ben9's Full Review: Apple iPod touch 2nd Generation (8 GB) MP3 Player
Summary: Firstly, I think they undersell this by calling it an MP3 or MP4 player - it is much more. Yes, it can do those things, but for me it has become more of a pocket internet device, a living atlas, phonebook / addressbook, contact database, PDA and a portable lifelink to email, weather (in any city) and just about everything else. Heck, I practically forgort this thing does music and video (and haven't really missed them either).
The APPs ... this is one of the most entertaining and interesting things. You can get or buy an app for just about every conceivable function and frill - need a flashlight? Get an app ... need to know where to find the nearest El Polo Loco? Get an app ... want to track every move of your favorite sports franchise in real time? Get an app ... I've been able to to find apps that help me edit my photos, build a contact list that interfaces with my maps & email addresses - and a lot of other niceties.
Yes, much of this is frivolous, but fun nonetheless. With more than a handful of usefull app-add-ons (and a ton of frivolous-but-fun ones), I've fashioned this iPod into a pocket instrument I'd rather not live without. I absolutely love being able to pop into any coffee shop (or McDonalds) and quickly connnect to the internet - check my email or maybe surf a little; and all this without having to pull the laptop out of the trunk & pop it open. I love being able to pull up an APP, ask for the nearest steakhouse (or dentist), and not only getting a list (sorted my distance) - but a map and satellite / sidewalk view of it, along with the phone number and website URL.
Ironically, it's turned out to be one of my least favorite music and video devices - because I'm fed up with iTunes and the forced synching methods they impose. The large screen makes it great for video viewing and photo browsing, so I've probably got about twenty or thirty videos on it (and a ton of photos). That, and a handful of songs.
One thing I'd recommend for those considering a purchase - go ahead and fork out for a quality screen protector. I got the one of the best (and most expensive) one out there, from Zagg. It's been worth every dime because they are everything they claim to be.
Radio - The Touch gives you unlimited Radio of every possible genre. Yes, you need to be in Wifi range for this, but it's fantastic and fun. At home, I actually use this to stream internet radio to my home system - from my home PC to my Touch - and the Touch plugged-in to the AUX input of my home audio system. All you need is a well-chosen radio app (and there are tons of them).
You'll find plenty of excellent (free and paid) apps for radio streaming; most of which will allow you to access hundreds of stations, of every conceivable genre. The paid apps in this category range from 99 cents to a few dollars, all worth it in my view. Of course there is Pandora and Slacker, both of which are free (and excellent). My favorite radio apps are Internet Radio Box and ooTunes, each of which is worth every single penny of their pricing, and each of which gives you full access to the entire Shoutcast and Icecast streamloads (and many others).
Shopping - yes, (free) shopping apps and I love the Amazon in particular; makes it easy to log in for a quick check and easy purchase, from where ever you happen to be. As to email, I've found a nice, tight integration with my yahoo mail account .... which is also integrated seamlessly with my flickr photostream. Fantastic!
Note of Interest ... I love how online reviews always slam the heck out of apple competitors such as Sony, Zune, Toshiba, etc., whenever they review an 8GB mp3/mp4 player ... "A ridiculously limited" amount ... "pathetically low storage for a video player", etc.; yet they never say these things when reviewing an 8GB iPod. Well, I'm here to say that 8GB is just as little (or as much) with an ipod ... but that in this case, it matters even less to me.
These iPods get slammed alot for the sound quality. As an owner of several mp3 / mp4 players (to include Sony, Creative Labs, Samsung and others), I'd agree on that point. Yet for reasons explained above, it means much less to me in this case. I've got a little Toshiba Gigabeat (T Series) that offers crystaline audio, and have come to rely on that for music listening - for everything else (and I mean everything), I am happy and pleased to have this Touch!
This device cost me around $230, and for the reasons explained here, was worth every thin dime! I could have lived forever without this - now that I've got it, I'd really rather not.
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