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Archive through December 12, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan ~ Apr 2009: Buyers Banter: IPod touch: Archive through December 12, 2008 users admin

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Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 5:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
What if you don't have wifi most everywhere you g0? Is it still worth it? How do you get internet access?

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 7:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
No wifi = no internet on the iPod touch. But with that said, it's still got a great screen, and it the best mp3 player out there, so you can still load it with your music, your videos, and subscribe to audio and video podcasts to take with you wherever you go. Not to mention that you can download a bazillion apps for it, which expands its functionality, thus giving it an even bigger advantage over other mp3 players out there. There are weight tracker apps, a ton of different games, photo sorters, all KINDS of things. One must admit that iTunes has almost cornered the portable entertainment market, and the portable devices are right there as well.

I would recommend any iPod over any no-name mp3 player, whether it's a wi-fi ipod or not. The touch is big in length and width, but it is paper thin. So it all depends what you want in an mp3 player. If all it will be is music, with no wifi access, and the only place you'd use it is at the gym, I might suggest a Nano or Shuffle (both iPods), as they are smaller. But if you are interested in something that has a bigger video screen, wi-fi, and all the added functionality available through the App Store in iTunes (which you can look through in iTunes before you even CHOOSE/BUY it), then I would definitely get behind the iTouch.

I've had just about every kind of iPod since the second generation of them. I feel I'm pretty experienced in the pros and cons of each type (iPod, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, and finally iPhone). If you tell me every place you'd use it, what you would and wouldn't use, I'd make a suggestion as to which works.

iPhone is my top choice, but if your phone provider doesn't work on it, or the ATT service sucks, then it's not good.

iTouch is my second choice, because of the wi-fi, video screen, mail, and Apps from the app store. If you won't watch videos or video podcasts, or you don't have many places wher you can grab a wifi signal, then don't get the iTouch.

The Shuffle is great for the gym. It's like the size of a matchbook, and is incredibly portable. BUT....and it's a big but....there is no screen. It is truly on shuffle for the most part, so you can't choose a song for it to play. Unless you've memorized the order of your playlist, and you have turned off the shuffle feature, there's no way to get to a song you like, there is no video, etc. So I think it's only a good thing if you want the best portability combined with iTunes compatibility.

iPod Nano combines a smaller video screen, with the portability of the Shuffle. Gives you a bit more freedom with what you're listening to, and has the video too, but smaller than an iTouch, without wifi or Apps.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 5:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
I have a nano that I use almost exclusively docked to my clock radio in my bedroom. I like to choose the music I fall asleep to.

Do either the Touch or the iPhone have removable SD cards?

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 8:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Eeyores. I was thinking of getting my son one for Christmas, but the iPhone seems to prone to cracking for young teens. Almost every one of his friends that has one has a cracked screen. So he has to have a sturdy phone. He already cracked the screen on his month old Verizon Navigator.

But he seems to be able to take better care of his iPods, only using them when he's in a car or hanging out, and not sticking them in his pocket, where they seem to fall out, or bang on things or whatever.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 9:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Prisoner - no removable media in either of them, but I think the iPod touch has a pretty decent sized drive, so you can store lots of stuff on it. But no reading other people's stuff, or anything like that.

Kar - kids are terrible with expensive stuff. They need to buy it themselves in order to care for it properly. Suddenly the cost of it becomes real to them. With that said, you *could* force him to put the itouch or iphone in one of those hard wallets that have a hard flap for going over the front side when it's not in use. I swear, backpacks and books are terrible to the screens. I broke my first iPod video's screen about a week into owning it, because it was in my backpack, and it got crushed. :-(

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Monday, November 17, 2008 - 8:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
A book rep just came in and I got to play with her iPhone. Still don't like the keyboard on it. Also, the touch screen didn't like my fingernails. :-)

I think I'll keep my Windows Mobile smartphone for working and get the iTouch for playing.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Monday, November 17, 2008 - 8:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Eeyores, I generally buy the first phone with the contract, and insurance. Then he has to pay the deductible ($50) for each replacement; or if he wants a new phone before the contract runs out.

I've always bought him ipods, and he's never wrecked a one. We did have one that went whacko on its own. He's a pretty responsible kid, for the most part.

He's the one who wanted an iPhone, and then having viewed all his friends' iphones, decided it wasn't a wise choice for him. I think he'd be pretty trustworthy with the iTouch, but it does seem a bit more fragile than an IPod.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Monday, November 17, 2008 - 9:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Hey prisoner, did you know you can download a free app from the app store that will change the orientation of the keyboard on screen. I'm not sure if it's the tight size of the keyboard, or if it's the lack of tactile stimulation as you type that's bugging you about it. But the size of the keyboard changes if you flip it on its side, provided you have that app.

iTouch will definitely be a fun iPod, and it has that fun added wifi functionality in case you're ever stuck in a doctor's office, or at a cafe waiting for a friend or something.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Monday, November 17, 2008 - 10:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
We actually checked that on hers and it didn't flip. It's a combination of the keys being two small, my fingernails being too long, and no little clickie feel. I really love the keyboard on my current smartphone, so I'm spoiled with that (I can type on it using my fingernails...).

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 8:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
Bought the 2nd Generation Touch yesterday and love it. Can't get enough of Yahtzee.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 8:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
How long does the battery last when using Wifi to surf the Internet? Thanks!

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 10:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
My one complaint is the battery. It doesn't seem to last more than a couple of hours before I need to charge it. I also had to cut my mails to use the touch screen.

I'm posting using it now

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 11:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
The touch screen is the reason I didn't get the BB Storm (when I just upgraded my phone). And I'm not willing to cut my nails completely down just to use the touch screen! :-)

Ddr
Member

08-19-2001

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 11:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ddr a private message Print Post    
Bought the Ipod 2nd Gen in November! I'm loving the games. I don't like to text on an Iphone and prefer my Blackberry. I also look forward to downloading movies when I travel. :-)

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 11:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
LOL - My next dumb question. If battery life is an issue, can it be run off AC using an adapter, if needed?

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 3:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Jimmer, you can run on either AC power, or connected to USB power.

Turn the screen brightness down about half way, and turn off wifi when you don't have a signal, and battery life is fine.

I have an iPhone, which I heavily use, and I charge probably once every day or two. I'll charge overnight, and even if I forget to plug in the next night, I'm always OK to get to work or school, where I can plug in. And that's with about 4.5 solid hours of websurfing while commuting.




DOWNLOAD TRISM. I love the game. I am addicted. It is Tetris-meets-Bejeweled-meets-the-accelerometer.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 3:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Thanks Eeyore. It sounds great.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 4:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
I'm charging the touch for the second time today.

Anyone have a suggestion for a good "follow me" navigation program? The Google Maps thing is fine for pl0tting a route, but I want one that updates as I drive.

Landileigh
Member

07-29-2002

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 5:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landileigh a private message Print Post    
i know on the iPhone the google maps updates as you drive.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Monday, December 01, 2008 - 6:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Yeah, google maps updates as we drive, however, if you don't have a CONSTANT connection to wi-fi or some sort of network, it can't update as you go. GPS type programs work on network tower triangulation (where you are in relation to what network tower, etc.) So, I don't think a program like that is available for the itouch, as it is not meant to be GPS. With the iPhone, it works on the 3G data network, and uses triangulation with the cell phone towers.


I forgot to mention earlier, I found that the iPhone had to recharge a lot at first, but it seems to be lasting LONGER. At first I thought I was going crazy, but my bf noticed it too. But it could have to do with new releases in firmware that ma improve battery life.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 8:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
Ah, I didn't realize it wasn't "real" GPS. I'll stick with my GPS receiver bluetoothed into my smartphone.

The phone-based GPS is great until you're in a place with no signal. Found that out the hard way a couple of years ago when I was using VZ Navigator on my old RAZR. As I drove through the beautiful mountains of southern New Hampshire and Vermont, the GPS stopped working because of no signal. After quite a bit of time of not knowing where I was, I stopped at a gas station and bought a large flat document with many folds in it.

I think the locals called it a "map."

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 9:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
BTW, your battery will wear down even if you keep the device plugged in all of the time. By "wear down" I mean that eventually it will hold less and less charge. This is the same as what happens to laptop batteries.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 9:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
One of the things that I find pretty annoying is that if I understand correctly replacing a worn out battery isn't trivial. Now I guess the theory is that by the time the rechargeable batteries wear out, we'll have moved onto even better things, but it is a bit tiresome that these products are considered so disposable.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 4:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
Actually Costa, battery "memory" is not as prominent as it was in the old rechargeable batteries of 10 years ago. The new batteries don't really have that problem.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Friday, December 12, 2008 - 8:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Is the web surfing good on it? Good enough that you could read and post here with it as well as other sites?

Does anyone know of a store that sells these where you can actually try one out? I don't mean a dumbed down demo model. I mean actually try a real one.