Astronomie

January 17, 2026, 10:16 PM EST. Shortly after the first iPhone, the iPod Touch offered a near-fully smartphone experience without a cellular plan. It was not just cheaper; it was a low-risk way to test the idea of a touchscreen, app-based device. Connected by Wi-Fi, it ran the App Store and shared much of the hardware used in later phones. For skeptics wary of high prices, the Touch provided a practical bridge to what would become the smartphone era, without a core contract. Its price and versatility helped spur broader adoption and even inspired imitators. In hindsight, the Touch acted as a strategic gateway that helped sell not only iPhones but a generation of touchscreen devices that followed.