Would a camera in every iPod change the world ?

There’s been a rumor doing the rounds lately that Apple plans to add cameras to its entire iPod line. The rumor, which stems from the leaking of several third party manufacturer case designs for the next generation iPods and a supposed order from cupertino for millions of camera modules, already has the pundit-mill all aflutter with proclamations that this is the end of the point and shoot. But the humble point and shoot camera has been declared dead before. When camera phones started becoming commonplace technology gurus quickly predicted the demise of the stand alone compact digital camera, and yet, billions of camera phones later the point and shoot is still going strong. So will having a camera in every iPod be any different ? If this rumor comes true will this be the game changer people are predicting it will?

One of the things Apple does best is take an existing technology and make it accessible. The make using that technology what ever it is so simple and so easy to use that it encourages you to use it. The iPhone is a perfect example. Before the iPhone came out, there were plenty of mobile phones with internet access. Yet, when the iPhone came out, mobile internet use exploded. Not only that, but the entire cellphone industry, a mature and established industry at that, was completely turned on its head by Apple’s single entry into the mobile phone market. But getting back to the camera, consider this: when the iPhone was released it quickly became the number one camera phone on flickr. And not only that it is currently the third most popular camera on flickr full stop. This is truly incredible, and what makes it more so, is that the iPhone’s camera is nothing to write home about. (Not including the new camera in the 3gs) What made the iPhone’s camera a huge success was the fact that you always have it with you and it’s user interface is pretty seamless. That coupled with the hundreds of Apps on the App store that make use of the camera in some way and allow you to upload straight from the phone. Now consider the fact that there are substantially more iPods out there than iPhones and you see the potential. The wifi equipped iPod touch in particular has the promise of allowing millions of users take pictures anywhere and upload them to their favorite photo service without ever going near a computer, and unlike most other camera phones out there, it doesn’t require the patience of a saint to do it.

If Apple does this there will be an online explosion of biblical proportions when it comes to people sharing photos. So in that respect alone, it will change the world. I doubt however that it will replace the point and shoot any time soon. Why? Because people use integrated cameras like that on the iPhone for different things than they do a point and shoot. Point and shoots are generally used for holiday snaps, parties with friends, pictures of the kids etc, where as cameras like the iPhone are often used to capture moments that happen in-front of you, chance occurrences, pictures you generally don’t plan. I’m speaking in general of course, but you get the idea. And this could lead to an even bigger revolution. Camera phones saw the birth and rise of citizen journalism. A camera in every iPod could see that take on a whole new level. Not necessarily on a grand scale, like major breaking news, but even things you see in your community or on your way from work or school. The potential for this could be enormous.

But that’s only half the picture. If the new iPods also do video, they you have something potentially huge. Since the iPhone 3gs came out it’s already had a major effect on you tube. The combination of a reasonable camera, built in basic editing and ease of uploading have made video on the 3gs incredibly popular. Imagine that effect if millions of iPod users can also do video. This could have a seriously negative effect on cameras like the flip. While such cameras offer better quality video, the ease of access of the iPod (well the iPod touch anyway) coupled with on board wifi make this fare more useful, especially to the facebook and you tube generation.

The funny thing about this is that if one of Apple’s competitors had tried to include a camera with an iPod clone you would probably have laughed it off as a gimmick trying to grab market share, but even a rumor of Apple doing it has the technology press waiting with baited breath. That’s how powerful Apple has become. And what ever you say about the Cupertino company, that’s a remarkable place to be in any industry. So will a camera in every iPod change the world. Absolutely.

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