Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation--without iPhone OS 3.1 Software) [Previous Model]
by Apple Computer
![Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation--without iPhone OS 3.1 Software) [Previous Model]](/images/Apple-iPod-touch-8-GB-2nd-Generation-without-iPhone-OS-3-1-Software-Previous-Model-B001FA1NZK-L.jpg)
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List Price: Our Price: $199.99 You Save: $100.00 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $107.98 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation--without iPhone OS 3.1 Software) [Previous Model]
Customer Review: A Nice Improvement
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to hand it to Apple -- the iTouch is a great device. In addition to playing music, the Wi-Fi internet looks great, and the 3.5 inch screen delivers crystal-clear videos. I have an extensive music collection, but the 8GB model holds more than enough for me at any given time. I mostly use it while working out, and I was concerned that it would be harder to navigate than a Nano or that I might damage the touch screen; fortunately, I had no such issues.
I purchased a 1st Generation iPod Touch a few months ago, and I was hesitant about upgrading to the 2nd. There are no new earth-shattering changes or additions, but it is certainly an improved model. I had three problems with the 1st Gen that drove me crazy; thankfully, two of which have been addressed in the 2nd Gen:
1) An external volume button. Raising or lowering the volume on the 1st Gen required shifting the iTouch upright and then moving the bar across the screen. Doing that while running is almost impossible.
2) An external speaker. The 2nd Generation includes an admittedly quiet, but fully functional speaker. When you're playing a game or watching a Youtube video, it sounds just loud enough.
3) Delay in switching from landscape to portrait mode. This hasn't been addressed, and I haven't seen much discussion about it. It's less of a problem now that there is an external volume button, but it can still get annoying. Laying the device on its side while listening to music brings up the Cover Flow screen almost instantly. But for some reason, moving it back upright to get to the Now Playing screen sometimes takes as long as 10 seconds. It's not a big deal, but it can get a little annoying at times.
As far as the new features, the Genius feature works suprisingly well, as others have mentioned. I've tested it a couple of times while listening to a song, and it generated a playlist of similar artists and songs.
I haven't tested out the Nike + iPod component, but I'm glad it is included. The iTouch is fairly large, but sleek and light enough to not feel bulky in an arm band.
I've also noticed that the battery life has indeed been improved -- I haven't even charged my iTouch in a week. :) The exterior physical changes are subtle but noticeable, as it looks a bit slimmer and easier to handle.
All in all, I had to make the switch. I sold my 1st Gen for $200, and spent the extra $30 for the new model. While upgrading may or may not be worth it for everyone, I'd strongly recommend the new iTouch to first-timers. You won't be disappointed.
Customer Review: Finally, a perfect multi-function entertainment and organizer device.
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, if I can rename the Ipod Touch 2.0, instead of being a simple mp4 player or personal media player, I would rename it a multi-function entertainment and organizer device. Why, Ive got a PDA, an MP3/MP4 player, a FULL and FAST web browser, a video player, a Nintendo DS - or PSP-like game console, a document viewer, an application gadget, an e-book reader, etc. and that does not even include other useful utilities I have yet to download from iTunes or other 3rd party applications. All these thingys are viewed on its gorgeous high-resolution screen. And yes, I think the price for this device is just right. Put it in perspective, a netbook can now be had for $250 with web browsing and word processing on a puny processor. For about the same price I can get an Ipod Touch which, except for word processing and flash content, does much much more. Also, the battery life on this gadget is great. I can surf on wifi for four hours (with some downloads), play games for two hours, and listen to music for three hours, and still have enough to browse through a new ebook. Maybe it's because I properly conditioned the battery first after I bought it by: using it intensively to discharge to near-empty (Note: DO NOT drain completely) then charging it for eight hours straight, then after draining it with use again, I charged it for six hours this time, then discharged, then four, then discharge, then normal topping off on subsequent chargings. I usually end up having a properly-conditioned and long-lasting battery. Going back, I've gone through Samsungs, Sandisks, Sonys, Creatives, a Panasonic, other Ipods, but this seems to be my new favorite (my second favorite is the Samsung YP-P2). For those who are hesitant, why not buy it and take it for a spin for 30 days? But I have to warn you, if you are technologically-challenged, you may somewhat experience a hard time "getting to like" the Ipod Touch, which may result in unfair judgements. As they say, you cannot like what you cannot understand. I am perhaps an exception -- I am not very good with technology, but I actually had tons of fun easily learning to use my new toy, the Ipod Touch 2.0. Pardon me if I sound like a hired guy for Apple after fours cups of coffee but I have never experienced such technlogical wizardry rolled into a small piece of metal and glass since I had my first PDA in 2003. Well. that's that. I hope you take the Ipod Touch 2.0 out for a test drive for at least two full weeks (not merely a few days please) so that you can fully experience and appreciate what I am talking about. Good luck!Customer Review: Basically a tiny computer
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had the 8gb Ipod touch for about 3 weeks now, and I love it. It feels like a very modern piece of hardware: intuitive interface, compact size, diverse range of functions. The Itouch does a little of everything, and most of it really well.
I use mine mostly as a little netbook, checking mail, shopping online, and browsing the internet are all easy and powerful. I can't say enough about the selection of apps on the appstore - if you look around enough you'll find an app do to whatever you need. I think as a tool like a calculator, only with any purpose you can think up. I use mine as a calorie record, check register, and memo-pad mostly. I've also got a handful of TV shows, a game or two, and communication apps like twitter. If you're the type of person who always finds yourself going to the computer to check something or look something up you'll get a lot of use out of your touch.
Now, I have to say - as an Ipod, it's not amazing. It's got all the same functionality as an ipod nano or video, but it's not perfect. Touch-only controls (except volume) mean that you have to take it out of your pocket, wake it up from sleep, then stare at the screen to do simple things like pause or change songs. If held horizontally it switches itself to cover-flow mode, which lacks the normal song controls entirely. It's also hard to get used to the fact that the ipod mode lacks things that are all over the itouch - no searching for songs with text entry and no ability to sort or delete music on the go for example. The one thing I can say is that wifi access right on the device makes it easy to satisfy music cravings - you can download songs from itunes any time, and can even browse and download from the vast library of podcasts on the go.
Useful information: Most apps are a handful of mbs so the size of touch you get won't noticeably limit how many apps you get. The only exceptions are games and video-based programs. My 8gb is currently holding about 200 songs, 3-6 hour-long tv shows, and about 15 downloaded apps. The itouch can natively read .pdfs, but it's buried as a built in part of the email and browser programs. You can only download music, videos and itunes apps through Itunes on the pc, so any app that works with different file-types will have some unique downloading procedure - either through a web-portal or with a small application you install on your PC to link to the itouch app. I find myself needing to charge the ipod every 2 days, or 1-2 times a day if I watch lengthy videos.
Customer Review: The iPod touch is a computer !!
Summary: 5 Stars
I always wanted a PDA to organize my life since the early heydays of the
Palm pilot but couldnt spring for it due to the high prices. Then comes
along the iPod touch which in other words is a computer that fits in
your pocket. I have other Apple MP3 products which includes the nano and
the iPod classic however the iPod touch is the most impressive. The
screen is bright and the colors displayed are vivid. The slim size of
the iPod touch is just right for slipping it in your pocket. I would
recommend that you get a case, and not just any case I recommend getting
one of those aluminum cases with a screen protector because that gives
you maximum protection. I have dropped my iPod touch a couple of times
and I dont think any impact goes through the unit when compared to one
of those common silicon cases.
In referring to the iPod touch as a computer it all comes down to the
Apps and the Wifi Internet access. Where I live I do not get any
Wifi Internet access,however when I am out and about I do get blazing fast access which enables me to read emails and view YouTube videos. This feature alone sold me on plunking the $200 + dollars for the iPod touch.
In regards to the Apps available there are numerous ones available and being developed which includes games, utilities, business applications etc. I foresee the iPod touch used as an enterprise workhorse in the near future because the software running the iPod touch is a full fledged Operating System like Windows and Apple OS X. On the negative side of this otherwise stellar product is the pitiful battery life. It drains down really fast when playing graphic intensive games, however i think Apple has addressed this issue with the new iPod touch 2.2.2 softwarepatch release which I installed last night 2/5/2009. After the installation of this patch I see a noticeable improvement in the battery life. It could be my imagination but I recommend installing this patch,its very large, over 700 MB but I think it must be important or Apple would not have released it.
So there it is my review of the iPod touch, a truly GREAT product !!. I was disillusioned with Apple over my 4th generation iPod which gave a lot of problems, however with introduction of the iPhone and the iPod touch
Apple won me back,and solidifies their status as the most innovative
company in America and quite easily in the world.
Customer Review: Best media player ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
I will try to keep this short...I have owned a Zune, a Zen, a half dozen other mp3/video players, and my BlackJack 2 cell phone also plays music and movies.
NONE of them come anywhere close to doing what these ipod Touch's can do!I have loved mine since day one and keep 15-20 TV episodes on it all the time, along with a hundred or so of my favorite songs, a number of pictures, my schedule, email, to do list, contacts, etc.
It connect to my wireless network and pushes my email to it, I can IM from it, surf the web, pay bills, and even shop with it. (Yes, I have the AMAZON app installed.)There are THOUSANDS of applications that are easily downloaded and installed while connected wirelessly or while connected to Itunes. There is a calendar, contact list, weather, stock tracker, external speaker, YouTube, Maps, Calculater, etc...oh, AND IT PLAYS GAMES as well, and there are thousands of them as well. Some are free, some you pay for, nearly all have a fun trial so you can see if you like it.
Basically this device does everything. I recently Jailbroke mine which allows changing the themes, fonts, adding in more content, etc., and in a nutshell lets you customize it exactly the way you want it. (For those curious, there is a new app that does the Jailbreak on a 2nd gen touch...just Google QUICKFREEDOM. It took me all of 15 minutes and now I love this thing even more.)
The ACCELEROMETER built into it makes many apps even more fun! It senses if you tilt or turn the device and adjusts accordingly. If you are reading something in portrait mode and want it wider you can just turn it and the page will rotate too. Nike also has an app already included that turns it into a pedometer which has a handful of options like your "power song" so it will kick that on if you get off pace, tracks calories, distance
My next Cellphone will definitely be an iPhone due to how amazing these are. Apple hit a home run with the iTouch. Don't even bother looking at any other "multiple media player." None of them can do what this one does. Oh and make sure you order a screen protector film of some kind. Regardless of what others say they WILL scratch. I ordered 2 of these from Amazon and the film is just perfect and a breeze to install. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FB6S4A/sr=8-18/qid=1239804508/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239804508&sr=8-18