Update on iPhone/iPod Touch consideration

[disneysteve]

I posted a few weeks ago that I was thinking about getting an iPhone and wanted to know what other people thought about theirs. Since then, my daughter decided to buy an iPod Touch for herself. We went over to the Apple store today for her to get it. She had a show tonight (she's in theater) but asked if I would set it up for her, transfer her music, etc.

WOW! The device has only been in my possession for a couple of hours and I'm blown away by it already. The quality of the graphics, the ease of the interface and just the few applications I've had a chance to play with are all incredible. I don't think I realized that the iPod Touch had internet capability. Of course, you need to be where there is WiFi, so you can't get on anywhere like you can with the iPhone, but still, it doesn't cost you anything whereas the iPhone costs you $35/month for the service.

I am very, very impressed. I'm not going to run out tomorrow and buy my own, but I'm willing to bet I will do so at some point.

[myrdale]

I love mine, it is truely an awsome thing.

A couple of tips for ya. It will play MP3 files down loaded from LimeWire with out issue.

Music you copy from CD's are typically saved as WMA files. There is a free software program called Switch Sound File Converter I down loaded to convert them all to MP3s. It works like a charm.

If your as anal about the details as I am, you can download MP3 tag editors to better organize your music. I trialed then bought mp3Tag Pro. It's great for what it does.

For anyone curious about Ipod Touch, I posed a video on youtube a while back. It is pretty corny, but just shows it in operation. Can be found here:
YouTube - IPOD Touch

Oh and lastly, ITunes does not jive with XP 64. There are 20 minutes work arounds you must endure to get it to work.

[disneysteve]

The only thing I can think of that would make this device perfect would be if it had a camera (like the iPhone does). I couldn't care less that it isn't a phone, since I hardly ever use my cell phone anyway.

[Like2Plan]

disneysteve,
I thought you were going to say you broke down and bought an iPhone. Reistance is futile, go out and buy one --you 'll get to enjoy the use of it. (Then the rest of us will be very jealous. )

[disneysteve]

L2P, it will come to that, I'm sure. Right now, I'm going to enjoy it vicariously through my daughter. She needs my help with some of the tech stuff and needs me to download any paid apps (account is in my name) so I'm going to play with this one for awhile.

BTW, in case anybody is wondering, she paid for this with her own savings. Actually, I'm pretty proud of her. She had her Bat Mitzvah in September and other than making a donation to Smile Train, this is the first she has spent any of her gift money. She waited until she found something she really wanted and knew she would make use of. I'm sure a lot of kids who suddenly find themselves with thousands of dollars in their bank account don't show nearly as much restraint.

[kork13]

BTW, in case anybody is wondering, she paid for this with her own savings. Actually, I'm pretty proud of her. She had her Bat Mitzvah in September and other than making a donation to Smile Train, this is the first she has spent any of her gift money. She waited until she found something she really wanted and knew she would make use of. I'm sure a lot of kids who suddenly find themselves with thousands of dollars in their bank account don't show nearly as much restraint.

haha -- I thought of my youngest brother immediately when I saw this. He's managed to establish a fairly lucrative lawn-mowing business in his neighborhood, making ~$150/weekend (buku-bucks for a 15y/o). Against all rhyme, reason, and disagreement from my parents, he almost immediately went and got himself a new XBox (which supplements his PS2 and Game Cube).... hahahaha

[disneysteve]

haha -- I thought of my youngest brother immediately when I saw this. He's managed to establish a fairly lucrative lawn-mowing business in his neighborhood, making ~$150/weekend (buku-bucks for a 15y/o). Against all rhyme, reason, and disagreement from my parents, he almost immediately went and got himself a new XBox (which supplements his PS2 and Game Cube).... hahahaha

The deal in our house is pretty much that she has to run any significant purchases past us. We want to make sure she understands what she's doing and if there are any additional costs (accessories, games, other fees, etc.) beyond the purchase price. Of course, we would veto any purchase that we truly opposed for good reason (like buying a movie with inappropriate content) but other than that, it is her money to spend as she chooses.

We do make sure that she understands the importance of saving for the future, a car, college, etc., so that she doesn't go out and blow all her money on wants today.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

DS, my DH did not get a itouch or ipohone because in June they are having software updates and likely a hardware update as well. With each new generation they charge you more for the update, so it's worth waiting. They announced this about a week or so ago. I wish you had posted earlier.

[MiikeB]

DS, my DH did not get a itouch or ipohone because in June they are having software updates and likely a hardware update as well. With each new generation they charge you more for the update, so it's worth waiting. They announced this about a week or so ago. I wish you had posted earlier.

The announcement two weeks ago from apple stated there will be a software update, however it will be free according to Apple. There is a big myth about them charging for software updates, but it only happened once.

[Pitman]

Hello,still wondering whether to buy iPhone 3G or Blackberry?

Get. A. Blackberry.

I'm a Blackberry user aka crackberry. I have the 8900, which is the new curve which came out about a month ago. My Blackberry can do everything an iphone can including play music. I absolutely hate the all touch screens. I send about 150 Text Messages a day, not to mention emails, and BBMs, I couldn't imagine doing all this on a touch screen. The saying goes, blackberry for business men, iphone for gadget nuts.

Just my $.02

[sweeps]

Get. A. Blackberry.

Get. An. Iphone. I've had an iphone and a blackberry, and it really is no contest. The iphone is better in so many ways, not the least of which is the huge number of applications available for it. Most developers write apps for the iphone/ipod touch first, then for other platforms if they get around to it.

[disneysteve]

Get. A. Blackberry.

I'm a Blackberry user aka crackberry. I have the 8900, which is the new curve which came out about a month ago. My Blackberry can do everything an iphone can including play music. I absolutely hate the all touch screens. I send about 150 Text Messages a day, not to mention emails, and BBMs, I couldn't imagine doing all this on a touch screen. The saying goes, blackberry for business men, iphone for gadget nuts.

Just my $.02

I think it totally depends why you are getting it and how you plan to use it. Personally, I send maybe 1 or 2 text messages a month, and I don't even like doing that. I don't send e-mail. If I get an iPhone, it will be for all of the apps (there are over 25,000 currently available - though that includes a lot of duplication). My daughter got the iPod Touch to play music and games. A Blackberry would not do what she (or I) would want to use it for.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Actually my DH was looking at a 1st generation itouch for $320 for the 32 GB, and it would cost $40 for the software upgrade. He researched it. So not all software upgrades are free.

Second, with it being the two year anniversary of it coming out and people who bought the new ones coming off of a 2 year contract, I'm guessing that they are coming out with a new generation.

Blackberry is better for work I agree.

[MiikeB]

Actually my DH was looking at a 1st generation itouch for $320 for the 32 GB, and it would cost $40 for the software upgrade. He researched it. So not all software upgrades are free.

Second, with it being the two year anniversary of it coming out and people who bought the new ones coming off of a 2 year contract, I'm guessing that they are coming out with a new generation.

Blackberry is better for work I agree.

I apoligize, I assumed he was looking at a current generation. That is true that if you buy a first gen touch you will have to pay to upgrade the software to include email/itunes and I think maybe even the app store. Again though, its a non issue with the current generations.

There has been talk of an iphone nano, however it seems to be mostly rumors right now. Apple rumors often do turn out true though.

[kork13]

There has been talk of an iphone nano, however it seems to be mostly rumors right now. Apple rumors often do turn out true though.

Dude, I would TOTALLY bite on that.... One reason I'm a bit turned off by the iPhone/iTouch is the sheer size/mass of it. If they could somehow make a decent iPhone except smaller, that would rock.