iPod Touch As A PDA

[MadDoc]

I am considering getting an iPod touch (perhaps today :rolleyes: )

I will probably get the 16GB (as the 32GB is just a bit too much to explain to the gf!).

Although I will primarily use it for music (maybe films on trains, etc) I would like to know how it functions (or how it might function) as a PDA.

I have a lot of PDF files that I would like to be able to read on the go. I was also wondering if the SDK that is (soon?) to be released is likely to improve the touch's functionality as a PDA as I used to have a Palm Tungsten T5 which I really found useful but hated the UI!

Thanks,

MadDoc

[EnTg888]

I'd wait for the SDK, unless you want to email yourself all those pdf's and read them that way... for some reason, Apple made pdf's readable in Safari and Email but provided no way to load them onto the ipod. Otherwise, I use it as a PDA every day, it's awesome for calendar, contacts, notes, email etc--especially web browsing. The keyboard isn't too hard to use and it syncs easily with outlook calendar and contacts (which is what I use). Lacks support for Tasks though.

[Beric]

Yeah, my father needs to buy a new PDA some time, I'm just not sure if I should recommend the iPod Touch. He didn't seem attracted before, but with a suitable update, he might become convinced. GPS, especially, would be nice.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

I've had mine for a few weeks now and use it mostly as a PDA (sometimes I don't even carry headphones with me). I love everything about it and highly recommend it for the calendar, email, web, notes, contacts, etc.

The music and video is a great touch, too.

[swiftaw]

I've had mine for a few weeks now and use it mostly as a PDA (sometimes I don't even carry headphones with me). I love everything about it and highly recommend it for the calendar, email, web, notes, contacts, etc.

The music and video is a great touch, too.

Me too, although the one glaring omission is the lack of syncing for iCal's To Dos

[BrownManUPS]

The touch has the ability to read .doc, .pdf, .ppt, .xls, .txt, and other office task files, but you can't write to them. To put them on, you can use your email client and email them to yourself, effectively having offline storage...

When the SDK comes out, undoubtedly functionality will be released by some third-party to just upload the files through iTunes.

Currently, I couldn't live without it. I am always surfing the web and checking email and using the notepad for something. It is an amazing device.

[Star Destroyer]

I have been looking at the Touch for a PDA as well, and i think as soon as the SDK is released and someone creates a program to read (at least read and possible write to) microsoft office files, .doc, .xls, .ppt, .pdf etc, it will no longer be a thought i will just order it.... Because then it will have it all.

That is the only stopping me from buying one, without those i just cant justify spending the money when i already have a 30gb ipod and a macbook.

[ansalmo]

I'd hoped that the Touch would make a great PDA, but I've been disappointed by some features.

The main one for me is the pitifully weak alert notifications. I have (far too) many meetings every day, and need to be alerted when they're due (my memory is terrible!). With the Touch in a belt holster I rarely hear the alarms, and there's no vibrate option to fall back to either.

The recurring event options are a little too limited for me, since I have several meetings that occur on e.g. the third Wednesday of every month. These can't be set up on the Touch itself, though they are able to be set up on a Mac and synced across (IIRC).

The other thing I'd have loved to have seen would be Bluetooth - it's very much a nice-to-have, but it would open up the world of headsets for VoIP, external keyboards, BT GPS, over-the-air net access via a separate BT-enabled phone etc, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I think the Touch is amazing, but it just misses out on replacing my existing device. I'll probably wait for the 3G iPhone and see if that gives me what I need.

[Renator]

I used Palms for years, probably close to 20. My latest were LifeDrive and Palm T/X. I waited a long time before deciding to move to the Touch. I decided, after the release of the additional apps, to take the plunge. I've shelved my Palm. The Touch syncs seamlessly with Address Book and Calendar.

I agree with some of the "cons" mentioned in above listings. I wish there were a louder alarm, but I check my calendar more often. I put most of my "docs" on Google's "Documents" so am able to access them from anywhere I can connect wirelessly. I think the SDK will, eventually, give rise to other self-contained apps.

However, the Touch (16 gig) permits me to carry around just about all of my audio collection. I don't regret making the move.

[thesdx]

I've had mine for a few weeks now and use it mostly as a PDA (sometimes I don't even carry headphones with me). I love everything about it and highly recommend it for the calendar, email, web, notes, contacts, etc.

The music and video is a great touch, too.

Yeah, same with me. I rarely bring headphones with me, as I mainly use it for mobile web browsing, checking emails, etc. I use it like a laptop. Too bad it doesn't have a built-in speaker like the one in the iPhone.

[Orng]

I'm in the same boat, I've decided to buy a Touch, more as a PDA/mobile internet device than as an iPod. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that many people use it this way.

I've been waffling on a MacBook Pro lately, I need the power but only at my desk. On the go, the Touch meets all my mobile computing needs, especially with Google docs.

A Touch/iMac combo saves me money and accomplishes exactly what I need. But that's just me, and it helps that I'm surrounded by WiFi everywhere I go.

[galstaph]

My touch is used kinda like a pda. I use the calender quite often and enjoy having my music with me as well. I also like the third party apps that are starting to come out (have to jailbreak, but hey, what else can you do?)
Looking forward to further expansion of capabilities when the sdk gets going

[macpluslaptop]

I use the Touch as a PDA - contacts are great, but the notepad is the most useful feature for me. I throw everything into it. Even though I live in NYC it's hard to find free Wi-Fi, so the lack of reliable connectivity is disappointing (not enough for me to go to iPhone!). But I find myself checking my e-mail at home from the Touch, and Safari works well too. Someone's just put out a free Wikipedia search app, and that's amazing.

I loved my Tungsten T, but once you get used to the Touch you realize how much easier it is to use.

What I'm really waiting for is a slightly larger Touch that one can read e-books on...

[iMpathetic]

To be honest, I use my iPod more as a PDA and second computer than I use it for music. It is still my main iPod but I'm typing form it here. I have almost managed to get my dad to buy one to use for work. I think apple severely underestimated how versatile the iPod is.

[James L]

I'd wait for the SDK, unless you want to email yourself all those pdf's and read them that way... for some reason, Apple made pdf's readable in Safari and Email but provided no way to load them onto the ipod. Otherwise, I use it as a PDA every day, it's awesome for calendar, contacts, notes, email etc--especially web browsing. The keyboard isn't too hard to use and it syncs easily with outlook calendar and contacts (which is what I use). Lacks support for Tasks though.

It takes about 30 seconds to load a pdf onto the Touch. You just make it an embedded bookmark in Safari, and the next time you sync your Touch it is loaded on.

Here ya go. Just install it on your Mac, and drag and drop the pdf onto it. It will automatically embed it into Safari for you.

Linkety:

http://www.magnetismstudios.com/MonkeyBusinessLabs/FilemarkMaker

[IMCAMOD98X]

James,
Do they make a program like that for a non mac os????

[wizard]

To be honest, I use my iPod more as a PDA and second computer than I use it for music. It is still my main iPod but I'm typing form it here. I have almost managed to get my dad to buy one to use for work. I think apple severely underestimated how versatile the iPod is.

I think this is very true and probably has put some steam into Apples Tablet/Newton2 teams. As long as Apple grasps what the average guy wants in his pocketable tablet they could be raking in the dough. Especially considering they screwed up with their long term AT&T contract. If anything AT&T is a negative with respect to Apple's ability to move iPhones.

In my mind, and something that has already been mentioned, Bluetooth is very important and APPle needs to get it in place on a Touch device real soon. Further it has to be full Bluetooth supporting as many profiles as is reasonably possible. Sadly it is not part of the Mobile OS that seems to be getting much attention. I'd also like to see them use an Audio jack that is compatible with iPhones, that is Audio IN & OUT. Those two things and an open SDK would be huge for Touch based devices.

Thanks
Dave

[wizard]

I'd hoped that the Touch would make a great PDA, but I've been disappointed by some features.

Hopefully they will be taken care of real soon.


The main one for me is the pitifully weak alert notifications. I have (far too) many meetings every day, and need to be alerted when they're due (my memory is terrible!). With the Touch in a belt holster I rarely hear the alarms, and there's no vibrate option to fall back to either.

I can see where this would be a serious issue for some. Unfortunately I think you are stuck with what the current models offer up. Even if somebody made a clip on noise maker/vibrator it would not be a suitable substitute for a properly built machine.


The recurring event options are a little too limited for me, since I have several meetings that occur on e.g. the third Wednesday of every month. These can't be set up on the Touch itself, though they are able to be set up on a Mac and synced across (IIRC).

This is something that needs to be highlighted to Apple as much as possible. They do respond, eventually, to consumer demand / wants especially software ones. Even so the bigger issue is that you can't hear the coming meetings so this generation device is out of the question.


The other thing I'd have loved to have seen would be Bluetooth - it's very much a nice-to-have, but it would open up the world of headsets for VoIP, external keyboards, BT GPS, over-the-air net access via a separate BT-enabled phone etc, etc.

A USB Host port would have been a "nice-to-have" but Bluetooth is a must have! That Bluetooth needs to be open too. The thing with Bluettoh is that this is exactly the type of device where it would shine.

Don't get me wrong - I think the Touch is amazing, but it just misses out on replacing my existing device. I'll probably wait for the 3G iPhone and see if that gives me what I need.

I'm waiting my self but it is more for finding out what the SDK delivers to us. If the SDK is without a lot of limitations then the value to me of the Touch based devices goes up tremendously. The other thing is that I really want a Touch device that like you is a littel more capable as a PC rather than just a music player.

One thing I would also hope for is some sort of Scripting environment coming to the Touch devices via the SDK. Being able to program in your own high level environment would allows scripts that lead to work a rounds for the above problems. For example a simple script that takes an Alarm "signal" from a calendaring App and simply drops into a loop where it tries to get you attention. Nothing fancy here.


Dave

[phooi]

I am thinking about getting a 16gb iPT to replace my ipod and my palm Vx. I've done a number of searches on this topic but would like to have more feedback.

I am looking to primarily have the capabilities to


Wireless access (iPT yes)
Contacts. How easy is it to move my contacts from a Palm to the iPT?
Calendar. How easy is it to migrate the calendar from Palm to the iPT? Can it also sync with outlook and Google calendars? I keep a number of calendars on different platforms. I would love to consolidate to one but I think I will need to keep 2 (business & personal).
To do lists. Looks like iPT does not sync to anything yet. Where do the notes get stored on the iPT when you connect it to a computer (I have a MBP).
Email. How many email clients can it support? Can it provide access to separate accounts? I want to have access to my work and personal email but don't want them lump into one single view. I'd like the ability to view all my personal emails on one and my work on another view. Is this possible?
Apps. With the SDK coming, looks like that problem is solved since I don't plan on jailbreaking the device.


I'd love to hear people's feedback on these features and other things people are doing with the Touch as a PDA device. My needs are pretty basic right now but would love to hear how people are doing more with it.

I also plan on going to the Apple Store to really check it out.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[ctt1wbw]

I just got my 32gig Touch last night. I've been holding out for a few years for a thing like this. No hard drive! I love it. It seems to be very capable in the pda realm, but what I'd like to see is someone make available the handwriting recognition that was in the Newton Messagepad. That would be such a sweet thing.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Wirelessly posted (iPod Touch: Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

That may come with the SDK having been released, but keep in mind you'd be writing with your finger as a stylus wouldn't work with the touch.

[ctt1wbw]

Wirelessly posted (iPod Touch: Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

That may come with the SDK having been released, but keep in mind you'd be writing with your finger as a stylus wouldn't work with the touch.

That might be true, but a new release of the Touch could have a screen made for a stylus...

[IgnatiusTheKing]

That might be true, but a new release of the Touch could have a screen made for a stylus...

I just don't see them adding a stylus; it just doesn't fit.

It wouldn't be in keeping with what Apple is doing with the touch interface on the other products (iPhone, MBA, MPB, etc.) and it also would represent a step backwards in the evolution of the technology.

[ctt1wbw]

The Newton is anything but a step backwards. Imagine what Apple could do with the Newton with today's technology. The Messagepad 2100 was amazing, and that's 10 or so years old.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

The Newton is anything but a step backwards. Imagine what Apple could do with the Newton with today's technology. The Messagepad 2100 was amazing, and that's 10 or so years old.

That may be so, but adding a stylus to the touch would be a step backwards.

[eplchamps0304]

That may be so, but adding a stylus to the touch would be a step backwards.

How would that be a step bacwards? It would just be a choice for the user.

[john316]

How would that be a step bacwards? It would just be a choice for the user.

People adapt to Apple rather than Apple adapting to People ;)

[jbarr]

Admittedly, sometimes my fingertip doesn't provide the degree of precision I'd like, and after using PDA's for well over a decade, I sometimes find myself mistakenly grabbing for the non-existent stylus when I turn on my IPT, but the UI has been implemented so well and is so usable that I have yet to feel that I need a stylus at all.

Besides, how would you do Multitouch with a stylus? :rolleyes:

[Sijmen]

Besides, how would you do Multitouch with a stylus? :rolleyes:

Well, by taping multiple to your fingers of course :p

[AstrosFan]

I am looking to primarily have the capabilities to


Wireless access (iPT yes)
Contacts. How easy is it to move my contacts from a Palm to the iPT?
Calendar. How easy is it to migrate the calendar from Palm to the iPT? Can it also sync with outlook and Google calendars? I keep a number of calendars on different platforms. I would love to consolidate to one but I think I will need to keep 2 (business & personal).
To do lists. Looks like iPT does not sync to anything yet. Where do the notes get stored on the iPT when you connect it to a computer (I have a MBP).
Email. How many email clients can it support? Can it provide access to separate accounts? I want to have access to my work and personal email but don't want them lump into one single view. I'd like the ability to view all my personal emails on one and my work on another view. Is this possible?
Apps. With the SDK coming, looks like that problem is solved since I don't plan on jailbreaking the device.



My Palm Tungsten E2 recently died & I purchased a iPT as a replacement. I had many of the same questions you do and I can address some of them, though not all.

Contacts was EASY to move from Palm Desktop to iPT - export the address book as a vcard & then import the vcard into the Mac Address Book. Then choose to sync the Address Book with the iPT & voila, all moved over!

I imagine iCal has something similar with Palm Calendar, but I haven't tried it yet.

Nothing great with the ToDo list - I read about jailbreaking & third-party apps which are good, but I haven't done that myself. I am actually waiting for June b/c I'm sure there will be great ToDo options once the App Store opens up.

Hope that helps!

[Sijmen]

Email is ordered nicely into accounts –> mailboxes –> messages, it's very nice.

edit: you can sync your calendar with Outlook if I'm not mistaking.

[phooi]

Thanks Astrofan! So regrets on the purchase? BTW, which iPT did you get?

Have you started using email client yet? I'm wondering if I can keep my gmail, yahoo, et al separate?

Any experience there?

[phooi]

Email is ordered nicely into accounts –> mailboxes –> messages, it's very nice.

Oops... jumped the gun on that! :p

Sounds like a winner so far. Beyond the things I've asked, are you guys using it in any other way??? Always looking for new ways to use technology!

My hope is that it can be a wireless computing platform sans the telephone... any experience there??

Thanks!

[Sijmen]

Well ehm, aside from using the internet, watching videos on YouTube, checking my email and calendar, I also tend to use the iPod to uhm… listen to music.

[phooi]

Well ehm, aside from using the internet, watching videos on YouTube, checking my email and calendar, I also tend to use the iPod to uhm… listen to music.

Uh... yeah. Thanks for that. You can do that???? ;)

I was asking if people have found other uses for the iPT from a PDA or wireless computing perspective beyond what I've asked previously. It is always nice to learn how people can be innovative in the way they use their devices beyond what is available on the surface.

However, I will consider using the iPT as a media player as well. :D

[jbarr]

I use my iPod Touch as a PDA much more than a media player.

Google has a new beta application called Google Calendar Sync that syncs outlook and Google Calendar very well (only one calendar, though) so syncing my iPod Touch to Outlook now keeps it in sync with Google Calendar.

As for mail, I use Gmail exclusively, so it's kind of a toss-up for me between the Mail client and the iPod Touch-friendly Gmail Web site. Which one I use really depends on my circumstances. If I'm online and I want to read and manage my email, I prefer the Web version. But if I know that I won't be near a WiFi connection for a while, I just do a quick update to the Mail client when I'm online, and I can read and respond to email while offline using the Mail client. They are both useful. (I just wish the Mail client would sync with Gmail directly via WiFi.)

Also, though I have since Jailbroken my IPT, I paid for the January Update specifically to get the Notes app. (yes, I felt that simple application was worth the $20$). This elegant yet simple application lets me jot notes quickly and easily anywhere. My only complaint is that it doesn't sync--not with Outlook or plain .txt files--so there is no easy PC-based data entry.

ToDo list apps are simply not available unless you Jailbreak. And the couple available are nice but very rudimentary. And they don't sync or integrate with Calendar. Lately, I find myself just keeping a ToDo list in the Notes app.

A "stock" iPod Touch makes a nice, but not very sophisticated PDA that has completely replaced my Palm PDAs. After owning numerous Palm PDAs since the original Pilot 1000, I have to say that the iPod Touch really is what a Palm should be by now. I hope that the SDK will produce sufficient PDA-oriented applications to make it even better.

(And to be completely redundant to many of my other posts, my main application is Wiki2Touch which has transformed my IPT into an amazing, efficient information resource. Yes, Wikipedia anywhere, any time. So cool!)

[phooi]

Thanks Jim! Exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to get.

Now I have to get to an Apple store to physically play with the unit before I pull the trigger on it.

Anybody else have any feedback? I think it would very helpful to me and others to understand the full capabilities of this innovative device...

[Star Destroyer]

I had never even thought about getting a Touch, then during a research trip i stopped at an apple store and i played with it for the first time.. and now, i just have to have it... i have no idea why, since i have a Palm and 30gb video... but i think i will just sell those and use the money for a touch (which is them both in one unit, pretty much)

If you play with it, you will love it forever... hahaha

[phooi]

I had never even thought about getting a Touch, then during a research trip i stopped at an apple store and i played with it for the first time.. and now, i just have to have it... i have no idea why, since i have a Palm and 30gb video... but i think i will just sell those and use the money for a touch (which is them both in one unit, pretty much)

If you play with it, you will love it forever... hahaha

I have a similar setup -- Palm and 40gb photo. I also have a 4gb nano that I travel with. Sort of crazy how you can accumulate so many iPods over time...

If you're like me, the idea of having one device would be very cool. I love the idea of having a highly mobile wireless device that can replace my PDA and provide entertainment... Also, the design of the touch is just awesome.

As soon as I get over this stinking flu, I'm going over to the Apple store and check out the Touch.

[question fear]

I think the touch makes a decent PDA if:

1) You're near wifi most of your day.

2) Your calendar and contacts needs are light (no search needed, no categories or to-dos in calendar)

3) You don't have an immediate need for any programs not pre-installed (since many will be coming with the SDK).

I've seen that "power users" have had more trouble adjusting to the touch than basic or no experience users.

[phooi]

Yeah, I'm basically using my treo and outlook as my primary PDA these days. I'm definitely not a power user by any means...

I don't get much use out of my palm anymore except to look up contacts. I'm hoping the Touch is the device that I can use to consolidate the functionality of a PDA, internet device (recognizing that it is only capable in a wifi environ), and media player.

I currently travel with a treo (for work), personal mobile, palm and nano. Any way to reduce the # of gadgets would be great...

[IJ Reilly]

I ditched my Palm Tungsten E2 for a touch. The only thing I miss is... nothing!

Actually, wireless sync on the Palm was nice, but overall the device was such a complete kluge I'm delighted to see the back of it.

[Delia]

I don't use the iPod Touch for music at all. I just use it for the internet, email, notes, weather and all the other basic stuff it came for.

It's an absolute pain in the ass for listening to music. I ride public transit a lot and I don't enjoy the idea of constantly taking an iPod out of my pocket to choose songs or skip tracks.

I will say that the Notes widget is my absolute favorite. I get a lot of random thoughts and ideas and jot em down and look at them later. It's awesome.

[Star Destroyer]

phooi, yeah i have or had a Lifedrive for about a month, and really i found i only used it for the internet, and calender, and a couple to dos. But really im a university student who is used to just remembering everything. I have never been a 'list' person. I think the touch is at the right level of functions for me, it has the basic calender i need just to easily put my class schedule on it, and some basic to dos (i could even use notes for that i think) i use my cell phone for contacts, and i have a 30gb video for music.
With this i would just put my best music on the touch, and i would use the 30gb for trips where i am afraid of breaking or losing the touch (like camping or like when i am walking to a club and want music along the way)

I played with another touch at best buy today, and its very slim, i really liked it and think it would be just what i am looking for PDA wise.. and with the SDK i think the To-Do apps and calender apps will be the first to come out, and they will be plentiful!

[phooi]

Cool! I'm hoping to stop by the Apple store soon. I've been there a number of times but most times their iPT aren't working properly. Hopefully they have a fully functioning model. It would be great to put it through its paces.

Thanks Star Destroyer! :)

Delia -- Appreciate the feedback! Do you know if you can sync the notes widget if you're using a Mac? I would hate to type a bunch of notes down and lose it because the Touch doesn't sync with my MBP...

[iJordo]

Why people are so frightened to Jailbreak, The iPod Touch becomes one of the most amazing portable devices ever when you take advantage of edge provided with Jailbreaking, I think people are under the impression that it is illegal to Jailbreak or something...Apple forbids it only because they dont wanna take responsibility for it IF something were to go wrong, and now with ZIphone released it is SUPER EASY to Jailbreak..you dont even need to downgrade firmware anymore... But yeh... there is so much more to look forward to when you have a Jailbroken device... That is just my opinion...:apple:

[YuriVoorhak]

Assuming you don't have the latest version of iTunes and a 16 or 32gb iPT? I JB'd my iPT immediately after I got it, and was pretty underwhelmed by what I could do with it. Fast forward to this month, and I figured I would do it again since no new aps were released with the SDK event. ZiPhone didn't work (granted, I gave up on the clicking method after 6 tries) and I couldn't even downgrade my firmware with the latest iTunes. It's still too much of a hassle, imo.

(Update: In the future, I promise to check for new versions of ZiPhone before I open my big fat mouth. )


and now with ZIphone released it is SUPER EASY to Jailbreak..you dont even need to downgrade firmware anymore... But yeh... there is so much more to look forward to when you have a Jailbroken device... That is just my opinion...:apple:

[jbarr]

Do you know if you can sync the notes widget if you're using a Mac?
No, the Notes app does NOT sync with anything. This was very disappointing to me as I had hoped that they would sync to either Outlook or to plain .txt files. Not so much for backup purposes, but more for being able to enter or import text on the PC side and have it show up on the iPT. This would have made entering content and formatting so much easier.

I would hate to type a bunch of notes down and lose it because the Touch doesn't sync with my MBP...
The Notes database IS backed up when you sync, so should you trash your iPT, a Restore will bring your Notes back.

[pjac]

(I just wish the Mail client would sync with Gmail directly via WiFi.)
What do you mean by that? I was under the impression the Mail app on the iPT or iPhone supported IMAP which means everything like the read/unread status of email is kept in "sync" when online?

[IgnatiusTheKing]

What do you mean by that? I was under the impression the Mail app on the iPT or iPhone supported IMAP which means everything like the read/unread status of email is kept in "sync" when online?

It does.

[phooi]

Just got back from the Apple Store and thoroughly enjoyed playing with the Touch. I wished they had a unit set up to sync with their hardware but they don't. My guess is that they never imagine a use case such as that in the store.

Instead, I asked some questions (too bad I didn't get a smart rep) and spent most of the time playing with it. At least they finally had units connected to their in-store wifi!! All the apps were good except for Calendar. I noticed that it didn't support weekly view (I use this in Outlook ALL THE TIME). Anyway, not a deal breaker but definitely a disappointment.

A couple of other things I noticed -- I couldn't create a checklist on Notes and I remember seeing it done on the iPhone. Is this possible? The other thing was typing using the touchpad. It is not as easy as it looks. I kept making typing mistakes and the correction was ok. I must have been using esoteric vocabulary since it kept giving options that were close but not right on... Again, not dealbreakers but something I have to adapt to.

I have to say the thing I enjoyed most about the Touch is the wifi capabilities and Safari. I can imagine myself replacing my Treo whenever I can find a wifi hotspot. Internet on the Treo suck a$$. I spent the majority of time surfing using this device and can imagine doing this at home or wherever replacing my laptop. Woohoo! less weight will be great. Also, looking forward to having large size photos of my new baby and videos on the Touch as well!

Can't wait for the June updates and will reluctantly give Apple more money as long as they give me functionality I can use.

Bottom line is that I am putting in my order today for the 16gb and will look forward to getting it. I appreciate everyone who provided feedback on the Touch and will hopefully contribute more once I get it.

BTW, did I mention I'll be getting this gratis?? :) Gotta love it!

Thanks all!

[Delia]

Cool! I'm hoping to stop by the Apple store soon. I've been there a number of times but most times their iPT aren't working properly. Hopefully they have a fully functioning model. It would be great to put it through its paces.

Thanks Star Destroyer! :)

Delia -- Appreciate the feedback! Do you know if you can sync the notes widget if you're using a Mac? I would hate to type a bunch of notes down and lose it because the Touch doesn't sync with my MBP...

I would love to know how to save notes/back them up for synch. I know we can email them, but I would REALLY love to back them up and load them to the iPod touch when I need to run a restore.

Does anyone know if that's possible? I myself run iTunes on Windows and If memory serves, sometimes the iTunes tells me it's backing something up/collecting info. I just don't know what that's ACTUALLY doing.

I'd also love to know if it sends/collects emails whenever I walk past a free wifi source. I leave wifi on when I hit the sleep button, and it seems like when I turn it on, there's new mail waiting for me.

When I bought the iPod Touch, I noticed some stuff was different. The earbuds no longer have foam covers (a shame since I love the earbuds with foam covers) and now the white cord you use to connect it to a computer-- no longer has the little clip thing where you squeeze the sides to get the plug out. I don't really like the new plug and use the one that came with my Ipod Video.

That... and I wish they'd given us a better user guide. Geez, the little pamphlet was completely useless.

Otherwise, it's a nice little device.

[phooi]

Delia --

I spoke to the guy at the Apple Store and he assured me that the Notes were backed up on to your computer. However, it is not backed up to any program.

As for the wireless, can't help you there since I don't have my Touch yet. I'd be curious about it as well. However it doesn't seem likely since Hotspots typically have different names and you typically have to actively connect to them. Unless you have T-Mobile or some other broad based carrier where they use the same name and you can connect to it while the unit is sleeping...

Finally, I hear you on the cheapness of Apple. When I bought my iPod Photo, it included the battery charger, usb cable, dock, video cables, ear buds and a case. Nowadays, you just get the buds and a cable... sooo sad.

Hope this helps.

[Star Destroyer]

The lacking of check lists and poor calender functions can easily be fixed in an update (and perhaps even in 2.0) as well, i think a lot of people see this as a PDA now, and because of that i think many people will make far better calender and check list programs (like to-do lists) when the SDK is in full swing by the middle of the summer.

I cant see it taking a good programmer more then a few weeks to do either considering in two weeks we saw super monkey ball and spore demos :)

So dont fret!

[phooi]

I'm committed now! Put in my order for a 16gb yesterday. And you're right... I'm sure with the SDK, there will be plenty of cool apps on the way.

[Delia]

Delia --

I spoke to the guy at the Apple Store and he assured me that the Notes were backed up on to your computer. However, it is not backed up to any program.

As for the wireless, can't help you there since I don't have my Touch yet. I'd be curious about it as well. However it doesn't seem likely since Hotspots typically have different names and you typically have to actively connect to them. Unless you have T-Mobile or some other broad based carrier where they use the same name and you can connect to it while the unit is sleeping...

Finally, I hear you on the cheapness of Apple. When I bought my iPod Photo, it included the battery charger, usb cable, dock, video cables, ear buds and a case. Nowadays, you just get the buds and a cable... sooo sad.

Hope this helps.

Weird, I shall have to find out how the notes backup works. I just want there to be a series of notes files I can copy and paste back onto the ipod. I hate synch.

I have my Touch set to connect and not ask about connecting and I assume it will just pickup whatever it can from coffee shops and such.

[Star Destroyer]

Phooi - I too am now committed :D In a lesser way then you, i ordered my invisible shield for my touch, so when i go to best buy and buy one i can shield it right out of the box (after checking for dead pixels and what nots)


I have sold my Palm and updated my itunes coverflow, i have also been thinking how handy 'notes' will be for fast lists and jotting down reminders.

One questions since we are talking about notes, can you 'save' the notes into files on the touch, or is it always one note 'pad' that you just have to flip pages and scroll around on?

[Sijmen]

Every note is a separate item, just like contacts are separate. However, you can optionally navigate through them by flipping the 'pages'.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Phooi - I too am now committed :D In a lesser way then you, i ordered my invisible shield for my touch, so when i go to best buy and buy one i can shield it right out of the box (after checking for dead pixels and what nots)


I have sold my Palm and updated my itunes coverflow, i have also been thinking how handy 'notes' will be for fast lists and jotting down reminders.

One questions since we are talking about notes, can you 'save' the notes into files on the touch, or is it always one note 'pad' that you just have to flip pages and scroll around on?

The top line of a note is the "title" and appears on the front of the "pad". From there you can jump straight to a note by touching the title or you can use front and back arrows to "flip" the pages.

[phooi]

On the subject of Notes...

Can you make checklists using Notes??? I remember seeing that in one of the iPhone or Touch videos??

Thanks!

[IgnatiusTheKing]

On the subject of Notes...

Can you make checklists using Notes??? I remember seeing that in one of the iPhone or Touch videos??

Thanks!

You can make a list on a note but you can't check it off or anything like that.