Apple iPod touch 16 GB (2nd Generation) [Previous Model]
by Apple Computer
![Apple iPod touch 16 GB (2nd Generation) [Previous Model]](/images/Apple-iPod-touch-16-GB-2nd-Generation-Previous-Model-B001FA1NZU-L.jpg)
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Our Price: $394.50 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $105.00 (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 16 GB (2nd Generation) [Previous Model]
Customer Review: Bag the PSP, sell your 30 GB iPod Video, love the iPod Touch.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was introduced to the iPod Touch/iPhone interface last summer when the iPhone 3G was released. My wife purchased and iPhone with a new cell phone contract through AT&T and I had my chance to play around with the device. The little I did play with it I absolutely enjoyed.
For the longest time, I've had multiple media devices all for doing different functions. Every time I would travel over night, I'd have to pack my:
- iPod Video for music and movies.
- Sony PSP for games.
- Blackberry Curve for my email.
- Laptop for internet access.
What a hassle. Last month I figured that I had had enough of the multiple-device life and sold my PSP and gave a family member my iPod Video. I used the money from the Sony PSP to purchase the iPod Touch 16 GB. And I've never regretted the decision.
For Gaming:
I'm not a huge gamer, but I do like to "button mash" a decent platformer or play some video poker when I'm sitting in a hotel room or on a plane. With the Sony PSP (or even the Nintendo DS in this case), any time I wanted to play a new game, I'd have to get in my car, drive to a game or retail store, purchase a disc, take it home, insert it and play the game. With the iPod Touch, I simply need a network connection, I surf the App store, I pay for whichever game I'd like to play, it downloads and automatically installs onto the device. Once I've beaten the game, I can erase it off the device and install it at a later time should I decide to play again. Goodbye Sony DMDs. And the game variety is surprisingly ample and of decent quality.
A few games that I have found to be exceptional:
- Hero of Sparta
- Firemint's Real Racing
- Gameloft's Assasin's Creed
- The New York Time's Crossword Puzzles.
- Rolando
- 2XL Games Supercross
For Other Media:
Obviously playing music isn't an issue on the iPod Touch. The sound quality is good, and I like the multiple viewing options available for viewing albums. Video is also much better than on the iPod Video. The screen is brighter, larger and more crisp.
I'm also a big fan of the Amazon Kindle software for the iPod Touch. Granted that I would not like to read an entire book on the small LCD iPod screen, it's sufficient enough to read a few chapters of whatever novel I'm reading in between meetings or on lunch break.
I also highly recommend:
- Apple Software's Remote
- Air Mouse
The Good:
- Apple's App Store.
- The screen (clean, clear and crisp).
- WiFi enabled.
- Slim and portable form factor.
The Bad:
- The battery (seems to not work as long as advertised).
- No GPS functionality (although Google Maps is sufficient).
- No Bluetooth.
The Ugly:
- Nothing.
All in all, the iPod Touch exceeds my expectations. The release of the 3.0 OS will be a nice addition (regardless of the cost to iPod Touch users). Boy, for an all inclusive package, Apple has done a phenomenal job.
Customer Review: BEST iPod to date!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had read that the speakers on the new 2nd generation iTouch was really lacking so my expectations were low. However, these speakers rock. Granted, if you're in a loud surrounding they are not loud enough but then again if you're in a loud surrounding it would be rude to have speakers that are loud enough to hear over other noises in my opinion. There's nothing I hate more than music on the subway from someones boom box or gadget when it's not music I would choose to listen to. So for those that are complaining about the speakers you need to understand that they are perfect for you personally....just not for everyone else around you.....that's why there are great little portable speaker setups out there to purchase just for those times when you wish to annoy others...or listen on the beach....and other louder surroundings.
Everything about my iTouch is great. The graphics are great. The ease of using iTunes to upload is great. Can't say that the help staff at Apple are useful....actually quite rude and have the elitest attitude. However, that does not change the greatness of the new 2nd generation iTouch.
The new added speakers as I stated above are perfect for me. I use my iTouch during the day at work at my desk and I can hear it perfectly but I'm not disturbing others in their work centers...it's great.
The fact that I can get on the Internet anytime I am in a wireless area is perfect. I did not wish to upgrade my phone quite yet to the iPhone due to the extra cost of all those fees that AT&T requires you to sign up for weather you want to use it or not. With my iTouch I get to decide when I want to sign on and surf the Internet for a phone number, address or even check my email....and at no extra cost each month!
I originally thought of waiting for the next version of the iPhone so I could get the Nike sensor addition (assuming Apple adds it to the next upgraded version)....but I wanted to use the Nike sensor and did not want to buy the new Nano to use it. For just a little bit more money than the new Nano I am able to surf the Internet, keep my contacts and address book with me at all times.....and many other cool features that I would miss out on with the Nano. IMHO why pay the cost of a Nano if all your're getting is a music storage device? Why not get the iTouch and get gadget after gadget included. Of course I have always been a Palm Pilot geek so this was the new age step up for me.....bascially it was a win win situation.
The Nike sensor added to the iTouch was a sweeeeet option. If you haven't checked that out you really should. It is a great motivator to get out there and exercise. With the Nike sensor you can track your miles walked, calories burned, etc and graph it online at the Nike website. AND.....if you start getting lazy and haven't uploaded your data in awhile....or even worse...haven't gotten out there and exercised....you will even receive an email encouraging you to not give up...it's great...and motivating.
In a nutshell....you can't go wrong with the new 2nd generation iTouch.
Customer Review: My permanent handbag fixture
Summary: 5 Stars
I was going to wait til I had owned this iPod for a while to review it, but I decided it didn't matter: when you love it, you love it.
This thing is going everywhere with me. I have only owned 1 iPod before this one, a 3rd Generation nano, which I loved at first sight and still love to this day. I am keeping my nano for pocket use for things including housework, outdoor exercise and docking in my speakers in the bathroom. I'm too protective of my new touch to expose it to possible harm. In fact, I was afraid to touch it for a few days after it arrived. I knew about the horrible fingerprints and scratches the back can get after my nano. But I got a case for it today and now I can't put it down.
I had some money for a special present for myself, and one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted a new iPod. My 8G nano was just slightly lacking in capacity for my use. Besides a lot of music, I like a movie or two and some of my TV show episodes on it for car rides, etc. I was researching the touch a LOT because it had the capacity I wanted, PLUS the idea of wireless internet access in my handbag really appealed to me. But this iPod far surpassed my expectations since the day it arrived. I wasn't sure about the internet use with how tiny the screen, but the zooming and scrolling is so simple, the difference from a laptop is a few seconds time, tops. I can hardly believe how I can click my "mail" icon and be in my inbox in a matter of seconds. So the music, video and Safari features are absolutely wonderful, and addicting. I also love the photo feature. It's nice being able to keep so many pictures of my toddler on me at one time. I figured right away that I wouldn't ever use the apps option - I'm not a gamer. But after a few minutes of browsing, just to rule it out, I found several I wanted! For $2.99 I found a wonderful pregnancy application which helps me follow exactly where I am daily in my pregnancy. Plus I discovered that a food and activity tracking website I use had a touch app! And that was free! It's wonderful.
I'm still playing and learning, and just keep finding more to love. As I mentioned, I don't care for the back which easily draws scratches and fingerprints, but a case takes care of that. I love the volume control on the side. And as mentioned by other reviewers, the external speakers aren't really something to consider buying for. (Doesn't matter - plenty of other reasons to buy it!) They are VERY quiet at best. I have to hold the touch up to my ear to hear unless the room is 100% quiet. But as far as showing someone a song or YouTube video without loaning them your earbuds, it's handy.
All in all, this sucker is a computer in your pocket. It does everything I want. I even use the calendar on it. I wasn't interested in iPhone because 1) I don't like the extra fees involved and 2) I LOVE my BlackBerry. But I couldn't be happier that I purchased this touch. It's absolutely incredible.
Customer Review: I love my iPod Touch!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the 16GB iPod Touch as a replacement for a Creative ZEN Vision:M. I went from 30GB to 16GB and while I was concerned I still have room left over on the iPod Touch.
The best feature in my opinion is the multi-touch screen. No more clicking buttons or navigating through menus with a tactile control. It just makes sense to have a touch screen.
Audio quality was a concern because while I'm not an audiophile I do expect decent sound quality and the iPod Touch delivers. No hissing. No crackling. Just pure, crisp sound with enough bass that should please most people. The integrated speaker is great for games or just casual listening(as Steve Jobs said) it comes in handy. You can share music, videos and games with people around you. I think it's a fantastic feature!
Video quality/screen quality is very good. Not great, simply for the fact I would prefer a little more contrast but it's definitely watchable and looks fantastic. The 3.5 inch screen is a full inch larger than the one on my ZEN and is widescreen which is nice. Movies are more enjoyable to watch.
The only annoying thing I can find with the iPod Touch is teh fact you can't sync full size images. iTunes "optimizes" each photo to around 640x480 which means all detail is lost when you zoom in. Because of the format iTunes uses to optimize them with, 16-bit BITMAP, the images also have a terrible grainy and blurry look to them even if you zoom in only slightly. Full size images from a digital SLR would be too large, obviously, but a size around 1440x900 would be perfect and make better use of the pinch and zoom feature. Apple, please give us the option!
I haven't been able to try out the wifi features. Kind of strange I know since some of the iPod Touch's best features require it. I love my iPod Touch and wouldn't trade it for any other player on the market. The web browser, YouTube and Google Maps apps are just extras that make it even more desirable but the things you expect an iPod to do it does well.
As my first iPod I was a little nervous using iTunes, which by the way, still crashed a lot on Vista 64-bit. I sync to my iPod and it crashes. I download a podcast and it crashes. I change a song's info and it crashes. It isn't so terrible that it would make me not want to use my iPod though. Hopefully the next update will make it more stable but I doubt it. It's obvious Windows compatibility isn't first priority for Apple and iTunes. When it works, its a great program for managing all of you media.
This is my first iPod and I couldn't be happier with it. I feel my money was well spent. It isn't cheap but if you can afford it go for it.
Customer Review: Improved In All The Ways That Count!
Summary: 5 Stars
I wrote a length review for the first-generation iPod touch, and I stick by that review... With a disclaimer. There was no way I could know at the time that Apple would put out the same awesome product with a lighter, thinner form factor, a built-in speaker, physical volume controls, and a big price drop.
With all those things in mind, I have to say THIS is the best iPod I've ever owned. The only things I'd ask for now would be a non-aluminum back (something that doesn't scratch, please!), a built-in microphone (for taking notes and using some Apps), and more storage space (eagerly awaiting the 64GB model's inevitable release...)
I love the new touch. With the built-in speaker, you can do a lot of stuff on the go and you don't need to carry around headphones. YouTube, videos, music, and games can be experiences without earbuds now!
The physical volume control is a nice thing to have. Now you can reach in your pocket and blindly turn it down (or up!) without needing to interact with the touch screen. It really should have been on the first generation.
The form factor is largely the same, but it's much thinner than the previous model, and a little more tapered at the ends. This makes it a lot easier to carry in your pocket, and if you're the type to put a case on it, it makes it a manageable size even with an extra few millimeters of plastic accessory protecting it.
The App Store just keeps getting better. Prices are fair (usually) and a lot of really great stuff is completely free. You can even shop Amazon with a free App!
As my original review said, this is not just an iPod, nor is it a "crippled iPhone" -- It's an Internet-capable computer in your pocket. This is as close as you'll get to having a palm-sized, full-featured Mac. The OS is even a variation of OS X, and it shows. It's slick and easy to use.
Apple was a decade ahead of their time when they made the Newton, and unfortunately it didn't fare so well. Now we have the iPod touch, and the promise of an easy-to-use, touch-based computer that fits in a space smaller than a deck of cards has finally come! The iPod touch is the kind of gadget that you hoped and wished for in "the future" when you were watching all those sci-fi movies as a kid. This thing is straight out of the 21st century, and it looks like it. THIS is the cool tech we were expecting as kids in the 20th century! THIS is what we were waiting for!
Well, this and the flying car. Who knows? Maybe some day Apple will go into the automotive business.
Until that day, enjoy your slice of future tech in the form of the iPod touch. This is the best thing since sliced bacon.