iWant, but should iBuy?
July 3, 2008 8:07 AM Subscribe
iPod PurchaseFilter: I've been itching to upgrade to an iPod touch, but I fear that they'll be updated soon after I buy. The Mac Buyer's Guide confirms my suspicion, but only with the general "Approaching End of Cycle," and my search of blogs doesn't seem to give any definitive answer. Does anyone have additional information that could further persuade me to hold off?
Current iPhones (the ones that aren't 3G), when their owners upgrade to the 3G, can have their phone service deactivated, but still function as a "wifi iPod". You will likely be able to buy a used iPhone in this state very soon, for less than the cost of an iPod Touch.
posted by bryanjbusch at 8:12 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by bryanjbusch at 8:12 AM on July 3, 2008
Really, if you keep waiting for the latest and greatest, you'll have no technology at all. Buy a touch now, and you'll probably still be pretty happy if/when the next one comes out
posted by Geppp at 8:22 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by Geppp at 8:22 AM on July 3, 2008
There is a software update coming out when the 3G iPhone is released that will allow applications from third parties to be loaded, just like the new iPhone. It may be that new hardware will come out in the Touch line at that time, but I kind of doubt it, since it was not announced with the new iPhone.
posted by hankbear at 8:24 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by hankbear at 8:24 AM on July 3, 2008
The current iPod Touch's have had their software updated a couple of times already - as the software is based on the iPhone OS.
So your touch will no doubt continue to keep getting updated as time goes on, I can't imagine they're going to change the hardware any time soon - if they were going to, they would have done it when the iPhone 3G came out. But since the 3G looks practically identical to the 2G, I think the Touch hardware will be here for a while.
posted by Mwongozi at 8:25 AM on July 3, 2008
So your touch will no doubt continue to keep getting updated as time goes on, I can't imagine they're going to change the hardware any time soon - if they were going to, they would have done it when the iPhone 3G came out. But since the 3G looks practically identical to the 2G, I think the Touch hardware will be here for a while.
posted by Mwongozi at 8:25 AM on July 3, 2008
Is storage a concern? I'm holding off till I can get at least 80 GB but would prefer more. Till then i'm sticking with my classic.
posted by doorsfan at 8:28 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by doorsfan at 8:28 AM on July 3, 2008
If you're itching to buy one right away, at least wait until version 2.0 of the iPod firmware starts shipping with the the iPod Touch, or get confirmation that you can do the s/w upgrade without paying the stupid $10 fee from Apple. I'm still grumbling about the last firmware upgrade a few months ago that cost $20.
posted by jaimev at 8:31 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by jaimev at 8:31 AM on July 3, 2008
I agree with Geppp.
I got stuck with one of the older black Nanos about 4 months before the next generation came out. The equivalent to my purchase was also about 20 dollar cheaper. It was slightly upsetting until I realised that this was going to keep on happening since I can't control the price or release of the next generation. If I'd bought mine any earlier the price margin would have been even bigger.
If you want an iPod Touch, go for it. I <3>Jaimev may be on to something when he says you should wait for the new firmware. I have to say I was pretty relieved that I wouldn't have to pay a fee when I got mine just after the firmware upgrade.
posted by sunshinesky at 8:44 AM on July 3, 2008
I got stuck with one of the older black Nanos about 4 months before the next generation came out. The equivalent to my purchase was also about 20 dollar cheaper. It was slightly upsetting until I realised that this was going to keep on happening since I can't control the price or release of the next generation. If I'd bought mine any earlier the price margin would have been even bigger.
If you want an iPod Touch, go for it. I <3>Jaimev may be on to something when he says you should wait for the new firmware. I have to say I was pretty relieved that I wouldn't have to pay a fee when I got mine just after the firmware upgrade.
posted by sunshinesky at 8:44 AM on July 3, 2008
oops, that should read "go for it. I *heart* mine. Jaimev ...."
posted by sunshinesky at 8:46 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by sunshinesky at 8:46 AM on July 3, 2008
The latest firmware for the iPhone hints at some unannounced features such as bluetooth A2DP, I assume that will be announced sometime after the iPhone2.0 is launched. Apple would be idiots to not add bluetooth the their iPod Touch at the same time. Unfortunately for the Touch that will require a hardware modification (there's currently no bluetooth in them), hence a new version.
That sounds like something Apple would add and announce in the near future.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:04 AM on July 3, 2008
That sounds like something Apple would add and announce in the near future.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:04 AM on July 3, 2008
I would be extremely surprised to see Apple add Bluetooth to the iPod touch. People who want iPods to have wireless functionality have been waiting fruitlessly for a very long time. The next iPod touch updates will come in the form of price drops and capacity upgrades.
posted by designbot at 9:13 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by designbot at 9:13 AM on July 3, 2008
why would apple put in blue tooth? so you can use it as a voip phone? that seems like it would cut into their iPhone revenue. I would love a touch with a reasonable price and a reasonable capacity.
posted by Amby72 at 9:17 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by Amby72 at 9:17 AM on July 3, 2008
Best answer: Lately, Apple has been very reliable at announcing new iPods at a special event in early September:
nano 1G: September 7, 2005
nano 2G: September 12, 2006
nano 3G (and touch): September 5, 2007
posted by smackfu at 9:24 AM on July 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
nano 1G: September 7, 2005
nano 2G: September 12, 2006
nano 3G (and touch): September 5, 2007
posted by smackfu at 9:24 AM on July 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe very few Apple products last much more than a year before being replaced. I would wait until September and see what happens then.
posted by Dec One at 9:47 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by Dec One at 9:47 AM on July 3, 2008
The iPod touch is also part of the current education promotion (buy laptop, get free iPod) and that pretty much always means new iPods near the end of the promotion. When I bought my laptop last year it was a free 2nd generation nano - this year, it's the touch (promo page) so I'm leaning towards replacement in the shorter term.
posted by heeeraldo at 9:48 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by heeeraldo at 9:48 AM on July 3, 2008
Response by poster: I have the same intel as Dec One and heeeraldo, so I'm probably going to wait till September...and yes, doorsfan, I am trying to hold out until I can get 64 or 128 GB for the price of the current 32GB, or just to get a 32 cheaper. I'm starting to put movies on my hard drive and would love to store some on an iPod to take with me, but the small storage size right now seems prohibitive.
So September it is, I guess. I have $500 of "found money" (a side job that I don't budget for) sitting in a "shiny gadgets" fund and it's starting to burn a hole in my virtual pocket is all...
posted by sjuhawk31 at 9:57 AM on July 3, 2008
So September it is, I guess. I have $500 of "found money" (a side job that I don't budget for) sitting in a "shiny gadgets" fund and it's starting to burn a hole in my virtual pocket is all...
posted by sjuhawk31 at 9:57 AM on July 3, 2008
The iPhone is a better buy - why carry a phone and an iPod? New iPhone comes out on July 11.
posted by w0mbat at 9:58 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by w0mbat at 9:58 AM on July 3, 2008
Response by poster: Because, wOmbat, the iPod is a one-time price of <>$1000. My phone plan, even with unlimited texts, is way cheaper than that.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 10:42 AM on July 3, 2008
posted by sjuhawk31 at 10:42 AM on July 3, 2008
Response by poster: Darn markup language...let try this:
Because, wOmbat, the iPod is a one-time price of <$500. The iPhone, over the course of two years, costs >$1000. My phone plan, even with unlimited texts, is way cheaper than that.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 10:47 AM on July 3, 2008
Because, wOmbat, the iPod is a one-time price of <$500. The iPhone, over the course of two years, costs >$1000. My phone plan, even with unlimited texts, is way cheaper than that.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 10:47 AM on July 3, 2008
not add bluetooth the their iPod Touch
I cannot see any logical reason why a Touch would need Bluetooth. Maybe wireless headphones, but why else?
But, anyways - I have a 16gb and love it... except for the, uh... 16gb... So, I would recomend at least a 32gb... Doubtful you will see anything more than 64gb in the next iteration.
posted by jkaczor at 11:18 AM on July 3, 2008
I cannot see any logical reason why a Touch would need Bluetooth. Maybe wireless headphones, but why else?
But, anyways - I have a 16gb and love it... except for the, uh... 16gb... So, I would recomend at least a 32gb... Doubtful you will see anything more than 64gb in the next iteration.
posted by jkaczor at 11:18 AM on July 3, 2008
Bluetooth is becoming very popular in portable media players for wireless headphones and speakers. No, there's not much point other than that, but it is a factor.
posted by blue_beetle at 2:30 PM on July 3, 2008
posted by blue_beetle at 2:30 PM on July 3, 2008
I haven't seen this mentioned: the current costs of the ipod touch ($299 for 8GB, $399 for 16GB) are $100 more than the same size iphone3G (not counting the 32GB Touch, $499, since there's no 32GB iPhone). Yes, the iPhone has the extra "hidden" costs of the plans you have to sign on for, but I find it pretty odd to list a higher price for the "iPhone minus the phone".
Count me amongst the "wait a couple months until the update/price drop". If you can stand waiting until September, anyway. [fwiw, I bought (ebay) one of the original shuffles for <$50 a year or two ago when my ipod broke to tide me over until the new models came out.]
posted by bah213 at 4:35 PM on July 3, 2008
Count me amongst the "wait a couple months until the update/price drop". If you can stand waiting until September, anyway. [fwiw, I bought (ebay) one of the original shuffles for <$50 a year or two ago when my ipod broke to tide me over until the new models came out.]
posted by bah213 at 4:35 PM on July 3, 2008
I haven't seen this mentioned: the current costs of the ipod touch ($299 for 8GB, $399 for 16GB) are $100 more than the same size iphone3G (not counting the 32GB Touch, $499, since there's no 32GB iPhone).
You're comparing the price of an iPod Touch to the AT&T subsidized price of an iPhone. When you compare it to the unlocked, no-contract price, the iPhone cost is much higher: $599 / $699.
posted by jaimev at 6:54 PM on July 3, 2008
You're comparing the price of an iPod Touch to the AT&T subsidized price of an iPhone. When you compare it to the unlocked, no-contract price, the iPhone cost is much higher: $599 / $699.
posted by jaimev at 6:54 PM on July 3, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:11 AM on July 3, 2008