We will host a series of opinions regarding today’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” Event. We start with what has to be the single largest question that was in the mind of those who follow all things Apple, “Where was the iPod Touch’s Camera?”
The simple answer is: on the iPod nano and the iPhone 3GS. For iPod touch users that will not sit well as many anticipated a new camera being featured so much so that cases showed holes were they camera was supposed to be. Steve teased us with one of the traditional, “One More Thing…” and then there was a camera, but it was on the iPod nano and not the iPod touch. But that was it, there was more features that were given to the iPod nano, but the iPod touch was finished.
The iPod touch really hasn’t been updated since it’s first generation launch. The second generation got a chrome bezel, a speaker, external volume controls and a faster processor, but for the most part, it is has been little difference. The third generation was supposed to have a camera, like its older cousin, the iPhone 3GS – unfortunately we will just have to wait.
The question then becomes how long. Apple will certainly have another iPod media event next September, as it has become tradition for the Cupertino based company to host an event dedicated to all things iTunes and iPod at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in the ninth month of the year. Some are already wondering whether we will see an iPod touch 3.5 that houses a camera as there were reports of production delays holding up the camera. Historically, one can point to the iPhone 16GB as an example of a .5 update of recent memory. The iPhone was originally released in June in 8GB and 4GB form and then in February a 16GB option was given, the 3G was then introduced in June. The chances of us seeing a iPod touch 3.5 are about 50/50 with anyone’s guess being as valid as the other. However, if we do see an update it is going to be in about six months given that Infinite Loop will have to give time for those that purchased the iPod touch 3.0 some time to cool down. It will likely depend on two things: iPod touch sales and how fast the manufacturer can correct the problems.
One other reason as to why the iPod touch didn’t receive much upgrades, again is simply that it did not need to. The iPod touch dominates its class of media devices and its closest rival is probably an iPhone. Only in Japan where Sony’s X1000 has some following is there anything that would stand as even a thought of competition, and the Walkman isn’t actually catching up to the iPod touch closely. The iPod nano however is attacked by many other MP3 players and giving it features that some competitors already have (FM Radio) and others that most don’t (video camera with YouTube integration) Apple is really recommitting itself to the product. I suspect that we are going to see a significant increase in iPod nano sales, while iPod touch sales remain flat, but still strong.
Steve Jobs responded to the question and provided evidence to what was stated above,
Originally, we weren’t exactly sure how to market the Touch. Was it an iPhone without the phone? Was it a pocket computer? What happened was, what customers told us was, they started to see it as a game machine. Because a lot of the games were free on the store. Customers started to tell us, “You don’t know what you’ve got here – it’s a great game machine, with the multitouch screen, the accelerometer, and so on.”
We started to market it that way, and it just took off. And now what we really see is it’s the lowest-cost way to the App Store, and that’s the big draw. So what we were focused on is just reducing the price to $199. We don’t need to add new stuff – we need to get the price down where everyone can afford it.
One interesting note is that there is growing speculation that a camera icon could be seen in the keynote when showing off the App Organization feature of iTunes 9 with what clearly was an iPod Touch synced. We are waiting to examine further before speculation, but our guesses is that it was simply a mock-up issue as Apple is not that stupid. Either that or they have gone to throwing Easter Eggs in keynotes.
Update II: Some users seem to think that October 15th will be an announcement of a new iPod touch, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Simply, Apple will not allow a product to stay on the market for only a month. The uproar that would occur would be a huge nightmare, we still say wait six months.
Image Courtesy of MacRumors and Covino & Rich. Steve Jobs quote as per Gizmodo.
