Apple updates iPod Touch with better camera, faster processor

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com): The iPod isn’t dead yet, after all: Apple announced an update to its iPod touch Wednesday that puts the device more on par with the iPhone 6.

The new iPod touch comes with an A8 mobile processor, which promises to deliver up to 10 times better graphics rendering performance.

The iPod touch also now features a better camera, which is capable of taking photos with up to eight megapixels. Apple said it has improved the front-facing camera for selfies and video calls as well.

Apple will continue to sell the iPod touch starting at $199 for 16 GB of memory. For the first time the company is also introducing a 128 GB model, which retails for $399. But perhaps in a nod to the waning importance of music downloads, that model will be sold only through Apple stores and the company’s website, and not at retail partners.

Apple launched its own music subscription service dubbed Apple Music last month. Apple Music does support downloads of songs for those times when users are not connected, but most users will likely just stream their music directly from Apple’s servers, without the need for any local copies.