Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, Multimedia, Reviews, Apple, iPhone
What's not on the iPod touch
Bill Palmer sent along this list he put together of all the iPhone features you won't find on the iPod touch. When a lot of people, including myself, first saw the iPod touch, we called it the "iPhone without the phone," because it seemed to pretty much have everything the iPhone had without actually being able to call anyone-- MobileSafari was in there, as was YouTube, Gmail and Yahoo Mail (via the browser). But as Palmer notes, it's not as complete as we first thought.The EDGE network is probably the most obvious and biggest omission-- the iPhone will let you do what you want from anywhere, while an iPod touch only works where your laptop does (unless you have an EDGE hookup, obviously). The Mail application is missing, as is the Notes application (that one has raised a lot of hackles, too), and Bluetooth is gone as well. There's no camera, volume buttons, or dock. The screen isn't quite as good. And strangely enough, Google Maps, Weather, and Stocks are all missing, too. Those seem so easy to implement, and such big selling points, that you wonder what the story is there.
Palmer doesn't mean to knock the iPod touch-- he says it's still the best iPod ever, and it really is. If someone did a list of features on the video iPod (or even the Classic) vs. the iPod touch, there'd be no contest. But if anyone was really worried that Apple might cannibalize their own iPhone sales by releasing the iPod touch, a feature list like this shows there's a lot less chance of that.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aron Trimble said 9:28AM on 9-18-2007
If the iPod touch is ever broken open like the iPhone - it would be interesting if you could just copy the "exclusive" iPhone apps onto the iPod touch.
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ThaddyBoy said 9:35AM on 9-18-2007
These are software issues that can be resolved later. Perhaps Apple is going to sell those apps "a la carte" via iTunes at a later date.
Either way, it doesn't really bother me too much.
Hardware problems are the most bothersome things. This negative black screen is making me rethink my order. I might cancel it soon.
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yacoub said 9:39AM on 9-18-2007
What a pile of crap. Apple sucks. It's just too bad there's no real alternative worth considering. No one else makes a sexy, touchscreen, widescreen movie-player / mp3 player, web browser, e-mail, calendar, notes, etc device. So we're stuck with draconian Apple's locked down weaksauce, over-priced device. Ugh. How frustrating!!
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wei said 9:57AM on 9-18-2007
not to mention the piss-poor quality screens are an absolute dealbreaker for using this device as a video player.. apple needs to address these issues, and fast
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DrWho said 10:12AM on 9-18-2007
lol - a few months ago people were drooling over the prospect of a touch screen iPod and now we have one apparently it sucks because of some missing apps.
What they should have done is put no extra apps (safari/keyboard etc) on it at all and just made it an iPod.
Screen quality is an entirely different kettle of fish.
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cozart said 10:14AM on 9-18-2007
i picked one up last night. i am NOT IMPRESSED so far.
i have not been able to access the internet, even though the Touch says i have a strong wifi connection and i have tried everything imaginable to get the net to work.
i also have the negative black problem and am VERY disappointed that Apple crippled the iCal application by not allowing new events to be entered in directly on the Touch.
if Apple doesn't step up and explain themselves or fix the problems in the next couple of days, i will definitely be returning this thing.
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ant said 10:19AM on 9-18-2007
Bought an 8 gig iPod Touch at the 5th avenue store in Manhattan and the screen is fantastic - no negative issue and the colors are vibrant, not washed out. I wonder how prevalent the screen issue is, given that people with defective units are most likely to post on message boards.
That being said, the lack of user-driven apps is frustrating, but we're probably only a week away from seeing it opened up.
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AndyB said 10:19AM on 9-18-2007
...which is why I will buy an iPhone, unlock it, and use it as a PDA/iPod (not a phone, because I am on Verizon and not interested in switching, yet).
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ryan said 10:32AM on 9-18-2007
I picked up an ipod touch, and have the screen issue, while i'm pretty disappointed in that i'm still loving my ipod- one of the best devices i've ever had. no, i'm not happy with the screen but i'm waiting to see what results from all this. It's still early yet in the products life cycle.
there are a few things that really could improve the device though:
1. ability to open links in new windows in safari, i know you can open new pages, just can't click on a link and have it open in a new window. perhaps a two fingered click or something.
2. mail, i just don't get the argument "it's an ipod", yeah it is but it is also so much more. wifi is around everywhere. i use webmail now, but what a pain in the ass. the ability to get emails between meetings via imap would be huge. i work in higher education so wifi is everywhere. u think keeping more options on the device would really increase sales.
3. calendar events and notes/to do list- i doubt these additions would seriously make people choose the ipod over the iphone. the biggest pull for the phone is u have access where ever u have a signal and what do u know-can make phone calls...
4. ability to add more apps, nuff said
a few annoyances i found that should be fixed and hopefully will down the road.
1. had to restore the device to get the alarm to work, previously it only came through the headphones. i had a wtf moment until I learned a restore would fix the issue. yeah, i actually this feature.
2. when u do a restore it kills your bookmarks in mobile safari. yes u can bring over your bookmarks from safari, but it would be nice to pick and choose, i don't want tons of bookmarks coming with me. only the ones i'd really visit during the day.
3. safari is way too buggy at the moment, not terrible, but not solid either, seems to crash now and again.
4. safari seems to stop loading a page when you open a new page and work with that. would be nice if it loaded in the back ground when able. atleast it seems like it does this.
5. when movies are listed, there is only one view to select them, and most titles get truncated, they really need to wrap this text somehow. i have tv shows on there, that start off with the name of the show and title, they really get truncated so i can't see the name of the show. kinda annoying
i should probably add some things that do work great to keep this even.
1. music sounds great for me, i'm not a huge audio guy but sounds as good as my nano.
2. coverflow and navigating music is easy, ability to shuffle, repeat and repeat one at a touch of the screen is really nice.
3. the touch aspect of the ipd is so nice. it just works, i haven't had a problem typing, surfing. everything is just really intuitive. the pinching and expanding are sweet for safari and for images.
4. displaying photos is nice, easy to see pictures and show people things that i've tossed on there. same as old ipods but with the touch interface and larger screen, it's just a different experience.
5. contacts application is well constructed, easy to add info on the fly, easy to read, plenty of space. adding pictures for contacts was a nice addition, though unnecessary.
6. thank you apple for not having the recessed headphone port.
ok, thats all, just a few of my opinions with the device after a few days. everyone that i have shown it too have been impressed. if apple can fix some quality issues, add a few apps they could have a really great player on their hands, if not they will lose out on sales of people who were 'maybe' gonna get one.
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yacoub said 10:39AM on 9-18-2007
#5 - That'd be fine - for about $199, not $399.
#8 - Until the new firmware breaks that ability. Besides, you have to deal with hassles like the recessed headphone jack and having to wait for updated jailbreaks and routines everytime Apple releases a firmware update. There are headaches no matter which way you go, iPhone or iTouch. Either you have to stress over keeping the iPhone unlocked and jailbroken or you have to deal with a neutered iTouch that doesn't do half of what it should, especially for $400 and considering Apple TOOK AWAY the apps.
And yes, "iTouch". Deal with it.
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FrankTheCrank said 10:45AM on 9-18-2007
I went back and forth between the iPhone and the Touch once the price of the iPhone dropped.
I checked out the iPhone and fell inlove with it. At $299, which is the entry price of the Touch, I could not resist and bought one.
The iPhone's extra features put it over the top for me. Having a camera and email client built in were the clinchers.
An iPod Touch just seems like a gimped iPhone. Why would you bother? Especially when there are ways of getting around the 2 year contract and unlocking the cell service.
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yacoub said 10:51AM on 9-18-2007
#11: For one, the unlock might not last past the next firmware update.
Question: Are the iPhone's features (aside from videomail) functional over wi-fi just as well as over the cell network? Like i could use the Email app over wifi right? Given that I wouldn't have a cell contract with AT&T I'd hope I could use the iPhone's apps over wi-fi.
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Chris said 11:03AM on 9-18-2007
The touch is the best iPod Nano ever. It doesn't have enough memory to be the best iPod ever. Sorry.
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Kevin Kohn said 11:10AM on 9-18-2007
I LOVE the iPod touch...
Anyone else notice this one?
Seems to be a slight inconsistency in the Safari UI - Bookmarks Menu. Seems the Bookmarks menu does not respect the users choice to change viewing angle/position. The rotation of the Device should also rotate the Bookmarks Menu, but it does not. Once in the Bookmarks Menu, it is static to that orientation of the device.
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boyjoshua said 11:39AM on 9-18-2007
I canceled my Ipod Touch order with the screen news and lack of options in iCal. I may still order one if things get fixed. After thinking about it longer, I decided I would rather the Mail.app instead of access email via the web. In the past I would have been all over the jailbreak and custom software installing, but I am old and tired and just want it to work. I deal with other peoples issues all day, so do not want more to mess with when I get home.
Overall, if the iPhone was on a better data service than ATT, I would be using it right now.
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Andrew Abate said 12:08PM on 9-18-2007
I have an iPhone - my friend wanted the iPhone but has a different company. When the iPod Touch was announced it SEEMED like the iPhone lite - until he realized that the calendar doesn't add events - which still baffles me. He's waiting to see what happens.
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c0caine said 12:10PM on 9-18-2007
I dont know if anyone has noticed but as you can see on http://www.hacktheipodtouch.com/install-application/mail/mail-app-on-ipod-touch
you can easily use the iphones mail.app on the ipod touch...
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wdlv said 12:13PM on 9-18-2007
I'm quite fascinated it's come down to this, the iPhone truly is better than the iPod touch.
It's a shame that Apple currently is more content with stripping the iPod touch of functionality in light of the iPhone. How about giving the iPod touch some functionality the iPhone doesn't? Hmmm, that doesn't seem too hard to figure out if you want units to move.
I really like the iPod touch but shoddy launch and stripping it down don't appeal to me. I'll wait and see what comes down the road.
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justin.dwyer said 12:25PM on 9-18-2007
#17: no, that doesn't work. Thats how it MIGHT work if someone can jailbreak the touchPod, which so far no one has...
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punkassjim said 12:55PM on 9-18-2007
I think someone at Apple is failing to see the forest through the trees. There's clearly enough difference between the iPhone and the iPod Touch, even without hampering the software. Maps, Mail, Stocks, Weather, Notes, and a full version of Calendar.app should all be on the iPod Touch. I promise, as an iPhone owner, that I won't be offended. I mean hell, I can access all those things from anywhere, whereas an iPod touch would be limited to home/office/starbucks/etc.
But my biggest problem with the Touch is that it's got no buttons for volume or "next track." The lack of volume bottons alone would be a deal-breaker for me, even if I didn't already prefer the iPhone. I mean, coverflow's pretty and all, but I pretty much look at the screen about 10% of the time I'm listening and interacting with the iPod. I'd like an option to skip songs and control volume while it's in my pocket.
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