The fifth generation iPod Touch is a multi-purpose pocket computer designed and marketed by Apple
Inc. with a touchscreen-based user interface. It succeeds the 4th generation iPod Touch.
Like the iPhone 5, the fifth generation iPod Touch is a slimmer, lighter model that introduces
a higher-resolution, 4-inch screen to the series with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.
Other improvements include support for recording 1080p video and panoramic still photos via
the rear camera, an LED flash, Apple's A5 chip, and support for Apple's Siri.
Additionally, colors were added to the iPod Touch. Available in space grey, silver, pink,
yellow, blue, and Product Red, the fifth generation iPod Touch was unveiled at Apple's media event
alongside with the iPhone 5 on September 12, 2012 and was released on October 11, 2012.
The device was initially only sold in 32 GB and 64 GB models. The first 16 GB model, introduced
on May 30, 2013, was only available in one color and lacks the rear iSight camera and
the iPod Touch Loop that is included in the 32 and 64 GB models. A new 16 GB model was
introduced on June 26, 2014 and includes the rear camera and full range of color options.
The pricing for the iPod Touch has also changed. The 16 GB model now sells for $199 instead
of $229, the 32 GB model sells for $249 instead of $299, and the 64 GB model sells for $299
instead of $399.
Features Operating system and software
The fifth generation iPod Touch features iOS, Apple's mobile operating system. The user
interface of iOS is based on the concept of direct manipulation, using multi-touch gestures.
Interface control elements consist of sliders, switches, and buttons. Interaction with the
OS includes gestures such as swipe, tap, pinch, and reverse pinch, all of which have specific
definitions within the context of the iOS operating system and its multi-touch interface.
Internal accelerometers are used by some applications to respond to shaking the device or rotating
it vertically. Initially shipped with iOS 6, which was released
on September 19, 2012, it can play music, movies, television shows, eBooks, audiobooks,
and podcasts and can sort its media library by songs, artists, albums, videos, playlists,
genres, composers, podcasts, audiobooks, and compilations. Users can rotate their device
horizontally to landscape mode to access Cover Flow. This feature shows the different album
covers in a scroll-through photo library. Scrolling is achieved by swiping a finger
across the screen. Alternatively, headset controls can be used to pause, play, skip,
and repeat tracks. However, the earpods that comes with the iPod does not include a remote
and mic. The Voice Control feature can also be used to identify a track, play songs in
a playlist or by a specific artist, or create a Genius playlist.
Like the iPhone 4S and later models, the fifth generation iPod Touch was the first in the
iPod Touch line-up to include Siri, that allows the user to operate the device by spoken commands.
The software was improved in iOS 6 to include the ability to make restaurant reservations,
launch apps, dictate Facebook or Twitter updates, retrieve movie reviews and detailed sports
statistics. Typing can be aided by the voice assistant, which converts speech to text,
and also supports iMessage, a specialised instant messaging program and service that
allows unlimited texting to other Apple devices running iOS 5 or later. Some newer applications
and features that came with iOS 6 included Apple Maps, Passbook and screen mirroring.
Apple Maps which replaced the former map application lacks many features present in competing maps
apps and is also known to give wrong directions to users which still not fixed after the iOS
7 updates. The new Apple Maps app uses Apple's new vector-based engine that eliminates lag,
making for smoother zooming. New to Maps is turn-by-turn navigation spoken directions,
3D views in some major cities and real-time traffic. The new Passbook app is able to retrieve
documents such as boarding passes, admission tickets, coupons and loyalty cards. An iOS
device with Passbook can be scanned under a reader to process a mobile payment at locations
that have compatible hardware. AirPlay was made available, which allows screen mirroring
through an Apple TV or other supported external device allows the screen of the iPod Touch
to be mirrored, and was the first generation of the iPod Touch to support it.
iOS 7 was released on September 18, 2013 to all iOS devices. This generation was the only
iPod Touch in the iPod Touch line-up to run iOS 7. On June 2nd, 2014, it was announced
that the iPod Touch 5th generation would receive iOS 8 that fall. It was released on September
17, 2014. Hardware
The fifth generation iPod Touch features the Apple A5 chip which is similar to the one
on the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and the iPad Mini. The chip comprises a 1 GHz dual core ARM
Cortex-A9 processor and a PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU making it faster than the fourth generation
iPod Touch, which uses the Apple A4 chip. Storage capacities available are available
at 32 or 64 GB with a 16 GB announced at a later date to replace the previous generation.
The storage capacities of the iPod Touch is fixed, like any iOS devices released; plug-in
memory cards are not supported. The Retina Display of the iPod is similar
to the one on the iPhone 5, measuring 1,136 by 640 pixels with an aspect ratio of almost
exactly 16:9. Measuring 4 inches diagonally, it has a display size of 6.7 square inches
and a pixel density of 326 ppi which remains the same as the fourth generation. Screen
icons are arranged in a matrix of 6 rows of 4 icons each. With a larger screen than the
previous generation model, the fifth generation iPod Touch allows a 6th row of icons to be
added to the 5 rows that were present in the fourth generation iPod Touch. However, the
fifth generation iPod Touch does not include an ambient light sensor which was included
in the previous generation. The new iSight camera has 5 megapixels and is capable of
1080p video recording with an illuminated sensor and a LED flash. The front facing camera
was also upgraded to 1.3 megapixels capable of 720p video compared to the VGA 0.3 megapixels
front camera on the fourth generation. Design
The fifth generation iPod Touch comes in colors like the iPhone 5C. Its finish features an
aluminum unibody which is made from same kind of anodised aluminium used in the MacBook
line. With a new iSight camera and a LED flash at the back, the iPod Touch includes a new
feature known as the iPod Touch Loop. At the bottom left corner on the back of the iPod
Touch, it features a button which is activated by pressing it down to allow a loop to attach
to the iPod Touch. Other changes to the iPod Touch include the addition of colours. It
is available in five different colors: space grey, silver, pink, yellow, blue and Product
Red. The Space Grey version comes with a black screen while the rest of the color variants
of the iPod comes with a white screen. The fifth generation iPod Touch was initially
released in 32GB and 64GB models. A 16GB version that does not include the iSight camera, the
LED flash and the iPod Touch Loop was released on May 30, 2013. This model was replaced with
a 16GB model that does include the back camera, various color options and iPod Touch loop
button on June 26, 2014. Accessories
The fifth generation iPod Touch, as well as the iPhone 5, iPod Nano, iPad, and iPad Mini
feature a new dock connector named Lightning, replacing the 30-pin Apple connector which
was first introduced by Apple in 2003 on the third generation iPod. The Apple Lightning
connector has eight pins and all signaling is digital. The new connector also can be
inserted either way round unlike the 30-pin connector which can only be inserted in one
way. Adapters will be released by Apple to convert the Apple Lightning connector to the
older 30-pin Apple Dock connector or USB, although not all accessories will work with
the adapter as not all signals are available, in particular video output and the iPod Out
feature for BMW automobiles. Earphones known as Apple EarPods are also
included with the fifth generation iPod touch and other devices announced at the Apple media
event on September 12, 2012. They superseded earphones that were included with previous
generation iPhones and iPods. According to technology commentators, the redesign of the
earphones is aimed to improve sound quality by allowing air to travel in and out more
freely. Apple states that the redesign of their earphones allows it to "rival high-end
headphones that cost hundreds of dollars more". Reviews by Gizmodo and TechRadar reported
that although the redesigned earphones sounded better than its predecessor, reviewers felt
that quality of sound produced is poor. TechRadar further stated that the EarPods are inferior
to other earphones of a similar price. Other accessories that will come with the
iPod Touch include the lanyard for the iPod Touch loop.
See also
List of iPod models List of iOS devices
References
External links iPod Touch – official site