New iPod holds more

The new iPod Touch offers up to 64 GB in Memory, and impresses with what it can do with stuff from the App Store. The eBOOK reader is particularly likeable, but some old concerns remain

In The Reigate Puzzle, Sherlock Holmes says, "It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognise, out of a number of facts, which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated." And after reviewing the iPod touch, one agrees.

When one is reviewing a device that only plays MP3 files, one has to look at several parameters battery life,
storage capacity and quality of audio, for instance but these revolve solely around playing the MP3. With the iPod touch, things can get complicated because it does so much. It plays music and videos, has Wi-Fi, can read mail, browse the Web, and do a lot more.



Apps add iMpetus

But no matter what any device can do, there will always be a killer reason for buying it. With the iPod nano, it was video, and with the iPod touch, it is the App Store. While several competing products can do some or most of the things that the iPod touch does, only two devices (the iPhone and the iPod touch) can access the App Store. And the App Store is a world of its own, and the biggest reason why one should buy the iPod touch is because of the wealth of applications on the App Store.

The fact that there are thousands of apps available on the App Store means that you will have a rich experience. But a word of caution hereu00e2u0080u0094I have downloaded over 50 apps and I find that while some make remarkable use of the touch screen interface, others don't. But luckily, since many games also have free lite versions, you can download something for free and then purchase it only if it suits you.

Which is iDeal?

When one says that the App Store is the most compelling reason why one should buy the iPod touch, then one question automatically springs to mind why not go in for the iPhone itself? One reason why the iPod touch could be better is because of cost. While the iPhone costs upward of Rs 30,000, the entry level iPod touch (8 GB) comes for around Rs 12,000. In other words, you can get a basic entry-level iPod Touch and a no-frills phone for less than half the price of an iPhone.

Another reason why the combo of an iPod touch and a basic phone makes so much more sense is because of battery life. While the iPod touch is slimmer than the iPhone, one wishes that they had retained the size of the iPhone and packed in a more powerful battery. True, the battery has a decent life, but it is irritating to charge it so often when you are in the midst of something. I remember how, while playing Hero of Sparta, I was about to kill a plug-ugly bull-headed being when I got the message that the battery was low. Play such games on the iPhone and you may find the battery dying out while you want to make a crucial phone call.

Some iMpediments

While the iPod touch is a great product, it has some limitations. One bug I discovered was that, while watching video, if one wipes the screen vigorously in order to removeu00a0 smudges, then the touch screen becomes temporarily unresponsive. This is a minor bug all you have to do to rectify it is press the home button and select videos again, and everything is as good as ever.

Talking of the home button, maybe Apple could, in future models, come up with a mouse-wheel-like device, which can make some games easier to operate. And let's pray that they also start shipping the AC to USB adaptor as a standard accessory, at least in India, where it is easier to charge by plugging in the device to the mains instead of keeping a computer on for long hours just to charge the device.

But these are minor issues which Apple will no doubt resolve one day. And today, even without these features mentioned above, the iPod touch is a great device. Go for it, it will make a big iMpact on you!

An ideal reader?

I am planning to release an e-book as an app on the App Store shortly, and naturally I was interested in finding out what sort of a reader the iPod touch would make. To determine this, I downloaded some e-books and found that the experience was pleasant. One has to reduce brightness a bit to avoid straining the eyes, but overall it is an excellent reader.

The big advantage of using the iPod touch to read text is that you don't need to carry around another device just to read. And while the iPod is better used for gaming thanks to its accelerometer, there are times when you can't play games such as when you are sitting at a dentist's next to a six-foot-by-four-foot wrestler who is howling with pain because of a sore tooth. Play a game and this gentleman is probably going to crush your iPod touch and you for good measure. Take my advice and download some e-books to read at times like that!

Quick Take
>>The iPod touch is ideal for games
>>Its access to the App Store gives you a rich user experience
>>It could benefit from a bigger battery

Specifications
>>Size: 4.3" x 2.4" x 0.33" (h x w x d)
>>Weight: 115 grams
>>Capacity: 8GB, 32GB, or 64GB
>>Display: 3.5" 480 x 320 pixels
>>Preloaded applications: Mail, calendar, contacts, YouTube, stocks, maps and others

An ideal reader?
I am planning to release an e-book as an app on the App Store shortly, and naturally I was interested in finding out what sort of a reader the iPod touch would make. To determine this, I downloaded some e-books and found that the experience was pleasant. One has to reduce brightness a bit to avoid straining the eyes, but overall it is an excellent reader.

The big advantage of using the iPod touch to read text is that you don't need to carry around another device just to read. And while the iPod is better used for gaming thanks to its accelerometer, there are times when you can't play games such as when you are sitting at a dentist's next to a six-foot-by-four-foot wrestler who is howling with pain because of a sore tooth. Play a game and this gentleman is probably going to crush your iPod touch and you for good measure. Take my advice and download some e-books to read at times like that!