Limited Bluetooth, a redesigned case, and speakers mark the iPod Touch's 2G's "changes". The software upgrade remains the same as the original but, the 2G is nevertheless a fantastic device.
In an interview with Brian Williams on NBC, Steve Jobs, the brainchild behind the highly successful iPod series of digital audio players actualy stated that "You have to buy a new iPod at least once a year".
His reasoning behind this was that, considering the high asking price of an ipod, and the fact the company "continues innovations to the product", it would seem to the average iPod buyer that their iPod is old or obsoleted as soon as they take it out of the box.
Well thank goodness for that explanation. I assumed he was talking about the shocking failure rates of the hard disk drives and the incidences of battery explosions.The second Generation of the iPod touch hit on September 9th and Best Buy carries them: $400 for a 32GB. In case you are planning on ordering one, the product code to watch for is MB533LL/A.
The MB533LL/A iPod Touch is the second generation of the iPod touch line of 32GB players. The devices major improvements include a case design which comes even closer to resembling the actual Apple iPhone, built in speakers and a volume rocker control. Oddly, there is no quit mute switch like the iPhone considering the addition of the built in speakers.
Rather than the plastic gloss backing of the iPhone, the iPod Touch now sports a very nice metal back with a plastic portion reserved for the WiFi antennae placement (metal blocks radio signals).
The new iPod Touch features these minor changes and a slightly thinner case design that feels as high in quality as the iPhone. Its a solid metal brick with a touch screen.
The Generation IPod Touch 2G's software is the exact same software apple is currently offering in the iPhone 3G. The only difference between these two devices is that the iPhone has a Phone, SMS and CAMERA icon. The 2G ipod comes with APP STORE already already built in, and requires you to install the newest iTunes version 8.
For anyone who has never used an iPod Touch or iPhone before, the Graphical user interface is simplistic, elegant and ridiculously fun to play with. Its probably the most perfect GUI ever invented for a device - much less an MP3 player. Rotating the device causes the computer to auto rotate pictures and album art images. The devices multi-touch interface can allow 2 or 3 fingers to pinch an image and scale that image as desired by simply sliding the fingers. Its so much fun to use that just listening to music on it is just the beggining.
The iPod 3G is a scaled down computer. It has a web browser that allows its built in WiFi to easily connect to nearby wireless networks...and allows you to browse the internet where FLASH and JAVA aren't required. Most newer websites are built with mobile devices in mind and some of them can be accessed exclusively for iPod touch by adding an "i" to the webpage name:
i.e. - autoblog.com becomes: iautoblog.comI can't tell you how much fun it is to have a web browser device in your pocket. You could be sitting in school, church service or a cafe - pull the iPod out of your pocket - connect to a WiFi and then begin surfing the web; sending/recieving emails or even watch Youtube videos in the devices Youtube client. Once you're done listening to your music or surfing the web, you just slide it into your pocket and you're off.
Apple has truly succeeded in creating a device that substitutes for a mini laptop for basic web services. As many of you know, the iPod can wirelessly download new music from apple's iTunes store while connected to the internet.
The only downside is that a WiFI router is a MUST. without a WiFi router, the iPod2G is limited to just playing installed games or listening to music unlike the iPhone 3G which has complete wireless high speed internet wherever there is cellular service.
I'm actually suprised Apple never considered designing an ethernet cable that could plug into the iPod's data port for areas where there is no WiFi but there is a LAN.
APPLE IPHONE OS 2.1 The operating system in use on the iPod 2G is now the apple OS 2.1.1
OS 2.0 added key features like the ability to sae webpage images from Safari;
data pushing from apple's MOBILE ME service; Microsoft Exchange support; POWERPOINT viewing; mass email manipulation; movie viewing in landscpae or portrait and support for new languages.
"Email Push" is the ability to instantaneously receive email or email notifications over network without having to refresh browsers. Blackberry popularized this with their Enterprise Server. Once I set it up on my old BB 9000 series, I was getting instant emails every time I received one at my Yahoo mail account. The iPhone s lack of Email Push was one of the main reasons many business professionals weren t willing to give up their Blackberry s for the iPhone. Now, there are two services being touted with the iPhone to achieve this feature. The first is
Microsoft Exchange Server and the second is
MobileMe. Mobileme is important for Apple because it cancels OSX user s .Mac address and integrates them into a subscription based service that allows them to access their email from any internet capable computer thus eliminating the restrictions imposed by the "mail" and "ical" software. Now, for $99 per year, you can get 20GB of personal email storage and 200GB of monthly data transfer allowance. There is even a "Familypack" offering the same as above. Mobileme has the ability to push contacts and to pust calendar changes. That means that if you make changes on your desktop, even if your phone is left in your car. Mobileme will beam the changes through the net and your iPod will receive as soon as its connected to a WiFi network.
No Thanks I ll keep on using "Yahoo" and its "contacts" synchronizer for free It feels good having an "Mp3 Player" that can accomplish such ambitious emailing services, but, ultimately, this isn't the iPhone...you still miss out on numerous features the iPhone has.The "APP Store" application pops up on your screen as soon as you activate the iPod. App Store is a browser of sorts that allows you to search the internet for new software for the iPhone/iPod developed by 3rd parties who have registered their creations with Apple ($100) and want to let you download it. Some of the software is free and some of it you pay for.
Since I went to Ziphone.org and unlocked my original iPhone, I was already aware of such application finders. My phone runs a similar app called INSTALLER. Installer lets me download game demos and other applications (such as FREE wallpaper). And there is some wild variety already being offered. I even saw a program called iWoman which lets females track their menstrual flow.
Unfortunately, 2.0 was extremely buggy. The new release in 2.1 fixes numerous bugs in 2.0 and adds a critical security fix to keep people from stealing your Contacts. Another new feature is the ability to use the iPod as a remote control while using your iTunes on the computer.
However, there is now a newer version called 2.1.1 which adds support for the final improvement in the iPhone 2G...Nike .
Nike+ is a bluetooth adapter in the iPod which makes it possible to communicate with pedometers you might have in your bluetooth equipped Nike sneakers. You cannot however add bluetooth devices like a keyboard. I think Apple was stupid for this. This would have been a perfect chance to add wireless audio (A2DP) to the iPod so they could sell you a pair of wireless headphones. People woulda paid for that. Though it would have decreased battery life of the iPod touch by around 5%, it woulda been totally cool.
I won't fault Apple for this, but why not just sell the iPod Touch in a similar shell as the iPhone and offer WiFi SKYPE or VoiP? PSP did it !?! Just a thought.
SOUND QUALITY I am extremely happy that the iPod Touch 2G offers everything that my iPhone offers. However, the basic intention of this device, is still to be a "music player" and a "music video player".
As a music player, the iPod series has never impressed me, though many others will love it. The iPod's bass response is almost non existent considering my favorite form of music is bassy hip hop. Rock music, in my opinions, is what these things were designed for. Excessive high frequencies and abysmal lows. regardless the type of music you perfer, the music fidelity is loud& clear and the tone is quite high.
Though the iPod Touch 2G lacks speaker holes like the original iPhone, new technology manages to allow the speaker volume to be at least as high as the iPhone in a quiet room.
I should also say that the APP Store has "AOL Radio" which streams internet - and local - radio directly to your player via Wifi. The Local channels that are accessible are perfectly streamed and sound just as they do on that channel - but, have digital clarity.
The iPod supports AAC files (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC files (from iTunes Store), MP3 files (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV files. Music fidelity is dependant on recording quality during the ripping process. The higher the bitrate, usually the richer the sound.
Unfortunately, some favorite video file types aren't supported such as DivX.
Video Quality has always been a *wow* feature of the iPod touch and iPhone series. The screen is a very high definition HVGA touchscreen that is made of optical quality glass that manages to be scratch resistant. eeping the device in your pocket with keys or diamond jewelry is a monumentaly bad idea, but, for the most part, keeping it in your pocket won't damage it especially if you go get a plastic sleeve.
Unfortunately, old iPod touch sleeves and cases do not fit this one because of the dimension alterations. You're stuck buying more lead-based Chinese-made products again.
The display is still stunning. Video is ultra sharp though some eyes won't discriminate to much since we are used to watching grainy Youtube videos nowadays. Downloaded movies, videos and TV shows provide plenty of enjoyment and in a dark room, the brain projects the illusion you are watching something larger.
Composite or component video up to 576i and stereo audio can be output from the Apple dock connector.
OVERALL
If you are new to the world of digital audplayers, the iPod Touch 2G is like the S550 Mercedes in a sea of econo-cars. Its got everything you'd expect out of a DAP and plenty of features you don't wrapped in an irresistable package. It is a viable solution for wireless internet in situations where laptops are too bulky and it totally justifies its $400 pricetag by offering skip-free listening whether you are jogging or skydiving.
Its remarkable that an "mp3 player" could posses the power to not only store contacts like a rolodex, but, at the push of a button, give you a map (Google Maps) that shows the route to the address along with distance calculations. When the iPhone 3G gets turn-by-turn directions like a regular GPS device, likely, the iPod Touch 3 or 4G will too.
Its dissapointing that the iPod line still fails to offer A2DP but most likely, Steve Jobs will turn right back around next year and put a new one out that includes it since there isn't much else you can add to the Touch to warrant calling it an improvement.
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