iPod The only problem with the new Touch is...

[mjhudston]

I have the same issue with my iPad and iPhone.

[mish]

Does the new itouch have a built in microphone and/or camera? I have the 3rd gen and was shocked that for the cost I had to use an external microphone. What a pain in the butt to mess with the earbuds (for the microphone) just to capture a song.

Would have been nice to have the camera or a scanner of some type so I could use the apps that need that function.

As far as reading on it, I prefer to just read short stories or novellas (short ones). The backlighting and horrible battery life don't make me inclined to read a novel on it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by mish

Does the new itouch have a built in microphone and/or camera? I have the 3rd gen and was shocked that for the cost I had to use an external microphone. What a pain in the butt to mess with the earbuds (for the microphone) just to capture a song.

Would have been nice to have the camera or a scanner of some type so I could use the apps that need that function.

As far as reading on it, I prefer to just read short stories or novellas (short ones). The backlighting and horrible battery life don't make me inclined to read a novel on it.

Two cameras and a mic. Front-facing 0.3MP webcam for video chats and a rear-facing 720P vidcam/ 0.7MP still cam/ mic.

The rear cam is adequate for email, Facebook, YouTube, etc. It's great for scanning barcodes. Otherwise it's a joke.

[cleanskin]

Last month, I bought a Kindle DX Graphite and returned it within 30 days after discovering too many problems, disappointments, and limitations with the device.

This month, I purchased a Touch 4G for a number of uses (mostly music and reference apps). But I have to say that the retina screen provides a damn good reading experience. If Apple releases the rumored 7" iPad screen with "retina" pixel density, it will absolutely be the definitive e-reader on the market.

[JeremyZ]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The rear cam is adequate for email, Facebook, YouTube, etc. It's great for scanning barcodes. Otherwise it's a joke.

Do you have one? Have you actually used one? As a hobbyist photographer, looking at the specs, I said the same thing to myself.

After actually using it, on the other hand, I thought it was shockingly good. Good sharpness, good contrast. I attached a few samples.

I thought the ones of the observation deck and beach were not bad. The one of the Porsche has some digital noise, due to the low light condition, but some of that is to be expected. It is still perfectly usable for anything but printing.







Remember that this camera is built into a device the thickness of a pencil and whose primary use is not photography. I consider it more of a camera that is always with me.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

Do you have one? Have you actually used one? As a hobbyist photographer, looking at the specs, I said the same thing to myself.

I have one that I'm giving as a gift. It's defective (light leaks) and will be exchanged once Costco gets more stock. I tried out a barcode scanner app and it works great.

After seeing your pics - they're too fuzzy - I still stand by my original statement. It's a joke. If I had a touch, I'd still have to carry a cam with me. If picture quality didn't matter, then my old-style flip phone is adequate.

Keep in mind, if I had my own touch, I wouldn't carry it on a daily basis. I look upon the touch as primarily a pocket PC that would be great for traveling. It would never get used as an MP3 player (I have a Sansa Clip+ I always carry for that). The cams would only be used for video chats, barcode scans, and identification apps. Since the display is too small, video would be limited to cartoons and short comedy clips; and reading books on it would be a joke.

[Joe Minton]

You are flat wrong tubemonkey; reading on the touch 4G is not a joke; it is remarkably sharp and clear. I no longer use my Sony PRS-300, except in sunlight and don't use the awful PRS-600 at all.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Joe Minton

You are flat wrong tubemonkey; reading on the touch 4G is not a joke; it is remarkably sharp and clear. I no longer use my Sony PRS-300, except in sunlight and don't use the awful PRS-600 at all.

.

Sharpness isn't the issue with me; it's real estate and the number of words available per tiny page. I don't feel like flicking the page every nanosecond. I like lots of words on my pages. I tried reading a Wikipedia article and it was painful - tiny words and constant scrolling.

Bottom line: to each his own.

[JeremyZ]

Well, you're missing out tubemonkey because you have already closed your mind. I'm not familiar with that other mp3 player, but I've never seen an mp3 player that comes close to being as good as Apples'. As a pocket computer, it would be a bit of a disappointment, since it can't really run heavy-hitting software.

The only pictures above that I could see any grain on without putting my face up to the screen was that of the Porsche, which was taken in low light. (= higher sentivity = more noise, which is to be expected) As much as I try to have a proper camera on me, there are just too many opportunities that pass by because I don't have one in my pocket. For those, the 2 MP camera/lens/sensor built into my phone is not of the same quality as that of the Touch.

You should really give it a serious try. Unless you just are trying not to spend the money and don't want to get hooked. In that case, you're right, this is abolutely a joke.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

You should really give it a serious try. Unless you just are trying not to spend the money and don't want to get hooked. In that case, you're right, this is abolutely a joke.

I am trying it. I bought one for a gift. It's defective. I'll return it as soon as Costco gets more stock. In the mean time, I'm playing with it.

Like I said, it would make a great pocket PC for trips and vacations. I could leave my netbook home. I love the barcode scanner app. That would have a lot of value on vacations and lengthy shopping sprees.

I would never use it as an MP3 player, because it's too big. I don't carry gadgets that large and fragile on a daily basis. I have a highly rated MP3 player for that.

I need a small sized computer to replace my netbook for traveling and I'm leaning toward the 7" Android tablets. If they don't pan out, then I'll seriously consider an iPod touch 4G.

[JeremyZ]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I would never use it as an MP3 player, because it's too big. I don't carry gadgets that large and fragile on a daily basis.

This is relative, too. If you only consider it an MP3 player, I agree it is large by today's standards. But if you consider that it is also a portable web browser, e-book reader, game console, still camera, and video camera all wrapped up into one device, it is very compact.

Ditto with the iPhone. It is pretty thick & clunky now, but when one considers all that it is in it, it is VERY small, since it has everything in one device.

If you only consider it an MP3 player, it is large.

I don't know about fragile. It is solid-state; no moving parts except four buttons. The screen can be scratched or cracked, but most MP3 players have that possibility, and no easier than a Touch.

[JeremyZ]

By the way, if anyone is curious, I haven't used my Kindle since I got my Touch. I used the Kindle as a portable reader, but the Touch is so much more portable, I never take the Kindle any more. Maybe I'm still honeymooning; we'll see.

It is easier to read on that one would imagine when visualizing "small screen + LCD". The high resolution display and intuitive interface make it so easy to read, even with one hand. Touch the screen in the middle, and the menu buttons come up. Touch it on the right side to go forward a page. Touch it on the left and it goes back a page. I can also swipe, like I'm turning a page in a book. Page turns, while more frequent, are very quick and don't interrupt the reading experience at all.

If you're thinkin about getting one and can afford it, go for it. I don't think most people would regret it, if they plan on using more of the features.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

This is relative, too. If you only consider it an MP3 player, I agree it is large by today's standards. But if you consider that it is also a portable web browser, e-book reader, game console, still camera, and video camera all wrapped up into one device, it is very compact.

Ditto with the iPhone. It is pretty thick & clunky now, but when one considers all that it is in it, it is VERY small, since it has everything in one device.

If you only consider it an MP3 player, it is large.

I don't know about fragile. It is solid-state; no moving parts except four buttons. The screen can be scratched or cracked, but most MP3 players have that possibility, and no easier than a Touch.

I consider it to be a pocket PC; as such, I'd never carry it on a daily basis. I'd only carry it on vacations, trips, and heavy shopping. Since I wouldn't carry it around, its MP3 feature would be worthless to me.

The iPhone 4 is the right size and the touch should've used its form factor. If I get a touch, I'll end up getting a thick case to protect it and bulk it up. I hate how thin it is.

My MP3 player is much easier to carry, because it's much smaller. Also, I don't have to worry about it's durability.

The touch is different things for different people. To each his own.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

By the way, if anyone is curious, I haven't used my Kindle since I got my Touch. I used the Kindle as a portable reader, but the Touch is so much more portable, I never take the Kindle any more. Maybe I'm still honeymooning; we'll see.

It is easier to read on that one would imagine when visualizing "small screen + LCD". The high resolution display and intuitive interface make it so easy to read, even with one hand. Touch the screen in the middle, and the menu buttons come up. Touch it on the right side to go forward a page. Touch it on the left and it goes back a page. I can also swipe, like I'm turning a page in a book. Page turns, while more frequent, are very quick and don't interrupt the reading experience at all.

If you're thinkin about getting one and can afford it, go for it. I don't think most people would regret it, if they plan on using more of the features.

My Kindle has become a wallflower, too.

[JeremyZ]

I forced myself to bring the Kindle on the commute today. Now, it is just like I felt when I went to the Kindle from paper books. The Kindle seems big & heavy compared to the Touch, just like books seemed big & heavy compared to the Kindle.

It is kind of sad. I just bought the nice red dragon Oberon cover for my K2 to prevent myself wanting a K3. (it worked) But I didn't anticipate that the Touch would be so good for reading, and I surely didn't anticipate that it would mostly replace the Kindle.