Hey guys, it’s Greg with Apple Explained, and today we’re going to explore the history
of the iPod Touch.
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So, today I’m going to talk about the iPod Touch, the only iPod model you can buy today.
We’ll explore why it was developed and why it’s still being sold, when all the other
iPod models have been discontinued.
The story of the iPod Touch begins in 2007.
By that time, iPods had been around for quite a while, with the first version released in
2001.
And by 2007, Apple had already released a number of different models, some discontinued,
and some still being sold.
There was the iPod Classic, iPod Mini, iPod Nano, iPod shuffle, and iPod Photo.
While Apple definitely had a secure footing in the market, competitors were starting to
pop up – Zune had just released its first model of MP3 player and was about to release
the Zune 80, Zune 4, and Zune 8 – competition for the iPod Classic and Nano lines.
Luckily, Apple had something up their sleeve.
Now, the iPhone had already been on the market for about eighteen months in September of
2007.
It was wildly popular, with lines hundreds of people long outside Apple stores on the
day of its release.
Part of its success was the touchscreen interface which, up until that point, really hadn’t
been utilized by mobile phone manufacturers.
Users were excited about a new, sleek, and attractive design that really seemed to be
the future of technology – but there were some problems with the iPhone.
For example, many of the people who bought them in the first few days of release were
disappointed to find out that they couldn’t actually activate them – AT&T’s servers
were just too overwhelmed to handle the number of new iPhone.
Others were frustrated that the only way to actually use an iPhone was to purchase a bundled
plan with AT&T – which meant leaving their own service provider and paying high costs
to a new company that often didn’t have as reliable coverage.
And, finally, there was the cost.
The first iPhone cost $499 for a 4GB model and $599 for an 8GB model.
And this was a problem.
People wanted the touch screen, they wanted the apps, they wanted the design – but the
cost of an iPhone was just too high.
And that’s where the iPod touch came in.
Shortly after the iPhone 3G was released, the iPod touch was introduced and served as
an affordable alternative to the iPhone.
Its price began at $299 for an 8GB model, $399 for 16GB, and eventually $499 for 32GB.
The only features that were missing were phone capabilities, a camera, and a GPS radio.
This first generation offered quite a bit to users.
Along with the ability to store and play music, the first generation iPod Touch allowed users
to access wireless internet, download and play video, and download interactive apps.
Users could easily browse YouTube, Safari, and the Calendar, as well as access their
contacts.
Another difference between the iPod Touch and the iPhone was its design.
The iPod Touch was thinner and lighter, coming in at only 8mm thin instead of 11.6mm with
the iPhone.
The biggest change, though, was the introduction of the wireless iTunes Store.
Users could now download songs directly onto their iPod from anywhere with Wi-Fi access
– this feature was a big deal since it eliminated the need to transfer songs that were purchased
from a computer.
This was actually such an exciting concept that many big companies wanted to jump in.
For example, Starbucks made special playlists that, when connected to their in-store Wi-Fi,
were easy to access and download onto your iPod touch with just a few taps.
But, of course, the first generation iPod Touch would eventually be improved upon as
technology advanced, and the second generation iPod Touch was released just a year later
in 2008.
The new model introduced Bluetooth technology and included something called Genius as a
feature in iTunes.
This generation was also even more affordable than the last – only $299 for a 16GB model
and $399 for 32GB.
The third generation was quick to follow in 2009, and not much changed besides the addition
of a microphone and speaker.
At this point, all three generations of iPod Touch had been using the same LED-backlit
LCD display at 163 ppi.
But that was about to change in 2010 with the fourth generation model which brought
some big updates to the iPod Touch.
There was the addition of a retina display which improved screen resolution to 326 ppi,
an accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope that allowed for position recognition which was
great for gaming apps, front and rear-facing cameras, and finally there was the big redesign.
The iPod Touch got even thinner and did away with the plastic antenna on the back of the
case.
As games and other apps became more popular on the iPod, Apple recognized the need to
make some even bigger updates.
And probably one of the most important changes about the fourth generation iPod Touch was
the cameras.
It could now take photos and videos and utilize apps like FaceTime.
All of these additions made the motto “iPhone without the phone” really start to take
hold.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that the supposed “iPod Killer” – the Microsoft Zune – wasn’t
doing too well.
In early 2011, Microsoft announced that there wouldn’t be any new updates to the line
and cited none other than the iPod for its failure in succeeding during its five years
on the market.
Later that year, the official discontinuation of Zune products was announced.
Apple had officially won the battle for the music player market – and the iPod Touch
was a big part of that success.
So with that tailwind at Apples back, the next generation of iPod Touch was released
in October 2012.
And at this point, the iPod Touch was no longer receiving annual updates – and lines at
Apple Stores for the newest iPod Touch were getting shorter.
The reason being that the rise in iPhones popularity was essentially cannibalizing sales
of the iPod Touch.
But that didn’t stop Apple from updating the device as it was still a vital part of
their product lineup.
So, Greg Joswiak unveiled the iPhone 5, and then moved on to reveal the new iPod Touch
– and discussed all the features they had in common.
It had the same dual-core chip from the iPhone 4S with an updated GPU, and it had the same
IPS Retina display as the iPhone 5.
The camera was new and improved to shoot 1080p video, and it ran iOS 6 – which supported
Siri.
At this point, the price dropped even lower.
Buyers could now get a 32GB model for $299 and 64GB for $399 – double the storage for
the price compared to earlier generations.
But that wasn’t all.
The newest generation had some big design updates, too.
Users had a lot more options than just black and white, they could choose between silver,
blue, pink, red, yellow, and gray – and each one came with a matching wrist strap.
And the final update to the iPod Touch came three years after the 5th generation.
But the success of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus seemed to overshadow any iPod release, and
the iPod Touch appeared to be fading into the background.
Much like previous releases, this model focused on bringing iPhone-quality hardware to an
iPod and featured vastly improved cameras, an M8 motion co-processor, Bluetooth 4.1,
and improved WiFi connectivity.
It did away with the wrist strap, but colors were brighter and the line offered a 128GB
option.
So, it’s hard to talk about iPods without mentioning at least some of the controversy
that surrounds them.
The entire line of products has been plagued with public relations issues, ranging from
mild to pretty shocking – and the Touch is no exception.
To start, all iPods, like iPhones and most other devices from major tech producers, have
been accused of over-stating their battery life.
For instance, 5th gen iPods claimed 14 hours of continuous music – but anyone who has
ever owned one knows that that’s probably a bit on the high end.
The iPod Touch line was given especially harsh criticism for its battery life, which often
ran out quickly thanks to energy-intensive apps and games.
Apple responded to attempts by users to replace batteries on their own by literally gluing
batteries into the iPod casing – and this has not gone over particularly well among
third-party battery-replacement companies or individuals trying to get the most life
out of their device as possible.
Apart from other minor issues with the durability of the iPod Touch, particularly with easily-cracking
screens, the biggest controversy in the iPod line comes from the manufacturing process
itself.
Apple’s primary iPod manufacturer, Foxconn, in China, has been accused of labor violations
several times over the years.
In 2006, for example, they were accused of paying workers less than $50 per month, often
for working shifts well over twelve hours.
While Apple found that some of these claims were, in fact, true, they continued to contract
with Foxconn for the manufacturing of iPod products.
Tensions again rose when, in 2010, several laborers committed suicide in the Foxconn
factory in China, and tapes were leaked that showed workers being beaten.
While the majority of iPod Touch models are still manufactured by Foxconn today, Apple
does produce a percentage domestically and employs over 10,000 workers in the United
States for production.
Nonetheless, the issue of outsourced and potentially unethical labor has been one that has dampened
the enthusiasm for Apple products in general, although I should mention that Apple products
aren’t the only ones being produced in this type of environment.
As it stands today, the iPod Touch is the only iPod still being produced.
It comes in two variants – 32GB for $199 and 128GB for $299 – and is still available
in a variety of colors with an option for engraving.
The software has been updated over the years to accommodate for newer versions of iOS and
the iPod Touch currently supports iOS 11.
Announcements about the iPod Touch line are no longer made at conferences and keynotes
and are left mostly to the domain of press releases, so it’s unclear what the future
holds for new generations.
So, while other iPods have failed the test of time, the iPod Touch remains an enjoyable
device for using apps, playing games, and listening to music.
It stands as a compact, portable, and affordable alternative to the more popular iPads and
iPhones that dominate the market – but it also stands as a reminder of the decade-long
wave of portable MP3 players that left their mark in the chapters of tech history.
So that’s the history of the iPod Touch, and if you want to vote for the next video
topic, don’t forget to subscribe.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time.