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Apple upgrades iPod touch

By | Published on Thursday 16 July 2015

Apple

It seems to me that ever since Apple realised it couldn’t call its telly-feeding console iTV, on account of someone having got to that name first here in the UK, the tech giant has sort of given up on the ‘i’ brand thing. Apple TV. Apple Watch. Apple Music.

But don’t worry, the iPod is still going. For now. And yesterday the tech firm unveiled “the best iPod Touch yet”. Which is a shame. I was really hoping for the second best. But whatever, the wifi-dependent iPhone-without-the-phone-bit – and admirable descendant of the original revolutionary Apple music player – is getting its first upgrade in three years, a sign that the company hasn’t quite given up on the standalone iPod just yet.

Most of the changes simply bring upgrades that have already been made to the iPhone over to the iPod, including a better camera, battery life and other flim flam. And, of course, Apple Music is in there. “With the newly launched Apple Music service, members can enjoy playlists curated by the most talented music experts from around the world”, says the press bumf. Yeah, but if my experience of Apple Music is anything to go by, don’t expect easy access to the playlists you expertly curated for yourself on iTunes.

But don’t worry, you can also “stay in-the-know on music culture with a global 24/7 broadcast on Beats 1 radio, and comment on or like backstage photos and videos shared directly by their favourite artists on Connect”. Oh yeah, us iPhone owners are now Connecting all the time with our favourite artists. Hey iPod users, get with the now.

“iPod Touch gives customers around the world access to Apple Music, the App Store and iOS, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, starting at just $199”, says Apple marketing man Greg Joswiak. “With big advancements like the A8 chip and the eight megapixel iSight camera, customers can experience next-level gameplay, take even more beautiful photos and enjoy their favourite music, TV shows and movies”.

Oh look, they’re still using ‘iSight’ too. But I still reckon they’ll eventually move over to Apple Phone. And Apple Pod? Well, those who have been predicting an imminent demise for the whole Pod product range ever since Apple phased out the Classic version of the device last year may have been proven wrong by this latest announcement.

Though as the shift to streaming continues, even with offline listening, you wonder how long the market for iPods without mobile internet connections will be big enough for the tech monolith to bother tapping it.



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