IPod touch

The iPod touch (also colloquially referred to as the iTouch, by analogy to the iPhone) is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld gaming 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 (such as music, games, and movies) to be purchased and downloaded directly on the device. As of March 2011, Apple has sold over 60 million iPod touch units.

1st generation
The 1st generation iPod touch was originally released on September 14, 2007 in black with 8GB or 16GB of storage. A 32GB model was later added on February 5, 2008. The first of its kind, the iPod touch was an instant hit; achieving success similar to the first generation iPhone, which was released a few months prior to the iPod touch. The iPod touch was the first iPod with Wi-Fi and a multi-touch interface. The device features the Safari web browser and access to the iTunes Store and YouTube. The line was discontinued on September 9, 2008, in favor of the 2nd-generation iPod touch.

2nd generation
The 2nd generation iPod touch was a slightly improved model compared to its predecessor. Its Wi-Fi antenna on the back top left was oval shaped, the rim and the casing's color was changed to silver, and instead of only being able to be updated to iOS 3.1.2., it could be updated to iOS 4.2.1, on top of a greatly improved battery lifespan. It was a vast improvement to its predecessor but it was succeeded by the 3rd-generation iPod touch.

New features
The 2nd-generation iPod touch featured improved battery life, the ability to upgrade up to iOS 4.2.1, and a thinner design.

3rd generation
The 32 GB and 64 GB models were updated to include the upgraded RAM, CPU and GPU internals from the iPhone 3GS; they include voice control support, Voice Control, included iPhone OS 3.x, and bundled remote earphones with microphone. The third generation iPod touch with iPhone OS 3.1 was released on September 9, 2009. Apple's published technical specifications for the third generation iPod touch only include references to the 32 GB and 64 GB models. Following the introduction of the third generation iPod touch, Apple also continued offering the second generation 8 GB version, upgraded to the same iPhone OS version as the new third generation devices. The iPod touch (third generation) is model A1318. This generation supports only up to iOS 5.1.1; it does not support iOS 6. It will slow down when using some new iOS, and has a lower battery life compared to the 2nd generation version.

New features
The 3rd-generation iPod touch featured much-improved internal components, the ability to upgrade to iOS 5.1.1, and a 64GB model.

4th generation
The 4th-generation iPod touch was originally released on September 12, 2010 with just a black model, but later a new white model was added on October 12, 2011 at the same time as the iPhone 4S. This iPod touch was set at the price $199-$399.

New features
The new iPod touch included many new features from the iPhone 4, including a Retina Display, a FaceTime Camera, and a 720p HD iSight camera. The iPod touch 4 is 26% thinner than the iPod touch 3. The iPod touch 4 came in black and white included first the iOS 4.0 and later the iOS5.0 update, which includes the following new features:

FaceTime (video-calling): FaceTime was added to the iPod touch 4 with the front camera; it enables iPod touch users to call any Mac with video conference ability, iPhone 4 or later, iPad 2 or later or another iPod touch 4 or later and have a video chat (similar to Skype). To use FaceTime on an iPod touch, you need to use an email address.

iMessage (texting): iMessage was introduced in the iPod touch 4 to enable users to freely text another Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Mac) running iOS 5 or OS X Mountain Lion or later by using an email address. This feature became very popular among iPod touch users who did not own mobile phones, as it allowed them to text their friends.

Reminders (personal digital assistance): Reminders was brought in on the iPod touch 4 as an alternative to Calendar or Clock alerts, and a way to create a virtual schedule day-by-day. Reminders allows users to schedule events by date, time, and month, similar to the Calendar application, but actually alerts the user when it is time to complete the task they have scheduled.

Game Center (gaming): The Game Center was added to the iPod touch 4 as a gaming leaderboard where users can create an account, add friends and access their scores while playing games on third-party applications. Users also gain a ranking on worldwide leaderboards where they can connect with other players of the game.

Newsstand (news): The Newsstand application was added as a way for users to read magazines and newspapers on their iPod touch, which they can download from the App Store. Users can also manage their magazine or newspaper subscriptions from the app.

Voice Memos (recording): Voice Memos allowed users to record important moments in their lives by utilizing the iPod touch's built-in microphone and recording audio files. These 'memos' can later be transferred onto a user's computer.

Camera (taking photos): The Camera app works with the iPod touch 4's dual cameras to take pictures, record videos, and edit them all in one app. Similarly, there are synchronized sharing options within the app, so users can send their pictures to friends or post them on Facebook and Twitter with a tap of the screen. The iPod touch 4G is the first iPod touch model to have not only one camera, but two, the front camera is 0.3mp and the back is 0.7mp but supports HD video recording at 720p. There are apps on the App Store that make the camera better.

Retina display: The display on the iPod touch 4 is designed by Apple and manufactured by LG. It features a multi-touchscreen with pixel density of 326 pixels per inch (pip) and res of 960x640. The screen is marketed as a "Retina Display", based that 300 ppi at 12 inches from the eye is the maximum amount of detail the human retina can process.

Notification Center (notifications): The Notification Center is a central place where iPod touch users can view all of their notifications from third-party and built-in applications and mark them as read. It is an easy place to catch up on what you've missed, especially if you haven't used your iPod touch for a few hours.

This generation supports updates through iOS 6.x.

Issues
Some 4th-generation iPod touch users have experienced Wi-Fi signal dropping when texting and browsing the web. Other users experienced sound when recording video with Wi-Fi on.

The older, original 4th-generation iPod touch (not originally with iMessage installed) doesn't work with some docking stations.

4th-generation iPod touch models manufactured after a certain date shipped with iOS 6, and due to manufacturing differences, cannot be downgraded like previous models as a result of hardware changes.

White model
On October 4, 2011 Apple announced a new white iPod touch, which was still from the 4th generation iPod touch family as it had the same specs as the original black one. All of its new features were from the new iOS 5 update that was released on October 12, 2011.

5th generation
The 5th generation iPod touch features a larger screen identical to that of the iPhone 5, and comes in more colours and is noticeably thinner than previous models. It was originally introduced in October 2012 and is $299 for the 32GB version and $399 for the 64GB version. In May 2013, a 16GB 5th Gen model was released for $229 to replace the 4th Gen model before iOS 7 was released, as the 4th Gen model was not going to be supported. The 16GB model only comes in one color, a black front with a silver back panel. The metal buttons were also replaced with black plasitc buttons, and the back camera along with the iPod touch loop were dropped to save money.

New features
The 5th generation iPod touch came with the same dual cameras featured on the previous model, but both cameras had new capability to take pictures in panorama mode and record in 1080p HD, effectively replacing digital point-and-shoot cameras. The 5th generation iPod touch also featured the iPod touch loop, it's to prevent users from dropping their iPod touch. The iPod touch 5th Gen has the similar specifications of the iPhone 4S such as 512MB of RAM and A5 processor, but the camera is the same as iPhone 4's camera.

This generation supports updates through iOS 9.x.

6th generation
The 6th generation iPod touch features the same 4-inch Retina Display as the previous generation, and comes in Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Blue, Pink, and. It was originally introduced in July 2015 and starts at $199.

New features
The 6th generation iPod touch introduced all-new colors, as well as more powerful internal components. The 6th generation iPod touch has the similar specifications of the iPhone 6, including 1GB of RAM and the A8 processor, alongside the same camera used on the iPhone 6.

This generation supports updates through iOS 12.x.

7th generation
The 7th generation iPod touch is the latest version of the iPod touch which features a A10 Fusion chip, the same that was used on the iPhone 7, and up to 256GB of internal storage. Originally introduced on March 28th, 2019, the device could also be requested for a custom laser engraving message, and came with the same colors as the iPod touch 5th generation (above). Prices started at $199.

This generation supports iOS 14, which includes new services such as Apple Arcade and Apple One, and is the only remaining iPod model available from Apple.