Just when everybody thought that Apple is gradually finding a graceful exit for its iPod Touch line, the company brings out the iPod Touch 6th generation in the market. Following rumors that the Apple was about to release a long overdue update for its iPod Touch line, consumers were caught off guard when the American tech giant released the latest iteration to the media player on July 22, coming out with an array of colors to choose from, better design, and a powerful processor than its predecessors.
The latest media player device is Apple’s first refresh for the iPod Touch in three years, a considerably long time especially with Apple’s systems of updates and releases. According to Arstechnica, the newest gadget now runs on cutting-edge A8 processors, that’s three jumps from the A5 processor used by the iPod Touch 5th Generation. The A8 processor is the same chip that runs on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus flagship smartphones so Apple users can expect the iPod Touch 6th Generation to maintain the same speed as the company’s latest iPhones at only one-third of the price.
Sales for the iPod Touch line have gradually declined over the years since the iPhone was released. But the device still managed to make a niche in the market despite not being given any update. The iPhone’s release prompted users to switch because of iPhone’s function to send SMS and make calls, which are not part of the capabilities of the iPod Touch devices.
iPhonefaqs reports that the Cupertino-based company launched the iPod Touch 6th Generation in preparation for the iPhone 6S release in September. Apple normally launches its latest iPhones in September. As such, the company’s supply chain partners have reportedly stepped up their production of the A9 processors. The new chip manufactured by Samsung and TMSC will be used in powering the upcoming flagship phones of Apple.
The latest iPod Touch basically takes the design of its predecessor, but with a long stretch of improvements. It is now equipped with the latest iOS 8.4 and is confirmed to be compatible for an iOS 9 upgrade, and Apple Music is pre-installed too. It includes a 128GB storage tier, an M8 motion coprocessor that tracks steps, movement, and elevation, an upgraded Wi-Fi, and an 8-megapixel camera with the burst and slow-motion image capture functionalities albeit the two-tone LED flash.
According to a recent benchmark test conducted by Mac Rumors, the newest iPod Touch that is equipped with an A8 chip at 1.10GHz surpasses the iPhone 6 that runs on the same chip at 1.39GHz. The device also contains 1GB of RAM and is the first iPod Touch with Bluetooth 4.1 which provides better data transfer and less interference.
The gadget still sports a 4-inch handheld size just like the iPod Touch 5th gen, and a 1136 x 640 Retina display panel identical in size, color and contrast with the ones used in the iPod Touch 5th gen, iPhone 5, and iPhone 5S.
The lack of TouchID or cellular and GPS still makes the device impractical compared to smartphones, although if users are going to use it as a backup device for storage, gaming or music, then it will surely be worth the money spent on buying it.
The one catch the latest iPod Touch probably has is the fact that it comes in plenty of new and vibrant colors. The revamped iPod Touch has replaced the old yellow, pink, and teal colors with space gray, silver, pink, blue and red. The gold version of the device matches the finish on gold iPhones and iPads while the colors pink and blue appear darker and more saturated than the previous ones.
For users who still owns iPod Touch, Apple is also kind enough to give older versions of the iPod Touch an update in colors, adding a darker pink and blue shade option for the iPod Touch as well as the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle gadgets.
I for one wanted to see an almost 6 inch ipod touch or if you prefer you can call it a baby Ipad. ….I have wished for such a size ever since my first ipod touch 2 and the wait has not really been all that good. I have lived with the ipod touch 3 and 4 and 5. But I will not be buying the new ipod touch 6…
I am going to give it a few more months to see if Apple will sell a baby Ipad of 6 Inches or just a little bit larger. This particular size is in my opinion the best possible size for true portability and user friendliness and the most comfortable size in many psychological aspects to suit both male and female adults.and young people as well.
I will never buy a phone made by Apple but a Baby Ipad will be my ideal tablet for use when I am out and about.
I only hope that Apple brings out a Baby Ipad….because it is likely to be the most successful product that Apple will ever make. I do not much mind the Ipad mini and the Ipad …but these two tablets cannot comfortably sit in a pocket ….and their usefulness is in my opinion limited as long as they can sit in a briefcase or a backpack.and a large hand bag …”portable only to a point” ….and in my opinion the Baby Ipad will fill the gap very nicely and be affordable to many millions of people of many varying levels of financial ability to afford it..and Apple would be stupid to ignore such a valuable product of such fine potential.
I have to agree with you. I enjoy the iPod touch model and have been waiting for the longest time for the iPod touch 6 figuring it was a no brainier that it would have a bigger screen. I probably would have picked one up the first chance I got, now after finding out the screen size is the same as the 5 I’m gonna pass. Can’t believe after this long await there’s no screen upgrade. What a kick in the ***** . Guess they just lost 2 sales
Dude we have iPhone 6 + now
As I said, I do not want a phone with a contractual obligation and an inflated cost of an iphone and I prefer to keep my phone separate from the media player. ..that is one reason of many to want a PM or if you will …call it an I pod touch or a baby I pad. …With a large screen
I do agree with that as well. I will not even upgrade either to the 6. I have the 5th gen and I was very excited to upgrade to a bigger screen, but it isn’t worth a better camera and other specs for the price of them. I hope they change their mind.
According to the same report, iPod sales have significantly declined over the years, and Apple has reportedly declined since to reveal its quarterly sales. Though that is the case, iPod fans may still get to celebrate in a few hours if the said July 14 release date of iPod Touch 6th generation, Nano, and shuffle is true.