We lowly bloggers have yet to get quality hands-on time with the new iPod touch, but we hear the whispers in the field like everybody else. Gizmodo is reporting that Apple has removed the ability to add and edit events in the iPod touch’s calendar, a feature that you can find on the iPhone.
iPods have long had the ability to sync calendar and contact data with your Mac and display it, though they’ve never had any mechanism to input text (discounting the 5.5G’s cumbersome search interface). Clearly the iPod touch does, since it’s based on the same exact technology as the iPhone. Seems like this is just Apple’s way of imposing feature differences between the iPhone and the iPod to prevent cannibalization of sales.
On the one hand, it’s damned annoying. We know the ability is there—holding it back seems mercenary and penny-pinching. On the other hand, I can see the philosophical reason behind: with perhaps the exception of Safari, the iPod touch is very much a consumer device—and I mean that in the literal sense of “consuming information.” It’s not meant to be a PDA or handheld computer in the same way that the iPhone is: it’s meant to be a media player, an iPod. Note that on the features breakdown of the iPod touch page, they list Video, Photos, Music, YouTube, and Safari—no Calculator, Contacts, or Calendar. Maybe they simply hate the letter “C,” but I think it has more to do with what they intend people to use their iPod for. The major reason they included Contacts and Calendar is because otherwise people would throw a flaming fit that those features were available on the iPod classic and nano and not on the touch.
I’m not condoning any of the above, but I think that’s how Apple sees it. And those of you who are prepared to rail against the heavens for this injustice should at least consider this: while the iPod touch may not be meant for a life as a PDA or handheld computer, there’s little doubt in my mind that industrious hackers will figure out how to start porting features and software to it from the iPhone about, oh, five minutes after the touch is released.
Not a big deal. I'll can wait until some of those features are added or until the price drops.
Two things:
1) Much as the lack of an email client will encourage use of webmail (e.g., Gmail) among Touch users, so too will this encourage the use of web calendaring (e.g., Google Calendar).
2) This is just the latest demonstration that Jobs was paying attention to Apple's product line pratfalls in the late 80s and early 90s. Back then, Apple offered a dozen configurations of each of its models (Performa, Centris, Quadra, etc.) - each a shade different than the last, each raising production costs while cannibalizing sales of the others and blurring the distinctions between the product lines at the margins. Apple's turnaround under Jobs has been as much about simple, clearly delineated product lines and supply chain efficiency as it has been about appealing design and technology. This latest bit of news reminds us that the iPod Touch is intended to be the most capable iPod, not the iPDA, not the second coming of Newton, and certainly not the iPhone-without-the-phone.
I'm not incensed about it, but I think it is a poor strategy to artificially handicap a product in order to boost the sales of a higher priced one. For reasons you've pointed out, the target audience for both is a bit different. Given the iTouch's ability to wifi, doesn't this just encourage the purchaser to use google's calendar app via Safari rather than Apple's product? I'm not familiar with either, so I'm not sure, but from what little I know about it, I'd say screw iCal and just use Google's app.
They may be just trying to seperate one product from another, but the bottom line is it is going to cost them sales. The sad thing is, it wouldn't have cost them anything to just leave it in. I doubt very many people are going to get an iPhone instead of a touch in order to get this, but many people might have purchased a touch that now won't if it did have some PDA capabilities.
Simple PDA features that sync with my Mac and .mac would have made this a great purchase for me. Without them I am not anywhere near as keen.
I've no interest in an iPhone (not that they are available in the UK) as I don't use mobiles much.
So, probably a sale lost here. Not the it means much, I'm sure the analysts and marketers have taken such losses into account.
Although I bemoan the strategy, the limitations of the iPod Touch, and obviously the price drop, led me to go ahead and get an iPhone last week.
I expect that a few of the interface niceties they showed off for the iPod Touch will find their way to the iPhone in the next update, but it doesn't look like all the features of the iPhone are going to be found in the iPod Touch.
The iPhone, btw, is such a joy. It reminds me of how delightful using new technology can be when every click brings a little surprise. Reminds me of using my Newton.
It certainly clears things up for me. I don't want a touch that can't enter contact and calendar information. So I'm left pining for the iPhone, wherefore must thee contain a camera, iPhone?
Those of us who come at this from the computer world are used to the idea that one device should be able to do absolutely anything its throughput allows, just by software manipulations. The iPhone and iPod Touch are entries in a whole different world: consumer devices. I'm not surprised that my stereo won't make toast or wash my dishes; I just buy a toaster and a dishwasher and...well, hundreds of things. That said, the iPod Touch is really just a few software hacks away from being the handheld computer we've all always wanted. All that's been holding that back was the bulkiness of the display and keyboard. Well, now the iPhone and iPod Touch have a beautifully clear screen in an amazingly small size, and with the easy and intuitive touchscreen the input problem is handled. The Pocket Mac is almost here. The iPod Touch may be it. It's going to be an interesting ride, and I don't mind paying $349 to get in at the beginning.
Just like with the iPhone reduction, this is all part of business. The making money part - the part that is business.
Imagine the car buying experience. "But, that one has 4-wheel-drive. Why don't they all? If you know how to build it, why not add it to every car? And, a DVD navigation system. Please, throw that in for free since you obviously know how to do it." They're called 'options' for a reason. The more you pay, the more you get.
Guess I'm growing a little tired of the entitlement generation. Not aimed at the commenters here - just a generalization of the post-Sept 5 reaction as a whole.
Oh come on, did they really think that people would sign up with a 2 year AT&T contract just because you can't enter events? This makes me mad, because I was sort of planning on buying a Touch to use like a tiny computer that I can bring anywhere and surf the internet with and organize my events throughout the day and things like that. I don't want to have to go back to my computer just to enter in events. One of things I always wanted iPods to have was to be able to edit and enter in calendar events. That wasn't possible anyways because of the lack of keyboard, but now Apple has no reason (in my eyes).
I agree, I definitely don't have a use for a smart phone, nor will i use wifi or internet to a big degree...
I would have loved to see PIM features work in the touch, without that I won't buy it-period
But time is on my side... when the first year of iphone madness in europe has passed by much will have changed... it would have been sooooooo nice and convenient
Hi, with new iCal being compliant to web-based subscription is this even an issue? Much like popping your vids onto a dirctory listing web space and accessing 2tbs of vid should you ned too:)
There's piles of examples of Apple holding out on the features, but now it seems that they are actively REMOVING things that people want. I don't get it. How long can they get by on name alone?
I hope they end up adding these features back :(