iPod touch 2nd Generation (2008): History and Specs
A reshaped enclosure
The second-generation iPod touch was announced at an Apple event in San Francisco on 9 September 2008 and went on sale the same day. It kept the 3.5-inch, 480 × 320 Multi-Touch glass display of the original but moved to a contoured metal back with rounded edges and a flush screen. Apple described it as smaller and lighter than the first model; the specification lists 110 × 61.8 × 8.5 mm and 115 g. An oval antenna cover in the upper-left corner of the back helps to distinguish it from the first generation. Prices were US$229 for 8GB, US$299 for 16GB and US$399 for 32GB of flash storage.
Hardware additions
Two physical features were new to the iPod touch: volume up and down buttons built into the enclosure, and a built-in speaker for casual listening. Nike + iPod support was built in, so runners needed only the optional US$19 shoe sensor. Wi-Fi remained 802.11b/g, alongside an accelerometer. The device also contained Bluetooth hardware, which Apple enabled with the iPhone OS 3.0 update in 2009, a paid US$9.95 upgrade for iPod touch owners. Apple's battery rating rose to up to 36 hours of audio or 6 hours of video; a full charge took about four hours.
Software
The model shipped with iPod touch 2.1 software. This included the App Store, from which applications could be bought and downloaded directly over Wi-Fi, and Genius, the iTunes 8 feature that builds playlists of songs that go well together. First-generation owners had to pay US$9.95 for the same 2.1 update unless they already had version 2.0. The last software version the second generation supported was iOS 4.2.1.
A longer life at 8GB
When the third-generation iPod touch arrived on 9 September 2009, Apple kept an 8GB second-generation model in the range at a reduced US$199. Apple's support documentation lists it separately as iPod touch 8GB (2nd generation). It remained on sale until 1 September 2010, when the fourth-generation iPod touch was announced.
Specifications
| Announced | 9 September 2008, on sale the same day |
|---|---|
| Launch price (US) | US$229 (8 GB), US$299 (16 GB), US$399 (32 GB) |
| Capacity | 8, 16 or 32 GB flash memory |
| Display | 3.5-inch Multi-Touch display, 480 × 320 pixels at 163 ppi |
| Battery | Up to 36 hours of music or 6 hours of video |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g; Nike + iPod support built in |
| Connectors | Dock connector, 3.5 mm headphone jack; built-in speaker, volume buttons |
| Size | 110 × 61.8 × 8.5 mm (4.3 × 2.4 × 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 115 g (4.05 oz) |
| Works with | Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later; Windows Vista or XP (SP2) |
| Model number | A1288 (A1319 in mainland China) |
Figures from Apple's published technical specifications. Where Apple lists only inches and ounces, metric values are converted and rounded.
How to identify it
- A contoured back with an oval antenna cover in the upper left corner.
- Volume buttons on the side.
- Model number A1288 engraved on the back.
Where to find the model number and serial number: how to identify a used iPod.
iPod touch 1st Generation (2007) · iPod touch 3rd Generation (2009)