Filed under: iPod Family, Other Events
New iPod touch includes speakers, Nike+
In its "Let's Rock" event today, Apple introduced three new iPod touch models, all of which are available today.
$229 will get you 8GB of storage, $299 will buy 16GB, and $399 scores 32GB. That's knocking $70 to $100 off the price of each.
The form factor is very slightly thinner, and has a similar tapered back as the iPhone 3G, as rumors suggested. It will also include an exterior volume control and a built-in speaker for "casual listening." There is no microphone built in, but the touch will work with new Apple headphones that include a microphone on the cord. The new headphones are sold separately for $79.
The new models all come with version 2.1 of the iPod touch firmware, which includes the Genius recommendation service mentioned earlier in the presentation. The software also comes with Nike+ built-in, so all you have to buy is the shoe sensor/transmitter. No more dongle.
For those with a current-model iPod touch, the software update is free for those updating from 2.x, and $10 for those upgrading from 1.x.
The new iPod touch models also are more environmentally-friendly, and are constructed with arsenic-free glass and BFR-free, mercury-free, PVC-free, and highly-recyclable components just like the new nano.
[Photo via Engadget.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brizzle said 2:51PM on 9-09-2008
Sooo, if there's Nike+ on the Touch, seems like it would come with iPhone 2.1 too, no?
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ANGELJO008 said 4:16PM on 9-09-2008
That was my thinking or at least my hope as well :)
sjkhuth said 3:04PM on 9-09-2008
I just searched the Apple website up and down and nowhere it says the iPhone is supported, on the Nike+ Store page it says iPod Nano 1-4th and iPod Touch 2nd gen, no iPhone. Also, the new headphones are not compatible with the iPhone either.
Why does Apple always have to pick one group of users and kick them in the face? First it's the non iPhone users that get screwed, now it's the iPhone users. As much as I love Apple, they have to fix that. Soon. Real soon.
Bob S. said 3:36PM on 9-09-2008
Read up on conditional compiling. Just because source code includes features doesn't mean they have to be included in every item that runs code produced from that source.
Vernal said 2:52PM on 9-09-2008
Hrm. Nike+. Does that mean there is bluetooth hiding in there? Or, maybe, it just uses the accelerometer to detect steps?
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Brizzle said 3:00PM on 9-09-2008
http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/run.html
Under "Ready" it tells us that the nano requires a receiver, but Touch has support built in. Both still require the little sensor that you put on your shoe.
No mention of iPhone... hrrm.
totoro said 3:23PM on 9-09-2008
Nike+ uses a proprietary 802.11 protocol right now.
Either the current 802.11b/g chipset has been tweaked to support the current shoe sensor, or the shoe sensor has changed. Or, there is another chip in the new iPod Touches that supports the original 802.11 of the Nike+. Which would suck :p
bert said 2:57PM on 9-09-2008
new headphones are still $29 its the new in-ear headphones that are now $79
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Paul said 3:15PM on 9-09-2008
I was going to say the same thing.
What I did find out is both the $29 and $79 earbuds have a mic built in.
brian said 4:34PM on 9-09-2008
the headphones arent even new.. they are the same as the iphone ones.. look at the compatibility..
http://applestore.com/us/product/MA814LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1MA&mco=MTMwNzE0NA
CJ said 3:03PM on 9-09-2008
Or can we at least buy the dongle and use it cause I doubt we (1G touch) have the hardware unless they use wifi?
Please ask :)
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chrisM70 said 3:16PM on 9-09-2008
I thought it was a pretty good offering by Apple. I think the "shake to shuffle" feature is kind of gimmicky, but it's the kind of gimmick that people will have fun with (kind of like iMac's Photo Booth). The Nike+ is a great reason to get a nano, so that was positive too. Games, HD movies, Genius... pretty nice group of products. But as is the case with EVERY Apple event, the stock dropped. So far today, over 6 points! I can't understand it sometimes...
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TM said 3:21PM on 9-09-2008
Okay, seriously, 8-32GB storage size. I'm not really impressed at all. Some people will argue its the added features of the iPod Touch over storage space, but come on, for those that subscribed to season tickets of their favorite shows will find the iPod Touch in general not filling their storage needs on the go. I have always thought that the iPod Touch should have retained the hard drive aspect of the iPod Classics. It would just make more sense, but again small feature changes (Nike+) and the price 'drops' by 50 dollars across the board - but overall another waste of a generation in my opinion.
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ljhardy said 3:27PM on 9-09-2008
So, will Nike+ work on a 1st gen Touch with a dongle?
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totoro said 3:37PM on 9-09-2008
According to Gizmodo, nope.
worm said 3:20PM on 9-09-2008
What do you mean $50 off each? Weren't they $299, $399, and $499? That would be $70-off, $100-off, and $100-off, respectively.
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Robert Palmer said 3:27PM on 9-09-2008
Thanks for the correction -- I was trying to do quick math in my head and obviously I failed. I updated the story with the correct figures.
Raphael Salgado said 3:28PM on 9-09-2008
Gizmodo just confirmed that Nike+ is for iPod touch 2G only, 1G versions and iPhones are out of luck. Yikes.
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Chris said 3:34PM on 9-09-2008
The 'funnest' ipod ever? C'mon Apple... Lets get serious with our grammar skills.
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Tony said 6:43PM on 9-09-2008
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funnest
It may not be your favorite word, but it's grammatically correct.