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iPod touch iPod Touch Europe availability.

Hmmmm..... Not looking good....

Watched a bit of Gladiator - the bit where they prepare to enter the colosseum for the first time, and there are a LOT of negative blacks... You can hardly see any detail, and it looks very unnatural having the darkest bits seem lighter than the other bits. Very disappointing. (I somehow imagined people were exagerating the problem, but is it very real...)

The picture is fantastic when they are in the arena in bright sunlight.

From the settings screen:

Version: 1.1 (3A100a)
Serial Number: 9C737E*****
Model: MA627Z0

The box is Euro packaging (with English and what looks like German and a scandanavian language). The box says model A1213, Part MA627Z0/A.
 
hi guys,
long time lurker like the other chap from sheffield on here, thought i'd hit you guys up with some info. I can also confirm that Meadowhall Sheffield, has 4 16gb touches left, but lots and lots of 8gb, one of the staff even remarked at how few 8's they'd sold.

Not checked negative blacks as its currently syncing, but the charge screen looks ok, not entirely sure what im looking for as of yet, but ill let you know when it's up and running.

Don't know whether it settles any nerves, but the apple worker did say if i'd spotted any neg blacks, bring it back in and they'd exchange it, no arguments. Tho interestingly but rather unsurprisingly he'd had no complaints as of yet.

hope this helps!

cheers

paul
 
Mine's still syncing.. looks like an overnight job (rough estimate is 9 hours for 1900 songs). People weren't exagerrating when they said it was slow.. it's *really* *really* slow. Won't be syncing this thing each morning I think!

Based on the 'sync in progress' screen the negative blacks issue is there but it's only when viewed straight on, and when it's sat on a desk it's not straight on it's at a few degrees angle (5 degrees is enough to cancel it out), which looks perfect. I can live with it TBH.

No hiss on my EX90's (well maybe, if I strain to hear it and even then I'm not sure). Will need to test once it's synced.

Initial minor problems I had were:
Won't work on 64bit windows, or in vmware sessions.. so none of my windows boxes work with it.
Dock adapter doesn't fit my dock.. possibly needs a newer type? It *almost* fits but there's a bit sticking out that stops it slotting in.
Initially panicked when it didn't work with my mac either... then remembered reading the touches didn't use firewire any more. Took me half a dozen reboots and a reinstall of itunes to remember :p

Edit: More stuff.. Cancelled the sync.

Mine definately has the issue, based on the view of 'the black album' posted earlier.. however at what I'd call 'normal' viewing angles it's OK.. so no idea what to do really.

No hiss at all. Sounds OK actually.

The keyboard is damned annoying.. it takes about 6 attempts to get the letter you want half the time. I tried to bring up macrumours in safari and basically gave up.. couldn't get it to spell it right.
It's a really odd design that they have screen touches for everything then you hit a dead end and have a physical button to get back to the main menu. You also can't change settings without stopping the music - a break from the way previous ipods worked.
 
Just back from Bluewater and mine is syncing now. For anyone considering cancelling their 'pre-order' and picking up in store, I managed to get my online discount applied with very little argument. I just explained that the 'pre-order' was a farce and that for my inconvenience it seemed fair. They did it straight away.

I'll report back on blacks once sync'd. So far I love it!

Cheers all,

Tom
 
Actually, scrub my previous reply. I've started watching some nice dark videos on YouTube like deleted scenes from Torchwood and the blacks problem is most definitely there. It's going back to the Apple Store tomorrow.

Disappointed, as apart from this, it's lovely
 
Ok - don't need to wait any longer. Just played Bourne Ultimatum (which is very dark throughout) and it looks terrible. The negative effect is very much in evidence. I'm not even going to try to take photographs as I have crappy lighting here and not a decent camera, but it's exactly the issue that can be seen in countless photos on the forum. Guess I'll wait a week or so and then exchange (hopefully once these issues are sorted).

Bummer - really takes the shine off an otherwise brilliant device (so far!) :(
 
I'm seriously considering cancelling my order following these reports.

Can't hurt to wait a few month while the problems are ironed out.
 
ynnoj said:
I'm seriously considering cancelling my order following these reports.

Can't hurt to wait a few month while the problems are ironed out.
Click to expand...

Hi guys, me again,
not to rub it in, but my recent ipod touch purchase, 16gb, APPEARS, completely fine. just double a couple of last minute checks but as far as i can see, its spot on. and basically one of the most impressive devices i think ive ever owned.

any questions feel free to reply and ill get back to anyone

cheers

paul
 
Thanks for the info, Paul.

I really, really want the device, but as I'm ordering online (no stores nearby), it would be more hassle than it's worth returning, should there be any problems.

I wish they'd just ship it already!
 
ok here goes replying from the touch!

The screen issue is odd. Some things that I have tried videos etc most that have blacks in are fine. It does show up on some things though. Gonna give it a couple of days and will return it if it really annoys me, though its only on videos and some pics is odd, its almost like the contrast is out, everywhere else its not an issue, blacks are black.

Potential screen issues asside this thing is very impressive indeed. Paul, nice to see sheffield will take them back.
 
The more I use the thing the more I think I'm not going to worry about it - unless I use specific test videos and hold it at the right angle it's not an issue. For normal use I can't see it. Looks like although mine has the issue it's at the minor end of the scale.

The really important thing for me was the audio and that's fine.

Now if I could only work out how to use safari without fat fingering everything...
 
Picked up a 16GB from Regents Street this evening. Cancelled my online order.

Sync seemed a bit slower than my 5G iPod but not too bad.

Screen looks great. Photos really look good. Doesn't appear to have the 'black' problem people are reporting, but I need to watch some more videos to really tell I guess.

You might have seen the photos, read the reviews and watched the videos, but until you get one of these in your hands... This thing is just amazing!

Very, very happy! :):):)
 
Paul - glad to hear it looks like you got a good one. Could you post the version number and perhaps the first few digits of the serial number?

Mine will be going back to the Birmingham store later in the week... need to decide if I should try another one or get my money back and wait until the screen issue is sorted.

Having had a play about with the other functions I have to say that I am VERY impressed with everything else. Music is clear with no hiss, with good volume (no Euro volume cap?) and with cover flow working a treat. Photos look great (although didn't look at any dark ones) and it is very intuitive flicking through albums. (The Mrs was even impressed by that, especially when the picture rotates when you rotate the screen: "How does it know that!" :rolleyes:)

Connecting to our wifi router was a doddle (even though it has WPA2 which seems takes a while to set up on other devices) and Safari is great. The iTunes music store is working a treat (I have previewed but not yet bought any tracks).

In all, it is a great package which is very intuitive and easy to use. A real shame the 'negative blacks' issue mars what is otherwise a fantastic product. Unfortunately I really wanted it for 'big' (compared with my 5G iPod) screen video, so it will have to go back. Also a shame the UK iPhone is only 8GB, not 3G and tied to 02, so that isn't really an alternative at the moment.
 
Yup, i'm with Tony on this one. Just slapped a 1000kps rip of Phoenix Nights on there and its very black in the opening credits. Not a problem with the screen looks just fantastic, its only seems to be on stuff that appears to be heavily compressed on my machine and even then its not showing all the time more like one in 15 clips something like that.
 
Hya, i've been reading the ipod touch forums with interest this last week like many of us here, and praying that when I finally get my hands on one it won't have issues with the screen and video.

After hearing they had been released early in the UK i headed off to the Bullring in Birmingham to purchase one after work, I mentioned the problems to the staff there who didn't seem too interested.

I've been playing about with the touch for the last half an hour or so and I can safely say i am extremely happy with it! The sound quality is absolutely fine on my ultimate ears super.fi pro 5's and the screen seems to be showing blacks fine, I played the music video 'just like heaven' by the cure which has a fair bit of black in it and it was perfect, no negative effect at all. I watched some anime too and blacks, perfect.

On the other hand, i was viewing some photo's and i noticed there was a slight loss of detail on very dark areas of photo's, this is so slight that had i not heard about screen problems on here I doubt i would have noticed... and to be honest i don't know if it really is an issue with the screen or just me being picky!

So in all extremely happy, the touch screen is amazing to use! And to think I was thinking of getting a classic ipod too, they seem so dated now after using the touch!

Anyway just wanted to reassure people that there are 'good' ipods out there.
 
Not long since got back from Trafford Centre, Manchester. They had loads in a cupboard behind the counter and two on display. It was strange how pretty much no one was bothered by the ones on display. I bought the 16gb and it's now syncing. Hopefully all will be fine with the screen.

I've got 'Model A1213', 'Part No. MA627Z0/A', Serial No '9c7376.....'

I'll report back when I know what the sound and the screen are like!
 
smr said:
Paul - glad to hear it looks like you got a good one. Could you post the version number and perhaps the first few digits of the serial number?
Click to expand...

Smr, no worries,
MA627Z0/A is the part number, and production batch I'm guessing. And the Serial begins 9C737E.... To be honest I'm not sure whether this is any help as another user posted the identical details, so interesting as to whether it has a bearing on the screen probs.

Just to reiterate to any browser, my screen is perfect, and the details of the unit are above.

cheer

paul
 
I'll be phoning the Glasgow store tomorrow, and if they have it in I'll go into town after school and pick one up. I'll definitely ask the person behind the desk though whether or not I can return it if it has the negative blacks problem.

Check back tomorrow for any news :)
 
Jacksteruk309 said:
I'll be phoning the Glasgow store tomorrow, and if they have it in I'll go into town after school and pick one up. I'll definitely ask the person behind the desk though whether or not I can return it if it has the negative blacks problem.

Check back tomorrow for any news :)
Click to expand...

Cool man, after a 8gb so keep an eye out

Thanks loads!!!
 
clownboy said:
Cool man, after a 8gb so keep an eye out

Thanks loads!!!
Click to expand...

Try to keep this a secret from the GlasMUG people, don't want them running in and snapping them up before we can get our hands on them :D
 
apple store regent street

Hi, im after a 8GB ipod touch...

The regent street store got them this morning (18th) and im hoping to get one tomorrow. Im guessing they only got a limited amount and im wondering if they would be sold out by tomorrow 4-ish.

Am i being dumb thinking that there all going to be sold out, or do you think they've got quite alot?
 
ibookowner2005 said:
Hi, im after a 8GB ipod touch...

The regent street store got them this morning (18th) and im hoping to get one tomorrow. Im guessing they only got a limited amount and im wondering if they would be sold out by tomorrow 4-ish.

Am i being dumb thinking that there all going to be sold out, or do you think they've got quite alot?
Click to expand...


The only way to know for sure is to phone them...
 
When I go to buy my Touch, I'm going to have to take my Powerbook with me. I'm not going to drive home, sync it, then find it's got a bad screen and then have to drive back to Kingston to replace it.
 
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