iFixit's teardown of the new new iPod touch has revealed a few interesting bits of dormant hardware that could eventually get switched on by the powers that be at Apple. This includes support for 802.11n and FM transmission.
According to their findings, the Broadcom BCM4329 chip does have support for 802.11n—a feature absent even in the iPhone 3GS. Needless to say, if you have an N router and are tired of slumming with a/b/g, this would be a big deal. The chip also supports FM transmission, meaning that software support down the line could allow users to stream music directly to car stereos without any extra hardware—although that possibility seems pretty remote. (The chip's Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and an FM receiver could be a Nike+ thing).
Supporting earlier rumors about the last minute omission of a camera in the touch, the guys at iFixit noted that Apple seemed to leave enough space for a camera at the top of the device—a 6mm x 6mm x 3mm space between the Broadcom chip and the wireless antenna that just might be able to hold the small camera now found in the nano. Of course, empty space doesn't mean that the camera can actually be integrated, or help you if have your heart set on the 3rd generation touch, but you can keep your fingers crossed that Apple will switch on the other features via a software update down the line. [ifixit]