Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Will Apple introduce 3D with the next iPod touch?

By

Apple 3DJapanese blog Kanteidan Blog says that Apple could launch its first 3D device with its next-gen iPod Touch. BoyGeniusReport spotted the report, which claims that the iPod Touch will include glasses-free 3D and that gaming will be a major focus for the device.

As more and more electronics manufacturers get on board with the trend, it stands to reason Apple is working on producing 3D technology as well. We reported last month that in 2006, Apple was awarded a patent for a glasses-free 3D display system. Developers had created a way for its system to locate and trace users’ eyes, and then use the eyes’ position to render images on a textured screen that would merge to create a 3D visual. The company has clearly been looking into 3D for some time now, and as the market becomes saturated with more and more products with the technology, now could be the time to introduce such a device.

Recommended Videos

If Apple does introduce a 3D-capable iPod Touch in the near future, it could spell out early competition for the Nintendo 3DS, especially if its gaming features are a major selling point.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Molly McHugh
Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
How did the iPod Touch hang on for this long?
iPod Touch

Like the BlackBerry, I thought that the iPod Touch died over a decade ago. The iPhone had cast such a large shadow over its little cousin after its introduction in 2007 that it might have killed it because it didn't want to share the spotlight with a device that didn't have the ability to make phone calls. My older brother was the last person I saw using the iPod Touch. When we were teenagers, he was envious of me carrying the iPod Classic, and always begged me to let him borrow it for whatever reason he may have had. So to avoid pissing me off even further, he got the iPod Touch, which was not only better than the click wheel iPod I had, but it was a cheaper option than the iPhone my parents (mostly my stepfather) couldn't bring themselves to trust him with in high school because he had lost other phones whether it was his fault or not. I can't remember if he bought the iPod Touch himself or got it as a Christmas present, but he lost it one day while visiting a hotel with my stepdad.

Today, my brother is happy with his iPhone 11, his second mobile Apple device after the iPhone 7. There are times when I have wondered if he ever missed holding the first touchscreen device he ever had -- especially on Tuesday, when Apple announced it had discontinued the iPod Touch, effectively ending the iPod line. You can still get your hands on the iPod Touch while supplies last, though it might get sold out by the time this article gets published.

Read more
How to get iOS 12 on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
iOS 12

Although iOS 12 has been superseded by several newer iOS releases, you may still have an older iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch that needs an update and can't go beyond iOS 12. Apple is also still supporting iOS 12 with important security updates for these older devices, so even if you're already using some flavor of iOS 12, it's a good idea to make sure that you're running the very latest updates.

Read more
New 3D smartphone technology could change photography, experts say
omnivision latest sensor enhances sensitivity low light smartphone camera

Your next smartphone could have a camera that sees in three dimensions, opening up a new range of possibilities for apps ranging from fitness to photography.

Researchers at Stanford University have created a novel approach that allows standard image sensors to see light in 3D. The technique would allow cameras to measure the distance to objects and make three-dimensional imaging widely available in smartphones.

Read more