iPod Touch Teardown Reveals Empty Space For Camera
4:03 pm, September 11th, 2009, Leander Kahney
Never mind what Steve Jobs tells the New York Times, the iPod Touch is getting a camera, likely sooner than later.
The new iPod Touch has an internal space for a camera, a teardown by iFixit has discovered. And there’s a couple more surprises also.
iFixit has just dismantled the new Touch, and found a space between the Touch’s WiFi chip and antenna that measures 6mm by 6mm by 3mm.
“It appears that Apple left room for a camera in the top of the device,” said iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens. “There isn’t enough depth for an iPhone-style autofocus still camera, but just enough room for the camera that Apple used in the 5th generation iPod nano.”
The camera in the 5G nano measures only 2.75 mm thick. It records video at the relatively low VGA resolution (640 x 480), but cannot take still pictures.
Wiens said his technicians couldn’t find a connector on the Touch’s circuit board for a camera cable, but Apple is likely to also update the internal circuits when it adds the camera.
The exclusion of a camera in the touch is a real puzzle because there was more evidence than normal to support the rumor. Pictures of prototypes were published, and dozens of case manufacturers were leaked the specs of the camera, which was put in a new position — the center of the back, rather than being offset like the iPhone before it.
Wiens also discovered that:
* The touch has hardware for 802.11n high-speed WiFi. “This is a big deal, as even the iPhone 3GS doesn’t support 802.11n,” says Wiens. The software may not yet support 802.11, just as earlier Touch models had hardware for Bluetooth that wasn’t turned on until Apple released the 3.0 OS update.
* The 802.11n is part of a new Broadcom BCM4329 chip, which also supports FM transmission. If Apple adds an antenna and software support, the iPod could stream audio to car FM radios. “But that’s a lot of ifs,” says Wiens.
Wiens concludes: “While we were all disappointed by Apple’s underwhelming iPod touch announcement, it is clear that there is more engineering effort under the surface of this device than meets the eye.”
Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, News, iPod Touch | Comment on this article
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Sometimes you just can’t make those pesky announcement deadlines. When Apple is ready, we’ll see the camera and other enhancements.
Ictus75, on September 11th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I think what Steve was saying is that the quality of the camera found in the nano was not good enough to qualify for the touch. I think i prefer them not putting it in, than they did and then the same people who are complaining about it not being there complain about the quality and no still etc.
Country Boy, on September 11th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
The camera built into my iPhone is crappy compared to the digital Sony camera, which was half the cost of my iPhone and about the same size. I only use the iPhone when I have to nab a picture and don’t have the camera on me. I prefer not to use it and so I’m not so sure why everyone is so upset. This is an easy compromise because my iPhone is an amazing machine that does stuff no other machine does, altogether in one place, and really FAST. It is phenomenal and it is slowly replacing my laptop because it’s just so damn convenient. The fact that my camera does stills and a half hour of quality video makes me think that my iPhone would really be expensive if I was expecting that kind of performance from a phone. I respect Apple for trying to get the price down so that it’s accessible to more people.
…but then I’m old!
pdxMelinda, on September 11th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I think the camera will come next year to the ipod touch, so do you wait or buy now?
some of us want the ipod touch with a camera as we don’t want to be tied into the iphone contracts.
Where is the Apple Tablet that was hyped so much the last few months?
Poppa, on September 12th, 2009 at 5:56 am
This is rather interesting. I was planning on buying an iPod touch today, but now I may have to hold off, as the camera was one of the most fascinating rumors around. I was planning on just dealing with it, though now I’m not so sure.
From pure speculation, I would have to surmise that there are a few possible courses of action for apple here.
I don’t believe that there’s a set duration that the new touches will be in production before the camera model is introduced. There wouldn’t be much to worry about between the nano and touch, as the cheap $199 touch would likely not come with a camera. That means that consumers would have to choose between a $149 nano with video capabilities, or a $299 touch with video capabilities. Both models would be widely purchased due to the gap in pricing.
Now, I can certainly understand that the iPod touch last-minute camera flaws may be valid rumors. I can also understand why Apple would keep their intended release date. But here’s the thing, there’s virtually no question that Apple intended to have a camera in the device, and even if the cameras were pulled last-minute, the space remains. I’m led to believe that regardless of the fact that several consumers have purchased iPod touches already, and several more will, that Apple will introduce cameras whenever they’re fit to be released. I’m also surmising that Apple will offer a service to conveniently put the cameras into existing models, for a bit of a fee. I’m absolutely positive Apple has contemplated the same things you all have … if consumers buy now, and the camera is quickly introduced, there will be a massive uproar of angry patrons. There has to be a logical fix to that problem, and that is simply offering the camera to those who couldn’t wait for it.
Of course, this is all just speculation. I was planning on buying the 64GB touch today, though now I think I’ll wait for the camera, as the app functionality with the cameras would be pristine.
Which brings me to a new point, everyone keeps addressing the fact that the iPod touch is becoming too close to the iPhone, and this will hurt iPhone sales. The iPod touch does not offer 3G connectivity, which is arguably the most convenient feature on the iPhone. For this reason, Apple really doesn’t need to worry about the iPhone sales plummeting.
Here’s something that it seems no one has considered:
By introducing cameras to the iPod touch line, just how much do you think Apple will make from iTunes Store app purchases? This would open up the entire world of photography apps to iPod touch users. The potential for profiting continually from the number of these is absolute.
So, I would have to say that it’s in Apple’s best interests to offer a camera in the near future, and when I say “near future,” I mean whenever it’s ready.
At least, we can all hope, right?
*Edit*
One more thought, don’t forget the iPhone contract with AT&T is almost expired. I don’t think Apple wants a bunch of “Aw, it’s cool that the iPhone is on my carrier now, but I already have an iPod touch … ” responses, so maybe they’re holding off until both can be released at the same time-or-so, so that the iPhone gets the main attention. Who knows? There are so many variables …”
Tyler, on September 12th, 2009 at 7:35 pm