Apple iPod touch 32 GB with Software Upgrade Reviews

• Apple's iPod Touch - Updated and Enlarged! Test Drive it Today!!!!

  
  By A17BUUBOU0598B on 2008-02-18
  Apple iPod touch 32 GB
  
  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!!!!
  
  
  

• Apple's iPod Touch - Updated and Enlarged! Test Drive it Today!!!!

  
  By A17BUUBOU0598B on 2008-02-18
  Apple iPod touch 16 GB with Software Upgrade
  
  Apple's 16GB iPod Touch was the largest you could buy before the 32GB version Apple iPod touch 32 GB was released in January 2008. This mobile device has a great combination of quality, and features, though its capacity falls just short of the ideal size for a true media player. The awesome video, sleek thin body and web capability are enough to make this unit worth considering despite a high price and some missing features.
  
  Pros
  + 16GB of storage is a decent size for plenty of music and a few TV shows or a movie
  + 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!
  + 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
  + 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
  - Unlike the 32GB model, not enough capacity to make it a replacement for your disk-based player
  - 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. To really enjoy video, you will probably want to pay up for the larger and more expensive 32GB model.
  
  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. The 16GB model is also available without updates for a little less $. 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. Hopefully some of these features will be added in a FREE patch.
  
  The Safari web browser is THE killer feature of the Touch. 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.
  
  Most of the other widgets, including the new ones, are stuff that you access via the internet browser. 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, notes. 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. ;-)
  
  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. If you can afford it, definitely consider getting the larger 32GB model. Either way, the good far outweighs the bad.
  
  Enjoy!!!!
  
  

• Beyond All Expectations!

  
  By A1FO1M3TF24LEK on 2008-02-14
  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.
  
  
  

• iPod Touch replaced my PDA

  
  By A20P2WTNYQZVJ8 on 2008-02-09
  For those who may be interested in acquiring an iPod Touch as a replacement for a PDA, I have found it to be quite useful. The primary function used in this regard is syncing with Microsoft Outlook, which works flawlessly. Now I can check appointments and find those phone numbers for early morning conference calls without waiting 10 minutes for my laptop to boot up.
  
  The new software improves the functionality by adding the notes capability, and I even find myself frequently viewing video podcasts - something I never thought I would use.
  
  The most important functions for me in a portable device are calendar, music, notes, photos, and Audible book playback, all of which this iPod handles very nicely. I have also used the maps feature for driving directions - load it up while on the home WiFi network, then the directions are retained for reference - in a much more useful format than if you print out the directions on Google. Just bring along a navigator, as I would not recommend trying to read the iPod while driving. The same applies to paper maps, of course.
  
  On the downside, the battery life has not been great - less than two hours if actively using WiFi.
  
  

• Best iPod to date

  
  By A1J75JJ0Q2OEJN on 2008-02-14
  I am a former owner of pretty much every iPod out there, except a few (never had a mini, and never bothered with the first-gen nano and it's scratches). I have owned the 8GB iPod Touch, and the 16GB iPod Touch, and I can attest that this new model with 32GB is technically not very different from the other models.
  
  However, it does benefit from being produced later in the iPod Touch's life, and therefore doesn't have some of the problems that hit me as an early adopter of the other two versions, like the infamous "negative blacks" issue. Nope, with this model, all the problems have been addressed, and what you get is the iPod Touch the way it was meant to be.
  
  For me, the 32GB was a must. The 8GB was too small for me. How can you have such a great screen and such a limited capacity to store movies? The 16GB was better, but I was still finding myself shifting songs around in various smart playlists in order to fit my 30GB music library on the iPod Touch along with my bookmarks, contacts, calendars, photos, and a few television shows and movies. It was always a struggle to make it all fit.
  
  Finally, the introduction of a 32GB model has solved all my problems. I can fit ALL my bookmarks, calendars, photos, television shows, podcasts, audiobooks, and quite a few movies on the 32GB iPod Touch, and I still have enough room for most of my music and some music videos. When the Software Development Kit goes out to third parties this month, and new programs start to appear for the iPod touch, I'll have sufficient space to be able to use them.
  
  A lot of reviewers approach the iPod Touch as if it's an iPhone that is "missing" some things. That's not entirely fair, because this IS an iPod. It functions well as an iPod, and does everything the iPod should do. It plays music well. It plays videos well. It stores a lot of media files in a small space.
  
  Look at this more as an iPod "plus" instead of as an iPhone "minus." You get Internet, Mail, Yahoo! Stocks, Yahoo! Weather, World Clock, Stopwatch, Alarm Clock, Calendar, Notes, Yahoo! Maps, Contacts, iTunes, YouTube direct, Calculator, Photos, Music, Videos, and more. That's a lot to pack in an iPod!
  
  As with all products, the advertised amount of space is not the actual amount available. Formatted, with the software on the iPod Touch, you'll have about 30GB to use. Compare this to the 30GB iPod fifth generation, and you see what a bargain this is. Even compared to the current iPod Classic with 80GB, this is a pretty good deal, because the Classic isn't going to let you check your email, surf to your favorite web sites, or enter contacts or notes when you're on-the-go.
  
  Apple won't call this a PDA, but it essentially is one. This is the spiritual successor to the Newton, and it's better in every way. This is the PDA for people who aren't necessarily "businesspeople" but still want something akin to a pocket-sized computer.
  
  I think of it this way: For the price you can get a more full-featured Mac mini, which also runs OS X and can do more things with more programs (for now), but lacks a screen and input device, and isn't portable. Or you can get the 32GB iPod Touch, which does have a screen and a rather innovative input device, and does a lot of the things you'd probably do with your Mac mini every day.
  
  This is a Mac OS X computer in your pocket. Dig it!
  
  Now, I'll be fair and list a few of the negatives of this item. It's not *perfect* yet, but it's close.
  
  First of all, I really wish it had a built-in speaker. Nothing fancy, but just enough to listen to YouTube videos and Audiobooks on the go. It's a pain to get out headphones to use those features. I've solved the problem by using a portable mini-speaker.
  
  The shiny metal back scratches too easily. I don't know why Apple keeps using it, either. For the 2nd generation iPod nano, they went to a full-body brushed aluminum casing, and it was brilliant! It resisted scratches and was pretty sturdy. This generation, Apple has gone back to the shiny back that scratches like its made of frozen butter. They almost necessitate getting a case by doing this.
  
  Finally, since it's Wi-Fi and not EDGE, (it's not an iPhone!) you're limited in which applications you can use when you're out and about. For me it's not a problem; My town's pretty well wired. Those who live in the middle of nowhere, the country, the desert, or somewhere that Wi-Fi is not common may want to avoid the iPod Touch and just get the iPhone instead. You need EDGE if you don't have a lot of Wi-Fi around. Half of the features on this device REQUIRE having Wi-Fi.
  
  Aside from those things, this thing works as intended, and it does it with style and ease of use. I highly recommend it!
  
  I do suggest that if you're going to get this iPod, that you protect it with a decent case (I suggest the Elan Form, DLO Jam Jacket, or the DLO VideoShell) and a good screen protector (I suggest either Invisible Shield or Best Skins Ever). The screen is scratch-resistant, but the casing can get dinged up and you'd be best just covering the device with a little polycarbonate to make it less likely you'll have an ugly iPod in a few months of residing in your pocket.
  
  Personally, I think this is the best iPod ever... And as I said, I've had most of them!
  
  
• Much Better...
  By A2RUUTTFJQ7CBH on 2008-02-18
  After writing an unfavorable review for the iPod Touch 16Gb two months ago (and returning it for a refund) I was pleased to learn that Apple was releasing a new 32GB model. One of the main problems with the iPod Touch 16GB was the size of the flash memory. Why, with a beautiful, glass, widescreen display, would Apple design a video iPod with only 16GB of available drive space? My only guess was they were testing the waters for a new product...
  
  All the faults of the 16GB Touch seem to be corrected with Apple's latest 32GB release. We now have enough flash drive space (at least for me) to add all my music and videos from iTunes onto my iPod with room left over. Not to say the 32GB (which is actually closer to 30GB to make room for Apple's software) will be enough for every consumer, but at least 32GB is a little more realistic.
  
  The 32GB Touch also comes with the latest $20.00 dollar Apple update included in the software. This includes new features such as:
  
  - Notes...for jotting down all those important memos when you don't have a pen
  
  - Weather...to see the local forecast or any other set location
  
  - Mail
  
  - Stocks
  
  - Maps...so you never get lost (as long as you have a WIFI connection)
  
  I have also noticed the WIFI connection seems to hold much stronger than the 16GB model I owned before this. It no longer cuts out and sends me back to the home screen. I'm not sure if I had a defective model but this new 32GB Touch has yet to drop a connection even when the signal strength isn't that great to begin with. Quite an improvement.
  
  The only gripe (what review could be complete without them) is again...the price tag. $500.00 for a handheld media player is, to say the least, a little expensive. With a price like this many consumers will view this as an extravagant item and will pass on it until the price drops or Apple comes out with an even better model with more features or both.
  
  All in all the iPod Touch 32GB is a decent model and will satisfy most consumers need for more flash drive space. If the price doesn't shake you, this iPod will not disappoint.
  
  
• Buy the current Model instead
  By A10ZBR6O8S8OCY on 2008-02-06
  The current (older) 8GB model Amazon sells is only $254. You can buy the iPod software upgrade from Apple on their website for only $20. Total cost of $274.
  
  The devices are the same, just this one comes preloaded with the software upgrade.
  
  A new 32GB model is also available for those who need more space.
  
  EDIT: As of 02-10-2008, Amazon has increased the price of the current 8GB model to $279. The software upgrade will costs $20. Do the math and see which model is cheaper after final total when you go to purchase as the price seems to flucuate daily.
  
  
• I'm On My Third IPod Touch
  By ARIZ8PY9ULPHH on 2008-04-28
  I was given an IPod touch as a gift last fall when they first came out. At first I used it only for music then I started purchasing TV shows from ITunes. Television episodes, music and movies on the "touch" pixelated in the middle of watching/listening and threw me back to the home screen. The onscreen controls were not responsive so I couldn't get back to the spot where the skip happened. I sent my IPod in for service and it came back saying "we couldn't replicate the problem". As soon as I tried it the behavior started again. I exchanged my engraved gift for a refurbished unit at the Apple Store and it had the same problem. I went back again yesterday and they gave me a brand new unit. So I'm on my third "touch" since last fall and if you check Apple's forums you'll see this is a common problem. I just can't recommend this neat little player until they fix the problem.
  
  
• Would be perfect, except...
  By A5WLYAIPOSE9S on 2008-03-11
  I've had this for a week - it's very fun and easy to use. My primary plan is for this to be my MP3 player to listen to podcasts. 8 GB is plenty for me to hold all my music and queue of podcasts, plus some photos and PDA data.
  
  However, there is one design oversight that drives me crazy about it - the lack of a play/pause button and volume up/down buttons. With any other MP3 player, if I need to quickly pause, or to adjust the volume, I could just slip my hand in the pocket holding the player, and easily find the button.
  
  On the Touch, you have to first turn on the screen, then look to see where the button you need is, then touch it. This is a MAJOR pain for an MP3 player. This product desperately needs three hardkeys on the side: play/pause, vol up, and vol down. If it had that, I would rate it five stars. But not having those really detracts from my enjoyment of it.
  
  I'm thinking I might have been happier with the Nano.
  
  
• Revolutionary Product!
  By AC2EGRJTJYVBA on 2008-02-15
  I had never wanted an iPod until I received my Touch. It's a great device. It's an excellent MP3 and video player, but I've been MOST impressed with the WiFi internet browser and email utility. For the first time, Apple has produced a highly user-friendly and stable ultra-portable internet device. The best part about the Touch is that its an "instant on" device. If I'm watching television or having a discussion and want to look up a reference, I push the button and I'm immediately able to access my home wireless network. The touch screen use of gestures to zoom in and out means that I can read the text, even though I wear glasses. My use of my home computer has dropped noticeably since I started using this device.
  
  The 32GB size is perfect and will be more than sufficient for most people. Actually, for the majority of people, I think the 16GB version will suffice, but 32GB will leave you plenty of room to grow as the number of applications available to the device continues to grow.
  
  If it were about 1.5x larger, it would be perfect as a portable internet tool. The touchscreen keyboard function works great, but its just a little too small for adult fingers. However, it's a perfect size for a portable media player. The other feature missing is a flash player for the internet browser, but rumor says that one will be released soon. The 32GB iPod Touch is well worth purchasing and I can't wait to see the continued evolution of this product!
  
  
  
• 16Gb Ipod Touch--Don't waste your money
  By A1758MC7K8RL9Y on 2008-02-17
  I bought this item, last October. Since then I have been unable to do much but download some music onto it. In January, Itunes told me to update my ipod, it totally shut my ipod completely and was not able to fix it using the suggestions given on website---very little support. Called Apple and was told to send it in and they would replace item. Sent it in and received the same one back, they said they could not find anything wrong with it, well it worked again for a very short period of time and of course once the warranty was up on it (only 3 months) it stopped working again. Have tried everything again to no avail. What a waste to throw almost $400 dollars in the garbage, but Apple will not help me without charging me more money to talk to them and at least a $100 just to send machine in again. I am not willing to put more money into this piece of junk. Save your money!!!!!!!Buy something other than an apple ipod. I learned my lesson the hard and expensive way.
  
  
• Stepping Stone
  By A2GTBVPA1Q41I3 on 2008-02-23
  I almost bought an iPhone, but decided that I wasn't quite ready to ditch my Treo as a primary email device. I'm happy with that decision. The things which put me off the iPhone - the really crappy virtual keyboard and the current lack of applications - are the Cons to the iPod Touch experience too. The keyboard really is awful - I wouldn't type anything of more than three words. It drives me nuts, but maybe my fingers are just too big. And there just aren't enough applications available yet - not even a Task List. But having said all that, the iPod Touch is a beautiful piece of work and incorporates all of the great things which will eventually make the iPhone irresistable. Music functionality is still central, of course, and now with the added bonus that you can download songs directly from iTunes if the mood takes you in Starbucks or sitting on the toilet or wherever you happen to be using this thing within range of a WiFi signal. Video playback is awesome, light years ahead of the tiny screen on other iPods. I'm watching more video podcasts now than I ever did before. Reading email is also great, even though the aforementioned keyboard makes this a better email reader than an email writer. It's very convenient to be able to quickly check your email without having to boot up the computer or rely on your cellphone's slow download speed (WiFi is of course much faster than cellphone data speeds). There's a YouTube application which has a surprisingly large amount of content and can help to kill the time. There are also nifty applications for checking the weather and stocks, and which are hopefully a preview of the same kind of applications to come when Apple allows it. There's also an application for making notes, but for me this is useless unless I want to go nuts trying to use the keyboard. The battery life isn't great, but that's hardly a flaw of this device, more of battery technology in general (and it reminds me of another reason to stay away from the iPhone for now - make a few calls in the airport and wave goodbye to watching that movie on the plane). But overall I give this four stars. The design is simply superb, and it performs most of its core tasks quite excellently. It's not quite ready to replace my PDA yet, let alone my phone, but it's a great little gadget and plaything. If and when there are lots of applications available, and they figure out some kind of alternative to that ridiculous keyboard, and maybe add the ability to swap out batteries, then the Touch or iPhone will defnitely be ready to take over the world. And it goes without saying, this thing is Way cooler than a BlackBerry will ever be.
  
  
• Let The Music Play!
  By A6T1RHMQ9NSE4 on 2008-03-01
  I just purchased two of these from Amazon, I couldn't believe the price, much better than the apple store, and if you purchase from Amazon, they do have a price matching policy for thirty days. The first one was bought for my sixteen year old son who loves it and swears that it is THE BEST IPod that he's ever owned. I have to agree... I LOVE mine as well, the touch screen, the HUGE screen that shows videos, and the really cool show it gives you with the covers of your mp3s that you have on your Ipod. All very cool. The show..well that's what I call it.. is kind of like you are spinning a rack of the CD's that you own and you're trying to decide which ones to pick so you can listen to them. The only difference between this model and the regular 16 gb Ipod Touch is that this comes pre-loaded with the updates that were made available for all Ipod touch users in January at the Itunes store! This way, you don't have to pay the twenty dollars ($20.00) and download them to your Ipod Touch with the USB cord.
  
  I also love the fact that they redesigned the head phones so that they fit in my ears a little better. I thought the others were too big and always hurt my little ears. They just never fit right. Another thing that you never have to worry about again is that click wheel on the old Ipods, which was always one of my major complaints with the older models. I really hated that feature and always "clicked over" or "clicked past" something I wanted. So, needless to say, I'm so not sad to see that go!
  
  I've owned quite a few Ipods, as well as my son, and now the only complaint I have is what to do with our old ones! : )
  
  The new Ipod Touch is just beautiful to look at. It's a great conversation piece and it keeps you occupied for hours. If you are a music lover, an Ipod is a must. Watching videos and the like isn't a chore anymore...with a too small screen to enjoy the actual video...it's like the OLD MTV. Remember when they actually ONLY played VIDEOS?? : )
  
  I love the easy interface and set up of these mp3 players. Anyone can use it. It's easy to update your Ipod with the songs you want and the ones you want to remove. The new You Tube feature is very cool as well. Just type in what video *or whatever you'd like to watch* and there it is, on your screen, for free! I love the fact that I don't have to go on my computer to purchase songs if I don't want to and can do so wirelessly with the WiFi feature it's made quite simple. That was a big plus when deciding to buy.
  
  I also understand that besides being able to RENT movies on this little Ipod, they are also going to have new updates every now and then that you can buy to make it a little better. The newest update package for January includes the Weather, Stocks, Email, Maps and Notes. These applications can also be bought in the itunes store just like the movie rentals. Awesome! You can also move the keys around on the front of the touch screen to better suit your needs as well. I LOVE THIS THING! I am sure there will be much more to come, but I can't say it enough...that I Love it and I Love it the way it is. But I have to admit, the more I can do with it, the better it seems. I'm so happy with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone.
  
  So if you are thinking of getting one, contemplating the amount of money spent, it's worth every penny! No regrets. Oh and the GB thing. whether it's 8 or 16, It's really hard to fill up that much space with just music and videos. I've had the larger capacity ones and never came close to filling it. I have over 660 songs on my Ipod, along with videos and it's not even close to being half full. *we have the 16 GB*
  
  My son did drop his last one, right on the corner, I believe that's where the glass is the most vulnerable. So, my reccomendation to protect this beauty is a smart and really gorgeous looking case by DLO. It's a black leather case, very nice quality leather, and it has a flap that goes over the entire Ipod with a magnetic closure. It has access to the charging and headphone openings while closed and when you open the cover, you have full access to the touch screen and it will NEVER fall out. This is by far the best case I have seen for this item.
  
  I would highly recommend the iPod touch by Apple to anyone who LOVES music!
  
  
• ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!
  By A2WFD9A01XBK6Y on 2008-02-07
  I must wholeheartedly agree with my fellow Houstonian (above review); this device is incredible. This is the only product that has impressed me enough to actually sit down and write a review. The new apps work beautifully, and, the video is impressive. Connectivity is very simple and the controls become second nature in a short time.
  
  I, too, was one who complained about the "limited" storage, but, in reality 16GB is totally adequate for most anyone. How many songs can you listen to, or how many movies/videos can you watch over a given period of time?
  
  A definite buy.
  
  
• Very nice.. but misses in a few key areas.
  By A2ARDVMUGDFED6 on 2008-03-31
  Actual score: 3.5
  
  I'll start off by saying that I've always been a big iPod fan and that this is my 4th to purchase. I'll try to keep comparisons minimal, but coming from owning previous models, that might be a bit tough.
  
  Last year I made the plunge and purchased an iPhone -- not really for the phone, but more to have the latest/greatest ipod and web browsing on the go. My biggest complaint with it was the low storage capacity (4GB or 8GB). The 16GB touch was tempting, but the 32GB model is what finally sold me. I might have been wrong, but I came in expecting a "32GB iphone.. without the phone."
  
  We've all heard the positives, so I'd like to go a bit into the negatives that I experienced.
  
  Right off the bat, I was a bit disappointed. While it does have some benefits (I prefer the black bezel on the front to the silver on the iphone, the headphone jack (now on the bottom opposed to the top) accepts standard headphones without an adapter, and the ipod touch is slightly thinner), there are a few drawbacks.
  The first drawback I noticed was that Apple switched materials used for the back of the device (it was a soft, scratch-free, almost matte-like back on the iPhone while it's a glossy aluminum on the ipod touch and scratches VERY easily).
  
  The next problem came in connecting it to a PC - my first try didn't go as planned as I received errors stating that the device driver could not be loaded (and therefore could not be recognized). This is a new higher-end PC purchased in February 2008, so to have this type of problem was upsetting (all other devices have run without problems). After troubleshooting, I ended up reformatting to solve the problem (which worked), so I won't deduct any points for that.
  I have had some trouble with the device crashing while in coverflow - too often to call it "bad luck", and the trouble has forced me to go into text-view when searching for music on the device.
  
  After loading the device, I finally get a chance to use it and immediately notice that something is "off" in the colors. Everything had a visible yellow tint to it (as if the color temperature was set incorrectly). This was very annoying as blacks appeared green, white appeared yellow, and people appeared gold. I tried to look past it, but compared to the iPhone screen (and even the 5G ipod), the difference was VERY noticeable and very distracting. I returned the iPod to amazon, only to experience the same issue. I took that one to the Apple Store and, again, same issue. I'm starting to believe that this is a problem with all 32GB models (as the 8 and 16GB ones I tested, looked fine). My 3.5 star review is assuming that this gets fixed in a future update (either by adjusting the temperature, or offering a way for the end-user to do so - apparently this was the case with earlier 16GB models).
  
  Next problem: Sorting
  The iPod touch is obviously designed for video. Using it for an audio-only player seems to kind of defeat the purpose of that great screen. Why, then, does all content appear in a single list with no way to sort (Podcasts, Movies, Music Videos, TV Shows) or even jump to specific areas?
  The way the Video application is designed is to provide one long list with Movies on top, TV shows next, followed by Music Videos and Video Podcasts at the bottom. The problem here is that I have 350 music videos that I have to scroll through each time to get to the Podcasts section. 2 more issues here are that (1) you must manually scroll down to the video of your choice - unlike Albums (and even "Contacts") that let you quick-jump to any letter by scrolling along the right side of the screen, and (2) there is no "Play All" option for videos - once one ends, it returns to the menu until you select another video. While this isn't a big deal for most situations, I use it for watching music videos and sometimes you'd like to just put it down and go through a playlist of videos.
  
  Audio lets you sort by:
  Playlists / Artists / Songs / Albums / Audiobooks / Compilations / Composers / Genres / Podcasts
  Why doesn't video let you even sort by Movie/Music Video/Podcasts/TV Shows?
  
  The Photo app is very nice for showing off your photos, but another missing function here is the Camera. I think that the iPhone camera would've been great to have on here, and it isn't a phone-specific feature that would be useless for ipod users.
  
  The Calendar function is useful - I don't have too much of a use for it so I didnt explore it much, but it is functional. The same goes for other apps like Weather, Stocks, etc..
  
  Mail and Safari are by far my favorite apps, but since they require a wifi connection, I havent had much of a chance to use them (and instead use the iPhone on edge). If you have wifi access where you commonly travel, these are excellent programs. Youtube has gotten much better also (expanding the amount of videos available on the mobile version), maps is a perfect representation of Google Maps and the Calculator is just that. These applications are fantastic but also useless if you live in an area without many wifi hotspots. With that said, the mobile safari browser is the best mobile browser I've ever seen.
  
  The notes function is one of my most used, however, it doesnt allow you to sync your notes to it (at least on a PC). Very disappointing! The Clock application lets you view world clocks, set a timer, alarm or use it as a stopwatch (which brings me in to my next disappointment). The iPhone speakers have been removed, so to listen to any audio you must use headphones (this is usually used with videos/youtube when you want to show video to others or to multiple people.. disappointing that you cannot do this without either passing earphones around or buying an external speaker set). The noises are now replaced by bleeps and bloops (like you'd get from an old-school 8-bit gaming system).
  
  The design is very slick. However, I feel that they went for looks over functionality on this one. The touch has just 2 buttons: Power/Sleep and Home. This is nice for looks, but bad for ease of use. The iphone, while also minimal, at least had physical controls for volume on it.
  This is very important when the device is out of view -- one big use for my ipods has always been as a radio/cdplayer replacement for my car. In the past I've always been able to adjust volume or tracks by touch (either with a touchwheel or physical buttons like the shuffle), with the ipod touch (and iphone) I'm unable to adjust tracks without double tapping home and then physically looking at the screen to locate the 'next track' buttons. This also affects you if the ipod is in your pocket and you wish to change tracks. This is probably some sort of plan to get us to shell out another $50 for a remote control once they release one, but then again I might just be paranoid ;)
  On a serious note though, I am a bit disappointed in the AV cables for the iPod touch - they require all new cables (meaning 5G ones won't work here), cost $49.99 for either Component or Composite and max-out at 480i or 576i (not even progressive).
  
  Going back to the positives, unlike the iPhone which came with a dock for holding the device vertical, the iPod comes with a very small piece of plastic which is actually a stand for holding it vertical or horizontal - very compact and well thought out.
  
  The keyboard is great and the predictive text can be as well (although you will find some words that it INSISTS on changing to incorrect ones, which can really frustrate you), overall it's fantastic. My disappointment here comes from the fact that the device requires a physical touch (meaning no stylus or other devices), which then means massive fingerprints covering the screen.
  
  As expected, the device requires all content be converted and transferred through itunes - great if you have your content in that format, but if you just want to add some video files, you must convert them to the specifications that it understands (hopefully they allow 3rd party codecs with the 2.0 release, but again it's expected so I won't knock any points for it).
  
  The device has great file support, including office-type documents (through weblinks and email) but for whatever reason, does not like you transfer these documents to the device. Very disappointing here, and again a change I hope is made in 2.0.
  
  I also don't like the idea of charging for what should be considered "free software updates" - Sony has added fantastic features to the PSP for years, yet apple charges $20 for a few extras that are included free with the iPhone? If this becomes a trend, I see them holding back content and selling it to you later on (much like recent downloadable content on the videogame consoles)
  
  
  I know I seemed to go more into negatives in this review, but we've all read the positives (which I agree with, for the most part) and felt that some of these important negatives (important to me at least) should be mentioned.
  Overall I am satisfied with the device, but for the high price and disappointments, I can't give it a score much higher. Fix the software problems and screen tint and it's a solid 4.5 from me.
  
  
• Beware of iPod Touch
  By A3PEE2FRSBTC25 on 2008-03-31
  I purchased the 16GB iPod Touch for Christmas but unfortunately it stopped functioning after only 3 months of normal use. When I tried to return the product to an Apple store they 'reset' the iPod, which appeared to fix the problem. As soon as I got home it was clear that the iPod was still not functioning correctly. I went back to the store the next day but was told that they were too busy to help me. Apple then sent me to another store (30 minute drive away) where I was forced to wait for 3 hours before anyone would help me. When I finally got someone to help, it took about 5 minutes for them to realize that the iPod was defective at which point they replaced the device.
  
  Three trips to two different Apple stores with over 5 hours of waiting. And to top it all off they refused to replace the plastic screen protector (which I had purchased from Apple).
  
  Save yourself a headache and try another product. Or at least wait another year until they figure out how to make this product without defects.
  
  
• Buyer be aware
  By A1JVVWZKFLW2WF on 2008-05-26
  Buyer be aware: IPod Touch only plays video bought from iTune store. If you convert your home video or your own DVD collection to MP4 format and tried to watch, you will NOT be able to. It keeps crashing. It is a shame that Apple never states this fact in the description. After trying many different approaches with Apple techincal support, they finally admitted "videos from sources other than bought from iTune store are NOT supported" even though it is MP4 format.
  
  
• My best gadget purchase in years!!
  By AE9Q83U8XASTR on 2008-02-29
  You will not regret buying the Touch with the software update - I am very, very happy with mine. Bright screen, world-class fit and finish, pretty good battery life and tons of functionality. Your photos will look great, Gmail is easy, and I have already downloaded a lot of map coverage (which cannot be "synced" onto the Touch as far as I can tell - you have to connect the Touch to the internet thru your wireless). I connected it to my laptop and all of my old iPod Nano music synced onto the Touch in a matter of minutes. Music, photos, e-mail, notes for (eg) a journal plus stocks and weather - the software update Touch has a lot to offer. OK - I do have one complaint and one suggestion - I wish they would have made the backside matte-finished instead of polished - it is really a finger-print magnet. And, I would prefer it to be just a little bigger to make some things (like maps) easier to read. Kudos to J&R Music and Computer too - I ordered this from Amazon but J&R sold and shipped it - it was in Iraq eight days after I placed the order!!
  Edited on 03/03/2008 to add: The Touch continues to impress me. You can't really "save" maps on it - but if you place a bookmark at a location then that area and map scale is preserved to use when you are not on-line. G-mail continues to work like a charm. The Touch has easily replaced my old PDA and offers much more functionality.
  
  
• Ahhh, finally enough space, definitely a worthwhile upgrade from 8GB!
  By A3SVYWA9O1KUQV on 2008-03-01
  I bought this 16GB as an upgrade from my 8GB Touch, and what a relief to finally have enough space for all my music and some videos into the bargain! I'm also very happy that this is available at what I consider to be a much more reasonable price for a 16GB Flash player (at $320 which is what I got mine for). So, here's the things I love about the 16GB Touch:
  
  1) Big beautiful screen
  2) Touch screen interface
  3) Wifi connectivity with Safari, iTunes and YouTube built right into the main screen. Its awesome, I love to watch a few YouTube clips during my lunch break at the spot with the free Wifi.
  4) Changeable background, finally!
  5) Sleek form factor slides nicely into my pocket.
  6) Don't have to use it as a cell phone (ok I'm a little biased against the iPhone, I admit it so its ok).
  7) Flips back and forth from landscape to portrait modes depending on how you hold it or what you are viewing.
  8) Power/Sleep button, thank you Apple for finally deigning to put a power-ish button on an iPod! Its nice being able to turn off the display at will with a dedicated button.
  9) Automatic brightness adjustment, absolute genius!
  10) Seems to remember where you left off on every video on the unit, awesome feature I love it!
  11) iTunes: for any iPod you have to count the flawless relationship with iTunes as a big plus, you just can't beat it for reliability, ease of use and great features (and believe me I've tried!) And the automatic firmware updates are a big plus. I also like the way you can download calendar and email information through iTunes.
  12) Great Now Playing music page, the album art fills the whole screen and by tapping the middle you get immediate access to repeat and shuffle buttons. Now you can now easily shuffle just a playlist, a feature that has been hard to find on previous iPods.
  13) Like any other iPod, accessories abound and are easily purchased just about anywhere!
  14) Apple customer service is good imo, they stand behind their product and will replace without much hassle as I know from experience.
  15) The great new stuff, Notes, Mapping, stocks, you can customize the home page, email, etc.
  16) Quick access to play/volume buttons even when its locked (by double-clicking on the home button)... so I can save on the battery and still have quick access while listening to music.
  
  But of course, nothing is perfect. I give this a 5 stars because it is such a great innovation for Apple and a great product, but that doesn't mean that its without flaws and here's the ones I've noticed so far:
  
  1) Touch screen can be a bit frustrating, often doesn't feel me and often I miss the button I'm aiming for with my fat fingers (they feel fat when trying to hit keyboard buttons on that screen anyway!). I understand that this is a "Capacitance" screen which means you can't use a stylus or your fingernail, you have to register firm contact with your flesh on the screen. I have also had occasional problems with the touch screen (or parts of it) locking up. However, a reset (hold sleep and home buttons down at the same time for at least 10 seconds!) of the unit seems to fix the problem every time.
  2) Screen flipping: although this is a cool concept it can be annoying sometimes. Occasionally the screen flips as I'm moving around and I didn't want it to. So I sit there twisting the thing to and fro trying to get the alignment I want. Wouldn't it be nice if you could lock it into the perspective you want and it would just stay there (is anybody at Apple listening?)
  3) Hard to operate "blind", as I walk around I like to be able to pause/play or adjust volume without having to look at the screen. Very easy to do on my Classic iPod, almost impossible on the Touch. I have to pull it out of my pocket almost every time I want to pause or adjust the volume. I miss having dedicated play and volume buttons, I think it was a mistake to get rid of them... one thing I like about the Archos and Classic!
  4) Sound quality is not quite as good as my iPod Classic or my Archos 605, I've tried it on speakers and headphones and the Video has just a little bit cleaner smoother sound especially at high volume.
  5) No built in USB port!
  6) Customization options for sound EQ and User Interface themes are still pretty limited when compared to a player like the iRiver Clix2.
  
  Overall, its an awesome innovative, trendsetting, and fun product and if you really like having the coolest mp3 playing toys (like me!) and money is not a major concern I say what are you waiting for?
  
  
  
• The best iPod ever! (updated)
  By AEMIU3UPLL629 on 2008-02-06
  This is an incredible device.
  
  Pros: very intuitive touch screen, great wifi reception, great internet browser, coverflow
  
  Cons: Many say price but this thing is worth every penny, some physical volume button button would be nice
  
  This iPod has some incredibe features:
  *Customizable home screen(change the layout, change what icons are in the dock)
  *Up to nine different home screens
  *Able to turn your favorite websites into home screen icons
  *Easy to use and well designed applications
  *Youtube-well designed, streams quickly, good quality
  *itunes wifi-download music directly to your ipod, transfers back to your computer music library
  *Contacts-easy to use, can ad contacts from your emails
  *Clock-world clock,stopwatch with laps, alarm clock and timer
  *Photos-swipe to go between pictures, you can make cool photo slideshows and display them on tv. (composite cable)
  *Calculator-very basic
  *Mail-my favorite application, I have 4 email accounts in mail, really easy set up, pretty basic set up, it displays ms word dogs, excell and photos quickly and nicely, can create contacts out of emails
  *Map-cool, has a mock gps locator using wifi, very accurate directions, if you actually want to use the directions in the car first next through the route, this will cache all of the maps and directions for when ur in the car without wifi
  *Stocks and weather- basic but useful widgets
  *Music is great quality, cover flow is incredible, now has lyric support
  *Videos- great quality, if you don't
  
  Sorry its cut off I will add more soon
  
  YOU WILL LOVE THIS DEVICE
  
  
• Please read before buying
  By AVU2WYVMSWC8Y on 2008-03-30
  I purchased an IPOD touch w/software updates (3) weeks ago. It is great for music and short videos. But you cannot download large files - such as movies. According to the blogs on apple.com, it appears a large number of people are having the same problem. Your will receive an error message that reads, Ipod cannot be synced, the disk could not be read from or written to.
  From the blogs it appears most users are using the software -XP Windows. Please read over the blogs.
  I will be returning mine and exchange it for an ipod nano.
  
  
  
• The best handheld device in the world.
  By A3DII4UMGWOYP1 on 2008-02-06
  I've already written a thorough review for the 16GB iPod touch at Apple iPod touch 16 GB without Software Updates. I got the January Software Update, so the only difference between my iPod and this one is the memory capacity. In fact, I've only got about 1/3 gigabyte left on my iPod touch 16GB, so I'm thinking about selling it for $300 and buying this iPod.
  
  I think that most people don't need to pay extra to have this much storage. With only 16GB, I've got more than 1,000 photos, about 250 songs, six audiobooks, two movies, a short film, the latter two seasons of "Avatar: The Last Airbender," the free TV episode that comes with the iPod touch, "How I Met Your Mother," 21 music videos, and like a hundred emails.
  
  Since I just got my very first Visa card, I've enjoyed downloading lots of stuff from iTunes. The 16GB iPod touch is just enough to hold my entire collection minus a chick flick my Mom downloaded.
  
  Bottom line: Only buy this iPod if you've got lots of video and/or a massive music collection. If you do, it's worth the $500.
  
  
• Still no Bluetooth?
  By A21QDASUVVM04Y on 2008-02-16
  Almost 500 bucks and still no Bluetooth? Apple really dropped the ball on this one. My Blackberry Curve has it and that device is a year old.
  
  Call me when I can stream music to my bluetooth car radio or headset on this thing.
  
  
• great device... almost perfect
  By A30Z0RCM2PV86I on 2008-03-03
  I bought this device about 2 weeks ago and first let me say I have always hated apple not for their design but for things laike not being able to remove the battery (and I just can't stand those white head phones) That being said I really like this device it' slick, thin and pretty. What aplle does well they do very well. There are problems with the touch, atleast there is for me. First the keyboard sucks! I don't know if it is that my fingers are big or what, secondly the fact that you can't take tha battery out still bothers me and lastly Apple commercials say you can read the paper while traveling with the touch or check e-mail, utubes etc. but just remember (For those who don't know) you have to be in a hot spot in order to do this if not it is useless. all in all although I am still an apple hater I do however concede to the design of this device.
  
  
• ON? OFF? VOLUME?
  By A37UT8UNTLEFHX on 2008-04-10
  The most basic elements of a music playing machine are ON, OFF and VOLUME. These are all highly inaccessible on the go, which is where this device is used otherwise use the home computer or home stereo. So you are walking down the street with your iPod touch going and you are rockin' out a bit and a you see a friend and they say "Hi" and you barely heard them so ensues the awkwardness of this machine. To lower the volume or pause in the 1/2 second you have is impossible. You have to wait for screens to show up and gravity to send the right message and screens to adjust and lighting and etc. and then you have to hit this and slide that and by then your friend is gone. Best is to rip the ear buds out and risk all those tangles as the bud finds whatever edge or corner it can then gets grabbed and the jack gets ripped from the machine or whatever... its a freaking mess. Operating this machine while driving? Might as well drink a fifth of Jack because that's how disconnected from the road you get when trying to change anything about what's playing.
  
  in a nutshell. great device if you are are stationary but then isn't that what a desktop computer is for? Don't waste your time, money and frustration free moments.
  
  PS - the touch screen is sketchy - some times it works, sometimes it doesn't - simply a gimmick thats not ready for primetime or useful engagement on the human finger.
  
  
  
  
• New League of iPod
  By A3G6N66V3T62YA on 2008-02-15
  Came as a Valentine's gift from my wife and to think I disliked Valentine's day... This iPod just takes mp3 to a whole different league. Its probably a good few months ahead of its time. Music capabilities are amazing and the least that this device offers. Video screen size is really very reasonable to realistically enjoy a full movie without straining your eyes and ears too much and with its portability and 'slimness', it becomes the most sought after player of any sort.
  
  Combine this with very fast 'free' wireless internet that actually replaces use of your PC/Mac interent because of its amazing speed.... and there you have it, device of the future that does it all.
  
  The screen scroll options and zoom in and out are out of this world, especially as you scroll with your fingers sliding across the screen. When less than enough momentum develops with the scroll, it bounces back into place ("Minority Report" kind of screen action). Also, how does it know to flip the screen sideways when you physically rotate the iPod....? Amazing!!!!
  
  32GB is an extremely reasonable size and especially since it is designed for movie and TV show viewing. I really would highly recommmend this over the 16GB and definitely not the 8GB. By the time you load music and photos, you'd like to have enough for more than a movie or two at a time. 32GB is comfortable and to double your memory for an extra $100 is probably a very good investment. So glad they brought out the 32GB, perfect size.
  
  I'd like to finish by finding flaws since it provides a more objective review but really, flaws are very limited here. Its too impressive to disappoint in any way. I guess I'd say the button size when surfing online can be a little uncomfortable if you have big fingers, in which case using a random stylus could certainly do the trick.
  
  I love mine probably as my most prized possession right now.
  
  
• It feels like magic!
  By A2S5VYOAC5U0HB on 2008-02-25
  Before my iPod touch, I had a Palm Tungsten E, which worked well enough. But after using my iPod touch, the Tungsten feels like the stone ages!
  The touch's interface is snappy and snazzy, and it can do a lot as long as you have access to a wireless hotspot. Google maps can pinpoint your location to within a 100 yards, and can route you to your destination, and even has traffic information!
  All your contact and calendar information is identical to what's on your Mac (along with photos), and you can also read and write email. And of course you can surf the web too.
  How amazing is all this in a tiny package with a reasonable price?
  Not everything is perfect though. It'd be nice to have a To-Do list, be able to rate songs, search through contacts, have all applications handle both landscape and portrait display modes (it's a little annoying to be forced into one display mode or another), and yes, hardware volume controls would have been convenient. But overall, I'm really impressed (tickled really) buy how "magical" the experience of using the touch is. 5 stars.
  
  
• Almost Perfect
  By A2GUD29X2AU67G on 2008-03-20
  I live in a rural area and Verizon is the only game in town, if you want to place calls at your residence. So I knew I wouldn't buy an iPhone until a 3G version debuted.
  
  I did, however, want the capability of checking my email and website while out. I knew from experience with a notebook computer that there were lots of wireless connections that were free to use. So for that reason, the Touch was just what I wanted.
  
  I really like typing on this - what a difference when compared to texting on a cellphone. The feedback when you're using the qwerty keyboard is super. What a well-thought-out interface. It works well enough so that I find myself typing full email replies instead of cryptic text-message relies.
  
  I always have a movie or two, and some unwatched TV shows stored on it. I watch when I'm waiting in doctor's offices or when I'm having my car worked on. The screen is gorgeous.
  
  Ironically, I prefer my iPod nano for listening to podcasts. The iPod Touch has a drill-down for podcasts and playlists that I just don't feel comfortable with. And to be perfectly frank, my all-time favorite podcast listening device is my original shuffle - but my husband takes the shuffle with him now. The Touch's menu system for podcasts is why I rated it only 4 -stars.
  
  I use the notepad function a lot, as well as the calender function. I store all my grocery lists in notes, along with my to-do lists.
  
  When Apple removed the phone, why didn't they leave the camera? That's one thing I could not understand. There are simply times when I need to take a quick picture of something, and if I'm carrying the Touch, why not use this? Instead, I have to pull out my phone or my Sony camera. When I'm taking a quick photo, I don't need super high resolution - it's usually a reference image, not something to archive. The 2-megapixel camera in the iPhone would have been perfectly fine. I hope they include this function in the next generation.
  
  I'd buy it again, and happily connect to my gmail account now. If they include a camera in the next version, I might buy that too.
  
  
• I returned it
  By AW6P5TYJN9LKU on 2008-03-29
  The screen is great. The music sounds very good with suitable ear buds. The touch keyboard is difficult to use. The wifi is what really drove me to return it. It was inconsistent to say the least. I spent a lot of time trying to get the wifi to work, but I just got too frustrated. Apple is worthless at helping too. If you google the product, you will find that I am not the only frustrated person.
  Itunes stinks too, although I would prefer to use profanity to describe it.
  
  
  
• Insanely mediocre ... a video player, not a mobile computing device
  By A7EELWVB03VWH on 2008-05-09
  OK... here's the iPod Touch in a nutshell:
  
  PROS:
  - beautiful screen
  - nice interface
  - decent sound
  - excellent Web browser (when WiFi works)
  - perfect for watching videos purchased from iTunes
  
  CONS
  - Can't save text to it in any form (ASCII, PDF, RSS, HTML... nothing!)
  - Virtual controls make it impossible to adjust music without looking at it
  - WiFi doesn't support LEAP protocol, commonly used by corporations with secure networks
  - No ability to download applications, information... nothing, except content purchased from iTunes
  
  Basically, the iPod Touch is a portable video player. If you want to watch TV shows or movies on your morning commute, and are comfortable with the iTunes buying experience, it works very well. You want to actually use it as a mobile computing device? It's useless. Apple has deliberately hobbled it so it won't compete with the iPhone. The fact you can't save any text to it is beyond ludicrous. How incredibly useful this device would be if you could load it up with news clippings or books or web content or e-mails or friggin' notes you typed up yourself... but you can't. You can buy movies and music from iTunes. That's really all it's designed to do.
  
  I feel seriously cheated by the iPod Touch... cheated by a 16GB handheld computer that won't let me load a lick of ASCII to it (contact and calendar sync notwithstanding). Never would have bought it if I had realized that. It's a major screw-the-customer job from Apple that I can only hope they rectify with a upcoming software update.
  
  -- mm
  
  

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