New iPod Touch 'retina' Display - Not the same as iPhone?

[HawkMan]

The lack of a good quality GPS in these cellphone devices prevents me one replacing my dedicated GPS unit.

Maybe next year we will see smartphones with good quality GPS based on something like the SiRFstar IV

I dunno, but the GPS ion my Xperia X10 is the best GPS I've seen standalone or not, it pretty much manages to get a gps fix instantly when it turns on the GPS. and it manages to get signal indoors where other GPS units from car to garmin outdoor GPS' don't get signal. Not sure what receiver that one has, but it's damn good.

[Caleo Global Moderator]

That is called an iPhone! the iPod touch will never get GPS, unless Apple redesign the Maps app to allow you to cache maps to the device (I wish they would! loved that feature of my previous phone [Nokia N95]). As for being able to access the phone network for data, what is the point? if you want that then what you want is an iPhone not an iPod touch. Not to mention that could seriously cannibalize the iPhone sales too, I'm sure Apple will block being able to make phone calls on it but with something like Skype or just jailbreak it to allow phone calls (I'm sure you could) you got yourself a cheap iPhone! I am also aware the iPad has a 3G version but that is a completely different device! Well that is my 2 cents, take with a grain of salt.

It's called TomTom, Navigon, Magellan Roadmate & all the other standalone GPS apps out there.

I've been using TomTom with my 2g Touch + bluetooth GPS module (via a nice little Cydia app called RoqyGPS) - and it's awesome to have. It'd be even nicer to have multitasking as well as an onboard GPS so I wouldn't have to worry about the module's battery as well as turning the unit on and syncing it to the touch.

I still might get a new touch in spite of the lesser screen - it does still have a lot of stuff over my touch (more ram, double the amount of storage, more powerful internal hardware, 2 cameras (you have no idea how often I've wished my touch had a camera), microphone, higher res screen, new design, better battery life (though this remains to be proven), multitasking, etc...), and it's being offered at a pretty good price.

[Dark_ph0enix]

Just ordered mine! - Bit annoying about the "UK Markup" that we have to go through - I ordered the 32GB version, which costs ?249 - or $382.50 which is a hell of a markup compared to the 32GBs RRP of $299. Still , us Brits are used to being shafted - import cost, Apple "Luxury cost", VAT increase (which has probably added ?10 to the cost).

Either way - "Fake" Retina display and markup not withstanding, I'm looking forward to mine. Ordered via the Apple online store, with an estimated delievery date between September 10th - 15th.

[HawkMan]

Just ordered mine! - Bit annoying about the "UK Markup" that we have to go through - I ordered the 32GB version, which costs ?249 - or $382.50 which is a hell of a markup compared to the 32GBs RRP of $299. Still , us Brits are used to being shafted - import cost, Apple "Luxury cost", VAT increase (which has probably added ?10 to the cost).

Either way - "Fake" Retina display and markup not withstanding, I'm looking forward to mine. Ordered via the Apple online store, with an estimated delievery date between September 10th - 15th.

I think you need to retake basic maths if you think 25% of 299 is 10 ;)

It's also more expensive in Europe because most european countries have higher wages, and all that. basically we're richer and can afford more than Americans, same reaosn why everything is dirt cheap in poland, India and so on.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I was a little surprised by the lack of features in the iPod touch myself. But they need some incentive for people to buy the iPhone 4 still.

[AbandonedTrolley]

I think you need to retake basic maths if you think 25% of 299 is 10

It's also more expensive in Europe because most european countries have higher wages, and all that. basically we're richer and can afford more than Americans, same reaosn why everything is dirt cheap in poland, India and so on.

You may need a lesson in economics as the UK VAT rate is 17.5% ;) the VAT from this country is ?37.23 on the iPod :)

Claiming a VAT increase is a little poor though as it was only a temporary measure for the decrease, it was never going to stay at that rate.

[Dysphoria]

I was a little surprised by the lack of features in the iPod touch myself. But they need some incentive for people to buy the iPhone 4 still.

Besides the phone service and camera feature, what else is the iPos lacking.... IT has exactly the same features that the iPhone 4 has.

[AbandonedTrolley]

I was a little surprised by the lack of features in the iPod touch myself. But they need some incentive for people to buy the iPhone 4 still.

I'm not quite sure what people are expecting from their media players anymore tbh. There will always be a tier system to apple devices, what else exactly did you want it to do? Other than the GPS and making calls it's not too distant from the iPhone4

[Gaffney]

Why would you every go from itouch to itouch ? I have a first gen itouch, still plays youtube and music that's fine for me. Who needs a camera and a microphone on it ? And a better display ? Your not going to watch an entire movie on it. I like the display on the 1st gen itouch, it works fine.

But I am considering getting an android phone and use it to replace the itouch, it's so hard to put videos and music onto the itouch and if you don't backup your music on your pc it's gone if you need to reinstall windows which ****es me off.

[HawkMan]

You may need a lesson in economics as the UK VAT rate is 17.5% ;) the VAT from this country is ?37.23 on the iPod :)

Claiming a VAT increase is a little poor though as it was only a temporary measure for the decrease, it was never going to stay at that rate.

I was pretty sure the UK was also part of the 25% club now.

even so, 17.5% of 299 is also not 10.

[AbandonedTrolley]

I was pretty sure the UK was also part of the 25% club now.

even so, 17.5% of 299 is also not 10.

No, thankfully we aren't getting screwed over that much just yet. Give it time though!

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

...

what else exactly did you want it to do? Other than the GPS and making calls it's not too distant from the iPhone4

I want it to do everything the iPhone does, apart from the phone stuff.

At the moment it's basically that though, minus random non-phone related bits (like GPS)

[Quattrone]

I'm not quite sure what people are expecting from their media players anymore tbh.

I don't consider my iPod Touch 3G an only media player. To me its more than that, its a tablet, a portable mini-computer and of course a media player. I use it as a computer device more than a media player. But now with camera and microphone integrated, its going to be a kick ass little machine for people that use the iPod as a multitasking device.

[Dark_ph0enix]

I think you need to retake basic maths if you think 25% of 299 is 10 ;)

It's also more expensive in Europe because most european countries have higher wages, and all that. basically we're richer and can afford more than Americans, same reaosn why everything is dirt cheap in poland, India and so on.

You may need a lesson in economics as the UK VAT rate is 17.5% ;) the VAT from this country is £37.23 on the iPod :)

Claiming a VAT increase is a little poor though as it was only a temporary measure for the decrease, it was never going to stay at that rate.

Perhaps I should have worded it differently. I'm not saying that the total VAT cost added £10 onto the cost of the iPod Touch - I'm saying that the jump from 17.5% to 20% added, at most, £10 onto the total cost of the unit.

Edit -> Or not. Don't ask me why, but for some reason my brain has decided to take a vacation, with regards how much VAT used to be, and how much it's been "bumped" back upto. For some reason I was convinced that VAT had gone up this month to 20%, when in fact it jumps to 20% in January.

[Southern Patriot]

I don't consider my iPod Touch 3G an only media player. To me its more than that, its a tablet, a portable mini-computer and of course a media player. I use it as a computer device more than a media player. But now with camera and microphone integrated, its going to be a kick ass little machine for people that use the iPod as a multitasking device.

I agree. The iPod touch really should be compared to PocketPC's and Palm devices (before they integrated phone features), and dare I say it, the Newton. They are NOT simply MP3 & video players. Too many people don't seem to realize this.

[Caleo Global Moderator]

Why would you every go from itouch to itouch ?

More powerful internals, more features, better screen, etc.

I have a first gen itouch, still plays youtube and music that's fine for me. Who needs a camera and a microphone on it ?

You're not everyone. I've been dying for a camera & microphone - why? To take pics with something I basically ALWAYS have on hand. Making VOIP calls will also be handy.

And a better display ? Your not going to watch an entire movie on it. I like the display on the 1st gen itouch, it works fine.

I routinely watch tv episodes / movies on my Touch at work/on trips - I'll take as nice of a screen as I can get. Besides, the high res screen isn't beneficial so much for movies as it is browsing and other text heavy applications.

But I am considering getting an android phone and use it to replace the itouch, it's so hard to put videos and music onto the itouch and if you don't backup your music on your pc it's gone if you need to reinstall windows which ****es me off.

Before you reinstall windows, copy over your itunes folder (namely the files that point iTunes to the locations of your music). It's really not that hard.

[LightShadow]

The screen is better than the iPod Touch 3G so I'm bought.

Anyway, in the UK the iPod Touch 3G is for sale at ?210 and the 4G at ?250. So paying an extra ?40 for a good-enough Retina,2 cameras (Even though they are bad resolution),a build-in microphone, thinner design and it will be supported for longer (Likely iOS 5 will have all new features on the 4G/5G but less on the 3G & limited/No Support for 2G just like iOS 4 did) is great! Can't wait for Christmas.

[Dark_ph0enix]

The screen is better than the iPod Touch 3G so I'm bought.

Anyway, in the UK the iPod Touch 3G is for sale at ?210 and the 4G at ?250. So paying an extra ?40 for a good-enough Retina,2 cameras (Even though they are bad resolution),a build-in microphone, thinner design and it will be supported for longer (Likely iOS 5 will have all new features on the 4G/5G but less on the 3G & limited/No Support for 2G just like iOS 4 did) is great! Can't wait for Christmas.

Pretty much my reasoning behind buying one. I was gonna pick up a 3rd Gen 32GB model, but held off for around 6 months, to see what the new version would look like. The cheapest I could find a 32GB 3rd Gen. model, was just under ?202 from Best Buy, so for me, personally, the extra ?47 was worth paying.

Except I couldn't wait until Christmas, so I ordered it yesterday :).

Ooh - and before I forget - the VAT, according to Apple, amounts to ?37.09.