The iPod Touch (stylized, trademarked, and marketed as iPod touch) is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, and Wi-Fi mobile platform designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The product was launched on September 5, 2007, at an event called The Beat Goes On. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line. It is the first iPod with wireless access to the iTunes Store, and also has access to Apple's App Store, enabling content to be purchased and downloaded directly on the device. Apple Inc. has sold over 32 million iPod Touch units as of the end of 2009.
The second generation iPod Touch features external volume controls, a built-in speaker, a contoured back, built-in Nike+, Bluetooth support, and the ability to connect a microphone. It was unveiled on September 9, 2008, at the "Let's Rock" keynote presentation.
The 3rd generation iPod Touch with iPhone OS 3.1 was announced and subsequently released on September 9, 2009. It is available with 32GB or 64GB of flash memory. Apple also continued offering the 2nd generation 8 GB version. The new 3rd generation iPod Touch includes faster hardware (the same microprocessors, graphics engine, and RAM as the iPhone 3GS), a slightly lower battery life, voice control, light sensor, and bundled earphones with a remote and microphone. The 2nd and 3rd generation iPod Touch can now be updated to iOS 4.x for free, but cannot take advantage of features using the iPhone's camera or GPS receiver.
Apple unveiled the 4th generation iPod Touch on September 1, 2010. It features Apple's Retina display and two cameras; one for FaceTime and the other for photos and HD video recording. It also contains Apple's A4 for faster processing, a microphone for communication and voice memos and a three-axis gyroscopic sensor which enables the device to recognize approximately how far, fast, and in which direction it has moved in space. The device ships with iOS 4.1, which adds Game Center to iOS along with the ability to use FaceTime through WiFi.
