r3fresh

First Impressions: 2 Gen iPod Touch

The iPod Touch received a refresh just a few weeks ago and I was fortunate enough to buy one. My first generation iPod Touch is currently on its way out, the screens brightness flickers and the battery life last minutes instead of hours, so why not get a new one? I picked up a 16gb iPod Touch and the following is the impression I got from the device:

The Good:

• Screen is brighter
• Side volume buttons
• Speaker
• Slimmer look and feel (actually thicker than first generation, but feels thinner due to design)
• Faster (the apps open and run much faster than the first gen)

The Bad:

• Scratch magnet (everything on this device can be scratched)
• Smudge magnet
• Screen is warmer, not as sharp looking
• Same device, new look, nothing revolutionary

The most important new feature of the new iPod Touch is the built in speaker. Although its sound quality is for lack of better words, crappy, it is slowly becoming more like it’s older, more functional brother, iPhone. I would like to have seen a camera on the new generation, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of the question on generation 3, right?

Tags: apple, first impression, gadget, ipod, list, touch

The Next Wave of Macs

The iPhone 3G may have taken all of the attention away from Apple’s computer line, but later this year all eyes will be back on the macs. What to expect in a few months:

-Blu-ray drives will be available on every mac computer (including Mac Mini). Blu-ray drives with burning capabilities available only on Macbook Pro and Mac Pro (at first).

-The Macbook Pro will lose the old style keyboard for the new chiclet style similar to current Macbook. RAM maximum will be increased to 8GB.

-Macbook will get a full refresh. New look, still no metal like Macbook Pro. RAM maximum will be increased to 6GB.

-Macbook will get the multi-touch track-pad like Macbook Pro and Air.

-iMac will get its specs updated.

-Macbook Air will get specs updated. Larger hard drive. Quicker. Same price. External USB drive won’t have Blu-ray.

-Cinema Displays will still be expensive and will remain unchanged.

-Going off topic, iPod Touch will see a price drop of about $50 dollars. iPod Classic won’t be updated.

Tags: apple, hardware, mac, specs, speed, update

$20, The Breakdown

The five applications Apple released in an upgrade for the iPod Touch are not free. They aren’t even reasonably priced. They are however overpriced at $20. I still bought the upgrade, not because I needed it, but because I must have the latest and greatest.

The apps included are maps ($.63), weather ($.15), stocks ($.12), notes ($.68), and the only one I use, mail ($.86). So I spent $20 on a mail application that I really didn’t need? I thought so, until I dug a little deeper and found features that make it worth it better. (Also included a break down of what they really are worth)

New “Hidden” Features:

• Web Clips- Like apps, but are slower and only work when connected to wifi ($.53)
• Custom Screen Layout- You can now put any app, anywhere, there’s even more pages ($.02)
• Location Lookup- Google maps can find your location, but good luck having it work on an iPod Touch ($.31)
• Document viewer- the iPhone can view common files like .doc and spreadsheets, and it’s now on the Touch ($1.oo)
• Minor tweaks- just looking at the interface you’ll notice minor layout changes, animations, and a few new buttons ($.47)

The upgrade should be priced at $4.77.

*The “estimation” is not based on anything and for good reason.

Tags: apple, breakdown, finance, funny, ipod, math, money, tech