iPod Touch 3rd gen. Model MC086LL/A is really 2nd gen.

I also purchased a 3rd generation Ipod touch when they came out. That's what I thought I paid for. Bought it from Walmart on line. So a couple of months after my son had it, he was looking up the model number and serial number. Only to discover that in all reality it was a 2nd generation not 3rd that I paid for. Of course it was past the allowed time on the receipt for walmart to do anything. They wouldn't help at all. My model number is MC8086LL 8G Version 4.2.1 (bc148).Serial number 8M0128UD75J. This is useless to my son, he can not get anymore update. I think Apple should be held responsible for this a make a software update available or reembuse the money we put out for this.

Why Apple? You purchased it from Walmart. Walmart said (so you say) that it was a 3G iPod.

Why Apple because that's the way they marketed it. They did it on purpose. Would you like me to print my walmart receipt for you, so can see with your own eyes that it said 3rd generation. That's exactly what it said on walmart on line. I paid for a 3rd generation. Do you think that I am making this CRAP up. I paid for a 3rd not 2nd.

But that is the Walmart receipt. What says that Apple said it was a 2G?

Well they got the product from Apple, so why would walmart say it was a 3rd not a 2nd. That's false advertisement. Walmart does not benefit from them saying its 3rd. Only Apple benefits because they can get rid of there crappy product that they don't want to be stuck with a lose in profit

All I know is that my 12yr old son had his heart on set on that for his birthday in 2010. If you had kids maybe you would understand the heartbreak I feel for him being duped. My disappointment that I didn't give him what he wanted for his birthday

You said Warmart advertised it as a 3G, not Apple.

What do you have that says Apple says it was a3G?

Ismaelsbaby wrote:

Well they got the product from Apple, so why would walmart say it was a 3rd not a 2nd.

Just like so many consumers, it is quite possible that retailers also assumed that it was a 3rd gen product because at the time the 32 and 64GB models were 3rd gen.

Ismaelsbaby wrote:

Walmart does not benefit from them saying its 3rd.

Sure they would, if they knew it really was 2nd gen next to 3rd gen on the same rack, your conspiracy theory could equally apply to Walmart because they too benefitted from your purchase. So why let them off the hook Senator?

Ismaelsbaby wrote:

Only Apple benefits because they can get rid of there crappy product that they don't want to be stuck with a lose in profit

The real 3rd gen Touches came out 3 years and 8 months ago. By your statement above you bought this Touch when the 3rd gen came out, so you mean to say it took over 3 years for you and your son to realize that this is a "crappy" product? Something tells me it was pretty **** cool in your son's eyes for quite a long time, and all this time later you're looking for a handout.

I don't think the person whose son is upset about realizing his ipod cannot be updated any more is saying the ipod is a crappy product. They're complaining, just as I did, about being mislead about which gen ipod she had purchased. Many retailers sold this model number as 3rd gen. I find it highly unlikely that all the retailers were duping their customers (especially since I bought my ipod from Target, which is one of the most honest retailers when it comes to electronics). Apple marketed that particular model as 3rd gen when it wasn't. Plain and simple. I purchased mine around the same time as the other poster. My receipt and the Apple box the ipod came in said 3rd gen. I didn't find out it was 2nd gen until I couldn't get the last download, which was quite recent. I have seen many people complain they were duped when they purchased this model. Apple should admit reponsibility and either allow at least 1 more update for this model, or some for of compensation (like a coupon for a discount on a newer ipod or an itunes card).

Yeah ok. You will just keep making excuse's for Apple won't you. so it's always someone elses fault not Apple they couldn't do anything wrong right? My son can't update any of his apps or anything else. So you must work for Apple the way you keep defending them. Do you still live in your mommy's basement?

I'm not making excuses, just pointing out holes in your silly logic. I'm certainly no appologist for Apple as there are plenty of things I get frustrated over with their design decisions (or lack thereof). But the difference is, I'm not going to vent my frustrations on a tech support board when that will accomplish absolutely nothing. If you want to do that, you're only looking like a fool ...

Have you even considered that even if your son's Touch was a 3rd gen, that the iOS support for that ended a YEAR ago with iOS 5.1.1? So he'd still not be able to update to iOS 6 to get the latest versions of apps. Guess what? Time moves on and tech toys get outdated, a fact of life that you and your son have yet to accept. Be the good parent, there are lessons to be learned even in failure.

You know what im tired of you insulting me. I came here for help not for you to bagger and belittle me. Of course I know things change. Im not looking like a fool. You are for keep making seem like a ##cking idiot. I am a good parent. You don't know me its wrong of you to say these things about me. Maybe you don't have kids. Im not a failure. I update our phones every year, but of course I stick by samsung, they are the best never had a problem in 6yrs. My grandmother always told me if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut. So if you want to keep insulting me, keep it to yourself. I have had enough abuse. I love my Asus transformer its the best tablet out there.

Hi Ismaelsbaby,

I understand what you are feeling, check my post on Feb 23 about this and the reply from one of the members. It make no diff what one can show about apple markting 3rd gen 8gb ipod. The only thing one can do is just sit back and watch the show.

You might be interested inthis post by RLScott2 who says that as of this month, the App Store will reject all apps which are compatible with the iPod Touch 2G. If Ismaelsbaby had a 3G instead, at least developers would be ABLE to make new apps for his or her iPod.

I own one of those 8GB models that came out in late 2009. I'd patiently waited for the new models to be released so that it would have the standard 3-ish years of OS updates for new devices. Let me say that I'm basically resigned to whatever's happened, but I'm the curious type so I did some research to find out what Apple did to make so many customers and retailers believe that this model was a 3G.

Here is a Web Archive of the familiar Apple page Identifying iPod Models from December, 2009:

http://web.archive.org/web/20091219113215/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1353

You'll notice that the names and descriptions of the iPods are different from the current version:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1353#iPod_touch_late2009

The original version says:

The iPod touch (Late 2009) can be distinguished from iPod touch (2nd generation) by looking at the back of the device. All iPod touch models introduced in Late 2009 have two or three lines of text below the capacity engraving. The prior iPod touch (2nd generation) had four lines of text or more.

where the new version says:

The iPod touch (3rd generation) can be distinguished from iPod touch (2nd generation) by looking at the back of the device. In the text below the engraving, look for the model number. iPod touch (2nd generation) is model A1288, and iPod touch (3rd generation) is model A1318.

My 8GB model fits the original description, having two lines of text blow the capacity engraving. According to Apple's original description then, it is "distinguished from the iPod Touch (2nd generation)". That means different from.

Only later did Apple decide that it was a 2nd generation after all. Yes, there are conflicting classifications regarding the memory capacity, but Apple did originally say that it was different from the 2nd Generation..

janbo50 wrote:

Hi Ismaelsbaby,

I understand what you are feeling, check my post on Feb 23 about this and the reply from one of the members.

... and once you've done that, Ismaelsbaby, read also the follow up responses from me to janbo50!

After that, if you still believe that janbo50 is right, and Apple is not, then there really is nothing that can be done for you.

In his/her first post, janbo50 posted said he/she was confused about the 2nd/3rd generation thing. Look carefully at my initial response to janbo50 (as janbo suggested). Look at the table I pasted into that post, together with the screenshot of the relevant page from Apple's documentation: That is Apple marketing (in all but name). everymac.com, to which janbo50 refers, along with the programme i-nihma, is not Apple marketing. Apple can only do so much, and they are not responsible for mistakes, errors, or deliberate mis-marketing by other companies.

So, despite my best and most polite effort to explain it, janbo50 decided that marketing by any other company, group or even an individual, was Apple's fault and that my helpful contribution warranted abuse directed at me.

Some of us have had to read your appalling post Ismaelsbaby - thankfully deleted - in which you also chose to direct your abuse towards anyone who tries to help you.

The individual to whom you were so rude, and myself, contribute here in order to help people, we earn nothing from it. You two both need to have a serious re-think about your attitude about the 2nd generation 8GB Touch and towards anyone who tries to help you.