According to The Examiner, an inside source has confirmed that an iPod Touch with camera will be released this spring. The mysterious source also confirmed that the camera-Touch was supposed to be released this past September, but Apple had to pull the camera at the last minute due to manufacturing defects. Apparently, it will contain the not-so-great VGA camera currently found in the iPod Nano, which can shoot video but not take photos.
This move isn’t surprising at all, because like many I also fully expected a camera-enabled iPod Touch to hit this past September. In an interview with David Pogue, Jobs stated that they didn’t put a camera in the Touch because they wanted to focus on the device as a gaming machine. Now we know that statement was complete crap, and I sort of wish Pogue had pushed further with that questioning back in September.
I think we can also expect that over the next few years the iPods Nano and Touch will continue to receive worse cameras than the iPhone. Both devices are much thinner than the iPhone, which doesn’t allow for as sophisticated camera lenses and electronics. Also, Apple probably wants to keep the iPhone as the flagship device for photo and video quality.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 am
Is that true:
the not-so-great VGA camera currently found in the iPod Nano, which can shoot video but not take photos
I used to have a motorola rzr, with VGA – which DID take photos, although not of a very good quality.
I just don’t understand how they can have a lens with the capabilities of shooting videos, which is unable to take photos? I wouldve thought that the video side of things would be harder?
I guess that’s just what I tell myself when I wonder why my iPhone (3G) isn’t able to shoot video?!
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 am
I’m sure the camera *can* take photos, but given that they will look awful from a VGA camera Apple just decided it’s not worth it to give you the option. Video is a lot more forgiving of resolution issues than still photos.
The iPhone 3G thing couldn’t record video due to potential battery life and CPU slowdown issues. Basically, Apple is very conservative when it comes to pushing their devices too hard.