Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation) [OLD MODEL]
by Apple Computer
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation) [OLD MODEL]
Customer Review: My first and last apple product
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok first things first, I am impressed with the various things that I can do with this Ipod touch, Instead of going into a long review, i will just list the pros and cons of the machine( for me at least), that I've noticed in the 1 month of owning this product.
Pros
1. Apps store. It has a wide variety of different apps for what ever you need doing. This thing is like a miniature laptop and I use it as a sort of netbook. From office suites, to maps, radio, free VOIP through skype and of course games. The best part is there are tons of free or ad supported apps so you can pretty much do anything without paying for it.
2. The itouch looks great and feels sturdy. however I still suggest that if you buy this product, get a screen cover and back cover. The screen gives a crisp picture and the touch aspect is quite responsive.
3. iTouch is very easy to operate and does not require any learning. the interface is easy to understand and with the new iPhone OS it performs even more efficiently.
4. media is easy to manage and download from the itunes store. As for your movies, i suggest downloading a free video converter so you can watch them on iTouch.
5. The wifi antenna isn't the strongest, however it does the job.
Cons.
1. The reason this is my first and last apple product is because of the restrictive attitude of apple towards it. It's either the apple way or the highway. I know some people do jail break their itouchs but I feel that an item that I bought should do what I want it to do without so many restrictions. There are a couple of reasons for this. First I have been converted to Linux as my main operating system and since apple OS are all based on Linux I was expecting something similar. The itunes software, sometimes acts crazy switching between auto sync and manual. Also the music I download from itunes makes me really mad as well. I suggest to any one who wants to buy music, DO NOT buy from itunes, other sites like AMAZON etc are much better. Also this itouch can only be hooked to one computer at a time. I updated my vista to a discounted copy of windows 7 that i got through my university "connection" and the iTouch turned it into two separate computers. Anyway after hooking up to five computers you have to reset everything for it to work.
2. battery life is very bad on this one. I used to own a creative product and even though it is over a year old, still does better in terms of battery life than the itouch( even with wifi and blue tooth turned off)
3. The safari browser is really bad in the iphone OS. There are so many missing plugins , they make the browser virtually useless.
4. there is no central file storage like a home folder or my documents and each app stores the documents on its own. Like I transfer files from my dropbox( an app for transferring files between your computer and itouch) but can't view them on good reader ( an PDF viewer).
5.The sound quality is not up to the level that I would have expected from such a costly device. The earphones provided aren't great and if you buy a 8gig model you have to purchase a mic as well.
Well that's about it. Hope this helps you to make a better decision on your purchase.
Customer Review: thoughts on the 8gb 2G iPod touch
Summary: 4 Stars
I've only had my iPod Touch for a few days, but I went right to work testing it :)
What's in the box:
iPod Touch, of course.
USB cable/charger (requires adapters for wall or car charging)
earbuds
some paperwork that can hardly be called an instruction manual
dock adapter (no use to me, I don't have a dock)
First thing to do is charge your iPod, which you can do with an AC wall outlet if you've bought the accessory kit that is recommended alongside this product. http://www.amazon.com/Charger-Silicone-Reusable-Protector-Generation/dp/B001JP8T9Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282110968&sr=8-2 But you might as well connect it to your computer because you'll want to download the latest software (iOS 4) from Apple and sync it up with your music, photos, etc. The iOS 4 is free and it is a major improvement regarding the organization of your apps/utilities and playlists. It might also be a good idea to set up password protection (under settings) so if someone grabs your iPod, they can't do too much damage with your email or shopping or whatever. Then personalize it however you like!
The engineering that has gone into this little machine is amazing. The screen is gorgeous, with vibrant colors,and it is big enough to see what you're doing and small enough that the unit is still very portable. Really, the size is perfect. The basic capabilities of multi-touch are very intuitive and the rest you already know if you've ever watched a commercial for iPod touch. Tilt, rotate, pinch (in/out), touch and hold, touch and drag, that sort of thing. Even my 6 year old can do it.
The sound quality without the stereo headphones is so-so, but I wasn't even expecting to hear anything without headphones. It does have a built-in speaker. But the headphones improve the sound a hundred fold. There's even an equalizer where you can specify what type of music you're listening to and the iPod adjusts accordingly. There is no microphone capability, but for me that is not a big sacrifice.
Things I'm not crazy about:
Shake to shuffle. There is a button for shuffle, I don't also need to shuffle by shaking. And if you're wearing the iPod during exercise, your playlist will shuffle with every step you take. Make sure to put it to sleep first.
The fact that no AC adapter is included. The battery life is somewhat limited (optimal 30 hours of music play, but when are things ever optimal?). I can go about 4-5 hours without charging, and I'm doing stuff like changing songs and updating my fitness log (many apps available to track exercise, diet, etc) when I eat something or perform exercise. I think it is stupid to only be able to charge with USB. What is the point of a pocket computer if you are still tied to your main CPU? If that is a problem for you, the accessory kit is a worthy investment.
Internet capabilities are somewhat limited... the 3G iPods might suit some Apple customers better if you want to get on Google or check your email just about anywhere. It does pick up wi-fi signals and there is a free app where you can get a database of free wi-fi hotspots near you. A lot of apps require wi-fi signal.
Customer Review: Wonderful!...read on to fix video glitches when upgrading
Summary: 5 Stars
I gave my husband and my Grandson each an 8gb iPod Touch for Christmas. My husband's iPod is his first...he wanted one for business trips since the airlines no longer provide headphones and music. My teenage Grandson's iPod is his third and he wanted one for the apps, games and music. To put it simply, they were impressed! I got them connected to our wireless network in no time by simply entering our 23 character WEP Key as the password. They also tested connectivity at various wifi hotspots in our area and connected quickly. The preloaded applications are pretty amazing with thousands more available at the iTunes store (many are free). My Grandson especially likes the free "Zippo Lighter" app. I was so impressed, that I decided to upgrade my old 80gb Ipod Classic with a 64gb iPod Touch. I am more into video than music and had about 50 movies that I converted from my DVD collection. I also had all six seasons of "The Office" purchased from the iTunes Store. When I transferred these video files to my new iPod I encountered the following glitches:
1) All of the movies I had previously copied from DVD were corrupted on my new iPod. Movies I purchased from the iTunes store were fine.
2) All of "The Office" episodes were out of sequence.
Needless to say I was disappointed and frustrated. With patience and a bit of research I was able to repair both problems. If you're planning to upgrade your iPod, print a copy of this review. The "fixes" are as follows:
1) To repair your previously copied video files and to copy DVDs in the future, go to the Aimersoft website [...] and purchase the iPod Converter Suite. This suite contains two programs: the iPod Video converter (to repair your previously converted video files) and the DVD to iPod converter (for copying other DVDs). Both programs are very user-friendly and I had them running simultaneously to repair my old video files and to copy DVDs I couldn't (for some reason) copy before.
2) To repair the sequencing of purchased TV seasons, do the following: first, delete all the files from your iPod...you will make the repair in your iTunes library and copy them to your iPod. In iTunes, right-click on the episode and select "Get Info". Go to the "Video" tab. Make a note of the season number and the episode number (for instance: Season 3, Episode 1). Go to the Episode Number box (not the Episode ID box) and replace the existing number (in this case "1") with the number "301" (minus the quote marks). (Note: when you get to episode 10 and above, make certain to stay with the 3-digit format...so Season 3, Episode 10 would be 310.) Do this for all your seasons and then drag the files from your iTunes Library to your iPod...or sync your iPod...it all depends on what option you've selected in managing your library. Now when you look at your iPod, your TV programs will be properly sequenced.
My iPod now works perfectly. I hope this review helps anyone out there who has upgraded from an older video iPod. As for the rest of you, you're going to love your new iPod. I've had one for three years...I wouldn't leave home without it.
Customer Review: Great 'starter' device
Summary: 5 Stars
OK.... the parade has passed by this old 2G iPod Touch. Now people are on to 3G with all the new bells and whistles (multitasking, voice commands, etc.) I say, "Let them go." This 2G is just fine by me.
This is the first touchpad device I've owned. I never felt I needed something like this since I already have a cell phone, a netbook computer, various iPods and a Kindle. But after having purchased this, I find I use it much more than I thought I would, especially on my commute, and the Kindle, netbook, and old iPod stay at home more often.
It has all the functions of my old iPods so the music experience is the same as always... very good.
What I especially like about this device is all the apps that I can download or that come with the device. Since purchasing this, I've moved my calendar and appointments over to the Calendar Goo app that syncs easily with my Google calendar. Easy and convenient. Also nice is the 'Weather' app. Quick check before heading out the door and I'm good to go. I could go on about the apps but most people know the score. The iPod touch allows one to personalize the device and get just what one needs.
I will also mention that the Kindle app is great. Since buying the iPod Touch 2G, my Kindle has been collecting dust. I never liked the low contrast of the 2G Kindle...felt I was reading on grayish looking paper. Also no backlighting meant no reading in low light situations. With the 2G Touch, I don't have to carry a 2nd device to read books. The Touch is smaller, so easier, to use on crowded trains. Also, it is backlit so low-light reading situations are no problem. Finally, the contrast is good. The print is black and the pages white. I have no problem with eyestrain. The app works fine and I can download my Kindle books quickly and easily. The biggest drawback for the Kindle app on the Touch is that highlighting text is a really frustrating activity. If what you want to highlight is located too near the edges of the page, instead of highlighting, you'll end up turning the page. Also, if the text you want to highlight continues to the next page, you can't continue the highlight. Instead you have to highlight one page, turn to the next one then start a new highlight. Awkward! Still, the convenience of having one device that doubles as portable music machine, scheduler, and library has made my commute much more endurable.
I could probably go on quite a while talking about the many features I like on the Touch, but will stop with the ones I've just discussed. My strategy has been to let the first adopters spend their money on the latest model with all the bells and whistles, while I wait and look for something that is less expensive but still meets my needs. That is exactly what this 2G is. It is priced very nicely but doesn't have the multi-tasking or voice commands. If you 'need' those things, this device isn't for you. OTOH, if you like something that is priced nicely, does 90% of what the new model does, and has all the bugs worked out... this 2G iPod Touch is a very good purchase.
Customer Review: Mighty Music Machine
Summary: 4 Stars
With hundreds of different applications to choose from all packed into a small, lightweight, handheld electronic device, the iPod touch. Games, music, videos, what more can you ask for? From games and apps- like Bookworm to Tap Tap Revenge 2 to the Weather Channel, or my personal favorite, Bejeweled 2. Or you can entertain yourself with the billions of music choices ranging from pop teen heartthrobs, the Jonas Brothers, to Japanese pop group, Monkey Majik, or even dance tunes from Black Eyed Peas. If you like more inspirational songs, you can go for Christian tunes from bands such as: Shane Barnard and Shane Everett, Hillsong, or the one and only, Chris Tomlin. Music videos from almost any performer are also available on iTunes. Are you a movie fanatic? Movies ranging from classics to the newest releases are among the movies you can buy and download.
This small, lightweight device comes in varying sizes such as 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB. Even though it is only 4.05 ounces and 0.33 inches thick, the iPod touch is mighty. It can hold music, videos, hundreds of applications, photos, and lots of other useful information. Whether you are with your friends hanging out, shopping, or sitting at home alone with nothing to do, the iPod touch can be a great companion and provides plenty of entertainment for all ages.
The Apple iPod touch has a large selection of music genres, all the newest movies/television shows/ music videos, and provides never-ending fun. The functions are endless, and when you purchase an iPod touch, it comes with a calendar, mail, contacts list, stocks, maps, weather, a clock, calculator, Safari (Apple's internet source), a notepad, and many other useful tools. The touch screen feature measures about 3.5 inches (diagonal) widescreen and is very touch sensitive. It has worked very well with no major complaints so far. The screen is very clear and easy to read, and hardly ever gets a scratch.
Even though there are many positive things about this product, there are also a few weaknesses. The main problem I have had was the battery life. I have experienced a battery completely dying in less than two hours. My two suggestions for all new iPod touch users is to keep the "brightness" set on low ("brightness" can be found in the settings section) and make sure that when you are not using the Wi-fi, turn the Wi-fi off (also located in the settings section). Occasionally, the iPod can freeze when "overused" or can take a long time to load the apps, however, this happens in rare situations.
Overall, the iPod touch is a great product and has kept me happily occupied for hours. Two years after receiving this iPod, I have come to the conclusion that this is one of my favorite items that I own. I rarely leave the house without it. Whether it's listening to music, playing games, watching videos, or checking my email, there is always something to do on my iPod touch. With all of its great features, who wouldn't want to have something as fun and entertaining as an iPod touch?