iPod touch vs iPhone
Wow…what a bombshell this morning!
The new ‘iDevices’ are pretty impressive….and the implications are pretty far reaching.
The biggest thing for me was the price cut of the iPhone from $599 to $399 (USD) for the 8gb iPhone. This has to be one of the fastest price cuts in Apple history for a new product that’s only been on the market for just over 2 months. Does that mean it’s overpriced and nobody was buying them except early adopters like me? Or are they realizing cost savings due to the volume of sales and production? As usual, John Gruber has some interesting thoughts on the reasoning behind the price drop.
I ‘accepted’ the price point of $599 for the iPhone when I bought mine back in July and I still do but Apple is certainly going to hear from a huge bunch of whiners. It’ll be interesting to see how Apple responds to the outcry and inevitable class action lawsuits from people wanting their $200 back.
If I recall when Apple released it’s high end photo management program, Aperture, it was sold for $499 and then later reduced to $299 with a refund or credit going to all the original purchasers. Of course, it probably wasn’t sold in the same volume as the iPhone has either so I’m doubtful that will happen without litigation but would gladly take an iTunes/Apple store credit to soothe the early adopter pain.
The iPod touch just seems to be missing something – the homescreen just looks too barren especially when compared to the iPhone. You’d think they’d make the buttons bigger or change the layout somewhat unless they have big plans instore for it (and the iPhone). I can see games being sold very soon on the iTunes store that work on either device (probably coming from companies like EA).
Once the iPod Touch hits the stores, it won’t take long (like minutes) before the hacking scene goes to town on it like they have with the iPhone.
UPDATE: Looks like Apple will give a store $100 credit to the early adopters next week! The bad press was certainly taking it’s toll and this is a fair resolution to quiet the complainers:
Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple’s website next week. Stay tuned.
I can definitely see getting the 8 gig iPod Touch….I don’t use my phone all that much, and though it’d be nice to have phone functionality on the same device….meh. I wish it had a Map and a Mail app, but I’m sure that’s coming. And hooboy am I looking forward to the hacking….Zork, Mame, the Holy Grail of VOIP and many many other apps extending the functionality of this beast. I’m surprised this thing doesn’t have widgets built in, though.
Keep in mind the touch doesn’t have a microphone…so you’ll be needing an external mic addon of some kind. I’m in the process of selling my Belkin TuneTalk because it’s not compatible (or necessary anymore) with the iPhone.
I think the missing apps on the touch are the difference between iPhone and the touch….I’d be surprised if they come to the touch from Apple but not surprised if they are easily copied from the iPhone to the touch via the various hacking methods.
John – if the touch is similar to the iPhone (terminal, finder, etc.) then Apple will again have put another computer in your pocket. It sort of reminds me of that Star Trek gadget – pretty powerful hardware. Now we just wait for the software to catch up.
Hiya
i dont know if i am being stupid or not but is the ipod touch a phone or not?ive just bought a ipod video because didnt see the point in paying all tht money for the touch if it was just music but ive been reading stuff and really not sure if the touch is a phone or not. if it is wot is best the touch or the iphone?
thanks
The Touch is definiately not a phone….it’s a slightly scaled down version of the iPhone. It’s missing a number of key hardware elements (microphone and speaker) as well as a many of the apps that the iPhone has. Even if you don’t plan on using it as a phone, the iPhone seems to be the better value when you consider you get these missing pieces and it can easily be setup to work solely as a non-phone iPod.
But that’s just my opinion – if you want/need more memory for your iPod library and you like the Touch/iPhone design, you can get a 16gb Touch….I’m sure that will change in the near future but it’s anyones guess as to when Apple will offer a 16gb iPhone.
Great blog found this via twitter im just adding to my blog now.