- 10 Features That Breathe New Life Into Apple’s iPod Touch
- New iPod Touch Runs Graphics 10 Times Faster
- Apple Adds an 8-Megapixel Camera
- It Will Run the Full Version iOS 8
- It Supports 1.5 Million Apps
- It Doesn’t Run Touch ID Fingerprint Security
- New iPod Touch Has Smaller Screen Than iPhone 6
- Apple Music Takes Center Stage
- It’s Less Useful When You Go Mobile
- What Options Are Available?
- A Look at Pricing
10 Features That Breathe New Life Into Apple’s iPod Touch
By Don Reisinger
New iPod Touch Runs Graphics 10 Times Faster
The critical component in the iPod Touch that may make it appealing to customers is the A8 processor. Apple said the chip, which is already bundled in the iPhone, is capable of producing 10 times the graphics power of the previous iPod Touch and six times the processing power.
Apple Adds an 8-Megapixel Camera
The iPod Touch now comes with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as an iSight front-facing camera for those who want to engage in FaceTime conversations or just snap selfies. While Apple has never been one to lead the way on camera technology, for most customers looking to buy an iPod, the 8-megapixel snapper should do the trick.
It Will Run the Full Version iOS 8
One of the nice things about the iPod Touch is that it’s a full-fledged iOS device. That means that the handset is capable of running the full version of iOS 8 and will be upgradable to iOS 9 when that operating system launches this fall. Customers worried about having a sub-par software experience with the iPod Touch need not worry.
It Supports 1.5 Million Apps
Thanks to its support for iOS 8, the iPod Touch has full support for all of the apps one would find in the company’s App Store. According to Apple, that number is now at 1.5 million apps, all of which can be run on the iPod Touch. From Instagram to Angry Birds, anything a user wants in Apple’s App Store can be run on the iPod Touch.
It Doesn’t Run Touch ID Fingerprint Security
Customers looking for better security in the iPod Touch may be a little disappointed by what they find. Rather than bundle Touch ID in the iPod Touch, allowing for fingerprint sensing and support for Apple Pay, Apple has decided to keep the standard home button. It’s a glaring omission that may make some folks opt for an iPhone or iPad over the iPod Touch.
New iPod Touch Has Smaller Screen Than iPhone 6
Another surprise from Apple’s iPod Touch is that it doesn’t come with the same screen size as the iPhone 6. While Apple’s latest smartphones feature screen sizes ranging from 4.7 to 5.5 inches, the iPod Touch has a 4-inch screen. Given the importance of visual entertainment for users buying an iPod Touch, it would have been nice to see a larger screen size.
Apple Music Takes Center Stage
Although the iPod Touch is capable of performing all sorts of tasks and allows users to watch movies and television shows, all of Apple’s promotional materials focus on one main purpose: It’s a great way to listen to Apple Music. The iPod has long been Apple’s music player, and it makes sense that the company would update its flagship model now that a new service in Apple Music is available. Of course, Apple Music is available on other iOS devices and Macs, but central to the company’s sales pitch is the idea that the streaming-music service will work great on the iPod Touch.
It’s Less Useful When You Go Mobile
Going mobile with the iPod Touch could prove to be challenging. While there are millions of hotspots around the United States and getting onto a wireless network is easier than ever, there are still many cases when users need access to an LTE network. Unfortunately, the iPod Touch is WiFi-only, which means customers won’t be able to connect to carrier networks. Without LTE connectivity, many apps—including Apple Music—are useless when away from a WiFi connection.
What Options Are Available?
Apple is offering several different versions of the iPod Touch. The low-end model comes with 16GB of on-board storage, while the top-end device offers 128GB of storage. As with the iPhone, the iPod Touch comes with Apple’s own earbuds, as well as a Lightning charging cable.
A Look at Pricing
Apple is offering several different versions of the iPod Touch. The low-end model comes with 16GB of on-board storage, while the top-end device offers 128GB of storage. As with the iPhone, the iPod Touch comes with Apple’s own earbuds, as well as a Lightning charging cable.