Technical issues could delay iPod camera upgrade
Just days before Apple is expected to unveil its new line of iPods, multiple reports are suggesting that some of the widely anticipated camera-equipped media players could be delayed due to technical difficulties. [Updated with info from Hardmac.]
A person with a strong track record in predicting Apple's upcoming product launches recently told AppleInsider that the iPod maker has experienced technical problems (bad parts) with the cameras modules. The person said that it was uncertain whether the new hardware, which has been widely expected to debut at Wednesday's "Only rock and roll" media-centric event, would make the cut for early September retail distribution.
The report echos one published earlier Monday by Hardmac, the English-language version of French Apple news site Macbidouille.
For months, photos of third-party cases for the iPod touch and iPod nano with camera holes have been surfacing online, leading most to believe that the new hardware was essentially a foregone conclusion at the Sept. 9 keynote. Though there have been no such cases to support a similar upgrade for the iPod classic, one rumor has implied Apple's only hard drive-based player could also see a photographic upgrade. At the time, reports suggested that the line would be receiving 3.2 megapixel CMOS image sensors -- the same lens currently available in the iPhone 3GS.
Rumors of the camera upgrade cropped up long before the case evidence surfaced, but in recent months the evidence has become more convincing. One person even took photos and video of what was alleged to be a third-generation iPod touch prototype with a camera. That person even provided a teardown of the device, showing its inner workings.
With the latest tip provided to AppleInsider, it is unclear whether the debut of iPods with cameras has been scrapped from the Sept. 9 event entirely, or if the products will simply not be available for sale for some time after an unveiling.
Apple's long-rumored tablet device, with a 10-inch touchscreen and 3G connectivity, is not expected to be at Wednesday's event. That product will likely see its debut in early 2010.
A person with a strong track record in predicting Apple's upcoming product launches recently told AppleInsider that the iPod maker has experienced technical problems (bad parts) with the cameras modules. The person said that it was uncertain whether the new hardware, which has been widely expected to debut at Wednesday's "Only rock and roll" media-centric event, would make the cut for early September retail distribution.
The report echos one published earlier Monday by Hardmac, the English-language version of French Apple news site Macbidouille.
For months, photos of third-party cases for the iPod touch and iPod nano with camera holes have been surfacing online, leading most to believe that the new hardware was essentially a foregone conclusion at the Sept. 9 keynote. Though there have been no such cases to support a similar upgrade for the iPod classic, one rumor has implied Apple's only hard drive-based player could also see a photographic upgrade. At the time, reports suggested that the line would be receiving 3.2 megapixel CMOS image sensors -- the same lens currently available in the iPhone 3GS.
Rumors of the camera upgrade cropped up long before the case evidence surfaced, but in recent months the evidence has become more convincing. One person even took photos and video of what was alleged to be a third-generation iPod touch prototype with a camera. That person even provided a teardown of the device, showing its inner workings.
With the latest tip provided to AppleInsider, it is unclear whether the debut of iPods with cameras has been scrapped from the Sept. 9 event entirely, or if the products will simply not be available for sale for some time after an unveiling.
Apple's long-rumored tablet device, with a 10-inch touchscreen and 3G connectivity, is not expected to be at Wednesday's event. That product will likely see its debut in early 2010.
Comments
If you are going to post this BS as a story, at least post the moron who is making this up.
Must suck for you to be working on Labor Day.
I have to believe that Apple is announcing new iPods on Wednesday and that there is no problem with the hardware. Why have the event if the iPods aren't really ready.
Indeed. "experienced technical problems with the cameras months ago" - why would they announce an event months later if they hadn't fixed it?
Maybe there was a problem - remember the rumours that Apple bought loads of 5MP cameras? Maybe those cameras had the problems, so Apple used 3.2MP cameras in the iPhone 3GS and in the upcoming iPod Touch instead of the 5MP cameras.
And who is this so-called BS source that claims to have a strong track record in predicting Apple products? Here is why this story is full of it: The camera already works fine in the iPhone, so why would there be a technical problem adding it to an iPod Touch?
If you are going to post this BS as a story, at least post the moron who is making this up.
Must suck for you to be working on Labor Day.
Wow, you might wanna cut back on the hostility.
Wow, you might wanna cut back on the hostility.
Why would AppleInsider post a story without revealing the source of the information? They have no problem revealing the bullshit stories from the two financial morons that they always quote. Instead they claim the source mostly gets things right, which means all the other times their source of full of shit.
All this story will do is make the gullible people (almost all of them here) believe this fake story. Apple has never had a problem with the cameras in the iPhone, so it makes no sense to claim they can't get it to work in an iPod Touch, especially days before the release date.
At the time, reports suggested that the line would be receiving 3.2 megapixel CMOS image sensors -- the same lens currently available in the iPhone 3GS.
Please fix that sentence to remove lens. Why would you use the technical term CMOS image sensor and then wrongly label it a lens? The writing here really seems to be lacking of late.
@hillstones... Simma down now. No one made you read this. And the source in this case is quite obviously anonymous because they're supplying info directly to AI. The "financial morons" you talk about are two highly regarded analysts who make public predictions as a part of investor guidance reports. Haven't you ever seen/read a real news organization quote an anonymous source?
Why would AppleInsider post a story without revealing the source of the information? They have no problem revealing the bullshit stories from the two financial morons that they always quote. Instead they claim the source mostly gets things right, which means all the other times their source of full of shit.
All this story will do is make the gullible people (almost all of them here) believe this fake story. Apple has never had a problem with the cameras in the iPhone, so it makes no sense to claim they can't get it to work in an iPod Touch, especially days before the release date.
Why do you care enough to get so pissed? Get a life man.
And if it is true are you going to come back and kiss Kaspers ass?
Why would AppleInsider post a story without revealing the source of the information? They have no problem revealing the bullshit stories from the two financial morons that they always quote. Instead they claim the source mostly gets things right, which means all the other times their source of full of shit.
All this story will do is make the gullible people (almost all of them here) believe this fake story. Apple has never had a problem with the cameras in the iPhone, so it makes no sense to claim they can't get it to work in an iPod Touch, especially days before the release date.
AppleInsider and John Gruber are the two best sources when it comes to Apple. As for revealing their sources, they don't have to. They have a proven track record of being mostly right. They may make a news story about what analysts may say but that is different from the story coming from their own source. I don't exactly how you expect them to name a source considering Apple is such a tight-lipped company and would immediately fire and/or sue the person.
Your argument in the second paragraph makes far more sense and it is hard for me to believe they would hold an iPod event without the touch.
At the time, reports suggested that the line would be receiving 3.2 megapixel CMOS image sensors -- the same lens currently available in the iPhone 3GS.
Please fix that sentence to remove lens. Why would you use the technical term CMOS image sensor and then wrongly label it a lens?
The problem might be that "--" should be something like "as well as" or "along with", meaning the new iPods will have the same autofocus lens currently available in the iPhone rather than a fixed-focus lens.
@hillstones... Simma down now. No one made you read this. And the source in this case is quite obviously anonymous because they're supplying info directly to AI. The "financial morons" you talk about are two highly regarded analysts who make public predictions as a part of investor guidance reports. Haven't you ever seen/read a real news organization quote an anonymous source?
Yeah, ask Dan Rather about quoting anonymous sources. Or ask Engadget. Or ask all those sites that said Steve Jobs was dying and wouldn't live more than a few more months. Or the anonymous source who said the original iPhone was going to be delayed. Or a million other "anonymous source" stories on the internet that have been total BS.
French Mac Website HardMac (MacBidouille to Francophiles) is reporting that there might be some production problems slowing down the release of the new iPod touch products related to the new 3.2megapixel camera module. They postulate that the issue could cause delays in delivery of camera-toting iPods.
Reported on 9to5Mac.com (which has to be the most unreliable source for mac news on the web).
Yeah, ask Dan Rather about quoting anonymous sources. Or ask Engadget. Or ask all those sites that said Steve Jobs was dying and wouldn't live more than a few more months.
How long does a human live without a functioning liver?
Yeah, ask Dan Rather about quoting anonymous sources. Or ask Engadget. Or ask all those sites that said Steve Jobs was dying and wouldn't live more than a few more months. Or the anonymous source who said the original iPhone was going to be delayed. Or a million other "anonymous source" stories on the internet that have been total BS.
The story I believe you are talking about was from Gizmodo and they said he was very ill, not dying and that story actually turned to be right. Jobs went on sick leave not too long after that. Like I said before, the difference between those other sites and AppleInsider is that they have a proven track record of being mostly right.
You can talk badly about anonymous sources but all of journalism is built around it. You take them seriously when they have a record. It would be nice if would could live in a world where there is no retaliation on sources but that isn't the case. Sources will not go on the record if they believe they would be hurt by it.
How long does a human live without a functioning liver?
a few months?
Why would AppleInsider post a story without revealing the source of the information? They have no problem revealing the bullshit stories from the two financial morons that they always quote. Instead they claim the source mostly gets things right, which means all the other times their source of full of shit.
All this story will do is make the gullible people (almost all of them here) believe this fake story. Apple has never had a problem with the cameras in the iPhone, so it makes no sense to claim they can't get it to work in an iPod Touch, especially days before the release date.
Isn't this a rumour website? You seem to be taking this all a little too seriously. Lighten up. We'll all soon find out what Apple have up their sleeves in due course. In the meantime enjoy the hype up and go with the flow.
(X?).
If it has any issues, this will allow them time to fix it or them, yet still hold face, by making these EXCITING announcements.
Skip
This story reads like a, I want as many hits on my website as possible story.
IF, iPods get cameras I sincerely doubt Apple could screw up it's implementation and manufacturing of the unit. The software is done for years already.
AppleInsider? THIS story is a waste of your time. Let along mine and ALL the readers of this site. Which I have to rethink coming too. But on a holiday, anything to get hits I imagine. Pathetic reporting.
Why have the event if the iPods aren't really ready.
To announce that it'll be available a couple of weeks hence?
And if you can't muster the patience wait for it, you should get something else.
I sometimes have a really tough time understanding the I-must-have-it-all-yesterday folks.
Yes, you can put a very short camera module in very thin devices, but the shorter it is the harder to get good photo quality. Anyone know the length of the camera module in the iPhone? Maybe the hand-built prototypes were fine, but the automated assembly line is having problems with the close tolerances cramming it all in such a thin device and needs some fine tuning.
Or maybe they just made some last minute design changes to avoid the French ones from exploding!