Apple iPod Touch – 8GB/16GB/32GB
Maybe the most fun I have had with an iPod yet. After testing the Apple iPhone for a few months I was sold on Apple’s new “touch” interface. The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that this iPod was about 60% slimmer then the iPhone (its closest cousin) and still had most of the same features. One feature that I really liked was the built in web browser (Safari). This feature combined with the built in WiFi (802.11G), gave a real web viewing experience similar to using a full size computer. Some other applications that were very handy were the picture viewer and the calendar. Although the screen was not as sharp as the iPhone, the iPod Touch was better then any other PDA, MP3 Player or even digital camera display that I have seen. As for the Calendar application, it was easy to use and was able to sync up with my iCal, Outlook and my Gmail Calendar applications. The newly released mail application was a snap to set up and was quickly syncing with my desktop mail application. It is a great feeling when convergence works right!
iPod Touch Mail App.
By now you have probably seen a lot of commercials for this iPod Touch and are aware of how the touch screen works. I will not go into detail about the touch operation, as I feel it is mainstream enough. (If you have not seen how it works yet, please click here) One aspect that a lot of people have been asking me about is the Touch’s keyboard. Since there is no tactile keyboard, users are forced to use the built in touch screen keyboard that pops up as needed. I found the keyboard to be a bit clumsy at first, but as I used it more, the keyboard became less and less of an issue. Some other points of interest about the iPod Touch are; the battery life is better then average (with the WiFi off); the iTunes built in download feature makes it easy to get new music on the iPod; the ability to add-on new applications from the Apple.com website allows for this iPod Touch to be a very versatile product; in addition, it plays movies with a beautiful quality.
As with all good consumer products, there is always room for improvement. Some things I would have liked to see are the following: a built in speaker and microphone, a wall charger in the box, an open OS (operating system) to add and change applications on the “Touch” and a built in camera. As a side note, I did hack the OS on the demo unit to see what other add-ons are out there and I was very impressed by the level and quality of what has been developed (by 3rd parties) to date. I do not recommend that you hack your iPod’s OS, as it may have a negative effect on your warranty status. My final thoughts are that unlike any other iPod Apple has created, this one has unlimited potential. I cannot see myself using it at the gym or while jogging, and if all you really want is a replacement for you mid-80’s “Walkman” then this is not the product for you. Alternatively, if you want to have a sexy, fun filled multi functional device that can also play music, then go out and spend the $299.00 (8GB) or $399.00 (16GB) or $499.00 (32GB) on the iPod Touch from Apple and you will not be disappointed.