Apple’s 32 GB iPod Touch has finally given the mobile device market a media player with a great combination of quality, features and capacity. Of course it arrived shortly after I was given the 16 GB iPod Touch that I had put off buying for so long. Still, the extra capacity gives this unit the last piece of the puzzle it needed to be a must-have item for me. The awesome video, sleek thin body and web capability make it stand out despite a high price and some missing features.

Pros
+ Great design with a sleek thin body!!!
+ Beautiful 320x480 pixel wide-screen provides pleasing video viewing
+ Turn to the side to view video using the full wide screen width
+ Orientation detection changes view to landscape mode automatically when turning iPod!
+ Enough capacity to finally be worth replacing some of your disk-based players in earnest
+ Brighter screen with great contrast and crisp sharp images
+ Wireless access via 802.11 b/g compliant antenna (hopefully `n’ will come soon)
+ Wireless searching and video on mode can be disabled to extend battery life
+ Great interface for Safari web browsing with easy Wifi hotspot setup
+ Headphone jack compatible with standard phones, unlike iPhone
+ New apps work great and give you stocks, maps, email, notes and weather
+ Supports both NTSC and PAL video out
+ Very nice size of 32GB stores good amount of video
+ Works with some legacy iPod accessories (except standard A/V cable and some docks)
+ Diminishing price tag in terms of $ per GB of space
+ Unlike iPod classic, all flash memory means less failures and breakage
+ Flash memory also awesome for running / working out, though I use my nano for that
+ Coverflow actually works nicely on the Touch, much better than on the iPod nano
+ Slightly better sound quality than 2nd generation iPods
+ So far seems to have lower error rate than other iPods
+ Apple reputation is highly deserved
+ Plenty of free video and audio teaser content available on iTunes
+ Easy access to iTunes right from your device over your local wireless internet!
+ Apple SDK being made available which means more apps are on the way!

Cons
- Touch design is almost too minimal without hold button or easy volume adjustment
- Very difficult to adjust or use without looking at it; some earbuds include controls that help
- Screen requires "real touch," bad for those of us in cold weather cities
- Data port seems more cramped than other models and difficult to seat on many dock ports
- The headphone jack is strangely placed right next to the data port; ok for landscape mode, awkward in portrait mode
- Not backwards compatible with legacy docks and cables; Universal dock now required for video out
- Battery life still shorter than other iPods due to WiFi and video power needs
- No expandability or SD card slot like Sansa View or Creative Zen
- iTunes software with limited native formats (MP3, MPEG4, AAC) and high overhead
- Some poor interface designs, such as volume control only available when upright
- PDA functions such as calendar syncing and contact management still need work
- Playlist and music groupings are lacking and need many improvements
- Still lacking some features such as built-in FM radio & voice recorder
- Missing Zune features such as the ability to share songs with other iPod Touch units
- No Bluetooth for peripherals and accessories
- No wireless synching or wireless access to iTunes WLAN libraries
- No WiFi viewing of live iTunes PodCasts
- Still no local viewing of PDF or other common document formats
- No mode to use as disk storage?!?!
- Roughly 2GB of space taken up with iPod software alone!!!!
- STRANGE Apple business practices - ie, charging for software features included with the iPhone????
- While the cost is slowly coming down, still quite expensive in total $ terms

Looks and Design

Aesthetics and design have always been Apple’s greatest strengths, along with Steve Jobs’ marketing savvy. The iPod Touch is solid but light. It has a longer body than either the latest iPod nano Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Black (3rd Generation) or the iPod Classic Apple 80 GB iPod classic (Black). Yet it’s slightly shorter than the iPhone. It’s nice and thin, though not as thin as the new Nano.

The big 320x480 pixel wide-screen is simply gorgeous, and the instant landscape mode combined with high quality video resolution makes this the first truly beautiful mobile video player. The old Creative Vision W Creative Zen Vision W 60 GB Widescreen Multimedia Player (Black) had a lovely display, but was MUCH thicker. The Touch blows everything else away in terms of looks and design.

The metal back common to most iPods still attracts fingerprints, but you will be too busy staring at the screen to notice them. The screen too attracts smudges. I’ve heard it’s almost impossible to scratch it, but I still bought screen and body protectors before I ever touched it.

Apple did away with the hold button and the click-wheel. While I really love the touch interface, it’s impossible to change tracks or volume without looking at the player, an awkward trait. Get a nice pair of headphones with integrated controls and you won’t notice the omission as much.

Sound and Video

Sound quality is slightly improved from previous models. The included headphones are the same as other models. I actually think the included phones are fine in terms of sound, but not so much in terms of comfort. Upgrade your phones only after doing a lot of research. For the Touch, having phones with volume control and additional buttons is a huge plus.

This guy really showcases video, but the sound is still very good and improving with the last few models. I expect this trend to continue.

Most video encoding is done at very high bitrates, which has the added benefit of better sound. Use the highest quality bit-rate you can stand if sound quality is your primary desire. As for me, I have been through frequent hardware upgrades to add more disk space and finally try to collect all my music and videos in one place.

Features

The features in the iPod Touch were in development for 3-4 years. I was one of those who read the rumor mills daily waiting for all those features to come out in one bang. Well they didn’t.

The first Touch seemed to artificially remove some features already available in the iPhone, which was very disappointing. Now with the software update, at least a few of those things have been added back in. It really sucks that they charged 16GB early adopters for those features, but luckily they are included with the 32GB iPod Touch.

The main improvement is of course the increased capacity. That feature alone was long overdue and far outweighs most of the cons the player still has. Even though you can’t load a lot of video at once, you can finally load enough to satisfy even demanding users. This is a huge plus over the 16GB model, which is available with or without updates. Apple iPod touch 16 GB without Software Updates

The device’s battery life is still shorter than one would want, but longer than the iPhone and more than adequate for an average day’s usage. Users will notice their battery indicator going down, but probably won’t get cut off before they get home.

Apple’s software is still a weakness with very limited direct control over your device library and few file options. No external disk function, no native WMA support? With key features disabled, such as use as an external hard drive, it makes you wonder. Hopefully some of these features will be added back into this device with time.

Coverflow works MUCH better than on the iPod nano and actually helps when scrolling through your videos. Press your selection and the cover flips over to show you which tracks are available.

It’s still buggy and there are some UI features that are lacking. Elapsed time and track length aren’t shown for podcasts, and volume adjustment only shows up in portrait mode for some reason. Still, hopefully some of these more intricate details will be added in a FREE patch as opposed to a fee update.

The Safari web browser is THE killer feature of the Touch. Most of the other widgets, including the new ones, are stuff that you can get through the internet. The widgets added back to the Touch which are available on the iPhone just make some of those common functions quicker. Quick stock quotes, instant weather. Not bad.

The video out signal options are a nice addition and can be set to either NTSC or PAL. This is great for those who travel or have some foreign hardware, like me.

Finger-based scrolling is very intuitive and you will be navigating with ease in no time. I’m less happy with the virtual keyboard and I can’t wait for an alternative to appear. I have to use it very seldom, so I can live with it.

The 802.11b/g built-in WiFi antenna connects to most hotspots, though I hope wireless n will be included in the next version. The antenna works well, though with a seemingly limited range. You can turn off wireless scanning to save battery life.

It would have been awesome to have Bluetooth for wireless headphones or other accessories. Some of those Zune-like features would also help, such as wireless syncing, music sharing or access to WiFi playlist libraries or live podcasts. Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation) Even basic staples like a built-in FM radio tuner, voice recorder and an expansion slot are also missing.

Both the Creative Zen Creative Zen 16 GB (Black), which is much thicker, and the Sansa View SanDisk Sansa View 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black), which is taller, have some of those added components built in. Newer Archos players has many of those players plus much greater format support Archos 705 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (160 GB). Yet none of those players have the level of wireless internet capability that sets this unit apart. Even fans of competing players will agree that the iPod Touch more than makes up for missing features by utilizing the features it does have VERY VERY WELL.

Conclusion

Overall this device is an HUGE improvement. Apple’s sleek design impresses once more. With time, hopefully the kinks and omissions will be worked out. Despite everything, it’s very difficult not to give this player 5 stars. The good far outweighs the bad.

Enjoy!!!! ]]> http://ipodandmp3playersreviews.blogsome.com/2008/07/03/apples-ipod-touch-updated-and-enlarged-test-drive-it-today/feed/ http://ipodandmp3playersreviews.blogsome.com/2008/03/31/8/ http://ipodandmp3playersreviews.blogsome.com/2008/03/31/8/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:16:01 +0000 Administrator Uncategorized Apple iPod touch Apple iPhone http://ipodandmp3playersreviews.blogsome.com/2008/03/31/8/ Apple iPod touch 8 GB with Software Upgrade

Beyond All Expectations!, February 14, 2008

First off, I ordered this on a Monday and it came on Wednesday….using free shipping. Wow! Thanks amazon.

Now onto the product….simple, sleek, amazing. Set up out of the box could not have been easier. Make sure you have the most updated version of itunes onyour computer, plug in the USB cord and you’re up and running. Give it a full 3-4 hour charge first time through. Load up your music, pictures, videos. The software is simplicty defined. If you can use a toaster over, you can use this device. The wi-fi immediatley found my home network (and my neighbor’s). Setting up email: simple. Surfing the web: simple. And, oh yeah, using it to listen to music (ostensibly what it is for): a lifting and beautiful experience.

Might as well buy this newer version with the new software loaded. With amazon’s discount, it only a few dollars more than the old version without the upgrade after you pay for it and upload it youself. Save yourself the hassle and get the new version.

So you know, this thing will get fingerprinted fast. I got a Griffin leather hard shell case with a protective screen cover for about $20.00. A bit pricey but worth it to protect your investment.

I went with the 8 gig verion for a few reasons and it’s more than enough space. I am a music nut…I loaded it with more music that I can digest in two weeks and there’s still 3 gigs free. Sure I’ll eventually fill it (I guess…) but I really don’t mind swapping music out for fresh music thereby making my ipod new and fresh again. I also thought if I somehow lose the thing, I’d be out a lot more money with the 16 or 32 gig version. But honestly, it’s more than enough space for me.

The one caveat I discovered the hard way: shut off the wi-fi connection when you’re not using it. I charged it up, thought I turned it off, and then went to bed. In the morning, the battery was fully drained. Instead of turning off, I only put the unit to sleep. (To turn off, you need to press and hold the sleep button until the power off slider comes on-screen and you turn it off fully.) And while it was in sleep mode with the wi-fi still on, it kept checking my email, etc, thus draining the battery. Just turn off wi-fi when you’re not using it and you’re battery will keep running.

Concluding, I love this thing, and don’t know how I got by without it.

excellent balance of form, function and value, September 21, 2006

The inevitable comparisons to the iPod nano notwithstanding, the Sandisk Sansa e200 series is an excellent choice for a digital audio and video player that meets most mp3 player owners’ requirements in portability and styling, feature sets, ease-of-use, and price. The Sandisk Sansa is a winner out of the box, and a serious competitor to the iPod Nano….

You get more capacity (8GB flash + up to 2GB with the microSD slot), more features that the iPod doesn’t have (larger screen, video playback, FM tuner + recorder, voice recorder, user customizable EQ, on-the-go playlisting), for the same price.

And that’s the MSRP price: Apple rarely lowers it’s iPod prices unless a new generation model is ready for release. Sandisk has and will continue to lower it’s prices as the market allows, so even now, 9 days after the release of the new Nano, you can find some e280 Sansa’s online that are selling for $20-$30 less than the 8GB Nano.

The Sansa no longer has that clear-cut superior build quality over the Nano, now that it’s in annodized aluminum. But the Sansa’s liquid metal alloy titanium back plate is far more durable and scratch-resistant than the Nano’s aluminum. And, you can remove and replace the rechargeable lithium-ion battery yourself, for $20, while the Nano has to be sent back to Apple for the replacement, at a cost of $50 (the Nano’s battery is soldered to the motherboard). It’s the same size as the Nano, although it’s almost twice as thick (0.5" vs. 0.3") - probably due to the removable battery.

The new Nano still is uncomfortable-feeling in my hand as the 1G nano was, due to it’s thinness, even tho it now has rounded sides. The Sansa’s 0.5" thickness is still very thin, yet it feels substantial in my hand, and more of my hand’s skin is gripping it’s body, which makes me feel like I’m going to hang on to it, and not drop it, like it always feels like with the Nano.

Both the Sansa and the Nano have a similar sound presentation. The Sansa DID have a clearer, crisper reproduction compared to the 1G Nano, but the 2G Nano appears to be improved slightly in this area, and has caught up neck-to-neck with the Sansa. The Nano is a tick or two louder in volume….both have meek results in the low (bass) frequencies flat, but the user EQ for the Sansa helps in this regard quite a bit, while the only bass-editing feature for the Nano - bass booster - distorts quite a bit. Overall, the Nano has a slight edge in volume, but the improvements in bass for the Sansa in my opinion make it the winner in overall audio quality. Opinions of audio quality is subjective, and may depend on if you are a "basshead" or not.

so overall, in regards to build quality, styling, features, and price, the Sandisk Sansa is a very solid competitor to the iPod Nano, and will be looking eye-to-eye with the Nano, and maybe even down on the Nano, for quite some time to come. In my opinion, it’s the clear winner over the Nano, and what I’d recommend first to anyone. It’s why I sold my first generation 4GB nano, and bought my e260 Sansa. And now with the 2nd gen. nano, there’s no reason for me to go back. The styling of the iPod is getting old to me: it’s basically un-changed since 2001, with the exception of 4 buttons being under the screen for the 4G iPod, and the Mini’s and Nano’s colors.

If you want to "think different", get the Sansa!

Clear, compact and cute! Suits my granddaughter to a T!, December 14, 2007

When I presented it to Krystal I found that I’d made the right choice! Her eyes lit up … which always makes the "giver" happy. She loves it, carrying it everywhere she goes … from the sports field to the mall to college.

She likes the fact she can rock to 24-hours of music, or view two movies back to back when she wants to chill out. Besides all that, it holds up to 7,000 photos and it’s clear, compact and cute!

No wonder the Apple iPod nano is the world’s most popular music player.

Oh, one more thing: I took another reviewer’s advice and purchased a cover … just in case.

Go for it! I recommend it highly!

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2007

The 4 GB Apple iPod Nano - An Improved Entry Level Media Player! Check it Out!, September 16, 2007

Apple 4 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Silver (3rd Generation)

Apple’s new nano is designed to improve upon past models and add some functionality. The improved video, smaller thinner body and updated firmware are enough to make it stand out. The slightly lower price tag is also sure to help sell more units.

I think most buyers will opt to get the 8GB, considering it is only $50 more than the 4GB and actually makes the video function more usable. Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Blue (3rd Generation) Regardless, the new nano is an improvement in any size.

Pros
+ Small size - so thin!!!!
+ Nice design - shorter, fatter form factor for more reliability
+ Brushed aluminum front seems more durable than plastic composite of 2nd generation nano
+ Many color options - Silver, blue, green, black, etc.
+ Brighter screen with better contrast than previous generation
+ Great video option is a nice to have for sample TV shows, clips, etc
+ Works with most traditional iPod accessories (except old A/V cable)
+ Priced to sell! Lowest price Apple video capable player
+ Lower price tag than 2nd Generation nano
+ Unlike iPod classic, all flash memory means less failures and breakage
+ Flash memory also awesome for running / working out
+ Slightly better sound quality than 2nd generation
+ Apple reputation is highly deserved

Cons
- 4 GB capacity is very limited for a video player and will require constant reloading via iTunes
- New 2GB Shuffle option provides a workout alternative at about 1/3 the price
- New design not ideal for very big hands due to smaller click wheel
- Universal dock now required for video out (no more A/V cable)
- Slightly shorter battery life than other iPods
- No expandability or SD card slot like Sansa View or Creative Zen
- iTunes software with limited native formats (MP3, AAC)
- Coverflow still buggy / slow
- Features built-in to competing players, like FM radio & voice recording, much be bought as add-ons,
- Competing players now available at 16GB flash at similar body size

The Looks

Some people prefered the gen2 nano’s longer body and larger click wheel. The longer nano was prone to bend (and sometimes break) when people put them in their pocket and sat down or moved around. The smaller click-wheel can be awkward, particularly for those with large hands. But it’s a worthy trade-off for the smaller size and better durability.

Another change motivated by durability is the metal face. The old clear composite face was a magnet for smudges and scratches. The new brushed metal face holds up nicer. Be warned though; it can chip and scratch, so get a cover.

The Sound

Sound quality is not significantly improved from previous models. The slight improvements touted in Apple’s marketing are exaggerated. However, let’s be fair to Apple here. MP3 and even CD audio have inherent sound quality limitations.

MP3 is a compression technology that does experience quality loss, however minimal. With a lower bitrate your MP3 files will lose more and more of the sound integrity from the original recording. Combine that with the fact many people rip from sources that are not digitally mastered, and you would get inferior sound quality with any device.

Almost no MP3 players are actually designed for audiophiles / musicians / sound engineers; i.e., the people who could tell the difference between good sound and great sound. Fortunately, some of these devices are starting to come onto the market.

Features and Software

Few new features are noteworthy with this device. Changes in the components and software make the screen brighter and allow you to do more things, including watch videos and play games. Some complain there isn’t enough memory for video. You can still get enough on here to watch one movie or fit some TV shows with your music. It’s a nice extra even if these nanos don’t have tremendous memory.

The flash memory in this device could have been a faster speed. However, the main advantages of the flash player are still here: less risk of hardware failure associated with a hard disk drive player (better for running or working out).

The device does seem to have a shorter battery life than advertised. Perhaps because of the smaller body size Apple placed a smaller batter inside. As long as you sync and charge at night, it’s ok. You are still likely to get a day’s worth of use from a full charge.

Apple’s software is still a weakness with very limited direct control over your device library and few native file options. All formats can be converted using iTunes or another software. You can convert pretty much any file to the MP3, MP4, or AAC formats you need for iTunes. This will mean that those of us with other players will have to have 2 versions of our libraries on our computers, eating up hard-drive space. That’s because there’s no drag and drop adding into the player, you have to add it to iTunes first and then sync.

However, most users have limited needs and will not notice if they are using MP3s. Apple hits the minimum compatibility needs of most of the market.

Coverflow is little more than a gimmick. It’s still buggy and covers tend to blank out if you scroll quickly. Cover art has been downloaded with previous software versions and most other video players, so the ability to scroll covers is not really a breakthrough.

Competitors Pros and Cons

Apple’s devices are obviously more expensive than other players on a per gigabyte $ cost. In addition, the iPod still has fewer built-in features than most competitive devices. It doesn’t have a built-in FM radio tuner, voice recorder, Bluetooth, WMA support, and an SD card expansion slot. Both the Creative Zen Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) and the Sansa View SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB MP3 Player have micro SD slots, FM tuners and voice recording components built in. Both are better priced. The Sansa View comes in a 16GB size for the same price as the 8GB nano.

Still the iPod Nano beats both those players on size as the Creative Zen is much thicker and the Sansa View is taller. Also keep in mind that the Creative Zen has been somewhat buggy, and the View doesn’t have as long a track record only being released in November 2007.

The new Sony players have finally abandoned their own bad software, and now provide some good competition to the iPod nano. In typical Sony fashion, they are priced just as high as the nano. But they do have quality components and better sound quality. Sony NWZA816BLK 4GB Walkman Video MP3 Player (Black)

The new 2 GB iPod Shuffle, released in February 2008, probably provides the biggest competition if you don’t care about video and your only use is working out. Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB Silver (2nd Generation) For 1/3 the price, you get a player with half the capacity that’s designed for longer battery life and more active use.

Conclusion

In the end, what the iPod nano does, it does very well. Apple really wins with sleek design and a wealth of accessories. This unit is no different. Not all docks and accessories work with the 3rd generation, but many do. And for that large number of users already using iTunes, moving your music over to the nano is a snap.

Overall this device is an improvement. Apple’s entry level video player will continue to be popular due to great features, acceptable pricing and the Apple brand.

Enjoy!!!

just what you ordered, September 7, 2007

I saw the 3-star review and I had to chime in. The 3 star reviewer gave it excellent reviews for the music capability, etc, and only downgraded it because he had trouble downloading porn onto it and using it as a PHONE on the internet due to lack of a mic and external speaker.

With all due respect to the guy’s computer savvy and inventiveness, this is not an iPhone–it’s an iPod. I keep 15,000 songs on mine and I still have room for more.

The first one I bought had a bug, but apple replaced it and I haven’t had a problem since. It works great with my car stereo and as a walkman.

This is the iPod that convinced me to "go digital" and break down my huge collection of CDs into storage.

  I’ve got one!!! Size matters.., September 8, 2007

I’ve had an 80GB video iPod for a year and it’s already full, so I was really hoping Apple would make an iPod big enough for me. Presently I’ve got 110GB (and counting) of music, so this iPod is for people like me who have a large music collection, and who like to be able to take it anyplace.

The 160GB iPod is the same size as the 80gb, but costs less than the 80GB did when it first came out.

With a brushed aluminium front finish (similar to the 2 and 3G Nanos), it should be less prone to scratching, though the back is the same smudge magnet, and I don’t know how resilient the screen is. The front is curvier than that of the last 2 video iPods, with the screen slightly depressed from the rest of the casing.

Additional features are extra long battery life (40 hours for music, 7 hours for video; I’ve tested this and playing music non stop without much fast forwarding, etc, it’s about right), and cover flow (a fun way of scrolling through for music using album cover art, though it is a bit sluggish).

The new split-screen interface lists functions to the left half of the screen, and symbols (or previews of content such as cover art, videos or photos shown as a slide show) to the right as you scroll through the functions. Neat!!

During music playback, after being idle for about 80 seconds, the screen goes gray and displays a clock, and battery power. Viewing tracks in an album also gives you, at a glance, the track times. Same for video. A nice touch. To my hearing, the sound quality (without equalizers, mind you) is improved; more bass and a bit more treble. The iPod turns off in about 2 seconds, much faster than previous models.

It’s still got the other regular features; album track lyrics (new, nicer text font, and it also shows the album art), can play video and games, store photos, contacts, calendar, notes, stopwatch, and screen lock (which allows you to lock the screen with a password), and it can be used as an external hard drive. It shows up in windows explorer as an external drive. The search feature allowing one to type in album/song/artist titles (introduced in the last video iPod) is still there, but relocated to the "music" menu. I didn’t spot it at first. In fact, the menu has been reshuffled to make it better, and (under settings) one can now view number of songs, videos, photos, etc graphically just like in iTunes.

If you need loads of space for your music collection, you can’t go wrong getting this. Judging from the crowds in the store, Apple’s got another hit here. Now if only the iPod touch had this much memory…

More Information

1. Click Here!! for see more detail about Apple 80 GB iPod classic Silver (6G)
2. www.atboon.com