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iPod touch iPod Touch As A PDA
- Thread starter MadDoc
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How would that be a step bacwards? It would just be a choice for the user.
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?
Besides, how would you do Multitouch with a stylus?
Besides, how would you do Multitouch with a stylus?
Well, by taping multiple to your fingers of course
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!
Oops... jumped the gun on that!
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!
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.
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!)
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!)
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...
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...
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
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.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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...
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 just dont understand
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...
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...
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. )
(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...
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.
The Notes database IS backed up when you sync, so should you trash your iPT, a Restore will bring your Notes back.
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?