New iPod Touch is $299!

[NAC]

So, my daughter wanted an iPod Touch for her birthday this past August. I told her we'd wait for the new models, and also wait for the new iPad Mini in Oct. I would lean toward the iPad Mini - as long as it is below $250.

$299 just for the touch! That is crazy in my opinion. Prior to the lauch, I was thinking that they are squeezing the iPod Touch into a space it simply can't fill - the Nano screen keeps getting larger, and the iPad mini takes care of folks who want a larger device. So I was thinking the new iPod Touch might go down to $180, allowing folks to choose between a truly portable Nano, and the slightly cumbersome Touch. I guess not.

Now I don't know where the iPad Mini will sit. Heck - perhaps the hype is wrong, and they wont release a 7" iPad. But if they do - I'd think it has to be more expensive than the Touch. Unless they are releasing an expensive Touch that wont sell, just so they can cancel it (and remove the slot in their lineup). Strange. Or just to let it sit around for a year and then reduce the price by $100 next year. Or perhaps they think iPhone wanna-bees will buy it for any price.

Anyway, unless the iPad Mini is released at well under $300 - close to 250 or below - then I'll be taking my money to another company. I wont lose any sleep. I look forward to supporting Android or Kindle!

 

[dagamer34]

The "new" iPod Touch is $299 because it starts at 32GB, but this tactic isn't really new as when Apple launched the 3rd generation iPod Touch in 2009, the cost was the same (they kept the 2nd generation around at $199 for 8GB).

I would actually argue that the new iPod Touch is of far greater value than it previously was because it uses the same exact IPS LCD panel as the new iPhone 5. Previous screens had a Retina display but were only TFT LCD with horrible viewing angles that were atrocious. They also gave the iPod Touch the same 5MP sensor likely from the iPhone 4 but the lens optics from the iPhone 5. And the performance improvements from the A5 are much needed.

I feel that what you are really wishing for is a 16GB "new" iPod Touch for $249, but Apple doesn't roll that way. Sorry.

 

[jpeyton]

Exercise your options. Get a PMP that offers a microSD slot so you're not paying $100 for $10 worth of flash memory.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

how old is your daughter?

you can also wait a few weeks but I got my iPod Touch 4G in like oct/nov 2010 for a decent price... like $260 or something

 

[Ravynmagi]

Anyway, unless the iPad Mini is released at well under $300 - close to 250 or below - then I'll be taking my money to another company. I wont lose any sleep. I look forward to supporting Android or Kindle!

Might as well buy a Nexus 7 now. I think the lowest I'd imagine the iPad Mini is $300 and even that would kinda surprise me. I'm guessing it'll be more in the $350 to $400 range. No chance it's going to be $250 or less though, I'm comfortable saying that.

 

[jpeyton]

Might as well buy a Nexus 7 now. I think the lowest I'd imagine the iPad Mini is $300 and even that would kinda surprise me. I'm guessing it'll be more in the $350 to $400 range. No chance it's going to be $250 or less though, I'm comfortable saying that.

The Nexus 7 is a great value at $199 with the $25 Google Play credit.

Google Music will store 20,000 songs for free, and stream them to any web-enabled device on the planet. Given that an average song is about 6MB, that's roughly 120GB of cloud music storage for free. You can upload any song you like from your desktop, and any purchase from the Google Play store is added automatically (there is also lots of free music on Google Play).

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

How is a Nexus 7 comparable except for price? If you want portability, the Nexus 7 is out of consideration.

 

[Mopetar]

Might as well buy a Nexus 7 now. I think the lowest I'd imagine the iPad Mini is $300 and even that would kinda surprise me. I'm guessing it'll be more in the $350 to $400 range. No chance it's going to be $250 or less though, I'm comfortable saying that.

I could see Apple launching a 8 GB model that goes for $200-$250, just to be price competitive. Then selling 32 and 64 GB models for $100 and $200 more. Most people will want the additional space, so they'll go for those models, and Apple can always severely limit production for the cheapest model to force people into buying the more expensive options.

 

[Yuriman]

My vote: buy an Android smartphone on ebay and slap a 64gb uSD in it. Expanded battery + disable cell antenna = fantastic battery life, and you can browse the web and download apps, + you have a camera.

The Nexus really is too big to be a proper MP3 player and it doesn't have a uSD slot anyway.

 

[-Slacker-]

$300 for an mp3 player sounds reasonable.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

My vote: buy an Android smartphone on ebay and slap a 64gb uSD in it. Expanded battery + disable cell antenna = fantastic battery life, and you can browse the web and download apps, + you have a camera.

The Nexus really is too big to be a proper MP3 player and it doesn't have a uSD slot anyway.

Agree. But the problem is that android games suck IMHO

You always get a used iPod touch. Unless your girl is 13+ she won't care.

 

[bearxor]

If you can wait, I refurbished ipod touches should hit in the next couple of months. I don't think $300 is really off. I expect an ipad mini to have essentially the same internals as the ipod touch and maybe like a 350 price tag.

 

[ponyo]

Mrs. and I agreed $300 for iPod Touch is too much. I can't see myself buying another one to give as gift at that price. At $200, I didn't mind buying as gift for kids. $100 price jump makes it little tougher to swallow. I think I bought four so far to give as gifts to nieces and nephews. The cheapest I paid was $135 or so from Target. Little kids don't care about TFT or IPS screen. They just want an iPod.

Nexus 7 at $200 make better gift now.

 

[Spoooon]

How is a Nexus 7 comparable except for price? If you want portability, the Nexus 7 is out of consideration.

He was considering a Mini, had they announced it.

I think the touch is pretty nice, but holy crap at the price.

 

[Oyeve]

I'm gonna sell my iPhone 4 and get new touch.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Does the new iPod touch have the same iPhone 5 A6 CPU as well?

 

[dagamer34]

Does the new iPod touch have the same iPhone 5 A6 CPU as well?

No, A5.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

He was considering a Mini, had they announced it.

I think the touch is pretty nice, but holy crap at the price.

Yeah. But considering I did splurge on an iPod Touch 4G 32gb, I guess its ok, but yeah considering there's no entry level model (no I don't think it's worth jumping on an iPod Touch 4G considering this is the 4th year in running) for the new iPod, it's disappointing. I can see them dropping this to 249 next year maybe...

 

[Tom]

Mrs. and I agreed $300 for iPod Touch is too much. I can't see myself buying another one to give as gift at that price. At $200, I didn't mind buying as gift for kids. $100 price jump makes it little tougher to swallow. I think I bought four so far to give as gifts to nieces and nephews. The cheapest I paid was $135 or so from Target. Little kids don't care about TFT or IPS screen. They just want an iPod.

Nexus 7 at $200 make better gift now.

I'm looking at this the same way, gifts I can afford, around $200. Its true they're still going to sell the 4th gen for $199, now with 16 gb, but that's not very exciting.

Don't overlook another tablet for $200, the Nabi 2. Tegra 3, hdmi, microsd, lots of software for kids.

So for $200, 16gb ipod Touch 4th gen, 8gb Nexus 7, 16gb Kindle Fire HD, or Nabi 2.

For $300, Kindle Fire HD 8.9, ipod Touch 5th gen, refurb ipad 2($320), ??

 

[NAC]

I guess Apple did roll out iPods in the past with similiar pricing jumps - but in my mind at least - that was prior to real competition. Hmmm... I guess perhaps the Touch still doesn't have competition, but the 7" tablet world sure does. Maybe that is why the iPad Mini will need to be priced more competatively.

My daughter is 9. Her 8 year old sister has the previous generation Touch. They use it mainly for games / watching things. When they use it for music - it is almost always stationary. That is why I'd lean her toward a 7" tablet instead of a Touch.

I think the Nabi is a great idea. With other technology items aimed for kids - mp3 players, camera - it was cheaped out too much, and therefore too limited. Also they were very proprietary. It doesn't seem to be the case with the Nabi. It probably isn't as cool for her though - she'll want something cooler. I'd like it if there was an app store with quality things for kids and not so much junk to sort through. My 8 year old's iPod has a bazillion apps, most of which stink.