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iPod makes surprise comeback

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 16 Jul 2015
The new iPod touch will be available in five different colours.
The new iPod touch will be available in five different colours.

Apple introduced the new iPod touch yesterday, coining it the "best iPod yet". The release has come as a surprise, with people asking online why a new iPod would be launched in 2015, when music can be streamed and stored on the user's primary device.

"The iPod is becoming increasingly irrelevant as its functionality becomes available on almost any smartphone," says Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx.

However, international media suggests Apple may have other plans for the new iPod.

Fortune Magazine described the device as Apple's "gateway drug for kids, designed to lure them into the ever-growing Apple ecosystem".

Online tech publication, Wired, suggests the new iPod touch would be perfect to give to a child because it is cheaper than an iPad Mini or an iPhone, but they would still have access to iOS games. The publication also says the device could be used as a primary device "in a pinch" as users will be able to make use of a VOIP app to make calls.

Apple said parents will be able to create Apple IDs for children, which includes an 'Ask to Buy' function where parental permission is required for all purchases on the App Store or iTunes.

However, Goldstuck says: "The device continues to have great appeal for a niche of the market that prefers to have a separate device for both storing and consuming music. Ironically, it will now appeal more to an older audience, which is still attuned to the idea of a music collection that is kept safe in a physical location, whereas younger users will be more comfortable with streaming services that allow them to choose and listen to music on demand."

The device comes with all the built-in apps available on the iPhone 6, including iMessage, Maps, Voice Memos, Calculator and Calendar. The new iPod touch coincides with the launch of music-streaming service Apple Music earlier this month.

"iPod touch gives customers around the world access to Apple Music, the App Store and iOS," says Greg Joswiak, Apple VP of iPhone, iPod and iOS product marketing. "With big advancements like the A8 chip and the 8MP iSight camera, customers can experience next-level gameplay, take even more beautiful photos, and enjoy their favourite music, TV shows and movies."

"The truth is that, while the iPod has become a sideshow to Apple's more recent products, its appeal remains just large enough to justify continuing to look after this market. However, it's hard to see the same situation a year from now. We are probably seeing the last big bow of the iPod," says Goldstuck.

The device is available in five different colours. It has not been announced when the device will be available in SA and how much it will cost here, but the prices range from $199 for 16GB, to $399 for 128GB in the US.

Specifications:

Size: 123.4mm x 58.6mm x 6.1mm
Weight: 88g
Display: Retina 4-inch display
Fingerprint-resistant oleo phobic coating
Chip: A8 chip with 64-bit architecture
M8 motion coprocessor
Camera: 8MP iSight camera
Autofocus
f/2.4 aperture
Improved face detection
Exposure control
Photo geo-tagging over WiFi
Timer mode
Video: 1080p HD video recording (30fps)
Tap to focus while recording
Slo-mo video (120fps)
Time-lapse video
Cinematic video stabilisation
Audio: Frequency response: 20Hz to 20 000Hz
Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats
2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple
Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Music playback time: Up to 40 hours
Video playback time: Up to eight hours
Sensors: Three-axis gyro
Accelerometer

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