Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
 Sublime technology April 6, 2008
James V (Herefordshire UK)
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
I've been using a 32GB touch since release, previously owning iPod mini and nano models. For those of you out there still using older iPod models, make no mistake - the Touch is a huge leap forward in technology.
Reasons to buy:
- as with all iPods, a breeze to link up and manage large music and video collections via iTunes
- simply gorgeous touchscreen technology that is immediately responsive and intuitive to use
- fully functional web browsing with Safari and transfer of Bookmarks (Favourites) from your Mac/PC
- easy WiFi connection (in my experience) - it recognised my Netgear network immediately and linked with no problems. The coverage is better than any other desktop or laptop that I own and works in parts of the house that have never received coverage before
- multiple new features on recent software upgrade and many more expected with recent release of the Apple SDK
- ample memory to deal with even the largest music and photo libraries - how much music can you listen to at once anyway?
- transfer of DVDs to iTunes makes watching full length films on the Touch easy - 3rd party freeware needed - I recommend Handbrake for Mac users, easily available and self explanatory
- etc. etc. etc. !
Reasons not to:
- er......price? But you'll get over it.
Stephen Fry is right about this one March 26, 2008
Chris White (United Kingdom)
45 out of 48 found this review helpful
I bought an iPod touch with some trepidation. I had a bad experience with an iPod Photo a few years back: it would never sync with my PC reliably and kept losing album art. Having always been a loyal Sony buyer, I ditched it and went for a 20GB NW-HD3 instead.
However, technology moves on and once again I found myself looking for a music player. While reading various reviews, I happened on Stephen Fry's website. Besides his many other achievements, Fry is a rabid technophile and fierce advocate (and owner) of all things Apple. He views possession of an iMac as a prerequisite for a well-rounded life and if I'd asked for his advice, no doubt I would be told sagely, "iPod, therefore I am."
Fry says of the iPhone, the touch's more communicative sibling, that it provides "a digital experience in the literal sense of the word. The user's digits roam, stroke, tweak, tweeze, pinch, probe, slide, swipe and tap across the glass screen forging a relationship with the device that is like no other."
With its identical interface, the iPod touch can be similarly described. First impressions are that it is innovative, appealing and so far very reliable. Wi-fi 'true' web browsing is a plus - especially the ability to add songs direct from the iTunes website. I won't go into an exhaustive list of other features as that can be found on Amazon's product page.
There are some niggles. Text entry is something that needs practising: the virtual buttons are so close together that it's easy to input the wrong one - but this can be avoided if you don't lift your finger and slide it to the intended character. Also, although I found the iTunes software to be a vast improvement on its earlier incarnation (it can now sort solo artists by surname, for example), be careful when adding similarly titled albums (such as "Greatest Hits"). In its album search and cover flow modes, the iPod treats all tracks from these as belonging to one album, regardless of artist. Apple is apparently aware of the problem but a workaround is to use all the 'sort by' fields for track and album artist and then insert a different number of blank spaces after the title of each affected album. The iPod will then list them separately.
A case is absolutely essential. I noticed on my old iPod that the chrome back was susceptible to scratch marks (seemingly appearing out of nowhere) and the touch is no different. Some sort of protector for the screen is also desirable, as the supplied one will soon start to lift.
Despite these quibbles, this has to be a contender for the best multimedia device out there at the moment. Hell, my next computer might even be a Mac!
reviews on reviews March 10, 2008
Ulf Gohde (UK)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
Just some comments on review that I have seen here.
1. WiFi: I've seen a comment about not being able to connect to the BT router. I never had this problem, neither have my friends who own the iPod touch 16GB
2. Sound quality: the earphones that come with the iPod are absolutely useless. To increase the sound quality radically you do NOT have to spend 100s of pounds. iStuff Sound Isolating Earphones work extremely good with the iPod touch and cost only 8.99.
3. Calendar and Contacts: Contrary to some reviews you can add your own contacts and calendar events directly on the iPod. The very first version of the firmware did not allow you to that which was fixed way back in October 2007.
In addition there are a whole bunch of really nice and exciting applications out there. Currently you can only use them if you hack your iPod, but Apple is very soon publishing an official API for iPhone and iPod that will allow Application developers to "officially" write new apps for the iPod/iPhone.
My only criticism was the limited memory which has been addreessed by the 32GB version.
Stylish and sophisticated and yet so much more May 13, 2008
Dave A (UK)
24 out of 26 found this review helpful
When you first unbox it, it looks like the sleekest music player you will ever find. Super thin and almost completely smooth, it does really feel like something that should be displayed, and not used...
As previous reviews state, a case is a must to keep it that way (although it's not the screen, but back that you are protecting, unlike usual mp3 players).
Upon use, it is fairly responsive, and if using with headphones, the clicks when you press buttons make up for the lack of tactile feedback. Using is easy, and most people probably won't even need to consult the quickstart guide to start playing music as the touchscreen is extremely intuitive to use. Sound quality is more than satisfactory, especially with your own decent headphones, and is far more than enough for on-the-go music. The 32GB is enough for a fair sized music collection, plus a few movies and some other videos
As the latest ipod, this one outperforms all the ones before it, as you would expect. Easier and faster song searching, luscious looking pictures, and larger sharper videos define it. Coverflow is natural, and looks very good... presuming you have already got album art, or else quite a bit of effort will be required to make it look like it should.
The features and included applications are easy to use, and useful for on the go stuff, although unlike the iPhone, the limit to wifi limits complete freedom, but considering the cost and speed of using the iPhone outside of a wireless signal, it's not a great loss.
But if you are buying this purely for a music player, then you might as well buy an iPod classic... not because the Touch is bad, but rather because it is too good. As a music player it is admirably good, but it can be so much more...
To merely listen to music and watch a few videos, you are completely missing the point... as a device, its potential has only just been scratched. The multi-touch technology provides a more unique interface, allowing the speed and useability of a mouse on the go. The accelerometer (rotation sensor) as shown in recent presentations, has the possibilty of bringing thw uniqueness of the Wii to a portable device. And the ability for everyone to develop applications for it for free allows the potential for applications that will blow your mind...
Whilst the latest software update gives users the applications they probably deserved to start with, the update promised for the end of June (2008) promises to allow the touch to go places no other gadget has gone before.
Best iPod yet - if you have the cash....get it! June 3, 2008
T. Wilson (Leeds, England)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Bought the 32Gb Touch a few weeks ago. It has to be the best one yet. Don't listen to those who say "if you want an iPod get a classic or a Nano, if you want the touchscreen get the iPhone" - total rubbish.
For me the 32Gb is enough, the screen size and quality is second to none. The sound quality is what you'd expect from Apple - excellent. As always the standard Apple earphones arnt top notch (though may I suggest the 50 Sennheiser CX 95 Style's). Other bonuses are the apps, the revolutionary design, its looks and status! The video playback, battery life, etc.
And of course, like with all Apple products - the packaging for the Touch is wonderful.
I was on the fence for months as whether to get the Classic or the Touch .... I made the right choice! :D
You wont be sorry.
P.S. Make sure you get a case........scratches will appear too easily!
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