Teardown hints at iPod touch hidden capabilities

Stephen Withers
Monday, 14 September 2009 08:17

Opinion and Analysis

A teardown of the new iPod touch reveals some interesting details. But some commentators might be concluding that 2+2=5.

Apple-related spare parts and repair specialist iFixit has produced an illustrated teardown report for the new iPod touch.

An intriguing aspect of the report is that the upper part of the circuitry bears a remarkably close resemblance to a leaked photo of a purported iPod touch prototype that was said to include a camera.

iFixit noted "There isn't enough depth for an iPhone-style autofocus still camera, but just enough room for the camera that Apple used in the 5th generation iPod nano."

So it seems that rumours that the 2009 iPod touch was getting a camera may have had a basis in fact, even though they did not come to pass.

So why did Apple leave out the camera? You'd need well-placed sources within the notoriously close-lipped Apple to answer that for sure.

But possibilities include the desire to hit a particular price point, a decision that a camera similar to the nano's would not deliver sufficient quality for use in the touch, or supply problems with the chosen camera.

While the latter issue has been canvassed, it's clear that the decision was made in time to manufacture the iPod touch shell without provision for the camera.

What else did the iFixit teardown reveal? See page 2.