posted
I still think this thing is under-marketed; it's not just an mp3 / mp4 player, it's a fantastic pocket internet device and (with the right combination of apps), an excellent PDA.
Yes, it has it's faults (like everything) and more than half of the problems you read about are true; but I still think it's worth every dime of the asking price. If you've considered buying one but have been put off by some of the tech forums (and other writings), here are a few things you may wish to consider, from the vantage point of a tech junkie and long-time user of the device. It's an online review of my own, which I've pretty much cut-n-pasted here:
Pros: Wi-Fi Connectivity, Large Display, Full Feature Set and wide-open range of expandibility options
Cons: Forced iTunes integration, iinability to Drag-n-Drop files as YOU see fit, inability to transfer your own photos to somebody else's (or your own) PC / Laptop
Summary: Firstly, I think they undersell this by calling it an MP3 or MP4 player - it is so much more. Yes, it can do those things, but for me it has become more of a pocket internet device, a living atlas, phonebook / addressbook, contact database, PDA and a portable lifelink to email, weather (in any city) and just about everything else. Heck, I practically forgort this thing does music and video (and haven't really missed them either).
The APPs ... this is one of the most entertaining and interesting things. You can get or buy an app for just about every conceivable function and frill - need a flashlight? Get an app ... need to know where to find the nearest El Polo Loco? Get an app ... want to track every move of your favorite sports franchise in real time? Get an app ... I've been able to to find apps that help me edit my photos, build a contact list that interfaces with my maps & email addresses - and a lot of other niceties.
Just three days ago I was in Pasadena and wanted to know where to get a burger; with the help of an App, I typed in "burger" ... it figured out where I was, sent back a list of thirty restaurants near me that served or specialized in burgers, gave me the phone numbers, addresses, street and satelite photographs - and one of those places was just two blocks away!
Yes, much of this is frivolous, but fun nonetheless. With more than a handful of useful app-add-ons (and a ton of frivolous-but-fun ones), I've fashioned this iPod into a pocket instrument I'd rather not live without. I absolutely love being able to pop into any coffee shop (or McDonalds) and quickly connnect to the internet - check my email or maybe surf a little; and all this without having to pull the laptop out of the trunk & pop it open. I love being able to pull up an APP, ask for the nearest steakhouse (or dentist), and not only getting a list (sorted my distance) - but a map and satellite / sidewalk view of it, along with the phone number and website URL.
Ironically, it's turned out to be one of my least favorite music and video devices - because I'm fed up with iTunes and the forced synching methods they impose. The large screen is nice for videos and makes for great photo browsing, so I've probably got about twenty or thirty videos on it (and a few thousand photos). That, and a handful of songs.
One thing I'd recommend for those considering a purchase - go ahead and fork out for a quality screen protector. I got the one of the best (and most expensive) ones out there. Made by Zagg and it's been worth every dime because they are everything they claim to be.
Radio - The Touch gives you unlimited Radio of every possible genre. Yes, you need to be in Wifi range for this, but it's fantastic and fun. At home, I actually use this to stream internet radio to my home system - from my home PC to my Touch - and the Touch plugged-in to the AUX input of my home audio system. All you need is a well-chosen radio app (and there are tons of them).
You'll find plenty of excellent (free and paid) apps for radio streaming, to include Pandora and Slacker, and the entire Shoutast network; allowing you to access hundreds of stations, of every conceivable genre. The paid apps in this category range from 99 cents to a few dollars, all worth it in my view.
Shopping - yes, (free) shopping apps for this and it makes it easy to log in to Amazon for example, for a quick check and easy purchase, from whereever you happen to be. As to email, I've found a nice, tight integration with my mail accunt, which also integrates seamlessly with my flickr photostream. Fantastic!
Note of Interest ... I love how online reviews always slam the heck out of apple competitors, etc, whenever they review an 8GB mp3/mp4 player ... "A ridiculously limited" amount ... "pathetically low storage for a video player", etc.; yet they never say these things when reviewing an 8GB iPod. Well, I'm here to say that 8GB is just as little (or as much) with an ipod ... but that in this case, it matters even less to me, although I did fork out a little more for the 16GB version.
This device cost me around $300, and for the reasons explained here, has been worth every cent of it.
It is not my primary music (mp3) device. All the stories you read about the ipod's relatively poor or average music quality are true - but in the case if this device, that's a very small matter. The fact that I can get unlimited music in my Zune AND fifteen DRM-free songs every month (to copy, file, burn and keep for life) makes that a no-brainer. That, and the new Napster plan, which mimics the Zune subscription model.
Yes, the battery life is terrible and I'm tired of hearing about this from friends, others, and in online forums. I know this, but it does not detract from the joys of it's abilities. I keep mine plugged into the laptop, whenever I'm in a coffee shop, to keep it topped off as much as possible.
Yes, I know Apple CHARGES you for firmware updates (if Microsoft ever did this, they'd be screaming bloody murder). In fact, I just forked out $9.95 for the most recent firmware that allows me (for the first time) to cut-n-paste text. In the end, I still somehow find it worthwhile to (continue) to pay Apple everytime they come out with a new update.
Consider all the good and the bad, this device is a joy to own and an absolute gas to have in your pocket or laptop pouch. If there's anybody on the fence, my advice is to get off it and score one of these, as soon as you are able.
[ June 24, 2009, 12:55 AM: Message edited by: Ben Del Amitri ]
-------------------- Respectfully,
Ben
Malory in Signature Posts: 5772 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Ben, i'm so with you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love this device.. has helped me move away from my desktop and not invest in a second laptop (yet)!
and i've managed to get many of my pics up on it and back to the desktop.. the main reason for the purchase. now i can show my potential clients what they get for the price i charge and that has boosted "business" and got me more referrals than anything else i've tried short of spending money on marketing.
and thanks to mobileMe, i can send folks pictures off my iTouch too!!!! (the only thing i can't help yet is the right-click of PC to save images off the web)
i love my device. i've not yet used a screen protector on it (lazy i guess) but not a single scratch though.. and i'm being careful.
your review is very accurate and for my purposes, 8G is more than enough. i'm alway swapping files on and off.
as much as i'm a musician, listening isn't always top on my priority list, thanks to the schedule I run, but getting podcasts has been a saving grace.. and the free music.. oh my!!!!
i'm glad i got it. love it. and most place i need it, i get wifi.. the few i don't, the stuff is already preloaded on anyway.
i might get the firmware you talk about (though i'm not a huge fan of itunes) to cut-and-paste.. but not just yet.
thanks for the review.. i recommend this device.. it's great way to have a mini-computer on the go!
posted
I had one about a year ago & I was crazy about it but the battery was dying after about 8hrs so I traded it in for the 80 gig classic. My daughter just got one & says the battery life is much longer. Too bad for me cause I really liked it as well but the battery life was just to short. Don't worry about the cons Apple will address those I'm sure.
posted
I personally find I-products to trendy hence I avoid them! Excellent review, it still won't sway me though, my 7 year old mp3 player does the trick and I still haven't filled it out
I'm a late adopter, that is for sure!
Posts: 251 | Registered: Mar 2007
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quote:Originally posted by RPM: Ben, i'm so with you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love this device.. has helped me move away from my desktop and not invest in a second laptop (yet)!
and i've managed to get many of my pics up on it and back to the desktop.. the main reason for the purchase. now i can show my potential clients what they get for the price i charge and that has boosted "business" and got me more referrals than anything else i've tried short of spending money on marketing.
and thanks to mobileMe, i can send folks pictures off my iTouch too!!!! (the only thing i can't help yet is the right-click of PC to save images off the web)
i love my device. i've not yet used a screen protector on it (lazy i guess) but not a single scratch though.. and i'm being careful.
your review is very accurate and for my purposes, 8G is more than enough. i'm alway swapping files on and off.
as much as i'm a musician, listening isn't always top on my priority list, thanks to the schedule I run, but getting podcasts has been a saving grace.. and the free music.. oh my!!!!
i'm glad i got it. love it. and most place i need it, i get wifi.. the few i don't, the stuff is already preloaded on anyway.
i might get the firmware you talk about (though i'm not a huge fan of itunes) to cut-and-paste.. but not just yet.
thanks for the review.. i recommend this device.. it's great way to have a mini-computer on the go!
RPM
I also use MobileMe, but paying a hundred dollars a year for it is too much for what I'm getting, so I won't be renewing it when it expires. For all it's conveniences, it's another of those niceties that only Apple would charge you for.
It's great you've found some nice business benefits with device, I've found a few as well. If you don't have much use for cut-n-paste, the $10 upgrade is something you can live without. There have been some "growing pains" with installs and not all the bugs are worked out yet, so if you do decide to buy the upgrade, you might want to give it a few more weeks (or months).
-------------------- Respectfully,
Ben
Malory in Signature Posts: 5772 | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by diamond johny: I had one about a year ago & I was crazy about it but the battery was dying after about 8hrs so I traded it in for the 80 gig classic. My daughter just got one & says the battery life is much longer. Too bad for me cause I really liked it as well but the battery life was just to short. Don't worry about the cons Apple will address those I'm sure.
The famous battery problems are still alive and well. I really feel the device is a hundred percent worth having, despite the battery problems, though. In the course of daily consequence, we can always find an outlet (with adaptor), laptop or PC to plug it into and keep topped off.
You are right about Apple addressing the cons, and they will address them in typical Apple fashion ... find a fix and charge us for it.
-------------------- Respectfully,
Ben
Malory in Signature Posts: 5772 | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Gameon: I personally find I-products to trendy hence I avoid them! Excellent review, it still won't sway me though, my 7 year old mp3 player does the trick and I still haven't filled it out
I'm a late adopter, that is for sure!
You have a good point and for people who don't own one, I'd recommend one In Additon TO their conventional mp3 player, rather than as a replacement to it. It's not that great a music player, from a sound-quality perspective, but nice for all the other things you can do with it.
-------------------- Respectfully,
Ben
Malory in Signature Posts: 5772 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
the only reason why i don't mind paying the 100 bucks right now, all the folks who have viewed my pics on all the various places I hold it seem to like the mobile me gallery a lot more than anything else. plus, moving pics from someone's pc to mines is so much easier with MobileMe. but the moment it no longer suits me, i'm not renewing either.. apple is genius at getting money from folks! and i'm not getting the upgrade. i'm not pressed yet to cut and paste. the old pen and paper route works just fine for me
posted
I bought one of my mom for a $100, she won it in a raffle.It's an 8gb one. It works amazing...except the battery does seem to die quickly...but aside from that it is awesome. Last "Ipod" I had was my first generation Ipod Nano(4gb). Ended up snapping in half between my shoulder and 4 trees! Great device none the less...trendy too
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quote:Originally posted by RPM: the only reason why i don't mind paying the 100 bucks right now, all the folks who have viewed my pics on all the various places I hold it seem to like the mobile me gallery a lot more than anything else. plus, moving pics from someone's pc to mines is so much easier with MobileMe. but the moment it no longer suits me, i'm not renewing either.. apple is genius at getting money from folks! and i'm not getting the upgrade. i'm not pressed yet to cut and paste. the old pen and paper route works just fine for me
You've found the right purpose and greatest benefit in MoblieMe. It's one of the reasons I forked out the hundred dollars for it. I'm hoping by the time my next subscription expires, somebody will have developed a few good third-party hacks or work-arounds to accomplish the same thing. I'd gladly pay for that.
-------------------- Respectfully,
Ben
Malory in Signature Posts: 5772 | Registered: Oct 2004
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