Change in production very recent?

Apple is continuing work on an iPod touch with a camera, in spite of having just released a third-generation player without one, several sources claim. Yesterday's product debut surprised some onlookers, who had fully expected the addition in keeping with long-standing rumors and evidence. A camera has nevertheless been added to the iPod nano, a smaller and cheaper device.

Sources insist that Apple approved a camera-ready Touch as far back as last year, but that sensor problems interfered, as reported earlier this week. The technology is then believed to have undergone several phases of quality testing, ultimately leading to a decision to pull the camera as recently as a month ago. Other reports have suggested the move was made with only hours left to decide.

Apple is now allegedly working on building in a camera as soon as possible, perhaps before the next major iPod refresh in September 2010. The refresh could happen without warning, one source says, and apply exclusively to the 32 and 64GB versions of the Touch. No price differences would take effect, the source suggests.

CEO Steve Jobs has defended the absence of a camera, on the basis of keeping costs down and serving a gaming audience.

by MacNN Staff