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iPod touch Will the iPod Touch (2nd-gen.) let me do these things?

J

JordanW

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 5, 2008
9
0
I'm contemplating purchasing an iPod Touch (second-generation) to replace my current MP3 player (a Cowon D2). The idea of an MP3 player with WiFi is just too tempting. I've read through many interesting threads here, but still need some feature-based questions answered. Hopefully you can all help me.

Here's what I'd like to be able to do:

  • Play MP3s from my collection (ripped from CDs) preferably without having to rely on iTunes. (I had a Shuffle once and grew to hate iTunes). I am not interested in buying songs online etc. Good sound quality is important (the Cowon D2 is excellent in this regard ...)
  • Light WiFi web surfing -- especially to read GMail, Google Reader, Google Calendar, news websites
  • Make voice recordings directly to MP3 (or another standard format)
  • Watch the occasional video and view pictures.
  • Read PDF, Word / ODF files
  • Ability to make VOIP calls would be great.

Are all of the above possible with the Touch? I appreciate that there is a lot of third-party hardware and software being developed all the time to extend its capabilities, but I don't want to get into the trap of paying a lot more for incremental added features through software purchases ($3 here, $10 there, etc.) Which of these typical functions would require software purchases?

There are a few things about the Touch that I find discouraging, but maybe can be changed with updates or new hardware in the future. I suspect some of them may be misconceptions -- can someone comment?

  • No FM radio (would have been great!)
  • No way to treat it as a removable USB drive (i.e. drag-and-drop music and files to it using Windows Explorer, etc.)
  • Locked into iTunes for everything
  • Even though it has WiFi, can't load content onto it wirelessly

Thanks in advance
 
I'm new to the touch, but I'll give this a go.

iTunes - There are other ways to get your stuff on your iPod, but they won't be as integrated with your iPod functions as if you were to use iTunes.

Light WiFi web surfing - This is where the Touch shines for me, you can definitely do these things with ease. Although GMail you'll probably just want to tie in with the built in Mail app. Flash sites will not work, though. Many sites with Flash have a mobile version without the flash content.

Make voice recordings - This can be done by purchasing a headset with a mic, and I think there are some Apps that you can download now for a few bucks, although if there aren't, they'll be out soon.

Watch the occasional video and view pictures. - Yep. Minimal video format support, but there are plenty of free apps out there for your PC that will convert them to iPod format (I think I use mpegstreamclip on the Mac.

Read PDF, Word / ODF files - From emails you can view PPT, Word, PDF, and others, although I don't know what ODF files are. I think the app Air Share will allow you to do this in a File System sort of view, it's $5.99 in the App Store.

VOIP Calls - Yes, Fring is one example, it's a free download, works with Skype others.

No FM radio - I think that would cause it to be bigger, but I'm not sure. That's not something that Apple seems interested in.

Removable USB drive - You can use Air Share (see above).

Wirelessly Load Content - Again, you can use Air Share, and you can download from iTunes. I'm not sure if the content moved using Air Share can be as integrated with the iPod features as it is when you sync from iTunes. I hate iTunes on the PC, it's brought several of my PCs to their knees, but it runs really well on a Mac and I have no complaints now. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Microsoft products are the only thing that run like crap on my Mac :eek:
 
JordanW said:
1. Play MP3s from my collection (ripped from CDs) preferably without having to rely on iTunes. (I had a Shuffle once and grew to hate iTunes). I am not interested in buying songs online etc. Good sound quality is important (the Cowon D2 is excellent in this regard ...)
2. Light WiFi web surfing -- especially to read GMail, Google Reader, Google Calendar, news websites
3. Make voice recordings directly to MP3 (or another standard format)
4. Watch the occasional video and view pictures.
5. Read PDF, Word / ODF files
6. Ability to make VOIP calls would be great.

7. Which of these typical functions would require software

8. No FM radio (would have been great!)
9. No way to treat it as a removable USB drive (i.e. drag-and-drop music and files to it using Windows Explorer, etc.)
10. Locked into iTunes for everything
11. Even though it has WiFi, can't load content onto it wirelessly
Click to expand...

1. Right now you need to use iTunes on the 2nd gen, but after the jailbreak, there will be other options available
2. Yup
3. You need to buy a separate headset with mic, and as of now there are a few programs that allow you to, but in the future it will be included with the ipod.
4. Yes, for a list of formats supported: apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html and scroll down to the bottom.
5. Yes with Air Sharing/Mobile Finder... from App Store, or email them to yourself.
6. Fring allows this (free, App Store)
7. #5, possibly number 3, but free now.
8. It *might* be built in, but probably not.
9. Jailbreaking SORTA allows this along w/ apps in #5
10. Not with jailbreak.
11. Jailbreaking allows this.

hope that helped.
 
Thanks to both of you. So it looks like the plan of attack is to get an iPod Touch 2nd-gen, jail-break it when possible, buy the Air Sharing application and buy whatever I need to make recordings, and then away I go.

I don't know anyone with a Touch, but I have friends with iPhones. Do the media player and web browser on the iPhone work similarly to those on the Touch (so I can "try before I buy")?

I now need to consider whether being locked into iTunes and no FM radio are deal-killers for me.... the FM probably isn't, but iTunes might be. I am a Windows / Linux user and really dislike iTunes.
 
JordanW said:
Thanks to both of you. So it looks like the plan of attack is to get an iPod Touch 2nd-gen, jail-break it when possible, buy the Air Sharing application and buy whatever I need to make recordings, and then away I go.

I don't know anyone with a Touch, but I have friends with iPhones. Do the media player and web browser on the iPhone work similarly to those on the Touch (so I can "try before I buy")?

I now need to consider whether being locked into iTunes and no FM radio are deal-killers for me.... the FM probably isn't, but iTunes might be. I am a Windows / Linux user and really dislike iTunes.
Click to expand...

the only difference is that on the ipod safari only works with wifi, not over the cell network. also, the music play Videos and Music are 2 differ apps not 1 called iPod like the iphone.

edit: also, go to the apple store and you can try before you buy with the display models.
 
JordanW said:
Thanks to both of you. So it looks like the plan of attack is to get an iPod Touch 2nd-gen, jail-break it when possible, buy the Air Sharing application and buy whatever I need to make recordings, and then away I go.

I don't know anyone with a Touch, but I have friends with iPhones. Do the media player and web browser on the iPhone work similarly to those on the Touch (so I can "try before I buy")?

I now need to consider whether being locked into iTunes and no FM radio are deal-killers for me.... the FM probably isn't, but iTunes might be. I am a Windows / Linux user and really dislike iTunes.
Click to expand...

2nd Gen's can't be jailbroken. You'll have to use iTunes.
 
As for the radio question, there are now several apps that play INTERNET radio, not exactly what you are asking for, but pretty close...
 
I do not believe this was mentioned above but as a quick note (i do apologize if it was) with voip you must have 2nd gen and a microphone headset as it does not have a built in mic. Apple is releasing them god knows when.
 
I do understand that I'll need a 2nd-gen Touch to do any voice recording.
I was under the impression, though, that there are third-party headsets that have the correct plug (able to handle both output and input) for the Touch. Am I mistaken? Are we all waiting for the one from Apple?
 
JordanW said:
I do understand that I'll need a 2nd-gen Touch to do any voice recording.
I was under the impression, though, that there are third-party headsets that have the correct plug (able to handle both output and input) for the Touch. Am I mistaken? Are we all waiting for the one from Apple?
Click to expand...

that is correct, any iphone headset will work with the ipod touch 2nd gen. just do a search on amazon, and you can get them for under 10 bucks!
 
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