What Every Port and Button on 5th Gen. iPod Touch Does

The 5th Generation iPod touch is different from its predecessors. Older iPod touch models only came in black and white, while the 5th Generation touch comes in a rainbow of colors. But it's more than colors that make this model different. It's also the hardware: the ports, buttons, and other features.

The 5th Generation iPod Touch shares many features with the iPhone 5, including its 4-inch Retina Display screen and its ultra-thin, ultra-light shape. Use the diagram above and this article to find out what each of the ports, buttons, and hardware features of the 5th Generation iPod tTuch are and how to use them.

5th Gen. iPod Touch Hardware

Here's a quick rundown of the iPod Touch's anatomy:

1. Back Camera: One of the two cameras is on the back of the iPod Touch. This camera, which is higher resolution than the user-facing camera, is most often used to take still photos or videos. It captures 5-megapixel images and records video at 1080p HD, making it a big upgrade over the front camera. Thanks to iOS 6, it also supports panoramic photos.
2. Back Microphone: Next to the camera is a small pinhole. That's the microphone that captures audio during video recording.
3. Camera Flash: Completing the trio of photo/video items on the back of the 5th Gen. iPod Touch is the LED Camera Flash, which improves the quality of images taken in low-light situations.
4. Loop Connector: There's a little nub on the bottom corner of the 5th Generation iPod Touch. This is where you attach the wrist strap that comes with the Touch, called The Loop. Attaching The Loop to your tTuch and your wrist is designed to help make sure you don't drop your iPod Touch while it's out and about with you.
5. Volume Buttons: If you've ever owned an iPhone or an iPod Touch, you'll recognize these buttons that control the audio volume when playing back through your headphones or speaker. If this is your first iPod Touch, you'll find these buttons pretty self-explanatory. Click up for more volume, down for less.
6. Front Camera:: The camera positioned squarely over the center of the screen is used most often for FaceTime video chats. That's not all it's good for, though. It can also take 1.2-megapixel still photos (hello selfies!) and record video at 720p HD.
7. Hold Button: This button at the top right edge of the Touch has many uses. Click it to lock the screen or to wake it up. Hold it down for a few seconds to turn the touch on and off. You'll also use it and the Home button together to restart the Touch. While it may often be referred to as a Hold button, you can also think of it as the on/off or sleep/wake button.
8. Home Button: This button at the bottom center of the 5th Gen. iPod Touch's face has many functions. It's involved in restarting the touch, but it does much more than that, too. You can also use it to activate Siri, take screenshots, bring up music controls, access the iOS's multitasking features, and more.
9. Headphone Jack: This port on the bottom of the iPod Touch is where you plug in the headphone to listen to audio.
10. Lightning Port: The tiny port at the center of the bottom of the 5th Generation iPod Touch replaced the old, wide Dock Connector used on earlier iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPods. This port, called Lightning, is smaller, which helps the Touch to be so thin, and reversible, so it doesn't matter which side is facing up when you plug it in.
11. Speaker: Next to the Lightning port is a small speaker that allows the iPod Touch to play music, game audio, and audio tracks from videos out loud, without headphones. Dirty speakers can reduce volume and audio quality. If your speaker sounds a little off, try cleaning it.