Comments on: All Hail the iPod touch

By: McDave

McDave — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:36:00 +0000

Yeah but that's just first-time jitters/apron strings after a while I actually started to mis-type things on purpose because the auto correct made this method of typing quicker! It's like switching from Windows - after a couple of weeks it's fine.

McD

By: worstpeople

worstpeople — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:37:26 +0000

i was really surprised to see these stats. i gave my 1st gen iPod Touch to my wife and just use my ancient iPod for music/video.

http://worstpeople.wordpress.com/

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:20:29 +0000

ipod touch is AMAZING! it totally deserves all the hype in my opinion!

By: Nigel Hall

Nigel Hall — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:28:49 +0000

A nicer lens and more megapixels would be great, but the iPhone takes great pictures as-is. Check around on the net. People do some amazing things with the existing camera.

By: stefn

stefn — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:20:54 +0000

Wonder how much leverage the Touch adds to Apple's negotiations with the telcos. I fringed a Touch video conference the other day using Skype. One way for now. Wonder how long it will be before we all wake up to the vidcon revolution, already a done deal: free, easy, great. Did I say FREE?

Me, I want a camera and gps on the Touch to create documentation for when and where I travel, shoot, meet, eat. And to communicate. Like that.

By: Tom Ross

Tom Ross — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:01:16 +0000

oren, I was thinking of something that looks like an iPod touch from the front, but like a real pocket camera from the back, ie with a protruding lens (and a hardware shutter button and a bigger battery). I'd like picture quality to be comparable to those Canon IXUS or whathaveyou, but on a smartcam instead of a dumbcam. Then I really wouldn't mind a fat iPod for once. I don't know if this wouldn't be out of Apple's expertise anyway. Maybe we'll see Android on a Canon IXUS soon, who knows.

By: ASK

ASK — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:36:42 +0000

Don't have it on me. It's a 2G bought in July, and it's on the latest update, AFAIK. I'm aware of the newer miked models, but I'm pretty sure that the 2G will never allow bluetooth mike support. (PLEASE someone correct me, I'd love to be wrong on that count - also, how does one receive calls on an iTouch? I am skeptical about robust receive functionality). Having to carry around a plug-in mike, not to mention earphones/headset, is not a viable phone solution for most. Throw a MiFi in that mix, and you've got four things to carry around. Fail. And would I buy a newer iTouch with mike? No. I'm very happy with what mine does, and don't mind its limitations in the phone department. No, I'm probably going to get a non-Apple phone pretty soon to replace my aging Pocket PC phone. My sights are on either a slick, teeny candy bar phone just for calls, or a full-fledged Android or WinMo smartphone.

While thinking on this, I did realize that a MiFi/Phone hybrid would be a really neat device! I could use it as a phone, and a hotspot for other devices, including my iTouch. Two devices I can handle carrying around. Also remember that a BT headset should be optional, not a requirement for a good phone solution. I should be able to forget it at home, or forget to charge it, and not end up crippling my phone experience further that it already is.

By: oren s.

oren s. — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:32:53 +0000

I hear you on the "proper lens" subject, but i'm not a big fan of the mega-pixel competition in cellphones. The lens is necessarily small and the optics are crmaped together so there's no chance of getting a realy good picture out of such a small device (unless they come up with a way to multiply photons) so i don't see where the extra pixels come in handy. I think those cameras should be blazingly fast, so you can reach for your pocket and get your Kodak moment. It won't be the best shot technicaly, but the moment will be there.

Either way, it seems like Apple is squeezing some more juice out of this lemmon, and given the numbers shown by Om, i can't blame them.

By: Tom Ross

Tom Ross — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:02:49 +0000

Game developer are pointing to the terribly low prices first (if they're coming from a console background) or to a still relatively small user base (if they're coming from Facebook or Internet gaming). Both means that the App Store is not ready for big budget titles. Console gamers are pointing to the lack of a traditional d-pad and set of fire buttons that impedes many popular gaming genres on iPhone OS. What Apple could do is 1. release a separate iPod Touch with gaming buttons and 2. have co-marketing agreements with some big game publishers that require them not to drop prices so fast. That would educate App Store customers and at the same time allow big budget games. Or Apple could just wait and let it grow on its own. That seems most likely, knowing the company.

By: Tom Ross

Tom Ross — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:51:01 +0000

Personally, I would buy an iPod or iPhone version with a proper lens and 8-12 megapixel chip in a heart beat.

By: Tom Ross

Tom Ross — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:49:11 +0000

I think there's a line that Apple wouldn't cross so as not to offend its carrier partners. Looking at the price points ($200-$400 for the iPod Touch vs. $500-$700 for the iPhone, before subsidy) it's obvious that the iPhone is providing most of the family income now.

By: Tom Ross

Tom Ross — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:39:38 +0000

The new iTouch models (for $299 and $399) come with microphones now. At least that's a start. Have you checked if your Bluetooth problem still persists on the new models and latest OS release?

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:18:42 +0000

Getting SKYPE to work on iPod is a cakewalk unless you are functionally illiterate.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:17:21 +0000

Anyone who claims the iPod touch isn't great at video has absolutely no idea what they are talking about!

Resolution is likewise NOT as issue. Maybe you need bifocals?

I love watching videos on mine, it's awesome.

By: Tom Ross

Tom Ross — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:45:37 +0000

He's right, video formats have been a PITA for many years, first of all because there are so many outdated formats still being used, but also because computers are still not fast enough for on-the-fly conversions. Ultimately, if Hollywood and the TV stations were more forthcoming in providing a wide content selection on better terms and lower prices, trusting in the long tail instead of arcane release windows and sharing the digital dividend with customers like the music labels did, these problems would be a lot less relevant to average consumers as the demand for video procured by "other means" would subside and Apple (or other providers like Amazon) could settle the market on standards-based videos that run on all players without problems.

That said, the unique selling point for the iPod touch are the web browser and the apps, so I wouldn't call it "garbage" before I'd have tried those. If all you want is video, you may also take a look at the iPod classic and iPod nano.

By: oren s.

oren s. — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:13:50 +0000

Oh! OOPS! Sorry. first it didn't post anything, then it posted twice! Om, please erase one, this is embarassing!