[JMitchell]

Apple just released most of the applications they should have originally included for the iPod touch, for £13, and one of them is putting web links on your home screen. So.....




Woo! (circled to make it easier to see!)

[lcraft]

I finally had a chance to handle an iPod touch last week - to date I had not handled an iPhone or Touch. Computer client of mine bought one and wanted me to set up an ad-hoc wifi network in her home so she could get online with it..

I REALLY want one.. but I think I am not going to be happy with just the Touch - i'm going to want data access even if I'm not near a wifi hotspot that I have access to and I dislike $60 a month recurring bills, so I'm going to have to think about that some more..

then ther's the wife factor - no way is she going to be happy with me having one and her having a cheapie prepaid plan. This could snowball into something ugly

[Charlotte]

I've never even seen an iPod Too many other gadgets lying around that I don't even use

[jjohnsind]

You're already paying that $60.00 a month if you've got a cell phone. Its been well worth it for me, even saving me some money by allowing me to drop my broadband access laptop card.

[JMitchell]

I can see all your points, and it is really just a gadget, rather than a necessity, but damn it's fun to play with. I mean, being able to post on here, and check my emails, use IM clients, etc. etc. is soooo cool (oh how easily we are entertained )

[silkstone]

Does anyone know of an upgrade for my Psion 5?

[j sotelo]

try going here
Useful Psion 5 Information
and here
Psion Series 5 PDA (Jarno Peschier's Web)

[lcraft]

Originally Posted by jjohnsind

You're already paying that $60.00 a month if you've got a cell phone. Its been well worth it for me, even saving me some money by allowing me to drop my broadband access laptop card.

Therein lies the kicker - I'm not currently toting a cell phone around. Due to afore mentioned dislike of monthly bills.. Wife has a prepaid that I have to stick about $25 a month into for modest use. Haven't for approx 2.5 years. One day I realized how danged sick I was of the thing and I was out of contract.

So when it interrupted me 8 times during a rare afternoon all to myself trying to do something I enjoy, I sort of flipped out and put it in my hydraulic press and made it really thin. It was ringing as it got crushed. Then I shut off service to it from another phone.

Now my wife has to send one of the kids out to my shop with a note or wait till I come inside.

[jjohnsind]

You're just one of those people that can go without a phone, good for you!

[tufcat]

My wife bought me an IPod Touch for Christmas. I never really thought I would use a regular IPod, but the Touch is pretty cool.

It's an excellent way to show your pictures to friends and family (it has a pretty big screen, for an IPod).

It's is a little bit of trouble finding Wi-Fi hotspots, but they are around. In a pinch, you can pull into a hotel parking lot for instant Internet access. I have mobile web on my cell phone, which has web access anywhere, but while it's functional, it has a lot more browsing limitations than the Touch.

You can also down load music, movies and (my favorite) audio books, and take them anywhere with the IPod.

I never thought I would use an IPod, but the Touch has turned out to be a pretty neat little machine.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by silkstone

Does anyone know of an upgrade for my Psion 5?

I think I have a Psion 2a in a box in the garage somewhere

[Rob Barron]

Call me stoopid but.... (oy, shut up all those who just said 'Ok, you're stoopid!)

What exactly does this iPod touch thing have that my phone doesn't have other than a touch screen (presumably where they get the name from!)

I have a Nokia N95 which is a lovely size to fit in my pocket but still with a decent size screen.
It has a 5mp camera
It has internet access and I get unlimited access and downloads for a fiver a month
I can view and post on Pixalo (and have done)
I can use all the usual wif- and bluetooth stuff
I can play MP3s and Videos
I can use it as a GPS system to see exactly where I am (have to pay extra for the sat nav route thing but I don't use it as I have a sat nav anyway)
I can store photos and videos
I can watch TV on it (yes, really!)

.... oh and if I really want to I can make telephone calls!

I paid zip, zilch, nada for this wonderful piece of technology, they just gave it to me free when I upgraded my contract.... onto a rate that is cheaper than I paid before so they were actually losing money to give me this phone!

So, what am I missing out on by sticking with this and not getting an iPod?

Cheers,
Rob

[JMitchell]

Massive screen,
Nicer feel (touch ness),
Touch screen, which really does make life so much more enjoyable than using a mobile web-browser...
Better music organisation,
Real PC-type web browser, not a phone based one which is definitely different,
Specified program for email

Although agreed, the N95 is a very good phone, and is very expensive without a contract (more than the touch). The bigger screen is really a plus on the touch too tho, for viewing photos etc.

[lcraft]

I haven't used a nokia n95. But the iPod Touch/iPhone does all that stuff REALLY well.

The touch screen eliminates mechanical buttons. That screen is quite large. It feels like a nice solid piece of technology when you hold it in your hand.

Where Apple tends to really shine is in the User Interface. Simple, elegant, powerful, easy to get to all the features. The nokia you mention is probably a nice phone. So is the iPhone.

I'd just say if you want to know what the commotion is about - go to an apple store and check one out. You'll either really like it or you'll think 'eh - this one i got for free works good enough'

[jjohnsind]

Quote: What exactly does this iPod touch thing have that my phone doesn't have other than a touch screen (presumably where they get the name from!)

Actually, the iPod Touch is a video iPod with touch screen; it is not an iPhone. The iPhone, on the other hand, does everything your Nokia does, only better, easier and faster. Everything is graphical, and intuitive; probably as revolutionary as Windows was to MSDOS when it first came out. It is a phone that is useable overseas (I'm in USA), has instant access to weather, stocks, calendar, Google Maps, & YouTube on top of the usual phone tools. Internet access is through the cell towers OR WiFI and uses the full blown web browser with full screen view. No GPS, but it CAN show you were you are on the Google map by using cell tower triangulation (ingenious) and thus map routes on screen (FREE FEATURE!). The mapping also has built-in search, so it can show you locations, info, websites, phone numbers of any business search and show all that info on the map. I can go on and on, but it was worth evry penny and then some for me. I probably could have done a lot of the same things with my previous phones, but never could figure out hoe to do a lot of things that easily. I was up and running within seconds without a manual with this thing.

Oh ya, on top of all this, it is a video iPod as well that can play music, show music videos or podcasts, watch tv, watch full version movies, etc. Albums are organized graphically showing the album art for every CD that you own. Battery life even with music listening is much better that any previous phone that I have ever used.