anyone going to get the new ipod touch?

[OBLAMA2009]

Nah. It looks nice, but between whatever smartphone-of-the-week I have (currently the Epic) & my Zune HD I have no need for a new PMP.

how is the web browsing on the zune? does it have decent wifi range? i think they were selling zunes for $120 at cowboom

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

This doesn't make sense for 99.999999999999999% of the people out there. Having a smartphone and something like a regular iPod or any other MP3 player makes more sense since a separate media player will usually have better audio quality, play more formats, and have better battery life so you don't have to waste your phone's battery.

Well yes that is part of my reasoning too. I don't like to use my phone as my multimedia player much knowing I do some surfing and work and stuff, and we all know most smartphones can run dry in a day if you put in heavy work. Obviously typically I am ok with that, but you never know when you need to fire up Google Nav for a bit and some other apps. I'd rather have that option than to listen to music and not be able to use smartphone features anymore.

So yes, I'd appreciate the iPod for that. However, I also love the apps on the iPod/iPhone. This is the main reason why I'll get one. Really, it's just games for me. Yes some say get a Nintendo DS, but this thing is so pocketable. Not to mention, it's got smartphone capabilities. I do know that I'll probably be doing all my gmail and stuff on my phone, but to have the ability to Facetime also by tethering? That's pretty cool. And you're right. If I can tether, I can use my phone to go online. So really the only thing my iPod would serve as is a gaming device and a MP3 player. That's all.

 

[qwertyaas]

I'm sticking to my Captivate and iPod Nano 4G 16GB. If I carry around a PMP, I want it to be small. And I'm not a fan of the new Nano coming out. Nano 4th and 5th Gen are what I would stick to.

That and getting the Touch seems to be overkill as the Captivate works great as a media device. And if I need gaming above the mobile games that Android has so far, I have my PSP.

 

[Deeko]

how is the web browsing on the zune? does it have decent wifi range? i think they were selling zunes for $120 at cowboom

Web browsing is decent. The browser itself renders pretty well, its very responsive in terms of things like pinch zooming, the keyboard is workable. Of course, compared to a modern smartphone, a 3.3" 480x320 screen is a little disappointing for browsing, but it does the job. Wifi works pretty well. At my gym, the wifi signal is fairly weak in the weight room. My HD2 barely picks up an intermittent signal, whereas the Zune is able to use it no problem.

I really like the Zune HD, and the combination of Zune Pass + on device SmartDJ is just fantastic.

 

[zerocool84]

I just can't still believe how expensive it is. Seriously the only reason to buy this is if you are stuck on the Apple app store.

 

[MrX8503]

Anandtech just released a review of the iPod Touch 4th gen.

I guess it has a lot more shortcomings than I thought, but I guess what can you expect on an iPhone4-like-device without a contract.

The differences are:

No GPS
Quieter Mic
Only 1 Mic
TN Panel
256MB Ram
.7mp Camera
Not True 720P Video Recording

I'm assuming all of these cuts are made to increase profits as the iPhone4 is subsidized by AT&T. A real iPhone4 without the phone would of probably costed $300 for an 8GB.

 

[timswim78]

No, the still camera is too weak and there is no GPS.

If it had a better camera and GPS, it would replace my point and shoot camera and my GPS.

 

[yacoub]

I still have a 1st gen iPod touch.
Now that the word got out about how they've shorted the new touch on hardware, i won't be getting it. Crappy screen, crappy camera, cheaper buttons, and half the RAM. High price. What a joke.
I'd already have an iPhone4 if it wasn't for AT&T.
So basically, by shorting the new touch on hardware, Apple has lost a sale for the time being. *shrug*

 

[OBLAMA2009]

where is the best place to buy ipod touch. is costco cheaper than the apple store??

 

[OBLAMA2009]

repeat post sorry

 

[herkulease]

I still have a 1st gen iPod touch.
Now that the word got out about how they've shorted the new touch on hardware, i won't be getting it. Crappy screen, crappy camera, cheaper buttons, and half the RAM. High price. What a joke.
I'd already have an iPhone4 if it wasn't for AT&T.
So basically, by shorting the new touch on hardware, Apple has lost a sale for the time being. *shrug*

Where are you getting crappy buttons from? the only thing mentioned about buttons is they solder the thing down making it a much more difficult task to repair/replace.

High Price is debatable. what did you pay for your 1st gen? I remember paying 299 for the 8gig one. Now it gets me a 32gig one. Are you expect apple to give it away to you?
apple wants to make a profit on these things. They probably have a high margin on these things anyhow. with the iphone att or whatever carrier is paying them so they are making plenty of money already. the noncontract price is 500 - 600 bucks. It may cost you 200 upfront but apple already/will be getting theirs so they can "splurge" a little, provide several "upgrades" vs. the ipod touch and still make a nice margin.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I still have a 1st gen iPod touch.
Now that the word got out about how they've shorted the new touch on hardware, i won't be getting it. Crappy screen, crappy camera, cheaper buttons, and half the RAM. High price. What a joke.
I'd already have an iPhone4 if it wasn't for AT&T.
So basically, by shorting the new touch on hardware, Apple has lost a sale for the time being. *shrug*

it's still double the ram in your iPod Touch, it gets game center, it runs iOS 4 no problem, it's a better screen than your current iPod touch, it's cheaper than your iPod Touch was, and it has cameras that your iPod Touch doesn't

ok.... what did you want? the whole kitchen sink? And as the poster said above, an iPhone is $599 noncontract. I think peopel think of iPhones as $200 devices simply because that's how much you pay with a contract. The device itself is worth far more. Now compare a $229 iPod with a $599 iPhone. What do you want?

1st gen => 2nd gen = faster CPU (25% faster), speakerphone, BT, slimmer, longer battery
2nd gen => 3rd gen = way faster CPU (ARM11 vs Cortex A8), capacity bump at $299 price point
3rd gen => 4th gen = faster CPU again, same RAM, but the iPad has it too... plus, not like the 3GS is slow by any means, facetime features, camera + hd video. granted it's not as good as an iPhone but so what? price bump back to 2nd gen for entry level, but $299 now gets you 32gb instead of 16gb.

where is the best place to buy ipod touch. is costco cheaper than the apple store??

I remember the 3rd gens going for like $10 under, but Amazon would be even better if you save on sales tax. I'm going the Apple Store route with my friend who works at Apple. 10% off negates the need to use Amazon and I get my hands on it ASAP

 

[herkulease]

where is the best place to buy ipod touch. is costco cheaper than the apple store??

typically yes. though they are more than likely trying to dump the 3rd gen ipod touches right now.

I like amazon and will order from once some cases come out. no tax and the 32 gig model is 288.

 

[qwertyaas]

typically yes. though they are more than likely trying to dump the 3rd gen ipod touches right now.

I like amazon and will order from once some cases come out. no tax and the 32 gig model is 288.

My vote is Amazon as well if you're buying one.

If I were still on a non-smartphone I would probably pick one up. But with having a Captivate (and a 16GB Nano), there's really no need.

 

[MrX8503]

I don't understand why people are complaining that a $600 device doesnt cost $200. The touch isnt on a contract so apple had to cut costs somewhere.

 

[KentState]

I don't understand why people are complaining that a $600 device doesnt cost $200. The touch isnt on a contract so apple had to cut costs somewhere.

Typically these devices are about $80 worth of actual hardware. Really not sure the $10 they saved on a cheaper camera and $20 on a screen justifies the huge difference in price.

 

[MrX8503]

Doesn't change the fact that the iPod touch is off contract.

 

[randomlinh]

i'm holding out for the ipod touch extra large/ipad mini.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Typically these devices are about $80 worth of actual hardware. Really not sure the $10 they saved on a cheaper camera and $20 on a screen justifies the huge difference in price.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's pretty slick for the $, but don't forget Apple's need to release an updated version in a year.

It'll have:

Wait for it....


better camera(s)
more DRAM
better screen
better battery

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Don't get me wrong, I think it's pretty slick for the $, but don't forget Apple's need to release an updated version in a year.

It'll have:

Wait for it....


better camera(s)
more DRAM
better screen
better battery

Battery life already beats the Zune HD on the 3rd gen iPod Touch. They're already beating it more. Notice how they shrunk the device yet increased the battery from 2.9 Whr to 3.4 Whr. That's not an amazing feat.

There's no space for a better camera.

Typically these devices are about $80 worth of actual hardware. Really not sure the $10 they saved on a cheaper camera and $20 on a screen justifies the huge difference in price.

And a phone isn't $500 worth of hardware too. This isn't the point. If everything was sold at cost, then the market wouldn't really work.

There's a fair market price for these things and that's how it goes.

 

[MrX8503]

Don't get me wrong, I think it's pretty slick for the $, but don't forget Apple's need to release an updated version in a year.

It'll have:

Wait for it....


better camera(s)
more DRAM
better screen
better battery

I really don't get people's mentality of saying that Apple gimps their stuff so they can update it later. What Apple does is apply the technology that is available at the time while trying to stay above the competition. People complained about how the 3rd gen iPod Touch didn't have a camera, well it couldn't fit. This is further relevant in the 4th Gen.

HTC, MOTO, and SAMSUNG, will all be updating their devices, its called technology advancement.

 

[KentState]

I really don't get people's mentality of saying that Apple gimps their stuff so they can update it later. What Apple does is apply the technology that is available at the time while trying to stay above the competition. People complained about how the 3rd gen iPod Touch didn't have a camera, well it couldn't fit. This is further relevant in the 4th Gen.

HTC, MOTO, and SAMSUNG, will all be updating their devices, its called technology advancement.

That is simply not true. There is a lot of available technology that they are skipping the generation. They could have used the same packaging as the iPhone 4, included a decent camera, and have the same lcd panel. Even if they didn't go to the new packaging, they could have included the same lcd panel and not a cheaper version. What in the hell does that have to with available technology?

And before you start with calling me an Apple basher, realize I had one of pre-order until I started reading the reviews. I will wait another year to see if Apple gets it right.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I really don't get people's mentality of saying that Apple gimps their stuff so they can update it later. What Apple does is apply the technology that is available at the time while trying to stay above the competition. People complained about how the 3rd gen iPod Touch didn't have a camera, well it couldn't fit. This is further relevant in the 4th Gen.

HTC, MOTO, and SAMSUNG, will all be updating their devices, its called technology advancement.

That's exactly what I'm saying, they need to make a profit, and as technology and economy of scale come around, they'll improve the device. The damn thing is less than a cm thick, it's pretty cool.

Size and weight

Height: 4.4 inches (111.0 mm)
Width: 2.3 inches (58.9 mm)
Depth: 0.28 inch (7.2 mm)
Weight: 3.56 ounces (101 grams)

I mean seriously, holy shit...

 

[MrX8503]

That is simply not true. There is a lot of available technology that they are skipping the generation. They could have used the same packaging as the iPhone 4, included a decent camera, and have the same lcd panel. Even if they didn't go to the new packaging, they could have included the same lcd panel and not a cheaper version. What in the hell does that have to with available technology?

And before you start with calling me an Apple basher, realize I had one of pre-order until I started reading the reviews. I will wait another year to see if Apple gets it right.

There isn't available technology to fit inside the iPod Touch's thin form factor. This is what I mean.

If Apple wanted to make a thicker device, then the available technology would of worked. You can't fit fat internals inside a thin form factor.

In other words you can't have both thin and power until tech advances further.

 

[yacoub]

stuff

And yet none of that actually counters the fact that it has half the RAM, a crappier screen, and a crappier camera than the iPhone. Yet on the previous generations the devices were nearly-if-not-identical in hardware that they both had, like RAM and display screen.

When you compare apples to apples, meaning comparing a given generation's touch versus that same generation's iPhone, this is the first time they're SIGNIFICANTLY reducing the touch's hardware quality/quanitity compared to the iPhone. Thus, when comparing apples to apples, it is a poorer deal for the buyer. You may not want to acknowledge that, but it's still true.