IPod: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL

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1. Scott Showalter "purefusion" says:

   12/06/2010 at 3:36 am

   2,940 of 3,074 people found the following review helpful:

   
   The Lines Between iPod Touch and iPhone Have Started to Blur, September 7, 2010

   By 

   Scott Showalter “purefusion” (Ohio, USA) –
   
     
   
     

   This review is from: Apple iPod touch 32 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)

   Having had a chance to spend a little time with a review model gives me a chance to share the experience with you a bit early (before my own arrives). I’ll take you hands-on with the new model, plus I’ll share from my past two years of iPod touch ownership altogether, especially for those who haven’t yet owned (or been owned by) one of these mobile gems.

   I’ve also hidden a treasure trove of info on how you can legitimately download tons of quality apps for free. First though, let’s quickly cover what’s new.

   + Faster 1GHz A4 Processor – to keep up with the high demands of multitasking
   + Ultra high resolution “Retina display” – packs a 960 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch
   + 15% larger battery – 3.44 Whr/930 mAh plays 7 hrs of video & 40 hrs of audio
   + Rear-facing camera – supports 960 x 720 sized photos (0.6 megapixels), plus 720p HD videos
   + Front-facing VGA-quality camera – VGA-quality is a resolution of 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
   + 3-Axis Gyroscope – allows for higher precision and more motion gestures
   + Wireless N – Connect faster and go farther than ever, with this WiFi device (requires a router with 802.11n)
   + Built in microphone – but Apple reverted back to using the remote- and mic-less earphones
   + Game Center – Apple’s own social gaming platform
   + Sleep/Power Button – it’s been moved to the right, but not improved beyond that
   + Thinner, lighter than ever
   * Note – Memory remains at the same 256MB despite several unconfirmed sources touting 512MB. There’s also no vibrate module.

   Unlike last year’s iPod touch update, this one’s a complete overhaul to the entire line. Last year, the new models didn’t change in appearance. On the inside, faster processors and double-memory were added to the 32GB & 64GB models, but the 8GB got left out. Not this time. Buying the new 8GB iPod touch indeed gets you all the new goodies. You’ll also pay thirty bucks more than before, so consider buying the 32GB model instead. You’ll get 400% of the storage capacity for only 23% more coin!

   ===== Background =====

   I’m a mobile app developer who’s created a few apps and games for the iPhone, iPod Touch and now iPad. I was initially drawn to the iPod touch because of the popularity and capabilities of its mobile Web browsing–I was primarily a Web developer at the time and no other device could surf the Web so well. After I got one, I was hooked. I racked up over a hundred bucks in app purchases within the first month, and before long, I found myself learning how do develop native apps for the device.

   Indeed, if you have never had an iPod touch before, you’re in for a real treat. Of course, if you have, then you know first hand: it’s is worth its weight in gold–no, in platinum. And now, with the latest generation, it may even be worth its weight rare gem stones! I digress.

   ===== Out With the Old =====

   The iPod touch is frequently called an iPhone without the phone. However, until now there have been several other features also missing in the iPod touch besides the phone: a camera, GPS, magnetometer (compass), and some newer amenities from the iPhone 4: front-facing camera, high resolution “Retina display” as it has been dubbed, and the powerful 1GHz A4 processor–indeed a necessity to keep up with multitasking.

   That all changes, now. The 4th gen iPod touch brings with it some new features and amenities, some of which have been anticipated by iPod touch fans and developers alike, including myself, for several generations of the device. From a developer’s perspective, the more hardware features we can get our hands on, the better and more innovative apps we can create, and the more users that can download, use and enjoy them.

   ===== In With the New =====

   The striking new design of the latest iPod touch is definitely a looker. Apple has made it even thinner (and I thought it was already too thin before) complete with a beautiful chrome back. While the super thin design is certainly attractive, I’ve found it slightly difficult to keep it well-gripped in your hands. The usual chrome back looks great too, but it’s scratch-insistent. Yes, it’s incredibly easy to scratch it all up, even after the first few days. For these two reasons, definitely get yourself a silicone skin (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042GVG5G?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8) alongside your new touch!

   For ages, the feature topping everyone’s wishlist for the iPod touch has been a camera. Check! It handles HD video too–bonus! Granted, its not the 5 megapixel camera that the iPhone 4 sports, but again, the new iPod touch is thinner than ever, making it a miracle that we even got a camera in the first place, let alone two! Yes, Apple went the extra mile so we could make video calls with our iPhone toting friends, via…

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2. MWebb says:

   12/06/2010 at 4:31 am

   305 of 321 people found the following review helpful:

   
   RETINA Display Absolutely Rocks! Excellent Media Device and Portable Computer, September 19, 2010

   By 

   MWebb (Berkeley, CA) –
   
     

   Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

   This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)

   My original review focused on whether you can successfully use an 8 gb version of this 4th gen iPod Touch in lieu of a more expensive, larger memory version. My conclusion (at the end of this highly revised review) was, and remains, a resounding YES but there is one aspect, that applies to ALL the iPod Touch 4th generation editions (8/32/64 gb), that I now think is MUCH more important:

   The quality of the screen display.

   Simply put, this device has near-iPad screen quality in a 3.5″ device. (960×640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch, vs. 1024×768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch).

   That means you can get almost iPad quality video in approximately 3.6 ounces of device vs. 24 ounces of device; in a device that fits a shirt pocket vs. a device you need a separate bag for. In a device you can hold up as a reader vs. a device that tires your arms.

   This Touch is VERY practical for reading NYTimes articles or USAToday articles in their reader applications, optimized for this size display (crisp, large type). VERY practical for browsing the regular on-line editions of most newspapers (tap once to fit a column to a screen with nice readable type). GREAT for YouTube since the YouTube app included with the device is optimized for delivering high def YouTube content – if available, HD videos are automatically preferred. GREAT for Netflix and Hulu Plus. GREAT for gmail and ok for Facebook (I am sure FB will make its dedicated app more user-friendly in the future).

   Great, for me, for online banking and stock research/trading.

   Great for catching up on tech websites in their “mobile” formats.

   So-so for Yahoo; I don’t like Yahoo Mobile right now and their regular online edition, via the built in Safari browser, doesn’t scale up and down as nicely as the online NYTimes does.

   And oh yeah, the device can store adequate amounts of your own music library (or stream Slacker or Pandora, customized for you, in free or pay editions) and download iTunes paid video content for later consumption, stream to Apple TV, or you can move your own DVD content to the device via easy conversion programs.

   Last year I ventured out on some vacations with an iPod Touch, the last generation, as a “backup” to my netbook. I found myself easily reading emails, but preferring the netbook for replies. I didn’t read any books with it until earlier this year, and was surprised by how well book reading worked. I Skyped home.

   When this new generation Touch came out, I got it as a matter of reflex, justifying the purchase on the basis of the built-in camera and built-in microphone (which means I don’t have to use “inline mics” with ear buds any more). But in reality, the sharpness of the screen is MUCH more important. I have now, simply as a result of this device, switched to e-reading from print reading. On the road, this has largely displaced the netbook (except for reviews like this); most friends communicate in shorter emails these days anyway, and most emails are ads and blurbs, not stuff you need to reply to.

   But now at home I find myself ALSO using this new generation iPod Touch a LOT. In the morning to check emails for anything really important, to check NYTimes headlines, before I even roll out of bed. Anytime I want to check emails or Facebook the rest of the day, without firing up the regular desktop computer. At bed to read.

   In short, the darn thing is a working computer. Great for CONSUMPTION, patience-testing for INPUT. (Although forcing my input to slow down, say, for Simple Notes entries may be a good thing – forces me to slow down and be a lot more concise.)

   ***********A word on gaming and pricing. My kids have the 8 gb, 4th gen (this one) model and LOVE it for games. The motion detector is VERY responsive and watching a 3.5 y.o. use “dual thumbs” on the screen blows me away. You will NOT get the same screen responsiveness and motion detection on an Android device. Some developers are even reluctant to develop Android versions because the hardware for Android devices simply has too many variants in the marketplace vs. much smaller overall market share. This can change, but for now Apple dominates the gaming market. This week Apple is offering the Touch in 8 gb mode for slightly over 2 bills but with a 25 gift card. The value for dollar is incredible. Think carefully before you try to find a substitute! (FWIW I love Apple hardware but don’t like the “locked down” system it has become – I hate having to use iTunes as “Grand Central Station” for Touch operations. So I am actually inclined to be biased AGAINST Apple, but in the case of the Touch the results are simply too good to ignore.)

   ***********Best accessory ever:…

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3. D. C. Hanson says:

   12/06/2010 at 5:19 am

   400 of 429 people found the following review helpful:

   
   Actual Owner of iPod Touch 4G, September 8, 2010

   By 

   D. C. Hanson (Wisconsin) –
   
     

   This review is from: Apple iPod touch 32 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)

   Alright, so Best Buy got the 32GB iPod Touch 4G in stock so I drove an hour to go get one. I was not disappointed. I will run through the features I have come across so far.

   Body: Aside from moving the sleep button to the right and making the back of the device slimmer and more flat, not much has changed. Yes, the chrome back is still there erg! It was so pretty for the first 30 seconds.

   Ram: The Ram on the iPod Touch is only 256 MB, so do not believe the talk of 512 MB, it is simply not true.

   Wireless: Fully supports A/B/G/N

   Vibration: There is no vibration, so do not expect that.

   Multitasking: Works real well and very smooth transition

   Display: While the display on the iPod is not IPS like the iPhone do not think it suffers in anyway. This display is so beautiful and crisp to look at. I cannot even distinguish the pixels, and text on a website is like you are reading out of a book, it’s so refreshing. I played a digital copy of “UP” on here and the colors practically jump off the screen, very nice. Apple’s icons are so much more vivid and sharp, while 3rd party developer icons who have yet to make an upgrade for the new displays shows what a step up this new screen has to offer.

   Speaker: I am not sure of the quality of the speaker on the 3G iPod Touch, but on my 2G iPod Touch it was very tinny and I only used it for game sound. Here on the 4G there is a new spot on the bottom left for the speaker and it has risen in clarity. Music is very listenable and clear, however nothing replaces a good set of earbuds, but when you’re in a jam, you won’t be gritting your teeth with this speaker.

   Processor: The new Apple processor is a sure win for this device. Everything loads very fast and switching from one screen to another is very swift and smooth. Crash Bandicoot finally has a nice framerate to play with on this iPod and for once I did not regret buying that game.

   Front Camera: This is the camera that is primarily used for Facetime. It’s resolution is at 640 X 480. After taking a few pictures with it, you will notice how it is really not for taking stills, but works fine for videochatting (which I have not tried, but did run some video tests with it). Obviously Facetime will work better in well lit areas, but then again, doesn’t any camera?

   Rear Camera: Again stills are just so so. What really bugs me is when you go to take a picture, you see how crisp the preview is, then you take the picture and you can see it blur. The tap to focus works nice for adjusting exposure and well lit photos look very decent on the display. It’s when you upload them to your computer when you notice how not so decent they actually are. While this may be a negative for many people, if you are like me, you want to just upload photos with this device to FaceBook and capture funny moments with the video camera. If I want to take a really awesome picture, I’ll pull out my DSLR, but for me this iPod’s capabilities are more than adequate for my quick shooting of certain events. The video captures quite nicely, while not superb like an actual HD camcorder does enough for me for again, capturing fun moments. Don’t worry, you don’t cringe while watching the video, it’s more than adequate and produces vibrant colors and a fast framerate. Some may complain on this, and believe me those reviews will be here shortly, but then again why not buy an HD Camcorder that is made for HD content? (I’m not ignorant to HD quality either, I’m a huge fan of it. I run a 3D 65” 1080p display with Blu-ray and Dolby Tru-HD decoding surround sound system)

   Microphone: Testing out Skype my friend told me I was coming in loud and clear. I also played back a video I made on the iPod on my computer and the microphone captures top notch audio. Very crisp and clear, I was quite pleased.

   Battery: While I haven’t tested out Apple’s claims of 40 hr. of music, let’s be honest who really does that? I’m sure Apple’s claims are quite credible in their battery life depending on how the device is used.

   One note I should also make, my iPod Touch 2G accessories, (car charger, wall charger) work with my iPod touch 4G. Apple sometimes changes stuff like the charging pin on the iPod’s to make a person have to buy new accessories. Anybody remember when the iPod Video A/V cables had the Audio and Video switched around so people couldn’t use their cables with the iPod? Well they could, they just had to switch the audio and video cables in the port around. Anyways, away from this funny piece of marketing history.

   Is the new iPod worth it? For me, upgrading from the 2G Touch, yes! The display is brilliant, the speed of the processor amazing, video quality is very much enjoyable and the rear camera is excellent for taking quick fun shots. If I had one word to describe this iPod, it would be fun! You can’t…

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