Back from beyond - Apple releases the new iPod Touch with A8 processor and 8MP camera

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Back from beyond - Apple releases the new iPod Touch with A8 processor and 8MP camera
The rumors came true. Apple just revived the iPod!

If you are one who answered "Yes!" to the question of whether the iPod, or music players in general, are still relevant - good for you, but you are in a minority. You also belong to a part of Apple's clientelle that the Cupertino company had knowingly let go of for the past three years. Although we cannot speak with absolute authority, we'll still take the liberty to proclaim that the world had gotten completely accustomed to the idea that the fifth-gen iPod Touch, announced in 2012, was destined to be the last of its kind. What's the problem - the iPhone always did everything the iPod Touch does, and the fifth-gen device ended the iPod legacy on a high note. No harm done, right?

But we digress. The iPod is an iconic device, and arguably the best portable audio player ever invented. Not that it had the best audio chip or the edgiest looks around. But it nailed all the ingredients - it sounded fine, had an unmistakeable style, and most importantly, it let audiophiles carry their entire musical library with them. It also played Half-Life, but let's not dilute the news any further...

There really is a new iPod, boys and girls, and it's the best iPod Touch yet. It comes in space gray, silver, gold, pink, and blue. Apple blessed the revivalist one with a full-on anodized aluminum build, just like the iPhone 6's. Only there's no hint of plastic whatsoever. Even the pink one is all aluminum, and it's unapologetically fabulous!

Moreover, the new iPod Touch is set up with an 8-megapixel iSight camera, a FaceTime HD front cam "for better selfies", and the star of the show - Apple's 64-bit A8 chip and its M8 motion coprocessor. It's the same hardware and features as the iPhone 6, save for the antenna (of course!), the fingerprint sensor, and that the display is quite a bit smaller at 4 inches per diagonal. Still, it's got the same Retina resolution as the iPhone 5s - 1136 x 640 pixels, making for a decent pixel density of 326 ppi. The amount of RAM isn't specified, but we're keen on betting it's 1GB, as the hardware platform is very much the same as the iPhone 6's. And as for battery life, Apple promises up to 40 hours of audio playback, and up to 8 hours of video playback.

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That's great and all, but how is the new iPod Touch priced? Well, the answer is still "a bit more than what a music player should cost." Then again, the iPod Touch is basically a 4-inch iPad Extra Mini tablet, seeing that it packs most of Apple's up-to-date mobile hardware. So the prices of $199 for the 16GB version, $249 for the 32GB version, $299 for the 64GB version, and $399 for the top of the line 128GB model feel expected, not extortionate. All models are Wi-Fi only.

Oh, and let's not forget - the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano got the new iPod Touch's colors too.

The new iPod Touch is available starting today through Apple's online and retail stores. Its mission isn't to bring back the cult of the iPod, though. It's a way for Apple to get its Music service into even more users' hands. It's also the nicest, classiest way Apple could possibly commemorate the launch of Apple Music - summoning its veteran hero device exactly when the time for it to return has dawned upon us.

Even if we don't need it in our lives quite as badly as we used to, it's darn good to have the iPod back!


source: Apple

Apple Introduces The Best iPod touch Yet
Featuring New Colors, A8 Chip, 8 Megapixel iSight Camera & Apple Music

CUPERTINO, CaliforniaJuly 15, 2015 — Apple® today introduced the best iPod touch® yet and unveiled a new lineup of colors for all iPod® models, including space gray, silver, gold, pink and blue. The ultra-portable iPod touch features a new 8 megapixel iSight® camera for beautiful photos, an improved FaceTime® HD camera for even better selfies, the Apple-designed A8 chip with 10 times faster graphics performance for a more immersive gaming experience, and even better fitness tracking with the M8 motion coprocessor. With the newly launched Apple Music™ service, members can enjoy playlists curated by the most talented music experts from around the world, stay in-the-know on music culture with a global 24/7 broadcast on Beats 1℠ radio, and comment on or like backstage photos and videos shared directly by their favorite artists on Connect.

"iPod touch gives customers around the world access to Apple Music, the App Store and iOS, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, starting at just $199,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPhone, iPod and iOS Product Marketing. “With big advancements like the A8 chip and the 8 megapixel iSight camera, customers can experience next-level gameplay, take even more beautiful photos and enjoy their favorite music, TV shows and movies.”

With the A8 chip, the same used in the revolutionary iPhone® 6, users can play even more immersive games for hours at a time, all the while with great battery life. iPod touch has become one of the world’s most loved mobile gaming experiences — its 4-inch Retina® display and rich collection of gaming titles are further enhanced with incredible graphics performance and thousands of Metal-optimized games. With the advanced iSight and FaceTime HD cameras, iPod touch owners, for the first time, can have fun with popular features including slo-mo and burst mode, while capturing memories and everyday moments with gorgeous photos and videos. Three times faster Wi-Fi lets customers stay in touch with friends and family through FaceTime calls, and download movies and TV shows with ease.

The App Store℠ on iPod touch, available in 155 countries, gives users access to 1.5 million apps across 24 categories. iPod touch is also the perfect way to carry your music collection in your pocket. iTunes® boasts the world’s largest music catalog, and with Apple Music, customers have access to the revolutionary streaming music service, Beats 1, Apple’s first ever live radio station, and Connect, where artists can communicate directly to fans. Apple Music is available on iPod touch through the Music app — users are invited to a 3-month trial, after which a $9.99/month membership fee will apply. There is a family plan providing service for up to six family members available for just $14.99/month.

iPod touch comes with iOS 8 and a collection of powerful built-in apps. Send unlimited voice and video text messages through iMessage® over Wi-Fi, quickly make edits to your photos with the Photos app and keep track of your fitness and wellness with the Health app. With Family Sharing, up to six family members can share purchases from iTunes, iBooks® and the App Store, along with photos and calendars. Parents can also create Apple IDs for children which includes Ask to Buy where parental permission is required for all purchases.

Pricing & Availability
The new iPod touch starts at $199 (US) for the 16GB model, $249 (US) for 32GB and $299 (US) for 64GB, and the entire iPod family in its five new colors is available starting today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. For the first time, iPod touch is available in a 128GB model for $399 (US) through Apple Retail Stores and the Apple Online Store, along with the (PRODUCT)RED lineup. iPod touch requires a Wi-Fi connection or a Mac® or PC; USB 2.0 port; Mac OS® X v10.7.5 or later; Windows 7, Windows 8 or later; and iTunes 12.2 or later. An Apple ID is required for some iPod touch features.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, the Mac and Apple Watch. Apple’s three software platforms — iOS, OS X and watchOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

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