New iPod just a touch short of my nirvana
(Credit:
Ina Fried/CNET Networks)
The new iPod Touch is like an iPhone for commitment-phobes.
You get nearly all the features of the iPhone, but no need to change cell carriers or fork over money to AT&T each month. The new iPod Touch had nearly everything I was hoping for (Wi-Fi, Web browsing and the touch screen).
To my immense embarrassment, I actually found myself cheering when the browser was announced. I was already planning on buying the thing, but was really hoping to augment my Treo's stellar e-mail with a device that can do real Web browsing.
Still, it's worth pointing out that there are a few things found only on the iPhone.
In addition to the obvious phone part, the iPod Touch also lacks the iPhone's dedicated e-mail program or its Google Maps application. Of course, you can get e-mail and maps over the web (either the full version or lite mobile varieties). I checked Gmail briefly on the iPod Touch and it appeared to work fine, though it's not nearly as convenient as the approach on the iPhone.
For those who also think they can make voice calls using VoIP, hold the phone--the Touch doesn't have the speaker and microphone of the iPhone. Of course, one could use the headphones to hear and, if Apple permits, add a microphone via the dock connector port at the bottom.
Still, this is basically what all the fan sites were clamoring for. Now we'll see if they all put their money where their photoshopped images are. I'm planning to.
That's just my take from a very brief trial. Check back to CNET later today for reviewer Donald Bell's First Take on the iPod Nano and the rest of the new crop.
Update: I missed a big thing that the iPhone has that the iPod Touch lacks. It also lacks the iPhone's the built-in camera.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
Time for a full review by CNET... by the time one is available to me I might be too old to use it.
and im not an apple fanboy i own a zune
(and pre-ipod touch)
I'm really going to have to think about this one - as the new Apple ad for the iPod Classic reads: "Why choose what goes on your iPod?" That's a BUNCH of storage space. Jobs even pointed that one out...
I realize that we're talking the difference between a HD and Flash memory, but still quite a gap, with a lot of money going to the Touch for the technology and cool factor alone -
But that's never stopped me before - and probably wont stop many Apple fans - I DID blow the extra money for the black MacBook for the exact same reason, knowing full well I was tossing it to the wind for the cool factor...
email and IM clients?
Apple HAS to open this up to allow for third party developers.
- Sell that Broken or Used iPod
- by brettmosleymaui September 5, 2007 9:18 PM PDT
- If your new Apple iPod Touch, iPhone, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, or iPod Video is broken or just used and you want to get rid of it you can always go to www.buymybrokenipod.com for great cash, instant quotes and fast payment.
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