Apple launches latest iPod touch

Apple Inc yesterday launched its latest iPod touch gadget at a time when the company was looking to popularise its new music service.

The new iPod comes with an 8 megapixel iSight camera, FaceTime high-definition camera and also houses Apple-designed A8 chip, which is used in iPhone 6.

The iPod, which would give access to Apple Music, also featured fitness tracking M8 motion co-processor.

According to Apple the new iPod would be on sale from today and cost $199 for a 16GB model, $249 for 32GB and $299 for 64GB.

Apple also launched for the first time a 128 GB model for $399.

The new iPod touch boasts improved cameras, speedier graphics and improved fitness tracking capabilities. The iPod touch, which is essentially an iPhone sans the costs or benefits of cellular network connections, carries a starting price tag of $199.

''iPod touch gives customers around the world access to Apple Music, the App Store and iOS,'' Apple executive Greg Joswiak said in a release, referring to the software powering the California company's mobile devices.

''With big advancements like the A8 chip and the 8 megapixel iSight camera, customers can experience next-level game-play, take even more beautiful photos and enjoy their favorite music, TV shows and movies.''

The upgrade put paid to speculation of Apple backing away from iPods, which had seen declining sales as buyers snapped up iPhones.

The iPod touch would likely appeal to families that wanted to let children connect with music, games and other online content using mobile devices but be spared costly telecom service bills.

According to commentators, with more people using iPods, the potential audience for Apple's new streaming service would broaden. The streaming service went live at the end of June with a flashy radio station and artist exclusives.