Apple has kept an iPod Touch secret - bluetooth functionality
By admin • Mar 18th, 2009 • Category: iPod TouchFollowing yesterdays conference presenting the new iPhone OS 3.0 features, which will also be availble for the iPod Touch this coming summer for a price of $9.95 (don’t get me started), Apple also revealed that the iPod Touch 2G has had bluetooth built in all along, and that they just deliberately disabled it.
Allthough a full explanation as to why it was disabled in the first place was never given, it will be made available in the new OS 3.0. Many raised the question when the 2nd generation iPod Touch was first released with the support for Nike+ on the same 2.4 GHz spectrum that is used by bluetooth devices. Back then Apple claimed that Nike+ did not use bluetooth technology, but with the latest revelation one has to ask if maybe it did after all.
The bluetooth functionality of the iPod Touch was revealed at the conference when Apple announced the improved peer-to-peer connections, wireless accessory control, and support for A2DP, allowing you amongst other to use wireless bluetooth stereo headsets with the devices. Apple then confirmed that the bluetooth technology in the iPod Touch could be unlocked in a new OS, although there are still questions around if Apple will make the full bluetooth functionality available for the iPod Touch in the upcoming OS 3.0 release.
As much as i love my iPod Touch and admire Apple for their ingenious and stylish products, i have to admit that they are walking a very fine line at the moment with us iPod owners, charging us for the upgrade as well as keeping bluetooth functionality hidden for so many months. We could have had so much fun with that. Question one has to raise now is; what else have Apple been hiding from us? Let me hear your thoughts on this.
Find out more about the features that will be made available for the iPod Touch in the new iPhone OS 3.0 here.
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Will we need to buy the new ipod touch when they come out with the new ipod touch OS 3.0?
No, you should not have to get a new iPod Touch, you will simply get the option to upgrade for a small fee of $9.99. You will surely get information about this in your iTunes when the upgrade is made available.
well u might want 2 get the new ipod touch just because its goning 2 have more memory (64gb) and a camera and better battery life
I bought the ipod touch upgrade and is now looking for a reliable microphone to use with skype and the voice memos app included with the upgrade. i bought the upgrade for the bluetooth feature exclusively and is disappointed that i didn’t read clearly because it only pairs with stereo headphones not my headset used for my cell phone and it doesn’t pair with my laptop either. im wondering if there are ipod touch bluetooth stereo headphones with buit-in microphone out there cause it would solve my issues.
I have checked around a bit as well and so far not found any information on bluetooth headsets with mic that are compatible with the iPod Touch newly released bluetooth functionality.
Not sure why Apple has made the bluetooth functionality so limited, except for maybe having interest in making more money off licensing on compatible bluetooth headsets.
That’s great !
Is it compatible with my computer ?
‘Not sure why Apple has made the bluetooth functionality so limited, except for maybe having interest in making more money off licensing on compatible bluetooth headsets.’
I think you answered your own question!
I think so too! In my opinion Apple are walking a very fine line when it comes to limiting functionality to protect their own business model. Hopefully the increased competition from the likes of Google etc. can force a change in policy from Apple as well.
I have a question. In the app “maps” that is built in the ipod touch 2g, when you put current location for start it always says your current location can not be found. They said that the ipod touch does not have GPS chip in it. Will there ever be a time that we can use current location and not use an internet connection? Because the GPS in cars dont use internet but for the ipod you have to use internet (wifi) .
Thanks