So I finally gave in and got the iPod Touch. This blog is my experience with this little gizmo as I've had it for over a month now and I must say that I am truly impressed. Steve Jobs and Co. have done an awesome job with this upgrade to the already amazing iPod and for the most part, I really can't see why anyone who already has a great phone would not find this as a suitable travel companion.
Features
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Safari
iTunes Store
iPod
Google Maps
Notes
IMAP Mail
Calendar
Stocks
Weather
IMAP Mail (9/10)
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The most useful feature on this device I have found to date is the mail functionality and its seamless integration with Gmail and Yahoo mail. It only took me a total of 1 minute to get both the accounts setup and after that reading my mail on a mobile device has never been the same. There are some drawbacks with having an IMAP account and the only problem I have seen is its sync when the device is not connected over WiFi but other than that the method of deleting mails is simply cool. Even attachments open up in an open-office format and the zoom functionality is good too. If your on a 128Kbps connection it will show loads of lag but on a 256Kbps connection I haven't had the chance to complain yet.
Safari (7/10)
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Now I'll admit that I have been a fan of this browser ever since it found its way onto Windows but there are some drawbacks here that I would like to point out. The one that sticks out is its lack of Flash. I know that it seems unlikely that Apple will leave this kind of functionality out but trust me they have and by doing so, I think they have actually closed the door, for a while, on all the cool UI components that they could have easily integrated into this device. The touch screen is actually a sliver of what it can be on webpages considering that Java can only handle so much and the coding for something that works splendidly in Flash really makes no sense on this device. Secondly, I wish the intuitiveness of the go-to bar was better where it erased addresses when it was highlighted unless the user actually wanted to change something in the address bar. Lastly, but not least, I still haven't figured out how to save pictures in the web-browser and that is something that I do all the time and would find extremely useful.
Things I really liked about the browser are
- The ability to create pages as main-screen bookmarks (Wicked)
- The ability to magnify information in the go-to bar if you are using the device in landscape mode (you'll know what I'm talking about if you own one)
- The crispness of the pages and the font used (This even extends onto the Windows OS version of Safari)
- The Bookmarks bar (uses the old iPod method of entry navigation)
The iPod (8.5/10)
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With this being the primary reason for getting this device, I must say that Apple have done a good job of bringing the iTunes feel to the device. The pictures, the music, the functionality are all what can be expected from a company that actually shines when it comes to user interface usage. I just wish they had a better way of creating playlists and if they didn't mess with your music when you were plugged into an other computer I would really respect them even more. But I understand why they do what they have to do and any company with such a hotselling product runs the huge risk of copyright infringement problems.
Overall (9/10)
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I have owned a PSP, an iPod Shuffle, seen some market MP3 players and this device simply kicks the shit out of its competition. The music clarity is good and the interface responds better than any other touch device I have seen out there. The slide-lock looks a bit cumbersome at first but after using it, I have developed a little bit of impatience with my Treo 750 Windows Mobile device. If your thinking of Jailbreaking this device I suggest sticking with the Apple firmware and with the advent of the new firmware I hope they bring Adobe on board to help them with the development and furthering of iWebsites. Another nice addition would probably be Firefox once Mozilla gets their mobile version of the award winning browser slated for later this year.
If you don't own one I suggest going and trying it out ... believe me, your concept of touch-based devices will change forever .... mine certainly has.
Music while writing this blog - Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl
Mood - Its Monday ... Frustration Expected
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