Apple: iPod touch is now a "mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform"

[AppleInsider]

During its quarterly conference call Tuesday, Apple outlined a new vision for the iPod touch, saying it hopes the product will mark the beginning of the first true "Wi-Fi mobile platform" rather than continue to exist solely as a high-end extension of its digital media player business.

Echoed multiple times during the question and answer session of the call, the vision hinges around the expandability of the touch-screen player to offer more than just music, photo, and video playback.

"We believe one of the iPod [touch's] future directions is to become the first mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform, running all kinds of mobile applications," company executives said.

The iPod touch led a significant amount of Apple's iPod shipment growth during the first quarter, particularly in Japan. Though US iPod sales came in relatively flat year-over-year, the Apple executives said they were happy to sacrifice sheer unit volume in the short term for a long-term objective.

While the executives didn't explain what the iPod touch's future directions would entail, the statement marks a reversal of Apple's previous approach to the iPod line. While introducing the fifth-generation iPod a few years back, chief executive Steve Jobs said that the device remained "all about the music" -- a statement now challenged by equal attention to web browsing and other wireless data features.

This altered focus became clear with the announcement of the Cupertino, Calif.-based firm's January software upgrade for the iPod touch. The software -- which is free with all newly manufactured units and $20 for existing owners -- adds e-mail, Google Maps, and widgets, rendering the device all but identical to the iPhone outside of calling features.

Apple's strategy is expected to become clearer still when the company releases an official SDK in February, which will explain how third-party developers can write their own programs for both the iPod touch and the iPhone, offering a means of expanding both devices beyond what Apple itself can provide.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Ireland]

Everyone knew this before the call. This so-called news changes nothing.

[McDave]

I'd like to see a long-edge clam-shell design double the touch screen area. With that and a few more apps it'd be a wife-beater!!

[McDave]

Sorry, world-beater!

But might be worth a go....

[aiolos]

Yeah, the iPod touch is basically becoming an awesome wifi device that (unlike other devices which each have different, and mostly crappy, mp3 playing systems) has the iPod/iTunes architecture on it. Which makes it awesome. I'm waiting to see what nice 3rd party apps come out, and for Apple to raise the storage to 32GB, and I'm pulling the trigga'.

Originally Posted by McDave

I'd like to see a long-edge clam-shell design double the touch screen area. With that and a few more apps it'd be a wife-beater!!

Originally Posted by McDave

Sorry, world-beater!

But might be worth a go....

LOL, I was like huh? wtf? until I saw the second post

[birdwellcc]

The Touch is a great product, just like the iPhone. Each are years ahead of the competitors, and are now essentially mini laptops, running a powerful OS, with powerful, and soon to be more powerful processor, oh ya and tons of super fast, flash storage.. They will continue to only become better, especially with the SDK release, which will stir innovation of new and exciting software applications. 2008 is going to be a great year for technology, I can feel it already.

[Booga]

Yeah, everyone who owns a Touch already knows this, but it's nice to see that Apple also knows it. The iPod Touch is, essentially, Apple's Tablet Mac. Only it's thinner and lighter than the Air.

[ecking]

I've got to say this before anyone else does....the new newton?

[cygnusrk727]

Originally Posted by ecking

I've got to say this before anyone else does....the new newton?

The new Newton and more. I could forsee them outselling iPhones at some point. (simply because some people do not want the 2 year contract or have a phone through work already.)

I love the iTouch and want one. Hope to get one by summertime. As the new software suggests, the product has legs.

[Galley]

Remember when Palm devices were so popular? They have tens of thousands of apps. Someday, iPod, someday...

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Booga

Yeah, everyone who owns a Touch already knows this, but it's nice to see that Apple also knows it. The iPod Touch is, essentially, Apple's Tablet Mac. Only it's thinner and lighter than the Air.

I've always said the Touch not the Phone is going to be the bigger of the the two. There is no competition for the Touch- NONE.
Phones come and go, AT&T sucks, not everyone wants a smart phone, cellphones companies have a lot of muscle to compete against it, it's too damn expensive, on and on.
Viva la Touch!

[iMick]

Originally Posted by teckstud

I've always said the Touch not the Phone is going to be the bigger of the the two. There is no competition for the Touch- NONE.
Phones come and go, AT&T sucks, not everyone wants a smart phone, cellphones companies have a lot of muscle to compete against it, it's too damn expensive, on and on.
Viva la Touch!

I'd have an iPhone by now, but ATT's coverage here (S. Wi) isn't very good.
I love my Touch. I use it all the time for Internet stuff, and listening to Podcasts. I also listen to music, but only when I'm at my desk at work, which isn't often.
I do have movies and tv shows on it, but I've never watched one since I bought it 2 months ago.
I know plenty of wifi spots that I can quickly visit on my daily travels, so the Internet is always about 5-10 minutes away for me.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by iMick

I'd have an iPhone by now, but ATT's coverage here (S. Wi) isn't very good.
I love my Touch. I use it all the time for Internet stuff, and listening to Podcasts. I also listen to music, but only when I'm at my desk at work, which isn't often.
I do have movies and tv shows on it, but I've never watched one since I bought it 2 months ago.
I know plenty of wifi spots that I can quickly visit on my daily travels, so the Internet is always about 5-10 minutes away for me.

ATT is not very good here in NYC either. Everybody I know with an iPhone constantly gets static and dropped calls. They blame AT&T. AT&T blames the iPhone and on and on. And they can't get any pictures sent by other cellphones . They constantly have to tell people to email them to them- no MMS- again they blame ATT. What a hassle.

[wizard69]

This is a really good sign, that is Apple realizing that the Touch as a platform is much more than just a media player. done right Apple could land a hammer lock on this market segment. Outfits like Nokia, while producing interesting hardware in their N8** series, just don't seem to understand the basic needs here.

Not that the Touch is perfect as an internet connection device. But that is to be expected from a device that wasn't conceived to play that role. The problem is that it wouldn't take much to turn out a good tablet that is more than a media device. A good problem to be had, certainly for Apple. Not so good for the competition though where you are far behind both hardware and software wise.

So if Apple is worried about its stock price get some new hardware out there that better addresses the needs. That means a new rev to the Touch, Newton 2 and whatever else the market needs.

Thanks
Dave

[Booga]

Originally Posted by iMick

I'd have an iPhone by now, but ATT's coverage here (S. Wi) isn't very good.
I love my Touch. I use it all the time for Internet stuff, and listening to Podcasts. I also listen to music, but only when I'm at my desk at work, which isn't often.
I do have movies and tv shows on it, but I've never watched one since I bought it 2 months ago.
I know plenty of wifi spots that I can quickly visit on my daily travels, so the Internet is always about 5-10 minutes away for me.

I've used Handbrake to rip a few DVDs to my touch, and it was really nice having them in the hotel room on the business trips. I also bought a dock and the composite video cables, so I had a remote and could connect it to the hotel room television. It's also nice having IMDB in your pocket when sitting in the living room watching TV. Or being able to tell your wife who won Project Runway when the DVR cut out the last 2 minutes. Or getting the Giants game football scores while the wife's watching said program. (If only I could stream live television... I suppose that's coming soon...)

[GQB]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

The new Newton and more. I could forsee them outselling iPhones at some point. (simply because some people do not want the 2 year contract or have a phone through work already.)

I love the iTouch and want one. Hope to get one by summertime. As the new software suggests, the product has legs.

When the iPhone was released, I couldn't get one because AT&T didn't allow corporate pooled minutes. So I imagined the iPhone without the phone, which I got a couple of months later in my touch.
Now that AT&T is apparently going to allow corporate minutes, I find that I'm perfectly happy with the touch.
Thinner, simpler, and rapidly losing its 2nd class status.
Only thing I miss is a camera, but I'm even seeing snap-on accessories getting some buzz, so I'm hoping for a higher quality camera in a snap-on (along with a snap-on, high quality DSP for sound recording) and I'd be in heaven.
I agree that the touch is the real sleeper here.

[CoolHandPete]

Originally Posted by Ireland

Everyone knew this before the call. This so-called news changes nothing.

In response to early complaints (mine included) about Apple's hamstringing of the iPod Touch, leaving out iCal, Mail, Notes, etc. from the earliest firmware, many people on these forums argued that "It's an iPod, not a PDA". This is news, then, only insofar as it represents Apple admitting what some - not all - of us saw as the potential of the Touch all along.

[GregAlexander]

Originally Posted by Ireland

Everyone knew this before the call. This so-called news changes nothing.

It's great to hear Apple say it. We've been able to guess we're they're going and Apple's words don't change their plans... but it's good to hear.

And it gives much more credence to the Apple Newton/Tablet rumors.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...he_newton.html

Originally Posted by ecking

I've got to say this before anyone else does....the new newton?

:-)

So Apple now has this "mainstream WiFi mobile platform"... a new Newton (bigger iTouch) certainly fits. Actually, a mobile wifi platform could range from the iPod touch to the MacBook Air - anything REALLY LIGHT and with WIFI.

So there's lots of room in between for many things - including a 6inch iPod-Touch (ie: tablet with iPhone OS) or a larger Tablet running MacOSX. There's also room for a miniature MacBook Air running the iPhone OS.

Anyway, it's very smart to start on 2 ends that Apple is familiar with, then work on what goes on in between.

[sc_markt]

Ok, here is a stupid question on the iPod touch. Can you connect it to a TV and watch a video on the TV from the iPod touch (like I can with my 30GB video iPod)?

[4metta]

I would have a Touch now if it wasn't for their horrible sound quality. If I'm going to pay for it's ability to play music on it they might as well make it sound at least decent. I am so very in love with what it and the iPhone can do. However, I'd rather stay with Tmobile and not get get raped by AT&T's rates so the iPhone is out of the question. But after hearing about how bad the audio sounds I decided to take my earphones to the Apple Store and hear for myself. It WAS bad. Sounded like a cheap radio.

My 2nd gen Nano is hooked up to a portable Tomahawk amp with my Shure e500s. It sounds so very nice. It's where I play all my music on when I want to hear all the details. An economical audiophile rig. I am quite happy with it. But even with just the earphones out of the headphone jack, my old nano kills the new hi tech Touch in audio quality. The current iPod classic sounds much better as well.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the updated Touches will have better audio quality.

[4metta]

Originally Posted by teckstud

ATT is not very good here in NYC either. Everybody I know with an iPhone constantly gets static and dropped calls. They blame AT&T. AT&T blames the iPhone and on and on. And they can't get any pictures sent by other cellphones . They constantly have to tell people to email them to them- no MMS- again they blame ATT. What a hassle.

I pay $40 a month in my current TMobile plan. In order for me to get a comparable plan here in Miami with AT&T I would have to pay $80 and it still doesn't match it totally. What a fricken rip off and a laugh.

I wonder if their rates are always this lousy or is it iPhone owner gouging?

[noeticascetic]

this week i was finally in a financial position to acquire a few aapl shares, for the first time since all my co-workers did so @ $6 b4 split (I chose to blow my earnings, (20 grand at 20) on traveling in India and Europe, my only regret: I hadn't heard of paragliding yet.) I hope some of my peers did the same tonight, and hopefully I can get the girlfriend to follow suit tomorrow b4 the market opens. anyway,

Originally Posted by sc_markt

Ok, here is a stupid question on the iPod touch. Can you connect it to a TV and watch a video on the TV from the iPod touch (like I can with my 30GB video iPod)?

UM, Abso-frickin-lutely. 640x360 .m4v is ok, both streaming over shit dsl and the HD rentals from Apl-tv look good too (I caught a glimse of an A.tv rental at work, I haven't tried it myself on my 1080p, or through dvi or hdmi.)

I'm happy AplTv has secured a competitive solution for web-accessed long form content... Hopefully quality will reach parity with x-blox and some of the other bandwagon-jumpers, (i still don't understand why I can stream a 1080p trailer at 13Mbps from the quicktime site but only get 720p at about 5mbps from AplTv- trust me, given the choice, consumers would gladly wait for the download.)

as far as streaming major studio content goes, uh, there's decent content out there, man – but don't worry. Soon enough it'll be better (quality,) easier (media management & ui,) and free (or ad-supported, sorry.)

-preparing for ishit dev kit.

[libmanj]

This is all fine and good, but is the calendar function still crippled after the recent update?

I searched the other day, and did not find any information one way or another about its current status.

[aegisdesign]

If only it had Bluetooth so you could link it to a mobile phone, sync contacts via iSync.....

*sigh*

So close.

[ascii]

As soon as people start talking about a device as a "platform," it is a sign their eyes are getting bigger than their stomachs, they have forgotten the devices core function, and they're about to spend a lot of money do something their customers won't care about.

[samurai1999]

Originally Posted by Ireland

Everyone knew this before the call. This so-called news changes nothing.

I agree with most of the sentiments here
- the news is that Apple is stating that publicly

I didn't get an iPhone, for all the usual reasons, but got the Touch, hoping that it would get the mail client - which it now has
- it's so useful for quickly checking mail at home or anywhere where's there's a free wifi spot
- without the need to carry a laptop, or wait for it too boot

I think it's great to give people the choice of the all-in-one iPhone
- or have 2 devices - a phone + media/internet device.

- so I think Apple have really successfully carved out a new category for themselves
- which Nokia has been trying to do with the N* series, without too much success

A larger screen version would be great for extended browsing/viewing etc.

[der passant]

I find that I use my iPhone on wifi to surf the net more than I use my 12 powerbook while at home. More comfortable than my 12 inch PB. If it had a slightly larger screen and more developed email app and web browser it could replace my laptop for those funtions.

[4metta]

Originally Posted by libmanj

This is all fine and good, but is the calendar function still crippled after the recent update?

I searched the other day, and did not find any information one way or another about its current status.

I didn't notice any "crippling" of the calendar when I tested it at the store a couple of days ago. It's one of the things I liked best about it.

[Mukei]

LOOOOOOOL

Yeah they sell a lot in JAPAN...
Where the iPhone is NOT available...

What will it be when the iPhone will be avalaible I don't know... Who will get it ? Docomo ? Softbank or AU...
Anyway... no 3G, no Japan ^_^

[CoolHandPete]

Originally Posted by ascii

As soon as people start talking about a device as a "platform," it is a sign their eyes are getting bigger than their stomachs, they have forgotten the devices core function, and they're about to spend a lot of money do something their customers won't care about.

Example?

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Mukei

LOOOOOOOL

Yeah they sell a lot in JAPAN...
Where the iPhone is NOT available...

What will it be when the iPhone will be avalaible I don't know... Who will get it ? Docomo ? Softbank or AU...
Anyway... no 3G, no Japan ^_^

Japan will get their 3G iPhone... eventually.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by 4metta

I pay $40 a month in my current TMobile plan. In order for me to get a comparable plan here in Miami with AT&T I would have to pay $80 and it still doesn't match it totally. What a fricken rip off and a laugh.

I wonder if their rates are always this lousy or is it iPhone owner gouging?

Is it a true comparison, or aren't you leaving something out here?

I pay $39/mo for my Sprint service, but I'm not paying for any internet service either. Does your TMobile plan include unlimited internet? The iPhone plan does.

[aresee]

Originally Posted by libmanj

This is all fine and good, but is the calendar function still crippled after the recent update?

I searched the other day, and did not find any information one way or another about its current status.

What do you mean by 'crippled'?

If you mean by adding or editing events then it is not crippled. We have been able to do this since the fall update.

[TednDi]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

The new Newton and more. I could forsee them outselling iPhones at some point. (simply because some people do not want the 2 year contract or have a phone through work already.)

I love the iTouch and want one. Hope to get one by summertime. As the new software suggests, the product has legs.

Within 4 years (at the end of the ATT contract) VOIP for apple ipod touch.

.mac and that nifty MCI datacenter that Apple bought all come together.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by aresee

What do you mean by 'crippled'?

If you mean by adding or editing events then it is not crippled. We have been able to do this since the fall update.

I think what was meant was that the mail, maps, weather, notes & stocks could have been included in the first place rather than piecemealed out in a paid update.

[aresee]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I think what was meant was that the mail, maps, weather, notes & stocks could have been included in the first place rather than piecemealed out in a paid update.

No, he definitely said calendar function,

[TenoBell]

ATT is not very good here in NYC either. Everybody I know with an iPhone constantly gets static and dropped calls.

You gotta be making this stuff up as you go along.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by TenoBell

You gotta be making this stuff up as you go along.

Why? And I am not the only one saying this. You act like you've never heard this? I wish I was 'cause the AT&T factor is holding a lot of people back.

[haveyoumetmark]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Why? And I am not the only one saying this. You act like you've never heard this? I wish I was 'cause the AT&T factor is holding a lot of people back.

Myself included. Damn AT&T.

[TenoBell]

Why? And I am not the only one saying this. You act like you've never heard this? I wish I was 'cause the AT&T factor is holding a lot of people back.

I live in New York with an iPhone. There are thousands of iPhone owners in New York.

AT&T may not be the best but the story often gets exaggerated beyond what it really is.

My call reception in New York with my iPhone has been fine. I haven't heard of any serious problems from others with iPhones.