Wondering why Apple chose to
add a camera to the iPod nano, but not the
revised iPod touch? You're not alone, but one Mr. Steven P. Jobs has an answer for you: it's because the touch is a
game machine, you see. Seriously -- that's what El Steve told the inimitable David Pogue today after the
Rock and Roll event. According to Steve, Apple wasn't "exactly sure how to market the touch" at first, but once they listened to their customers and started to focus on gaming, "it just took off." That certainly explains the "funnest iPod ever" tagline, but still, why no cam? "We don't need to add new stuff -- we need to get the price down to where everyone can afford it." And... that's all he said about it, and Poguey didn't pursue the blindingly obvious followup: that's great for the $199 8GB model, but does Apple really think customers paying $299 and $399 for the larger editions would be turned off by paying slightly more for a camera sensor? Something tell us we won't hear Jobs say one more word about it until he's ready to actually unveil a touch with a camera -- at which point it will be a revolution.
P.S.- Make sure to hit the read link for the full interview -- it's short, but it's full of Steve saying things like "You notice
Amazon never says how [many Kindles] they sell; usually if they sell a lot of something, you want to tell everybody."
posted Sep 9th 2009 11:01PM
Nice excuse! cos I dont care =D
We could have played "virtual reality" games if it had a camera, which are much more fun than usual ones - they're always different!
Vicodin owns logical thinking.
why is he ripping on amazon so much. apple and amazon don't even compete in the book arena.
I think Steve's doctor gave him some medical marijuana. Otherwise, this man needs to be committed.
@Steve Jobs:
wat
I call bullshit.
Yes, complete bullshit.
So you worked to get the iPod down to $199 because it's a great game machine? But the 8GB $199 model doesn't have upgraded hardware like the others do, so it can't even run the games as well. So really it's the 32GB and up which are the great machines, except they're expensive, so where is this effort to make the iPod Touch an affordable gaming platform again?
In other news, McCain didn't win the election because grass is green.
Have you seen the trailers for Ghostwire? That's a virtual reality NDSi game that's coming out soon, that uses the outward-facing camera as a major hardware point, to seek out 'ghosts' in real time.
Do you know how much FUN that would be on an iPod touch? Or something similar.
But apprently cameras have no place in games apart from platforms that are made by: Nintendo (starting with the GameBoy Camera and working up to the DSi), Sony (eyetoy and that new creepy one), Microsoft (Project Natal), and... wait, what was I saying again?
my dell is a great game machine AND it has a camera..
Exactly which pulse is Apple monitoring?? Steve Job's or the consumer's?? We know the answer to that question already, Steve has received more attention then what the consumers have, especially in 2009.
So his opinion on what he thinks is best for consumers is more pressing than what his consumers actually want and are willing to pay for?? Steve know's what's best for us, I guess.
Nano = future of iPods??
Apple, put your finger back on the consumer's pulse, please!! It's fading....
Now, mind explaining why the Nintendo DSi (Which actually is a "great game machine") DOES have a camera?
Oh right, you're just talking shit like usual, sorry I ever doubted you Jobs.
The fact is, Steve Jobs really doesn't know anything about gaming. Come on, even Snow Leopard doesn't come in with free games.
Comparing PSP and DS games to iPodTouch/ iPhone games is a complete misdirection, comparing numbers which shouldn't really count.
Apparently, people will believe every word Steve Jobs says - especially the fanboys.
The Nintendo DSi is another great game machine with 2 cameras.
@Ridgecity
Minus the 'great' I agree. The cameras are shit on the DSi. I haven't used mine since... at least half as long as I've neglected my Wii (=godawfully long time).
Maybe Apple saw how the cameras turned out for the DSi and used that as their real reason for not adding it. If so, I can certainly see where they're coming from. Honestly, I'm glad they didn't add anything to the 8GB model too, gives me an excuse to spend my money on a new MacBook instead of upgrading my touch this year ;)
If Verizon had any balls they would come out with one of those slide-over cases for for the iPod Touch that has a camera and a phone. maybe for $50 (on Verizon contract), you slide this on and get an iPod touch on one side and Verizon phone on the other. That would be a riot of a product, and given the current technology, could probably be pretty thin too.
Yeah, none of that seems all too rational.
Adding nothing to the iPod Touch when it's already $300-400 really makes no sense. What does the iPod 'being a gaming machine' have to do with anything? Add a camera sensor (with still and video capability) to it already, and GPS, too. What's that gonna add... fifty bucks? That would be little to no strain for those prepared to spend that much to begin with. They didn't do much of anything with the Touch except bump up the capacity some and make it a pinch faster... People expect more than that.
And based on the pricing and so forth, it also doesn't make sense to me why they have an 8GB iPod, when the other two choices are 32GB and 64GB. Why don't they eliminate the 8GB and make it 16GB? The way they patterned everything else, that would make more sense. Instead, it sounds to me like Apple patterned things in such a way that people would avoid the 8GB altogether by seeing value in jumping straight to the 32GB model. So I'm not buying the whole "we're trying to make it affordable for everyone" thing. Try harder, Apple.
Finally, adding only video but no photo-stills capability to the Nano also makes little to no sense.
It's like it was bass-ackwards-day at Apple today. The choices they made here didn't seem to reflect much sagacity. I give grace to Steve, since he just came back to Apple (along with all he's been through), but crikey... who at Apple made these weird decisions, anyway?
@Brown Robott
OS X has always come with a very exciting game for free, Chess!!! Cuz Mac's are for intellectuals, duh!
This is just mind blowing!
Rumors said there would be a camera. If there was a camera, you'd all be complaining about the new feature not being very 'revolutionary'. Without a camera, it's no good as a gaming device.
You all need to get off your soap boxes and quit complaining. We are in a f-ing recession. How is adding $20 what was a $229 price tag a smart movie by Apple? The smart move way finding a way to lower the price so more people can buy one. Adding some internal bling to support OpenCL 2.0 isn't enough with a $30 price drop?
Translation: "The Zune HD is coming out soon and we currently have no tech to compete with it. A price drop was our only answer. Adding a camera *and* dropping the price would have killed our industry leading margin."
I'd really like to have some editor verification on this one, but I'm fairly sure this has been the most civil apple comments arena ever.
Seriously though, I've never seen so many "highest ranked" posts in my life. It's making me uncomfortable.
Super sweet! He knows me so well! Pfft
Cameras are bag of hurt
Needs buttons and better battery life before it can be called a game machine at all, let alone a great one.
Bullshit!!!
yup good to see that Stevie didn't get a sincerity transplant as well.
Too much pressure on iPhone sales .. since the upgraded iPod Touch would be just that questionable phone capability shy of its much more profitable big brother.
Epic bullshit. What lies, makes me laugh.
@ go seki
I agree if they were to add a camera they why would users want an iPhone, they would have everything an iphone has minus a shitty contract. I think the ipod line is plateauing, why would they not have any good redesigns of the ipods? They reintroduced the 160 classic as new, WTF, at least give it a bigger hard disk. I think apple needs more competition, they are starting to get lazy.
Well obviously having a camera at the back hinders all the "serious gaming" you can do on the ipod touch. What's not to get?
I think apple has finally become an iMonopoly. They have a shitfest event with no products that are worth buying, and a lame excuse for the itouch not getting a camera. The pie chart sealed it. They have such a huge market share that it doesn't matter how shitty the products are they know people will have to buy them. Apple doesn't deserve The Beatles, hell they don't even deserve The Monkees.
This was more of a jizzfest so that all of the mac fanboys could wet themselves over Steve Job's return.
Hey Josh, so much for a breathtaking event...huh :-P
Cameras are bag of hurt
Translation: we're market leaders, and there's no pressure on us to do anything other than modest, incremental upgrades. We'd rather slowly work on our secret iTablet than really strive for excellence this quarter.
iTablet? iBigTouch
apple was gonna put cameras on itouches but then they was like hold the phone folks (no pun intended) the zune hd over there doesn't have a camera! so then they were like "oh yeah" were getting to far ahead of our non-existing competition. so they just tossed that idea out the window (... once again no pun intended) and went home and showered themselves in money in preparation to todays event.
and on another note...
According to Steve, Apple wasn't "exactly sure how to market the touch" at first, but once they listened to their customers and started to focus on gaming, "it just took off."
when the hell did anyone consider the itouch a gaming device!?!?!!
well according to you mister steve jobs you "listened to your customers"... or is it more along the lines of i listened to the numbers!!!
sure it might have a ton of games for it but that doesnt make it a gaming device!!! heck i myself have bought a couple dozen games, not because they are great (their not!!!!) but because their cheap. i download it, play with it for a few minutes and then i never see it again and i dont care because it was only a buck or two. and i am sure i am not the only one who does this!!! added up this is making you believe that we consider the itouch a gaming device... i mean come on!!! steve pick up an itouch and try to play a real game on it and you'll see how stupid you sound. i dont see why it cant just be the best pmp in the world (im not a fanboy) instead of JUST a gaming device. like many here i call forth that apple is BULLSHIT (a truck load of it) and unless you get your act strait i will not download anything from you ( a personal boycott LOL :P) I myself probably wont make a difference but at least i know im not gonna get stabbed in the back... or is anyone with me?
The Zune HD doesn't have a camera either, because it's a great gaming platform!
Cameras are bag of hurt
iTouchMega
@Decoy
Woah, woah, woah, lets not get carried away here. The Zune HD is great hd media player, but the focus is on music/video (the way it should be). The games are ok but, like ipod games, dont hold serious interest for over 10 mins.
Great game machine? May be true if you have invisible/tiny thumbs. I couldn't even see Altair when I tried playing Assassin's Creed. I prefer my "game machines" with buttons, thank you.
+1
The PSP GO is looking more and more attractive. It has good games, a mic for skype, expandable memory, video-out and real buttons.
I don't mean to sound like a fanboy if I do, I am just looking at the specs and the truth is becoming very clear. This is the year of the PSP GO and the Zune HD. Apple has blown it.
The iPod Touch is a great game machine, it may not be on the same level as the DS or PSP, but it has a lot of great games and I enjoy using it...
the ipod is as much a game machine as are all smartphones.. some even have better specs than it..
I can't believe how often this single show-stopping point is overlooked. Resident Evil? Unplayable. Doom, Wolfenstein, every game that relies on some kind of arrow pad onscreen: Unplayable. You can do only so much by tilting the phone.
I have no Idea why people keep buying games when they suck. Maybe it goes like this: "Oh look, Resident Evil for iPhone, that game ROCKED". "Review says controls are a little iffy, but they can't be that BAD". *sound of credit card being swiped* ... "Oh, this game is damn near unplayable... how do I get a refund?"... "Oh...".
To be fair, one game was pretty good controlwise: Civilization. But then it came down to a lack of screen real-estate.
sacapuntas @ Sep 9th 2009 11:26PM
The PSP GO is looking more and more attractive. It has good games, a mic for skype, expandable memory, video-out and real buttons.
----------
So does the PSP 3000, and 2000, and the 1000 has nearly all you mentioned.
How will the UMD-less PSP Go revolutionise anything? With its bluetooth and smaller size (and non-replaceable battery?)
Steve's new liver is smoking crack. This has to have been the lamest Apple Event of all time. I have an iPhone 3GS, so I am happy with 3.1 of course, but I was looking for some reason to get iPods for friends and family for Christmas this year. I just don't see it. The whole line has gone stale unless you're like 12 and that new Nano might get you making fart noises on YouTube.
Funny Apple never mentions how man Macbook Air or Apple TV it has sold
I said the SAME thing! They'll show the hell out of iPod and iPhone numbers against Microsoft's (which doesn't really care about that market like Apple does)
Yet when touting OS X and such, they leave those numbers alone, LMAO
I have nothing against OS X, I love it. But it's just so freaking silly.
I can just imagine if Steve Jobs was still in his teens, how the interviews would go:
A: So, How are iPod sales doing?
SJ: Great! We've got the over 70 percent marketshare, this CLEARLY means we have made the best quality product, and anybody who says otherwise is stupid!
A: So does that mean Windows is the better OS?
SJ: Ga... De... Ah.... SHUT UP.