Yuhnke Commentary: New iPod Touch changes color but doesn't fix what isn't broken

PHOENIX - Before there was the iPad and the iPhone, there was the iPod. Despite the success of Apple’s phone and tablet business, the iPod line is still chugging along. The latest version of the iPod Touch doesn’t add much hardware technology but it proves the old adage, it if ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The latest version of the iPod touch comes with three major changes.

Fresh coat of paint

The iPod Touch is finally available in white. The back is still metal (which will scratch pretty easily as seen in my picture above) while the front is now available in black or white. Expect the same scratch resistant glass and amazing retina high-resolution screen. It’s the same iPod Touch... now in white.

iOS 5

The biggest change for the latest version of the iPod Touch is the release of iOS5. This brings with it a long list of improvements including drastically improved notifications, the iMessage app that can be used to message anyone else using an iOS device, integrated Twitter (but no Facebook) and wireless updates and syncing. These are just the highlights amid what Apple says is 200 new features. iMessage will be a nice addition since it adds phone-like texting abilities for iPod Touch users. Many of the other new features are simply a matter of Apple keeping up with the Joneses. The notification drop-down feels like Android, the swiping away of notifications feels like WebOS and the wireless updating has been long overdue. Don’t get me wrong, they’re welcome changes but not exactly ground breaking. iOS5 added Siri on the iPhone 4S but you won't find that feature on the iPod Touch.

Price tag

Finally, Apple dropped the price of the entry level 8GB iPod Touch to $199. This is a small change but finally puts the high-end music player/video player/gaming machine/internet device under the $200 price tag.

The biggest problem for the iPod going forward is the iPhone. Apple is its own worst enemy. As more people convert from feature phones to smartphones, it doesn’t make much sense to have both an iPod Touch and an iPhone. Afterall, the iPhone does everything an iPod does and more. The numbers clearly show that this is slowly killing sales of the iPod but I do believe there will always be a strong market for the non-phone device.

If you can’t get an iPhone, the iPod Touch is the second best option and it remains a pleasure to use. The processor is fast, the screen is beautiful and the built-in cameras are fun to use. At $199, I haven’t found another competitor that even comes close.  In fact I'm not sure it has much direct comeptition. The iPod Touch stands on its own as an amazing mutli-use device for a great price.