I received my iPod Touch this previous Christmas as a great surprise gift. My previous iPod was the iPod Video 30G and I had had it for 2 years. It had never done me wrong, had always served me well, the battery was still going strong. However the Touch came at time when I was ready to move on with my portable media player and since the iPhone is out of the question for a humble student such as myself, the iPod Touch is the perfect alternative. I will still used my iPod video for long journeys as there’s nothing wrong with it, but for day to day usage, the iPod Touch is my newest Apple friend.
Physicality
The iPod Touch is 110×61.8×8 mm and weighs 120 grams. It is just a little taller than the iPod Video but a bit thinner. It is slated as having 22 hours audio and 5 hours video playback. Now I haven’t fully tested this out, but I have no complaints about the battery life, which seems to need a charge every second day, which is fair. The model I have boasts 8G of flash memory, but there is also the 16G model. Like previous iPods it uses a lithium ion battery which is not removable. This is often a complaint of most when it comes to iPods, however like I said above I had my iPod Video for 2 years and the battery is still goings strong. You’d have to be playing it 24/7 for the battery to burn out. The design is simple and gorgeous, like all Apple products, the trick is finding a sleek case to match it.
Functionality
This is the newest iPod, and as far as iPods go; this is totally new, different and radical to previous designs as regards user interface. The multi-touch screen made famous by the iPhone is here on the iPod Touch, as is most of the abilities of the iPhone bar the Phone! The UI being so different to the old fashioned click wheel, it does take a little getting used to, but so does any new UI, and apple are great at making Interfaces very user friendly. What functions do you get though? You’ve got your basic trinity of Music, Videos and Photos. You’ve also got the added bonus of a great Calendar, Contact Book, Calculator and Clock. The iPod Touch is also the first iPod to have Wi-Fi capabilities. You’ve got the Safari Web Browser, YouTube and the iTunes Wi-Fi store which lets you buy music and download on the go. Each of these functions are fool-proof and a real joy to use.
Negativity
What about Mail, Notes and Google Maps you ask? €17.99 Upgrade when I haven’t even had it a month? You can fuck off. I can’t be wasting my money on something I should be getting free. I was really unhappy to hear about this and I really hope that it will be made free because it really isn’t fair. I’ve read the opinion that we didn’t pay for those functions when we got the iPod Touch in the first place, and this makes sense, however when you’re bigger brother gets something for free and you have to pay, don’t you feel a bit hard done by? *coughiPhonecough*
Positivity
The iPod Touch is by far the best mobile web browser as well as video player I’ve ever used. It’s stylish, sexy, simple and powerful. A great purchase, expensive yes, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. I don’t know how I ever survived without it.
Tags: Apple, iphone, iPod, iPod Touch, Review
January 29, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I’d be annoyed at having to pay the extra for those apps as well, but luckily I got mine after they’d introduced them, so they came included. I agree that they should be added to the original ones for free, but I guess they can’t go back on their decision now or all those people who paid for them will be annoyed. Did you get the ability to add web clips and things to the home screen, or do you need to pay for that too?
I have to say though, the new apps are very nice
January 29, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Nope, The only thing I got in 1.1.3 was the new way the icons on the bottom look, like the iPhone. It’s almost rubbing it in my face! T_T
January 29, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Bah, that’s just cruel really.
January 29, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I think you also got the customizable home screen and web apps thing with v1.1.3, no?
Oh and as far as getting the upgrade for free goes, I don’t think it’s gonna happen. I paid the €17.99 and I’m not regretting it at all, Mail.app alone is worth upgrading for. It’s totally worth it, especially seeing as you got your Touch as a gift!
My 16GB Touch is one of the best gadgets I’ve ever had.
January 29, 2008 at 3:52 pm
What ever about Stocks and Weather, i think its ridiculous they are charging for an email client that should have been inlcluded on a device that is sold as and internet device.
Also the advertising used to push the iTouch when it was launched was heavely based on Google Maps, its ballocks they are now charging for it.