Why new Apple iPod Touch isn't a data-only iPhone

The new iPod Touch 4G launched on Sept 1 at Apple's music-themed event couldn't be more like the iPhone 4. But few drawbacks hold back the new iPod Touch from being a true data-only iPhone 4.

While the new iPod Touch 4G fulfills some of our pre-launch expectations, it isn't really a slam-dunk for enthusiasts pushing the new iPod Touch's 'iPhone without the phone' agenda. True, the iPod Touch 4G has impressive new features -- retina display, 1GHz processor, front-rear facing camera, HD 720p video recording, 3-axis gyroscope, microphone and speaker, videocalls over FaceTime -- but who doesn't expect that from a new product launch?

To buy an inexpensive alternative to the iPhone is a dream of many gadget enthusiasts -- if you're one of them, look at the Samsung Galaxy S. I know some people who update their Facebook profiles from their iPod Touch just to get 'Facebook for iPhone' underlining their status updates. Quite rightly, it is an obsession.

From my assessment, the new iPod Touch has a lot of cool new features, almost iPhone-esque in their appeal. But it is no data-only iPhone. Here's why:

1) Inferior camera compared to iPhone 4: After the initial excitement of the front-rear facing camera on the new iPod Touch, there's the disappointing discovery. The rear-facing camera on the iPod Touch 4G doesn't have flash and shoots still images at a mere 960x720 pixels -- that's roughly 0.7MP. Further, the rear-facing camera on the new iPod Touch has a fixed focus lens like on the first Apple iPhone and iPhone 3G -- so image quality isn't great. We also found the iPod Touch's 720p HD videos are of inferior quality to the iPhone 4.

2) Speaker and microphone: I welcome their inclusion on the iPod Touch 4G but I have a problem with their implementation. The new iPod Touch has a speaker but not an earpiece -- like any common phone. VOIP calls over Skype or other app means your conversations aren't private any more, unless you plugin an earphone or Bluetooth headset.

3) No GPS: Like the previous iPod Touch, the new iPod Touch 4G doesn't have in-built GPS receiver. It uses Wi-Fi triangulation method to determine its location.

4) No 3G connectivity: I know, this will never happen as long as Apple sells the iPhone -- imagining a 3G-enabled iPod Touch. But if it were a reality -- like the 3G-enabed Apple iPad -- it would've bolstered the new iPod Touch 4G's case as an 'iPhone without a phone'.