Another day,
another Apple leak. This time it's an eBay double whammy of the camera-donning
iPod touch, which appears to be of the same design
from August but now with iPod branding on the back. Better yet, the two devices bear the prototype identification codes "DVT-1" and "DVT-2" ("DVT" stands for "design verification test" in Apple-speak, according to
Daring Fireball), while the DVT-2 model wears an extra bar code label seemingly stamped by the "Apple Development Team." What's interesting is that the model number "A1318" at the bottom matches the current iPod touch's, which may suggest the camera feature was
ditched just before the current line went into mass production, or that we may see this variant as a minor update instead of a redesigned iPod touch in the coming months. We tried to verify using the FCC ID "BCGA1318," only to be let down by a kaput FCC database -- we'll give it another spin later. Unsurprisingly, the eBay listing was quickly taken down, but it's not like any mere mortal could've gotten much use out of that Transformer-themed (and
familiar-looking) "SwitchBoard" test-bed software -- maybe it was a displeased
Michael Bay who killed the auction. A couple of backside shots after the break.
[Thanks,
Sam]
posted April 24th 2010 2:23PM
IMHO, the gadget I'm excited for is the 3DS. Nobody is really coming up with anything significantly new - just a camera there, a bump in specs, a few functionality mhe. MS NATAL seems promising as well just hoping it delivers.
@hated one
you silly you
why did all the those revealing Apple handsets seem to be tortured so much........
Yippee! An iPod Touch with a friggin camera. Who friggin cares! IT'S ABOUT TIME APPLE! What, isn't this the 3rd or 4th generation iPod Touch? Sorry, I'll pass!
@jds4000
About time for a camera on a pmp?
How many Endgadget reporters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
None. They're too busy writing about finding a lightbulb with an Apple logo on it.
DVT means Design Verification Test, it is an industry term and not "Apple-speak" (coming from someone who does DVT for a major networking company). God, the extent to which gadget sites try to fellate every damn thing about Apple nowadays.
One more thing. It is so poorly photoshopped I can't believe so many people believed. Check DVT proportions according to perspective for starter. Then wonder how it survived all that scratching around. Good god, so many lost sheeps out there.
sorry, I'm calling fake on this one. The DVT label on the second shot is 100% Photoshopped. I agree that an iPod Touch with a camera is on its way, but I don't think is is that iPod.
Seems like a lot of commenters didn't read the actual story... These are NOT prototypes for the next gen iPod touch, these are prototypes for the ones you can buy now, proving that the camera really was a part of it until just shortly before production and then was pulled for some reason. Much more definitive than "there's a space in the device where a camera could fit" which is the evidence, outside of early case leaks, there was before.
The most likely reason for yanking the camera is cost... Same reason we're not seeing a camera in the iPad yet... In Apple's earnings call last week when asked about iPad margins they said that they've priced it very aggressively and that over time, with scale of production, they'll be able to bring down their costs down to make the devices more profitable.
Also from that earnings call, Apple said it gets average of $600 in revenue per iPhone 3GS including carrier subsidies, while with the 3rd Gen iPod touches (current 32GB & 64GB versions that with the exception of the camera, GPS and cell radio have similar internals to the 3GS) they're only getting $299 and $399.
I've always thought the iPod touch would be perfect with a camera and speakers. I don't want to carry headphones around everywhere I go just in case I want to watch a youtube video.
Now that I think about it, it would actually be nice if they made a 3G ipod touch. I'd be much happier paying 14.99 for 250mb just in case I needed to use it outside of the home, vs paying around $50 for a portable wifi hotspot and yet another device to carry.
I always thought DVT stood for Deep Vein Thrombosis. Hmm.
Maybe the eBay-er found it at a bar. It's probably gizmodo selling it.
To keep these things from leaking out, Apple needs to partner with the Will It Blend guys and make that the final test of a DVT model.