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Apple debuts "iPod touch" with WiFi

updated 02:10 pm EDT, Wed September 5, 2007

Jobs debuts iPod touch

Apple boss Steve Jobs today introduced the widely rumored and highly anticipated touch-sensitive iPod, codenamed iPod touch. The iPod looks nearly identical to the iPhone in appearance, with a large screen and a customary 'home' button at the bottom. "It features our revolutionary multi-touch interface that you've come to know and love on the iPhone," said Jobs. "If you've used an iPhone you'll feel at home, it's exactly the same." The company also unveiled a new application specific to iPod touch and the iPhone, the iTunes WiFi music store. The new store allows users to preview and download songs via WiFi in the same fashion as the original iTunes software. Apple will offer the iPod touch in two configurations with 8GB and 16GB storage capacities for $300 and $400, respectively. Both models are slated for shipment "in just a few weeks" but before the end of the month.

The 3.5-inch widescreen display displays photos just like the iPhone, and supports Apple's "pinch-to-zoom" technique as well as the customary slide for unlocking the device.

The iPod touch features CoverFlow technology, and includes a WiFi meter in the top-left corner of the screen to monitor signal strength. The new iPod's wireless capability includes 802.11 b/g support, and utilizes the company's Safari Web browser to login to public wireless networks as well as surf the Web.

Apple's iPod touch supports YouTube in a fashion similar to the iPhone, and boasts a battery life of 22 hours for audio playback or five hours of video playback.

by MacNN Staff

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boris_cleto
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2002

+2

09/05, 02:14pm | report spam | close Reply |
Me Want

Like now.

coldfusion1970
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2004

+2

09/05, 02:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
buying

I'm so buying one of these.

Phew, it stops me having to buy the iPhone (great product, but i dont like two year service contracts).

TiDual
Forum Regular

Joined: Nov 2001

+2

09/05, 02:22pm | report spam | close Reply |
Thank you Steve

This is fantastic ... all Wi-Fi naysayers must repent. The pricing of ipod touch and iphone is now perfectly rational, too. Basically if you want the phone, your're paying for it with the contract price alone (o.k and it has 8GB less).

Feel sorry for those who bought an iPhone yesterday, though: $200 price drop ... ouch!

Feathers
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Oct 1999

+2

09/05, 02:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
$200...

...can buy you a newly reduced Zune! Ha! Ha! Ha! It'll be a cold day in h*** before M$ can steal any Apple thunder. I'm guessing that morale at Redmond must be hitting a new low as they've just had their a** handed to them...again. Two words must be forbidden within the evil empire...Apple and Nintendo! Wiiiiiiiii...!!!

ronphlf
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Joined: Sep 2007

+2

09/05, 02:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
Where's the Mail Program?

If there's WiFi, then why isn't there Mail program?

TheSnarkmeister
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Joined: Jun 2007

+2

09/05, 02:59pm | report spam | close Reply |
Wonderful!

An iPhone without the drudge of AT&T.

boris_cleto
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Joined: Sep 2002

+2

09/05, 03:04pm | report spam | close Reply |
RE: where's the mail prog

It's called gmail.

cgmpowers
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Joined: Mar 2003

+2

09/05, 03:04pm | report spam | close Reply |
Noticed the following...

No camera, speaker or bluetooth for the iPod Touch. This way, I am assuming, you can't add Skype to it and circumvent AT&T as an iPhone clone...

I guess that's why there's no native 'maps' or 'email' like the iPhone. However, if its the same software as an iPhone, apps should be coming out soon I would imagine.

Chris

tortenteufel
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Joined: Jul 2007

+2

09/05, 03:05pm | report spam | close Reply |
wait for the price drop !

With the current price policy of Apple you'll save about 40% when you wait for a couple of months...

Bermy
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Joined: Oct 2006

+2

09/05, 03:09pm | report spam | close Reply |
Its great but...

it is awesome but...(sigh)...

it doesnt appear to play the ipod games? anyone confirm this? If not thats too bad because i enjoyed playing quite a few.

Second, 802.11b/g? why not "N"? The problem with this is that at home Im on airport extreme set at 'N' for my Apple tv/MacBook Pro. With the airport extreme set to N it wont speak with with b/g devices so to use the iPod touch wi-fi at home id have to switch down "N" to b/g. I know...not a *huge* deal but...still...

Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999

+2

09/05, 03:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
SKYPE! Please.

Skype!Where are you? This device is screaming for VoIP. 3rd Party Developers... start cracking. USB headset... bluetooth adaptor?

TheSnarkmeister
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Joined: Jun 2007

+2

09/05, 03:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
Audio in?

That's a good point. Is there a way to do audio in? If so, Skype through gMail would provide an alternative for those of us who would like to have an iPhone, but who won't do business with AT&T.

Flying Meat
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+2

09/05, 03:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: audio in

There is no apparent audio in on the current/older models of iPod, so don't get discouraged just yet. :)

Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999

+2

09/05, 03:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ipod touch

I would like more then 16GB. Then I would buy in a heart beat.

testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001

+2

09/05, 04:02pm | report spam | close Reply |
RE: where's the mail prog

It's called gmail.

GMail's not a mail program, its a web site to get mail. Where's the mail program? What's the deal with the widgets? No stocks? No weather? No Notes?

testudo
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09/05, 04:05pm | report spam | close Reply |
notes

An iPhone without the drudge of AT&T.

And without several other features.

No camera, speaker or bluetooth for the iPod Touch. This way, I am assuming, you can't add Skype to it and circumvent AT&T as an iPhone clone...

Why would you think they would make it just like the iPhone? So you could bypass AT&T? Apple's not going to do that...

I guess that's why there's no native 'maps' or 'email' like the iPhone. However, if its the same software as an iPhone, apps should be coming out soon I would imagine.

There's nothing here to offer reason for the maps or email. Its just an arbitrary Apple decision to make sure they don't offer too much and push some people to the iPhone, if possible.

testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001

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09/05, 04:06pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: audio in

re: audio in There is no apparent audio in on the current/older models of iPod, so don't get discouraged just yet. :)

In my usual confused state, why would having no audio in on any iPod model be cause NOT to get discouraged? I would think it would be discouraging.

-Hobbes-
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+2

09/05, 04:31pm | report spam | close Reply |
Upgrade

Well, after all the rumors and people saying we would be disappointed, I would have to say the were mostly wrong! I for one will definitely want to upgrade my 2nd Generation iPod and get the iPod Touch, the Wifi really is a serious plus. The only disappointing thing is the 16GB...my current iPod is 20GB, so I guess it won't be so hard to get used to "only" 4GB less.

However, I also find the lack of Games/Google Maps/Mail disappointing but understand the business reasons behind it.

As for iPhone early adopters... I would most probably feel VERY cheated! THank god am not one of them. Apple should definitely do some gesture to calm their rage....

Flying Meat
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09/05, 04:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: mail

I agree. Excuding mail from a wifi web access device is like selling laptops without batteries.

I do not want a web interface as my mail client.

Scott_R
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09/05, 04:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
Email???

No email application? Kills this for me. They put in the silly Youtube application, but not something as basic as email. I truly dislike web-based email, and not having a client app is a deal-killer.

Flying Meat
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09/05, 04:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: audio in

There aren't audio ins on the current/older iPods. Audio in is handled through the docking connector.

There are dictation devices that let you record to your current/older iPods.

See? No visible audio in does not mean the devices can't do it.

rubaiyat
Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Feb 2006

+2

09/05, 05:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Looks sweet

I was going to query the battery life but 22 hrs seems fine.

Hope these are Real hours and not Apple hours and it remains to be seen how quickly these diminish if you really use a lot of WiFi.

Being cautious I'll still wait for v2 though.

SunSeeker
Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Apr 2001

+2

09/05, 05:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
Get with the program

If you don't want to cough up more $$$ mail2web works fairly nicely with any browser and if you are already a .mac member then you will find .mac webmail very comfortable on Safari

Still not happy? Move to the US and buy an iPhone

boazh
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Joined: Jul 2004

+2

09/05, 05:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
WOW

Thank you steve!!!!! I've been waiting for this ipod for years... this is exactly what I want and more :)

dvenne
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09/05, 05:52pm | report spam | close Reply |
Educational discount

I just noticed that Apple is not giving any discount under their educational program. Not in Canada anyway.

sreinhardt
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09/05, 06:27pm | report spam | close Reply |
testudo...

Because there's a thriving aftermarket to supply hardware for that, and many other "missing" features.

ZinkDifferent
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09/05, 06:28pm | report spam | close Reply |
How Long..

..until someone removes the mail.app from the iPhone, and figures out a way to load it on the iPod Touch?

Just a matter of time - though it makes sense to have mail on the iPhone, and not really on the iPodTouch. One's a communicator, one is not.

moldyapples
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Joined: Jul 2006

+2

09/05, 06:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
If there's no Mail..

...why is there a "Contacts" icon/app?

TheSnarkmeister
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Joined: Jun 2007

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09/05, 06:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
Alas, one other thing...

Jobs is famous for his disregard for "that scribble toy," however the Newton got me through four years of college as the only thing I ever carried into class, and I still haven't found a replacement for it. The lack of a way to record handwritten notes is a major drawback on both the iPhone and new Touch iPod. While the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard is impressive, it is no substitute for being able to record notes in your own handwriting.

Considering that it took Apple 30 years to admit it was wrong about 2-button mice, we'll get stylus-based text input returned to us in 2037. In meantime, I suppose those of us needing a way to quickly record extensive detailed notes will either be stuck with a Microsoft-based device, or pencil and paper.

SLURPY
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+2

09/05, 07:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
Zune is dead

New iPod Touch is exactly what everyone wanted the iPod to be. Its now reality at a great price. WiFi and thank goodness, no squirting!!

Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+2

09/05, 08:09pm | report spam | close Reply |
Nice iPod but...

TOALLY unacceptable storage space. Especially for someone who has an extensive music library.

bluejammm
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Joined: Jul 2006

+2

09/05, 08:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
16gb...BS!

How can you all be so ecstatic about this weak gadget? 16gb is nothing these days! Barely holds half my music and/or photos, yet alone some video. I am VERY disappointed. And iPod Classic, what a joke. Same puny screen :-(

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+2

09/05, 10:07pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: testudo

Because there's a thriving aftermarket to supply hardware for that, and many other "missing" features.

But will they work with the new iPod?

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+2

09/05, 10:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: how long

Just a matter of time - though it makes sense to have mail on the iPhone, and not really on the iPodTouch. One's a communicator, one is not.

Umm, did you happen to notice that the new iPod has internet access via wifi, and a browser? So Apple's now deciding that they're going to just call that 'data' services, and a reason not to include it?

ronphlf
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2007

+2

09/06, 09:24am | report spam | close Reply |
Incompatabilities

The new iPhones (and presumably the new MacOSX based iPods, say xPods) are not compatible with many 3rd party devices despite the pin-outs being the same.

My connector that works through my stereo with my 3rd and 4th gen iPod won't work with the iPhone.

Timothy Flint
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2006

+2

09/06, 03:06pm | report spam | close Reply |
Not good enough

No e-mail - does it work with .Mac? No notes - no keyboard. No bluetooth to link with new wireless keyboard. No bluetooth to link with wireless headphones. No way to work with bookeeping programs such as Quicken. No way to use iWork, no Pages, no Keynote, no Numbers. NO SALE!

Jittery Jimmy
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2006

+2

09/07, 06:53am | report spam | close Reply |
The Big One

The big announcement was the partnership with Starbucks.

It has multiple values. Significantly, the arrangement will broaden the visibility of the iPhone at Starbucks - a top tier retail chain. But since this isn't an exclusive deal, you could see this class of arrangement with other retailers. Notably, a museum could use this class of technology to drive "virtual tours" to patrons as they walk through exhibit halls. A subway system could provide maps and station and train data to patrons. A building could provide a map to visitors. The list goes on; music is only the first step (as it was with the original iPod).

Secondly, this is a big personal slap to the Zune. Seattle's two big brands? Microsoft and Starbucks. Now Apple is in bed with Starbucks; Microsoft lost a big piece of its home turf.

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Apple debuts "iPod touch" with WiFi

updated 02:10 pm EDT, Wed September 5, 2007

Jobs debuts iPod touch

Related Articles

Recent Articles

Me Want

buying

Thank you Steve

$200...

Where's the Mail Program?

Wonderful!

RE: where's the mail prog

Noticed the following...

wait for the price drop !

Its great but...

SKYPE! Please.

Audio in?

re: audio in

Ipod touch

RE: where's the mail prog

notes

Re: audio in

Upgrade

re: mail

Email???

re: audio in

Looks sweet

Get with the program

WOW

Educational discount

testudo...

How Long..

If there's no Mail..

Alas, one other thing...

Zune is dead

Nice iPod but...

16gb...BS!

Re: testudo

Re: how long

Incompatabilities

Not good enough

The Big One

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