Touch Screen iPod Rumors a Hoax?
Either completely baseless or very premature, it appears that reports of the imminent release of a touch screen iPod are not true. The story, which was first reported by Apple peepers Think Secret, links to a PDF document that does not display the same information previously reported. Although Think Secret and other subsequent stories have whole-heartedly embraced the potential of the product, the "leaked" PDF simply does not assure anyone that plans for such a device even exist.
According to Think Secret, the leaked document reads the following:
"Note: Linking to photos and videos is supported only for the 5th generation iPods running iPod Software version 1.2 or later. All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models with display screens, beginning with the touch-screen models. [Emphasis added]"
However, when we checked out the source, the information was either,
a) Missing or
b) Removed by Apple
Instead, the data now reads,
"Note: Linking to photos and videos is supported only for 5th generation iPods running iPod Software version 1.2 or later. All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models beginning with third-generation iPod (dock connector) models with touch wheel."
That's the extent of the memo within the "Advanced Uses of Notes" section, and clearly there's no mention by Apple of a touch screen iPod. Searching the whole document for "touch" and "screen" turns up about as much gold as can be found in my back yard.
Think Secret assures its readers that Apple has been working on the device for at least a year, and that it could be released by Christmas. This makes some sense; with Microsoft set to release its anticipated Wi-Fi media player (dubbed the "Zune"), Apple will need to up the ante in order to keep the market restricted to its own front pocket. Some measures have been taken to distract possible Microsoft customers, such as the release of a mini Shuffle and red (charity) iPod, but a touch screen would be a much more marketable feature for a device that has taken some criticism as it comfortably settles into the mainstream.
We're not saying Think Secret or the other rumor mongers are completely off base. But, somewhere along the line, there was some serious jumbling of information.
"What we've got here is failure to communicate."
Guns 'n Roses, "Civil War"
