Apple IPOD Touch 2G: A Review

With an extremely innovative approach to the new technology of tomorrow, Apple has introduced a new line of iPods that have a touch sensitive screen. Following on the heels of the iPhone, the iPod Touch release was thought to be a dead product, as it would drive up sales of the iPhone because of its reduced functionality. With the iPhone, you can have a phone + iPod touch, so why buy the touch? Well for those of us who are on a rather good plan with a carrier that doesn't require a sim card, the iPod Touch is a good alternative to our current iPods, as well as not having to sacrifice the new functionality. So, after having obtained the famous iTouch, here is a review of what this new gadget is like.

Ease of Use/Functionality 10/10

The iPod Touch is rather easy to use, as it should be. All of the icons are touchable, the screen is bright and clear, and the interface is fun to use. The only downside to having such a big screen is 1) the iPod itself has to be a bit larger, and 2) there is no sense of concreteness on the iPod, save for the one "home" button on the bottom. For those of us who like to shift between songs or adjust volume, it is rather hard to do (although the new 2nd Generation model has an outer volume control). Even so, you have to be able to look at the screen in order to do what you want, because everything is LED. Other than those 2 things that I rather dislike, the new touch is sleek, heavy (so it feels cool and firm), and exciting to use.

What's new on the iPod touch? There internet, games, an app store, genius playlist, movie screen, balance sensitive interface, and even a special youtube player. With the new internet capabilities, anyone who can find a wireless router can connect to the internet. The keyboard, although touch sensitive and a bit small, is great, as it highlights each letter as you type it. The iTouch has a built in antenna which makes for a more compact design as well. Although the iPod Touch lets you connect to the internet, the capabilities are limited, as it does not have flash, and some graphics may not appear, and videos will not either. This is why Apple included a special youtube player in order to compensate for that minor shortcoming. Other than that, you can check your mail, read articles, do whatever you would usually do on the internet.

A new bit of technology the iPod touch has is the Accelerometer. This makes the iTouch sensitive to movement, as well as its touch sensitive screen. If you turn the iPod sideways, the screen will adjust and become widescreen. If you should decide to download games from the App Store and play them, many of the games will require you to move your iPod back and forth so as to balance and move. With this new Accelerometer, there is no need to include a controller for movement. It really is a fun and interesting new toy to play with.

Sleekness of Design 9/10

As stated before, the iPod Touch is really sleek and has a bit of weight to it, giving it a relly solid feel in the palm of your hand. The back of the iPod is still the "inevitably scratchable" mirror, with the front being almost the whole screen. So far, I believe it only comes in one color scheme which is black. The second generation version is much thinner than the first, although it still retains the same amount of weight in your hand. The 2nd generation model also has outer volume controls, so you can control them with the push of a button. With the integrated antenna, Apple has eliminated any problems in an obstruction of their "magic rectangular box."

Pricing 8/10

The pricing of the Apple iPod Touch is a bit hefty. It comes in three different sizes: 8GB ($229.99), 16GB ($299.99), and 32GB ($399.99). I really don't understand why anyone would buy the 32 GB version. Some like a large amount of space to store videos and whatnot, but 16GB should be enough for your new play toy. The difference between the 8GB and 16GB versions is $70 for double the amount of space, so if you have a little bit of extra cash you should get the 16GB version. Even so, this would be a pretty expensive gift for anyone.

Durability 9/10

So far, the iPod Touch has not given me any problems with durability. As long as you protect it well and keep it in a case, the back will not scratch much and the front should be in good condition. And unless you manage to sit on your iTouch, the screen should not crack. Some problems have come up with the new 2nd Generation's internet capabilities, as many people are experiencing difficulty connecting to the internet after using their iTouch for a while. It seems like an internal hardware problem, but Apple is working to get it solved (exchanging it will be no different). The iTouch is a bit big for an mp3 player, but you pay for its new features in size. If you wanted a simple mp3 player, the iTouch is not for you. As for battery life, the battery will drain and drop drastically if you are on the internet or playing games, as should be expected. If you are listening to music, the iTouch has 36 hours of audio playback, with 6 hours of video. Let's hope the battery life outlives the reputation of its predecessors'.

All in all, the new iPod Touch is really a joy to use, mainly because its easy and fun. All of the buttons and designs are intuitive, and the new applications are limitless. It's like a mini-computer in the palm of your hands (besides the lack of flash).

Overall 9/10