Ipod Touch Information
The iPod Touch (stylized and marketed as lowercase iPod touch) is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line. It is the first iPod with wireless access to the iTunes Store, and also has access to Apple's App Store, enabling content to be purchased and downloaded directly on the device. As of March 2011, Apple has sold over 60 million iPod Touch units.[7][8]
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Software
The iPod Touch runs iOS. The first major update after the initial release was iPhone OS 2.0 This update introduced the App Store, which allowed third-party applications for the first time. iPhone OS 2.0 debuted July 11, 2008. iPhone users received the update for free, while iPod Touch users had to pay for the update. The second major update to the operating system, iPhone OS 3.0, was released June 17, 2009. iPhone OS 3.0 added features such as cut, copy, and paste; data tethering; and push notification support. As with the prior major release, iPhone users received the update for free, while iPod Touch users had to pay for the update. iOS 4.0 was made available to the public on June 21, 2010. It was the first major iOS release to drop support for some devices; the first generation iPod Touch and original iPhone are not supported in iOS 4.0. The iPhone 3G and second generation iPod Touch had limited functionality under iOS 4.0, while the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, third generation iPod Touch, and fourth generation iPod Touch had full functionality under iOS 4.0. The major features introduced in iOS 4.0 included iBooks, FaceTime, and multitasking. iOS 5.0 was previewed to the public on June 6, 2011, and was released on October 12, 2011.[9]
Apple has received criticism for charging iPod Touch owners for major iOS updates that iPhone owners receive for free, as well as excluding certain features from the iPod Touch software that are included in the iPhone.[10][11] Apple has said that they can add features for free to the iPhone because the revenue from it is accounted for on a subscription basis under accounting rules, rather than as a one time payment.[12] At WWDC in June 2010, Steve Jobs announced that Apple had "found a way" to make subsequent OS upgrades available free to iPod Touch owners. However, iOS 4.0 and onwards isn't available for the first generation iPod Touch, and some features are only available for the 32 and 64 GB third generation iPod Touch released in September 2009 and the fourth generation iPod Touch released in 2010.
In June 2011, iOS 5, the fifth major release of iOS software, was announced at Apple's WWDC 2011. There will be added features in the new update, including notifications, messaging and reminders. On October 4, 2011 at Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event iOS 5 and the iPhone 4S were announced to the public with many new features such as Siri, iMessage and wireless upgrades; this software upgrade was released on October 12, 2011. No new iPod Touch specific changes were announced yet, other than a price drop and the option to choose between black and white.
Comparison to the iPhone
Main article: List of iOS devices See also: iOS and iOS version historyThe iPod Touch and the iPhone share essentially the same hardware and run the same iOS operating system. The iPod Touch lacks some of the iPhone's features and associated apps, such as access to cellular networks, GPS navigation and the built-in compass. Older models also lacked speakers and cameras. Although the SMS and Phone apps are included on the iPod Touch software, they are disabled and therefore not visible. Also, the sleep/wake button was on the opposite side, up until the release of the iPod Touch 4th generation. Since it doesn't need GPS and cellular components, the iPod Touch is slimmer and lighter than the iPhone. Steve Jobs once referred to the iPod Touch as "training wheels for the iPhone".[13]
Another major difference is the quality of the back camera compared to the iPhone. While the iPod Touch, like the iPhone, allows for HD video recording, the iPhone camera still delivers higher quality photos to that of the iPod's.[14] Also, the iPod Touch camera lacks a flash for low light photography.
Requirements
- iTunes 10 or later
- Mac OS 10.5 or later
- Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
Setup and synchronization
For iPod Touch units bought before October 12, 2011, users must own a Mac or PC computer to be able to use the iPod. Users then must install iTunes and connect the iPod through a USB port. The iPod will then be set up in iTunes. New iPods bought after October 12, 2011 have iOS 5.0 preloaded, and allow activation wirelessly, without the need of a PC or Mac.[15]
Earlier iPod Touch units must be plugged into a computer to be synced. This will charge the iPod Touch and sync the music library, videos, pictures and back up data. iOS 5 enables the user to do all this from the device and send it to the iCloud service. It is not manageable by Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.[16]
Battery charging
Starting with the second generation, iPod Touch can only be charged from the 5 V pin of the dock connector while most prior iPod models (including the original iPod Touch) could also be charged from the 12 V pin for FireWire power.[17] This change dropped support for charging in vehicles equipped with a FireWire-based iPod connection. Most aftermarket manufacturers of such equipment offer cables and/or adapters which convert the vehicle's 12 V to 5 V.
Purchasing content
To purchase content on the iPod Touch, the user must create an Apple ID or have an existing account. With this account you may download music and videos from the iTunes Store, apps from the App Store, or books from the iBookstore. An Apple ID account created without a credit card can be used
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