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2nd Generation iPod Touch: 2.1 Firmware, Speaker, Thinner

Tuesday September 9, 2008 12:01 pm PDT by Arnold Kim

Apple released the new iPod Touch today at their media event. The new iPod Touch matches up with the rumors, now sporting a curved back but retaining the same storage capacities. Features include:

- 2.1 Firmware
- Built-in speaker, volume controls
- Genius playlist
- Nike+iPod support
- Battery: 36 hours for music, 6 hours for video.
- $229 for 8GB, $299 for 16GB, $399 for 32GB

Apple also appears to be positioning the iPod Touch as a gaming device with a new ad that shows off a number of games and calls it the "funnest iPod ever". Phil Schiller also demonstrated a number of games on stage, including Spore Origins, Real Soccer 2009 and Need for Speed: Undercover.

Spore Origins was released for the iPhone and iPod Touch just yesterday, and a first look gameplay video of Real Soccer 2009 has been posted to TouchArcade.com.

The 2.1 upgrade will be available for free for current iPod Touch owners with Firmware 2.0.

The new iPod Touches should appear at http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/ later today.

Updates: Hands on iPod Touch photos
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Eidorian
45 months ago
The Nano was just as promised beforehand and the Touch is sexy but no GPS. I'm drooling over the built-in speaker though. Not to mention the Touch's insane battery life...

iPhone and Touch are making up Apple's portable game machine market. (LOL Pippen) I wonder what Nintendo is thinking.

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Lesser Evets
45 months ago
Just ordered a 16GB.

I hoped for more, but expected this price and size as a minimal. Speaker is nice!
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Apple Ink
45 months ago
Nothing new was there? Everything was expected (though MR discarded the Nike+)
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ChemiosMurphy
45 months ago
the no GPS is kind of lame. I'm probably still going to buy it since I corrupted my NVRAM on my iPhone.
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nagromme
45 months ago
I never saw how the Touch could ever have dropped anywhere CLOSE to the iPhone's subsidized price, since AT&T pays $300 or more for your iPhone, on top of what you pay.

The speaker is nice--not for music so much (though my iPhone's speaker is acceptable for that in a pinch) but for other uses such as alarm clock, timer, headphone-free gaming and video (YouTube with friends), and email notification (which I assume can be auto-checked while you're in WiFi range).
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dasikes
45 months ago
Has anyone heard if the current generation Touches will receive the Genius Playlist?

I'm assuming so, because they certainly wouldn't leave the iPhone users out of this, so it's got to be nothing more than a software update.
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yorkshire
45 months ago
Got my 8gb ordered!:D

External speaker is the big plus for me.
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drb6
45 months ago
Is the back of the new Touch brushed silver like iPhone 1? On some pictures on the site it looks that way, on others it looks like the reflective silver.
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VaatiKaiba
45 months ago
I'm slightly disappointed. I had been hoping for at least another colour / plastic backing, and (although I knew this was unlikely) GPS. Nice to see it got a built in speaker.

I was going to get it, but now I'm not sure - Nanos are very tempting... or maybe both!
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FSUSem1noles
45 months ago
More importantly, what is that background on that 3rd touch from the left, that's standing up?

It looks amazing!
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