iPod Touch - Pros/Cons?
Friday, February 22nd, 2008 - 1:31pm
Thinking of picking one up today. I've never owned an iPod and my current MP3 player is my PSP which is kinda bulky, so I figure, why not join the flock? 
I just have a couple questions though:
- Does Safari work with most sites and java/flash?
- Any way to transfer (ie. mount it as removable storage) besides iTunes?
- Any chance in hell of Divx/Xvid codec support via hacking (yeah fat chance I imagine)
one of us... one of us...
The Touch, when it first came out, wouldn't even LET you put it into "disk" mode... now, though, I believe they finally unlocked that in one of the last firmware updates.
You can browse the Touch as an external HD, but only for files... music needs to go through a program... I think iTunes is fine, personally. But there are at least a handful of other iTunes-alternatives out there (both pay and free):
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/11/08/itunes-alternatives/
http://www.simplehelp.net/2007/07/08/10-alternatives-to-itunes-for-manag...
No experience with the mobile safari browser... I've been waiting for the 32GB model, but I'm not biting until it's down to $299 at least.
edit:
I've personally used XPLAY before ($25 US)
http://www.mediafour.com/products/xplay/
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That's What She Said -- A Podcast About NBC's THE OFFICE
Java, yes. Flash, no. There is no flash support in Safari... yet.
Nope. But there are apps to convert divx/xvid to the itouch format. I've used them for my iPhone and they work just fine. http://www.itouchconverter.com/ I think is the one I used.
-- My Biking Team --
If you get hooked on watching TV/movies from your iPod Touch, 32GB is too small.
Safari works with most sites but does not currently support flash. No comment on the other 2 questions.
We shall grapple with the ineffable, and see if we may not eff it after all.
Rumors of yet another $100 price drop have been circulating for about a week now, so you may want to wait a bit.
"The pen is mightier than the flaming bag of poop" - Bart Simpson
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Thanks guys, I ended up getting one at lunch. The 8GB was on sale for $269. I'm not a huge music hoarder and I don't plan on putting a ton of video (maybe the odd H.264 here and there) so it's more then enough. Hell, I made my 512MB mem stick last ages in my PSP
Thanks for the tip on the converter. I've tried many H.264 converters (including PSPVideo9 and all that jazz) but the results are all over the place. Re-encoding is a pain in the ass. I'll give it a try though.
No Flash is kinda a bummer, how I am supposed to watch Strongbad?
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There have been strong rumors that Flash is coming. Patience.
I'm telling you, I use the Cucusoft ipod video converting suite. I don't use h.264, but rather reencode in .mp4 format... but the Cucusoft suite will reencode a 22 minute divx video in about 2 minutes (or less). It makes me happy.
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That's What She Said -- A Podcast About NBC's THE OFFICE
Wow.. again thanks for the tip, I'll definitely check it out..
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I'm pretty impressed with it so far! I've just spent the last few hours playing with it all. And even for my big fingers, I'm still able to type pretty quick.
Oh.. iTunes is addictive eh? So many little previews...
XBL: Swat R2 PSN: swatr2
I'm definitely eyeing the ipod touch. Hopefully when they introduce the software development kit (next week?) the usefulness of it will increase exponentially. I have a decrepit Palm Tungsten C which is pushing 5 years of age now, which I use primarily for medical references. My only qualm is the on-screen keyboard on the touch/iphone. I just can't get the hang of using it whenever I fool around with it at the store. I just dont think you can beat true tactile feedback like I get with my Palm.
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I would consider grabbing an iPhone instead of a Touch even if you don't want the phone part now. (you can fairly easily opt of the phone contract upon activation afaik.)
Here's my reasoning ...(for getting an iPhone over a Touch)
1) External Speaker. It comes in handy when sharing music or video with others. Also many times I just don't want headphones on. It's not going to win sound quality awards, and this is just my personal experience, but I would miss it if I just had a Touch. (note: I'm assuming the Touch doesn't have this capability. I could be wrong.)
2) Dock and USB power adapter included. Yes it's $100 more for a comparably-sized iPhone, but these accessories alone are at least $60 if not $80.
3) Rocker switch. I admit to not knowing what the Touch exactly has, but you have some volume control buttons on the outside of the iPhone. I don't think this is true iwth the Touch. (I could be wrong.) These are quite handy.
4) Headphones with mic (and ability to pause and skip music while listening to it) capability on them. Another handy feature. Found only in the iPhone package.
5) Free updates. Yeah I think you can still get these even if you opt of the contract at activation.
6) Last, but not least you get the Phone. Maybe you won't use it now, but in the future you just might.
The reasons for getting the Touch instead:
1) Thinner. I admit I do like the thinner form factor more even though we're talking a few mm's.
2) No 32gb iPhone model.
3) $100 less if the accessories and features of the iPhone don't seem worth it to you.
Tie:
1) The Look. The iPhone gives you chrome. The Touch has black edging. I kind of like both actually. So it's a tie.
I'm going to buy the 32 gb version and jailbreak that baby. There are so many good applications that people are making. It is also very easy to do now.
The price should drop pretty soon.
Thanks for standin' still Wanker!
-XBox Gamertag: Tempest Blaze (Without the Y!)
I've had a 32GB Touch for about a week, now. Some cons I've found about the Touch:
1) You can't leave the display on and lock the screen at the same time, which is annoying when you're watching video.
2) The on-screen seek bar is far less accurate than the scroll wheel was when listening to a lengthy file, such as with podcasts.
3) The chrome backing scratches as easily as every other iPod has.
4) There's no physical volume control. You get the lock/wake and home buttons, period, although enabling Sound Check in iTunes can make this less of an issue.
5) The wi-fi support doesn't include some of the more exotic security schemes, like LEAP/EAP.
But there are pros:
1) The screen. When watching video (always in landscape), it's ever-so-slightly taller than the Zune's screen and noticeably wider, all while sporting a higher native resolution.
2) The browser, as in managing to cram a good one into a 7mm thin device. Safari works pretty well, although some sites, like Google Reader, will default to an iPhone-friendly version instead of the real thing. The AJAX support is quirky. The responsiveness when scrolling around pages that won't completely fit onto the screen is terrific, though. Combined with the quick column zoom and "pinch" gesture, it makes for an extremely usable browser.
3) It can join adhoc networks, too, such as one provided by WMWifiRouter. I get to keep my 3G Windows Mobile phone, which is far handier when it comes to work, and still use the browser anywhere without paying AT&T and Apple money every month after the initial hardware investment.
4) The Weather applet in the software update. Seriously, I may never bother checking the basic weather forecast any other way.
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Seeing as the 32GB model just debuted last month, I think you're in for a long wait.
I'd also wait a little while and see what happens with Apple and their release of the SDK... hopefully, if they actually do the right thing, you won't have to jailbreak anything.
xbox LIVE: NatsuMatto
That's What She Said -- A Podcast About NBC's THE OFFICE
I'm too poor to afford something so glamorous and too rough to make it stay pretty
It's a cool toy, but I would miss the convenience of being able to adjust volume and skip tracks without pulling it out for a look. My own preferences though 
"I am heavy weapons guy, this is my weapon. She weighs 150 kilograms and fires $200 custom tooled cartridges at 10,000 rounds per minute. It costs 400,000 dollars to fire this weapon for 12 seconds..."
After some extensive play time this weekend:
Cons
* No physical volume/skip controls. I'm sure there is a dongle out there that solves this issue, so it's not that big of a deal.
* Gets greasy fast, it will never be clean. Seriously, it's a bit ridiculous.
* Headphones are crap, but I wasn't expecting good ones to begin with.
* Accessories, as expected, bend you over at the till.
Pros
* Dead sexy. It's a bit ridiculous. Screen = love you long time.
* Light and super thin. Slips it into your jeans and you barely notice it.
* The touching (I had to get used to not "tapping") is very intuitive and for the most part works incredibly well.
* Accelerometer tilting is very cool.
* I've never been more impressed with a portable browser. It doesn't have flash, but it does everything else right. Even if the device was simply a portable Safari gadget, I'd drop a couple bones on it. It's that good.
* Text input is surprisingly quick, easy and mostly accurate.
* iTunes integration over wireless is amazing. Every song has a preview. Color me impressed.
* Scrolling through album covers adds fun to the experience.
* Weather and other Widgets are fun and slick.
* Video playback, as expected, was proper.
* Having quick, fast, easy access to my Gmail account? The mail app, while not a lot of bells and whistles, rocks. Quick and clean.
So yeah, I'm a happy camper. Can't wait to see how this sucker evolves, I know it won't be my last.
XBL: Swat R2 PSN: swatr2
Is there a way on these to find out their MAC address or do they even have one?
I got one for my girlfriend and having problems getting it to connect to the wirelss network at the house. I have the network shutdown to only allow specific MAC addresses.
Gamer Tag: Rantyr
I just checked Rantyr, under settings/info there's the MAC address.. maybe give that one a try?
XBL: Swat R2 PSN: swatr2
I was thinking about getting a touch, but I went all the way and got the iphone instead.
I'm glad I did. It's a great little device.
The only downside is I'm in constant contact now, it's very difficult to dodge calls because there's no way I won't have it with me... and people know that.
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How does GWJ display on the browser?
"PEACE ON EARTH. GOOD WILL TO MEN. PUBLIC SHELTER. ADMISSION 50¢"
Displays great on my iphone. I've used to make my last few posts, actually. The ability to rotate it to widescreen comes in handy.
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There's a poorly documented feature that a lot of people never discover: if you double click on the "home" button while the iPod Touch is locked, it makes the volume and pause/skip controls available on screen without fully unlocking it. Once your thumb learns the position of the controls (which I found easy to get used to), you can quickly adjust the volume or skip to the next track without having to look at it or fully unlock it. Re-lock it by hitting the lock button or just waiting a few seconds.
"Remember when we told you there was no future? Well, this is it." -- Blank Reg
Look under Settings -> About. The MAC address is listed as "Wi-Fi Address."
We shall grapple with the ineffable, and see if we may not eff it after all.
I used the iPhone to browse GWJ when I was on my long roadtrip this fall, and it was highly readable. I didn't post much from the road, but I did lots of reading.
Yup.. my iPod has been great to catch up on GWJ while we're watching tv. That and the super quick gmail friendly smtp client. I find it's even quicker to check my mail on it instead of opening up the laptop or hopping on the main computer
XBL: Swat R2 PSN: swatr2
So, just to be clear - I can rip mp3's from my existing cds and put them on the Touch, right?
Extremism in the defense of liberty *is* a vice. It has been since the first Crown Loyalist was tarred, feathered and set afire, and it's no better now. It corrupts first the individual, then ultimately the institution it defends.
Nope... iPods ONLY play officially DRM'd AAC tracs from the iTunes store.
Psyche.
YES, iPods can play MP3s.
xbox LIVE: NatsuMatto
That's What She Said -- A Podcast About NBC's THE OFFICE
Robear, absolutely. One caveat: the iTunes MP3 encoder isn't very good. You'll get better results if you rip with EAC, compress with LAME, and then load the tracks into your iTunes library.
I jailbroke (what is the past tense of jailbreak anyway?) my iphone last weekend.
It was ludicrously easy. The added customization stuff is really nice and makes it look cool, but I haven't found any "must have" applications, really.
I installed an NES emulator. It's pretty decent, but not fully functional. You can't save state and return, and since the touch interface makes faster games tough to play, and you can't save your longer games (i.e. Final Fantasy) it's not particularly useful.
I have been using the ebook reader though. It does appear to have trouble loading larger files though.
All in all, it's fun and easy, but there's little point.
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Is there a good tool for that process, Malor? (And Matt, good one!)
Extremism in the defense of liberty *is* a vice. It has been since the first Crown Loyalist was tarred, feathered and set afire, and it's no better now. It corrupts first the individual, then ultimately the institution it defends.