Apple refreshes iPod Touch; see UAE prices here

Dubai - Music device has new chip, AR capabilities; will also work with upcoming gaming service

After Apple discontinued two iPod lines in mid-2017, speculation was rife that it was only a matter of time that the company would ultimately send the entire range of the iconic device to tech heaven.
Also read: iPhone cheaper in UAE in region
But, no; there's still a 'Touch' to it, figuratively speaking.
Apple on Tuesday announced that it was refreshing its last remaining iPod device, the iPod Touch, giving it boosts on both the hardware and software fronts.
The latest iteration of the device will be powered by the A10 Fusion chip, which are being used in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus and the 2018 iPad, promising faster speeds and performance.
Apple has also added augmented reality features into the new iPod, a category the company has been making great strides into for years now, incorporating the feature into important verticals such as gaming and education. 
The new iPod will also be able to enjoy Apple's upcoming gaming platform, Apple Arcade, a subscription service that with more than 100 new and exclusive games without ads or extra purchases, plus the ability to play even offline.
The overall look of the device, however, remains the same, with a 4-inch screen and a host of colours it's known for.
"We're making the most affordable iOS device even better with performance that is twice as fast as before [plus] augmented reality starting at just Dh849," Greg Joswiak, vice-president of product marketing at Apple, said in a statement to Khaleej Times.
"The ultra-thin and lightweight design of iPod Touch has always made it ideal for enjoying games, music and so much more wherever you go."
Apple killed off the Nano and Shuffle lines on July 27, 2017, almost three years after the original model was discontinued. That left the Touch as the last iPod standing.
The iPod Touch has been viewed as an iPhone sans SIM support. Apple's decision to hang on to the iPod - for now, at least - gives users who want to be on the Apple ecosystem an iOS device not as expensive as an iPhone or iPad.
Apple's UAE website now lists the new iPod Touch, which comes in 32GB, 128 and 256GB for Dh849, Dh1,269 and Dh1,689.
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com