Need help finding a iPod Touch like device without a camera!?!

[beastykato]

There are a lot of IT and techy people around here, so I figured I'd ask for some help.  I work in a pharmaceutical plant that does not allow any type of flash photography devices, because we are around sensitive data and formulations all the time.   I'm having a hell of a time trying to find a "newer" device that has WiFi capabilities without the camera as well. 

Any iPod Touch like device that does not have a camera on it would suffice.  I don't have any loyalty to the Apple brand so it can be anything as long as it relatively new and supported. 

I've looked around a little bit on Amazon and can't seem to find anything.  I already have an older iPod touch (3rd gen I think) and it is so slow and crashes in the safari browser on half the websites nowadays.  It also has no support at all anymore and I can't even download any apps at all. 

I just need to be able to get on the internet and download newer apps.  And it needs to have a screen large enough for me to at least be able to read websites. 

Thanks for any insight!

[Shor]

Yeah, cameras are a pretty standard feature nowadays.

Have you considered the Nook it specifically has no camera, although its a bit big for a "phone"! It's a "Tabone"! ^^
https://www.amazon.com/Nook-HD-7-8GB-Tablet/dp/1400698987
https://www.amazon.com/Barnes-Noble-HD-16GB-BNTV400-16GB-SLATE/dp/1400501520?th=1

[beastykato]

Yeah, that's definitely a little large, preferably it would be something I could easily carry in a pocket.  However, that's definitely the best suggestion I've seen so far.  If nothing else is available that may just have to suffice. 

[pdxmonkey]

Is WiFi a requirement? There are a good # of cameraless audio players if you don't need wifi. Do you have other requirements... How many of the GBs do you desire. ALL OF THE GBs?!

[pdxmonkey]

This will set back your FIRE date, but has no camera and has WiFi. Skip the wifi and you are looking at things in the 8 - 16 GB range for $50-$100.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/High-Resolution+Audio/XDP-100R-K

[beastykato]

Damn lol!  That thing is definitely a beast.  If I could somehow find that or a similar device used I'd be all over it.

I dunno if $700 is worth it though lol!  It's the perfect size and plays .Flac files.

As for size 8-32gb should be fine.  Larger better of course, and yes WiFi is definitely a must.  Otherwise, I'd just stick with my old iPod for playing .mp3 files.

[Shor]

Grrr... how bout every time you need to go in to work,
you hand HR your phone at the start of the day,
and then be sure to remind them that they can't leave until you get your phone back at the end of the day.

They will (quickly) figure out how to add an exception for you in to their company policy! XD

[beastykato]

I wish it were that easy!  Can't really complain about my job, but working in such a highly regulated industry definitely has a few downfalls. 

I found that Pioneer on Amazon and it's "only" $500 there lol.   I'll look around more and see if I can find a used one.  It's way overkill for what I intended to do with it.  Maybe I'll ask for it as a Christmas gift =P. 

Great suggestions so far though. 

[alsoknownasDean]

I've heard of companies that would allow you to bring in a device with a sticker placed over the camera (or maybe the camera module removed).

Otherwise a quick search of Amazon could only find stuff like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Dupad-Story-Unlocked-Smartphone-Android/dp/B017JROWIM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475289414&sr=8-1&keywords=smartphone+no+camera

(I searched for smartphones as you'd have a much easier time of finding such a device)

[gooki]

Try the Cowon Z2.
http://www.cowonglobal.com/product_wide/COWONZ2/product_page_1.php

I used to own the Cowon i9, and was very happy with it.

[RobFIRE]

Does it have to be a music player or is mentioning iPod touch just because it's a WiFi reader device without camera?

I suspect you either need something specialist, or need to adapt an existing device:

Specialist:
* Cowon player as mentioned above
* Ebook reader (good for text websites, can't use for video) with headphone jack if music required

Adapt:
* Use Ifixit website to find a tutorial on how to replace camera module on a common android tablet. Then take out camera module. I assume a device with camera removed would be accepted? Do you even have the option to drill out the camera to render it unusable?
* A second hand netbook/small laptop. Again find one with a tutorial on camera replacement (often is just remove bezel screws, unclip bezel, unscrew & unclip out camera). May be larger than you want but is then a full machine.

[teen persuasion]

My kindle fire has no camera.  It's a few years old, now, not sure if any new ones are offered w/o cameras, but used is a possibility.  It's a kindle fire HD 3rd gen.  It's my default device now - only use a PC at work.

Apps can sometimes be an issue, they have to be available thru Amazon, not just Google play.

[beastykato]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  Found out about some devices I had never even heard about before! 

The Cowon Z2 looks promising, but I have yet to find one.  It's not on Amazon anymore, at least not in the quick search I did. 

The Dupad Story is another one I'd never heard of, but all the Amazon reviews say they bought it for the exact same reason I'm needing a device without a camera. 

[Canadian_Fire_tobe]

Have you considered getting a blackberry classic without camera.

This way you can play music if that's what you wanted, or use it as a phone (if permitted)

Makes for a pricey music player, but if you need a phone may be reasonable. (niche product, so I'm not sure Craigslist would work too well, but worth a check)

https://www.amazon.com/BlackBerry-Classic-Non-Camera-Verizon-Wireless/dp/B00TRB941O

[ooeei]

I vote for removing/covering the camera.  If they're worried about tape being removed, offer to paint over it.

[Tjat]

it's pretty easy to destroy/remove the camera lens in phone. Can you just buy a regular phone and do that?

[Davids]

You said flash photography, what about a device that has camera but no flash. Some cheaper prepaid smartphones (which you can use as wifi only without activating) have a camera with no flash. The Huwaei Union is a good example and sells for $20.

[Papa Mustache]

Samsung Centurion. It has cameras but you could wreck them b/c the device costs less than $20 new. Plays all sorts of music. A2DP over Bluetooth might be a bit weak. Install VLC and it likely plays every kind of file format. Just activate it and don't get cell service for it. Buy a 32GB micro-SD card for cheap. Don't know but it might work with a 64GB card. 

[Digital Dogma]

We have a similar stipulation where I work about cameras/photography, but for the last 7 years I've never seen it enforced and everyone completely ignores that rule including security personnel.

I'd go with what others recommended and see if you can't use a typical smart phone and cover the camera with a phone case. Most of these rules were written in the late 90s when digital cameras were the big concern and cell phones had trouble displaying colors on the screen, seems like industry security standards have not kept up with technology.

[NoStacheOhio]

We have a similar stipulation where I work about cameras/photography, but for the last 7 years I've never seen it enforced and everyone completely ignores that rule including security personnel.

I'd go with what others recommended and see if you can't use a typical smart phone and cover the camera with a phone case. Most of these rules were written in the late 90s when digital cameras were the big concern and cell phones had trouble displaying colors on the screen, seems like industry security standards have not kept up with technology.

I don't think it's so much a matter of the standards not keeping up as it is device manufacturers completely disregarding a portion of the population. There are lots of places it makes sense to ban photo-capable devices, whether for IP or actual security reasons.

[beastykato]

That's my bad, I did say flash photography, but I meant cameras in general. 

Unfortunately, breaking the device doesn't fly, even the mere possibility the device may still function is unacceptable to them. 

I'm in a union and our contract is coming due.  During this time, tensions get pretty high between the union employees like myself and the higher up company dbags who like to try to make names for themselves.  All the while, they are walking around with their iPhone in their pocket.  A few people have already been made examples of, and being caught with a non-compliant device is at minimum 45 days off and potentially termination. 

[Papa Mustache]

That company is not playing games...

Go to your favorite online retailer and look for a Fiio brand player. Also has a microSD card slot to expand the memory to 128GB and I'm sure any day now we'll have 256GB microSD cards.

[pdxmonkey]

That company is not playing games...

Go to your favorite online retailer and look for a Fiio brand player. Also has a microSD card slot to expand the memory to 128GB and I'm sure any day now we'll have 256GB microSD cards.

There are 200 GB cards which is slightly strange, but hey, they must have made them that size for a reason.

[RobFIRE]

Surely if it's a music player you don't need to pay the premium for the highest possible capacity card. How many thousands of hours of music do you have/need to carry around? 500 CDs would be under 50 GB at 192 kbps, and you're taking the player home each evening should you need to load new stuff for the next day.