Apple iPod Touch

sarmia

Looking at getting my oh one for his birthday. It will also need to hook up to an old 1960s camper van, will I need to purchase some extra leads for this? Also looking at the 8GB as cheaper than the 16GB can we 'upgrade' the memory later if needed.

Sorry to sound thick but when it comes to things like this I have no idea!

Thanks

sarmia

Or would I be better off getting a shuffle. He wants a touch screen one.
Thanks

reck_uk

Hi Sarmia,

Traditionally apple tend to release a new version of the ipod touch around the start of September. This new version will be the 3rd generation ipod touch and it's rumored it'll have a camera as well as other new features. If possible i'd hold off for a couple of weeks to see what apple bring out. It's also possible they may even lower the price, especially considering that Microsoft are releasing the Zune (see below).

With regard to the memory, you can't upgrade it, your stuck with whatever you purchase.

Have you taken a look at the Microsoft Zune? It's due out in a few weeks and it's very similar to the ipod touch but actually has better hardware and costs quite a bit less, yes it has a touch screen and works in a similar way to the ipod. Microsoft don't have an app store up and running yet though for the Zune, although they said there will be one, so that's a down side of the zune.

I'm sure your oh will have loads of fun with it whatever you decided.

Marty_J

reck_uk wrote: »

Have you taken a look at the Microsoft Zune? It's due out in a few weeks and it's very similar to the ipod touch but actually has better hardware and costs quite a bit less, yes it has a touch screen and works in a similar way to the ipod.

What hardware is in the new iPod Touch? What price is it going to be?

[Deleted User]

reck_uk wrote: »

Have you taken a look at the Microsoft Zune? It's due out in a few weeks and it's very similar to the ipod touch but actually has better hardware and costs quite a bit less, yes it has a touch screen and works in a similar way to the ipod. Microsoft don't have an app store up and running yet though for the Zune, although they said there will be one, so that's a down side of the zune.

When the Zune HD gets an official European launch it'll have the same benefits that the USA and Canada currently have; a marketplace for games, applications and of course the music subscriptions available. Until that happens, the Zune is limited in it's ability to be anything other than a media player but that's no bad thing as it does that exceptionally well. I've recently upgraded to one of the new 120GB models.

The Zune software is excellent, even if you don't use a Zune it's worth giving it a. Asthetically, I consider it the best looking media player available..

reck_uk

Marty_J wrote: »

What hardware is in the new iPod Touch? What price is it going to be?

Well Apple being Apple we don't know, won't know till it's announced. I'm hoping they upgrade the spec to match or better the Zune HD because then the choice would be easy.

If Apple keep the hardware similar to the second generation and just produce an incremental upgrade then it makes the choice harder because the Zune HD has a good dual core nvidia chip and has an oled screen compared to the ipod's led screen and limited processing power. You can also output HD video to your tv with the Zune and it has a HD radio.

Apple really do need to boost the performance of the ipod touch though, have you seen the video previews of the zune? When they twist the zune sideways to view the photos in landscape it's instant. On the ipod there is a second delay when doing this because the hardware can't keep up. This has an impact on some of the apps, especially games.

Zune HD has the potential to be the best but for me it needs a mature app store like Apple's. One of the biggest advantages for me is the ability to download all these apps onto the ipod.

If your not bothered about apps though it's looking like the Zune HD will be the one to get unless Apple can release a big update with the 3rd generation. The difference between the 1st and 2nd generation wasn't particularly impressive.

Marty_J

reck_uk wrote: »

I'm hoping they upgrade the spec to match or better the Zune HD because then the choice would be easy.

I think it's a pretty safe bet that Apple are upgrading the iPod Touch specs. Microsoft have revealed their hand a bit too early. Apparently giving the market leader advance warning concerning the specs and abilities of a device you're hoping to use to compete with, just in time for them to refresh their market leading device before you can get to launch, is a good idea.

Microsoft should have kept their big yaps shut, and dropped this on everyone when they were ready to launch.

Apple really do need to boost the performance of the ipod touch though, have you seen the video previews of the zune? When they twist the zune sideways to view the photos in landscape it's instant. On the ipod there is a second delay when doing this because the hardware can't keep up. This has an impact on some of the apps, especially games.

The Zune just has a faster animation when rotating the photo.

What I have noticed is that people sometimes have to stab at the Zune's screen a few times in order to get it to do something.

Zune HD has the potential to be the best but for me it needs a mature app store like Apple's. One of the biggest advantages for me is the ability to download all these apps onto the ipod.

That really depends on Microsoft's ability to put out a compelling device that people want to use.

Microsoft have already resorted to trying to bribe iPhone developers to develop for the Zune, so that's perhaps not a great sign, but we'll see.

sarmia

reck_uk wrote: »

Hi Sarmia,

Traditionally apple tend to release a new version of the ipod touch around the start of September. This new version will be the 3rd generation ipod touch and it's rumored it'll have a camera as well as other new features. If possible i'd hold off for a couple of weeks to see what apple bring out. It's also possible they may even lower the price, especially considering that Microsoft are releasing the Zune (see below).

Do you think this will be a lot more than the current one, I can only just afford the 2nd gen?

Marty_J

sarmia wrote: »

Do you think this will be a lot more than the current one, I can only just afford the 2nd gen?

I'd be very surprised if the new one wasn't cheaper; the current model had a price drop when it was introduced. Either way, it's very unlikely to go up in price.

They'll also probably sell the remainder of their current models on the Apple Refurb Store.

reck_uk

Marty_J wrote: »

The Zune just has a faster animation when rotating the photo.

I don't think it's down to the animation, there is a noticeable delay before the animation even starts playing. With the Zune HD the display just flows with the movement of the device with no delay. Surely Apple wouldn’t of deliberately slowed down the rotation of the display via the animation speed. Even before I saw the Zune HD this is one of the things I found slightly irritating on the touch.

The Nvidia Tegra which is in the Zune is a really nice bit of hardware, the fact it can output hd video shows it has some grunt behind it. It has different processes handling different aspects of the device. I think this along with an oled screen gives the zune a massive advantage when you just compare the hardware side of things. Of course this is being compared against the touch2, lets see what itouch3 has to offer.

Marty_J wrote: »

Microsoft have already resorted to trying to bribe iPhone developers to develop for the Zune, so that's perhaps not a great sign, but we'll see.

Hehe yeah I read that. I suppose Microsoft have to do something drastic because the Apple app store is not only up and running it has loads and loads of apps. Microsoft need to catch up fast if they are to stand a chance. The apple app store does have this flippin stupid acceptance process that all apps have to go through though, I just wish they would drop this altogether, this alone is giving apple a lot of bad press at the moment, along with the exploding ipod touch’s that they are trying to cover up.



I was all set to buy my first ipod touch when the 3rd gen comes out but then I saw the Zune HD I don’t know what to do now. Ideally I’d like a mixture of the 2, the Zune HD’s hardware with it’s nice cpu and oled screen and the apple’s software with the better browser and access to the app store. I’ll just have to wait a few weeks and see what Apple brings out. I don’t think it’ll be as nice, hardware wise, as the Zune but if they can get close I’ll probably still but an ipod.

Morporkian

Sarmia - Really quick and silly question from me:

Does your other half need/want all of the fancy features on the iTouch, other than the fact it is a touch screen?

If not fussed (and is set on an iPod) then I would suggest an iPod Classic. Far more room for all songs etc with its 120GB memory. It will cost you £175. (Please do ignore this question and suggestion if it doesn't apply, just thought I would ask :P)

Oh and yes you will need some cables for hooking up to anything else. Pretty much everywhere sells them. Take a look on the Apple website for what you will need and then go searching online/in the high street to find them cheaper, as their website is obviously far more expensive. (This applies to both iPod Classic and iTouch)