 16gb and have been running on 2.4ghz 'N' only wifi on my airport extreme and connecting perfectly for months now... even emailed engadget but hey...