Earlier this month, new references to unreleased iPad models were discovered in iOS 5, but the lack of any mention of unreleased iPod touch models led to some concern that Apple might not be planning an update to the popular line this year.
But a bit more digging by iFans has in fact turned up a reference to an unreleased iPod touch model designated as "iPod4,2". The current iPod touch is designated "iPod4,1".
Up until now, only mentions of “iPod4,1,” the current iPod touch model, have been discovered in iOS 5 property lists. However, some snooping by iFans forum user shamrock has indeed yielded mention of an unreleased iPod touch model: “iPod4,2″ in the file /System/Library/LaunchDaemons /com.apple.fairplayd.N81.plist
What's more interesting is the use of the "iPod4,2" reference instead of "iPod5,1", suggesting that Apple considers the new model to only be a minor update to the existing iPod touch. Apple briefly used this naming convention once before in its iPod touch line when an "iPod2,2" reference showed up in iOS 3.0 betas in early 2009. No such product was ever released, however, as all of the third-generation iPod touch models released later that year carried the "iPod3,1" designation, which had also been found in the iOS 3.0 code. Consequently, it is possible that Apple could still have an "iPod5,1" in the works as the next update, but no signs of such of a device have yet been found in iOS 5.
To find an instance of Apple actually shipping an "X,2" product as a minor update, we can turn to the iPhone where Apple dubbed the iPhone 3G as "iPhone1,2", considering it a minor update update over the original iPhone despite a redesigned case and new 3G compatibility, among other changes. The iPhone 3GS released the following year interestingly warranted a major new "iPhone2,1" designation despite a nearly identical external appearance to the iPhone 3G, although the device's internals were significantly upgraded.
Update: TUAW notes that this iPod4,2 reference is also in iOS 4.3, not just iOS 5.
Update 2: TUAW has retracted its earlier claim of the iPod4,2 reference being present in iOS 4.3.3. The reference does in fact appear to be new in iOS 5.
Top Rated Comments
No, the BTS promo was a gift card because the Mac App Store doesn't seem to be doing as well as Apple hoped. It's also why Lion is going to be a MAS exclusive.
If the MAS was doing well, they would have flaunted the numbers during the WWDC keynote, like they did with the iOS App Store.
That's my take on it at least.
I purchased the iPod Touch 2G when it came out because it DIDN'T have a phone. At the time, I didn't even own a cell phone. I now have a "dumb" cell phone because I have a 90 mile commute, but I use it maybe 1% of the time and use prepay.
I love the fact that I can browse my contact list on my iPod Touch while talking on the Cell. I couldn't do that if an iPhone unless I used a headset/earpiece.
Besides people like me who don't really want my portable browser/video player/MP3 player as a phone, there are still plenty of folks who don't want a phone contract, or are on incompatible carriers. $200 or so gets you into the game... that's doable.
The iPod Touch also provides a nice intro to iOS that the other iPods dont. If I were to get a Smartphone with a contract, it would be an iPhone. I might not have been able to say that if I hadn't had an ioverall positive experience with the Touch.
The iPod touch and iPhone have different demographics. The iPod touch is mostly used by 13-24 year old consumers. The iPhone is mostly used by the 25-55 year old age group. Kids can't afford to shell out for cellular plans; you really need a job.
Steve himself said that the iPod touch was training wheels for the iPhone.
The iPod touch is not going away; it is now the top selling iPod. Apple sells two iPod touches for every three iPhones. Apple is building the next generation of iPhone owners by selling iPod touches.
RAM upgrade
5MP camera
I think this would be a minor update,
a major one would be
128GB
A5 processor
5MP camera with LED flash
RAM upgrade
Magnetometer
IPS display
1MP front facing camera
Not everyone wants a smartphone. And iPad proves not everyone wants a cellular radio in everything.
I know plenty of actual adults, young and old, who have an iPod touch and a regular "dumb phone". They want the iOS device but don't want a "phone" anywhere near it. Especially considering how cheap and good prepaid services can be these days. If I didn't have an iPhone (I love my iPhone 4 but I kick myself every day for renewing my contract with AT&T a year ago to buy it), I'd have no problem carrying a regular "dumb" phone and iPod touch. Before the original iPhone I had no problem carrying an iPod mini and dumb phone. Then 80GB iPod 5.5G and dumb phone.
With iPod touch sales increasing and becoming the most popular iPod, theres no reason for them to phase it out.
All they need to do is continue to improve it. Get rid of the stainless steel back. For the love of all things good, PLEASE get rid of the stainless steel back.
Put better cameras on it. Read something some time ago about a 3.2MP camera sensor that was available that would fit in the iPod touch form factor. Use that.
Bump it up to A5 with 512MB of RAM. Thats all.
Theres always going to be a market for the iPod touch and sales prove it. You don't sell tens of millions of something if theres no market for it.
The same way theres always going to be a market for something like the iPod nano. Even though sales of it might be going down, the market for it will always be there in one way or another.