The
poor, neglected iPod touch hasn't been upgraded since late 2010, when
the fourth-generation version got a Retina display and the A4 chip that
powered the iPhone 4. But when the iPhone 4S came out, Apple did nothing with the iPod touch - they lowered the price a bit, and touted its ability to run iOS 5, but the actual hardware stayed the same.
No more. Apple's most popular iPod got a big upgrade at the Sept. 12 event, including the same taller screen as the iPhone 5.
Measuring 4 inches diagonally, the screen is 640 pixels wide but now
1136 pixels high, leaving room for an extra row of icons on the home
screen.
With its 16:9 ratio, you can watch widescreen video without letterboxing. We watched some scenes from The Avengers, and every pixel was used for video, a welcome change for anyone who uses the iPod touch for entertainment.
Developers
will be able to upgrade their apps to take advantage of the extra real
estate. Any apps written for the older 960x640 iPhones and iPod touch
models run just fine, with the interface centered on the screen and
black bars above and below. For the demo units Apple included an
unmodified version of Algoriddim's djay app (which has a great design
and a relatively dark interface), and the black bars weren't distracting
or even quite noticeable while we used the app.
New body design
When
you pick up the iPod touch you'll quickly notice how thin and light it
is. At less than a quarter-inch thick (0.24 inch, 6.1millimetres) and
barely more than 3 ounces (3.10 ounces, 88 grams), it feels almost
inconsequential, like a stack of 10 index cards, something you could
just toss around. But when you look closer, it's a precisely machined
single piece of aluminum, seamless, with a handsome matte finish,
vibrant colors, and a shiny Apple logo on the back. We actually prefer
the black version, since it has a black face. The silver, pink, yellow,
blue, and red iPods have white faces.
The
back of the iPod touch has a new surprise, too. Press a silver button
at the bottom-left, and it pops out just a bit. Then you can attach a
rubber wrist strap called the iPod touch loop - think of it like the
leash that keeps you from dropping your Wii remote. It's a clever idea, comfortable, adjustable, and free - Apple includes a matching loop with each iPod touch.
Better cameras
The
rear camera shoots 1080p video (the last iPod touch could only do
720p), with image stabilization and face detection, and it can take
5-megapixel stills. Conditions in the demo room weren't ideal for
testing photo quality, but the iPod touch took pictures quickly. And the
cool Panorama feature (also on iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S) is easy to use
and produces impressive results almost instantly.
The
front camera is upgraded, too - it can take 720p video at 30 frames per
second, perfect for high-quality video calls or vlog posts. It also
takes 1.2 megapixel stills that look a lot better than the VGA stills
the old iPod touch's front camera could muster.
Performance and software
Apple
packed a dual-core A5 system-on-a-chip, with twice the processing power
and seven times the graphics performance as the last iPod touch's A4
chip. Apps opened nearly instantly, everything felt speedy and
responsive. No apps should be off-limits to this hardware.
For example, this is the first iPod touch that can run Apple's iPhoto and iMovie apps and handle AirPlay Mirroring to an Apple TV.
This is also the first iPod touch to have Siri, which does require Internet access. It's getting new tricks with iOS 6 (sports scores, Rotten Tomatoes movie data, OpenTable restaurant reservations), but Apple's site still lists it in beta.
Siri's been working better on our iPhone 4S lately, so we hope performance doesn't take a huge hit once a few million iPad 3
and fifth-gen iPod touch users jump on board too. In the demo room,
Siri could hear us relatively well, with good dictation results.
Maps has Flyover and Turn-by-Turn, although you'll need Wi-Fi for turn-by-turn directions, maybe through a product like the MiFi. (Flyover and Turn-by-Turn are also on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad 3, and iPad 2,
but not supported by the old fourth-gen iPod touch.) We couldn't test
Turn-by-Turn in the demo room, but Flyover was a neat way to pan around a
3D image of a city, like Google Earth.
Of course, not every city
is supported, and you need an Internet connection for maps to load -
performance was a little sluggish in our hands-on time, probably due to
so many people hammering the same Wi-Fi network at once.
Some
other things we couldn't test in the demo room will have to wait for
the full review: Battery life (Apple claims 40 hours' of music, eight
hours' of video); the quality of the built-in speaker and the microphone
sensitivity; the new durability and sync speed of the new Lightning
connector, which replaces the 30-pin connector and allows the incredibly
thin design; and the dual-band Wi-Fi, 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11n, which
can allow theoretical download speeds of 150Mbps.
Early verdict
Both
in design and its hardware capabilities, the fifth-gen iPod touch is a
big step forward. Its battery life and low cost of ownership (since it
has no cellular contract) beat the iPhone, and it can do just as much,
in a thinner, lighter package.
It's definitely a worthy upgrade
for owners of previous iPod touch models that want to take full
advantage of iOS 6's new features. Apple's fifth-gen iPod touch can be
preordered at www.apple.com: $299 (249) for 32GB and $399 (£329) for
64GB, and it ships in October.
Apple's iOS 6 Release Date is Wednesday, September 19; Upgrading to the New Software is Simple and Quick
Apple unveiled its iPhone 5 last week and the next-gen smartphone
will arrive on customers doorsteps and in stores by Friday. Tomorrow,
however, Apple is making its highly anticipated iOS6 available for
download. The new operating system will have support for the iPhone 4s, iPhone
4, iPhone 3Gs, iPad 2, iPad 3 and 4th generation iPod Touch on
Wednesday. It will be available on the iPhone 5 on Friday and will be
incorporated into the 5th generation iPod Touch in October. The iOS 6 will have a ton of new upgrades for all Apple devices. Some of them are as follows:
Siri will now be available for the iPad. In
addition, she has learned new languages and works in new countries. She
will now help users get sports updates, make restaurant reservations,
watch movie trailers & offer showtimes, launch apps by voice, Tweet
and post to Facebook. While on the subject, according to reports
Facebook will integrate with the new operating system in a similar way
to how Twitter integrates with the iOS 5.1.1. iOS 6 has a number of new features for iPhone users. There will be a new "Do Not Disturb"
option so "you won't be bothered by anyone," Apple says on its Web
site. Also, when users decline an incoming call they will now have the
option to instantly reply to the caller with a text message or set a
callback reminder. iCloud Tabs will now enable all iCloud-connected
devices to allow users to switch between their various devices with the
same Safari Internet tabs open on each one. Apple is no longer utilizing Google Maps in its iOS 6. The company
has partnered with TomTom to make available detailed graphics and text,
high-resolution cityscapes and will have visual and spoken turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic updates. FaceTime will now be enabled over 3G networks as
well as WiFi on the iOS 6 and users will be able to make and receive
FaceTime calls on their iPads using their phone numbers. "That means you
can use FaceTime wherever you are, on any device. And never miss
another wink, smile, air kiss, or eye roll," Apple says. With Passbook, iPhone users will now be able to use
their handsets as a "digital wallet." The app will let iPhones store and
make available for use digital coupons, tickets and customer loyalty
cards. "With Passbook, you can scan your iPhone or iPod Touch to check in
for a flight, get into a movie and redeem a coupon. You can also see
when your coupons expire, where your concert seats are, and the balance
left on that all-important coffee bar card," Apple boasts on its Web
site.
Apple has unveiled its next-generation iPod touch. It looks like an iPhone 5,
with the same 4 inch, 1136 x 640 pixel display. But the 5th-generation
iPod touch doesn’t make phone calls, it’s even thinner than the new
iPhone, and it has a last-generation processor. It’s availab for pre-order for $299 and up.
That’s more expensive than last the 4th gen model, but that’s because
the new iPod touch has a faster processor, bigger screen, and a better
camera, among other improvements. The 5th-gen iPod touch measures 6.1mm (0.24 inches) thick and weighs
88 grams (3.1 ounces). It’s the thinnest and lightest iPod touch to
date, even though it has the largest screen yet. It’s powered by an Apple A5 processor — much like the iPad 2 or the
iPhone 4. That’s a step up from the 4th generation iPod touch, which has
an A4 chip, but it falls short of the new A6 processor in the iPhone 5.
Apple says that chip offers twice the graphics and CPU performance of
an A5. Apple says the iPod touch is the “world’s most popular” media player,
and also portable gaming device — and the new dual core chip should
help boost gaming performance. The new iPod touch has a 5MP camera, LED flash and autofocus —
features which weren’t available on the fixed-focus camera on the last
iPod touch. Apple is also included a panorama mode and support for 1080p HD video recording with the rear camera. Like the iPhone 5, there’s a new FaceTime HD front-facing camera
which can shoot 720p video, and the company has added an optional wrist
strap which comes in handy if you plan to use the iPod touch as a
point-and-shoot camera, or hand it to your kid for mobile gaming. Apple is adding Bluetooth 4.0 to the iPod touch, along with dual-channel 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi. The iPod touch also now gets AirPlay mirroring support, letting you
pair the device with an Apple TV to stream games, videos, or other
content to a TV. And for the first time, you can now use Siri voice recognition on the iPod touch. Apple will offer 5 color options: yellow, pink, blue, black, and white. The 5th-gen iPod touch goes up for pre-order this week and should
ship in October. A 32GB model costs $299, while a 64GB model runs $399. Apple will also offer a cheaper option: The 4th-gen iPod touch. The
company is keeping the older models alive, but it’s phasing out the 8GB
version. You can now pick up a 4th generation 16GB iPod touch for $199 or a 32GB model for $249.
iPod touch 5G with cellular data
The iPad does it so why can’t the iPod touch 5G? One
of their reasons some people think it will happen is considering the
iPad 3 now supports LTE/4G, which also allows for really fast cellular
data. This is something that would make the next iPod touch very
desirable for users that don’t need a phone so much, and considering the
confirmed FaceTime over 3G it would take the abilities of an iPod touch
to another level. Major benefits for 3G/4G iPod touch include surfing the Internet
anywhere, sending text messages over cellular data, and of course using
Skype or other apps to make calls. It makes sense after looking at the
iPad specs, but considering the size of the iPod touch is similar to the
iPhone, could this make both the devices too similar? What iPod touch 5G specs would you like to see? The
latest model should see a release date at some point this month, and
we’ve heard a few of our readers talk about a 2nd camera for 3G, but
we’d love to know what you would like to see on the 5th generation iPod,
so hit the comments and let us know. Do you think Apple would make such
a move as adding cellular data to an iPod? Our recent iMac 2012 article also featured an expected product launch
schedule for Apple in September and October, which you can see in an
image found here.
If this is correct then we could see a new iPod before the Apple iPhone
event. We are also hearing about a new design for the next iPod touch,
which a leaked picture can be seen in this article.
Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 is impressive iPod alternative
Jun 21, 2012 5:00 PM
Samsung has launched the Galaxy Player 4.2, a successor to its
Galaxy Player 4.0 media player. After using a press sample on a range of
tasks, I think this new Galaxy has made an already-fine player an
even-better alternative to Apple's iPod Touch.
As its name implies, this new model, called the Galaxy Player 4.2, has
an LCD touch-screen that's 0.2 inches wider than that of its
predecessor, which fares well in our Ratings.
Other improvements include a higher-capacity battery (1,500 mAh vs.
1,200 mAh) that promises up to 8 hours of video play, a six-axis gyro
sensor for gaming, and two front-firing speakers for better sound
without headphones.
At $200, the 8GB Galaxy Player 4.2 costs the same as an 8-gigabyte (GB)
iPod Touch, which has a 3.5-inch display. That's a good deal when you
consider you can expand its capacity by up to 32GB via microSD card
(which costs about $20). That would give you a 40-GB player for around
$80 less than a 32GB iPod Touch, which costs $300 and whose memory can't
be expanded.
This new Samsung does, however, cut corners in some surprising ways.
Samsung downgraded the rear-facing camera from 3.2 megapixels to 2.0
megapixels, and the display, which used to be a Super Clear LCD is now
only a "plain" LCD. While both displays have the same resolution
(800x400 pixels), Samsung admits the Super Clear LCD on the older player
had fewer layers, which should give you a slightly better picture. I
didn't notice a difference when comparing old and new displays
side-by-side. They both appeared rather brilliant—though not as sharp,
of course, as the one on the iPod Touch, which packs more resolution
(960 x 640 pixels) into its smaller screen. And I didn't compare prints from the camera. But our engineers will
address such performance issues when they test the retail model in their
labs. Here are my quick impressions: A phone without the phone. This model runs on
Android (Gingerbread), which, via its Wi-Fi connection, enables it to
run a wide range of apps and connect to Android's impressive ecosystem
of content. That Wi-Fi connection gives you access to your calendars,
e-mails, and social-network accounts, map-based searches, GPS
navigation, and video chats via the front-facing camera. The Galaxy
Player lacks phone controls and access to cellular networks, but if you
download an app like Skype, you CAN use this device as a phone whenever
you have an Internet connection. Controls. The controls of this Galaxy's preinstalled
music and video players are intuitive, providing lots of options for
sorting your stuff through their virtual buttons. And you can always
download other media players you may prefer from Google's Play or
Samsung's App store. The Galaxy Player 4.2's permanent controls are identical to an
Android phone. Along the bottom edge of the screen you'll find the
familiar home button, which doubles as a recent apps button when you
press it for more than half a second. It's flanked by the back-lit menu
and back buttons, which are invisible until your finger touches them.
That may irk some users. On the upper right hand side are the
power/screen lock button, and the volume rocker button just below it.
Both are easy to access. One quibble: The volume rocker button doesn't
work when the screen is locked. Speakers. The two front-firing speakers are rather
tinny compared to a decent pair of headphones, but decent enough for
streaming music in the background or enjoying a movie or video game when
no one's sitting next to you. Gaming. Google Play recently opened its Longest Day Deals,
in honor of the summer solstice, offering a plethora of games for just
99 cents. But to get you started the Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 comes
with free game downloads from Electronic Arts: FIFA 2012 and Need for
Speed Hot Pursuit. Before you download these freebies, however, you should consider
upgrading storage because each game takes up more than a gigabyte of
space. I found that Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, a car-chase game, made full
use of the Galaxy's gyroscope, which turned out to be quite responsive.
You steer the cars by tilting the phone from side to side. FIFA 2012 was
also fun. You control the players via a virtual joystick, which wasn't
quite as responsive. (Or it could be that soccer is just not my game.) Battery life. With the exception of watching the
two-hour movie I sideloaded from my computer, I spent most of my time
with the Galaxy Player 4.2 streaming music from Pandora, Slacker, and
Google's cloud player. I also spent a fair amount of time on Facebook
and Twitter, and streaming from YouTube. While performing these
battery-beating activities, I could count on the player entertaining me
about 2-1/2 to 3 hours before pleading for a recharge. Bottom line: Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Player
4.2 is an impressive iPod alternative for Android fans, offering many
of the same excellent options of its Apple counterpart for accessing its
content from other devices. The larger display, compared with the iPod,
is also a major plus for playing games and watching videos. For more on mp3 players see our buying guide.
The
galaxy player 4.2 (GP42) does have a gps. It comes with google
navigation app pre installed and works offline with the requirement that
you start the app and let it down load the needed destination data
before you leave wifi range. I have not used with other navigations
apps but it looks like it can work offline with the built in hardware
gps. I'll post more comments after I test it a further.
Ross Nicholson
June 22, 2012 10:26 AM
I need a gps to download wifi google maps and it needs an HD radio.
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New smartphones. New Experiences. Rollover on a device to know more.
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Found: a way to not get lost.
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and personal contacts and tap to quickly share it with NFC.
Isis Mobile-Payment Service Delayed
Isis — the mobile payments joint venture from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon — won’t be launching on time. Back in May,
Isis said its wave-and-pay network would launch in hundreds of retail
locations throughout Salt Lake City, Utah, and Austin, Texas this summer
before a planned nationwide retail launch at chains such as Foot Locker
and Macy’s, and even in Coca-Cola machines. MasterCard, Visa, American
Express and Discover have all said they would support the service. But
the initial roll-out has been put on hold indefinitely, and Isis isn’t
saying why yet. In an e-mailed statement, Isis told Wired: “We’re
working through a final punch list of things to ensure a great consumer
experience and seamless partner integration. The list is short, but a
few pieces require additional time.” The statement also said that Isis will have more information in
October about “updated launch specifics and momentum news.” Ryan Hughes,
the head of marketing at Isis, told CNET
that the venture is focused on “making sure when we launch we do it
properly and do it right” and that the delay shouldn’t be too long.
Hughes also told the Wall Street Journal that “the delay is not a result of a change in strategy or a new business model.” Isis’ strategy so far mirrors that of its major rival, Google Wallet.
Both systems use near field communication (NFC) chips found in certain
smartphones to store a user’s credit or debit card data. But while Isis
is being held back by delays, Google Wallet is up and running, allowing
users to wave or tap their smartphones to pay at more than 100,000 check-out scanners across the U.S. Isis also faces growing competition from mobile payment apps made by Square and PayPal,
neither of which are reliant on creating a network of NFC scanners or
the selling of NFC-equipped phones (which there aren’t very many of
right now). To see just how far someone could take the idea of an e-wallet with
today’s infrastructure, Wired’s Christina Bonnington has pledged to give up her real-world wallet for
a full month. Starting today, she’ll be using only a smartphone for
purchases, ID, and the like. The Isis news certainly won’t make her life
any easier.
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