iPod touch parts surface that hint at front-facing camera
updated 11:25 am EDT, Thu July 8, 2010
4th-gen iPod touch has front cam for FaceTime
Fresh from supplier rumors of an iPod touch with FaceTime, a pair of part suppliers on AliBaba have now posted what they claim are fourth-generation iPod touch parts. Both a front panel and a complete LCD and digitizer show a design with a camera front and center above the touchscreen. Unlike the iPhone 4, there's no speaker to offset the camera.
Room exists for the listings to be inaccurate, but parts leaks such as this aren't uncommon, as small Chinese companies will sometimes get parts directly from suppliers or from factories assembling the final product.
The design could mark a significant change in the iPod's relationship to the iPhone and, in turn, to cellular carriers. VoIP calls have been possible with third-party apps on the iPod touch since it gained microphone support, but the fourth-generation model would provide FaceTime video calls equivalent to that of an iPhone 4 without needing the cellular contract. Apple is eventually due to allow FaceTime over the cellular network, but it has warned the option won't be ready before 2011. [via 9 to 5 Mac]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
In other news ...
... water is wet.
There's really no way Apple could bring out a new iPod Touch that *didn't* have Facetime abilities (and thus a front-facing camera). Heck, if it doesn't have a Retina Display people are going to howl like banshees.
I appreciate the effort made to confirm it, but file this under "duh."