Apple iPod touch 32 GB

If your here reading this then the chances are you have a pretty good idea what an iPod is and what they do. All iPod's allow you to store in MP3 format music of your choice; convert your music collection digitally to one device that will play all your music. No more rummaging through CD's you want it! You got it! Simply connect your iPod to your PC, and the iTunes software does the rest for you. But the question is before making a purchasing decision on a pretty large investment, what separates the iPod Touch for all the other iPods.

I had the 16GB iPod Touch, but like a typical techie geek guy I wanted more even though I did not necessarily need more, I upgraded to the 32GB Touch, which to be honest with you while not as spacious as other premium iPod's was more than enough for me.

Visually the iPod Touch looks like none of the others, just two buttons are all that initially seem to provide functionality to the Touch, this is not quite true though; the giant screen not something usually seen on other iPod's is a fully controllable touch sensitive control panel. This is far from being the only difference between this model and the other iPod ranges.

The Touch comes with built in Wi-Fi allowing you to connect to the internet via your home wireless set up (if you have one), thousands of free wireless spots across the country, as well as subscription service Wi-Fi spots from the likes of Cloud, and BT Fon. The use of this is quite literally unlimited in what it can do for your new device, from simply surfing the internet via the built in Safari browser, to downloading games, applications, and new music. Because it's a lot more compact than your average PC, pages load super quick allowing you faster surfing than you might be used to. The only downfall is that the Touch is incompatible with flash installed devices, so certain websites that you look at that featuring moving advertising (none spring to mind right now... Cough!) will effectively have those images blocked, beyond these realms nothing is out of reach: Facebook, Youtube, Seeqpod, Last FM, Myspace, Bebo... You get the drift. The ability to use Wi-Fi turns the iPod Touch from just a MP3 player into the most powerful multi-purpose entertainment device in the planet, whether it be work, rest, or play this little baby rocks.

WORK:- Beginning with the basics, by using the iTunes application store either by your PC or direct via Wi-Fi you can download anything you need, applications vary from free to quite costly, but every single one has a value. You can add spreadsheets that are updatable on both your PC and iTouch, presentation tools, with additional accessories you can even turn your iTouch into a GPS system, databases, currency convertors, superdooper funky calculators, language tools, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, time management facilities, the possibilities are endless. You can even pick up and send your E-mails on the move storing as many E-mail addresses as you see fit to add.

REST:- To chill out you could just surf the internet, download or stream music (listen to music already on your iPod), enjoy one of the many ambient sound programs and chill out listening to the sounds of the sea, forest, or wind in a field. You can even download applications that allow that allow you to listen to local or international radio stations, even a thousand miles away from home you can catch your favourite radio stations providing you are within a Wi-Fi area. If you love reading how about swapping a book for a download and read the best sellers directly on your iPod, and create to the word bookmarks, you can even listen to audio books. And if rest and education go hand in hand for you, why not learn a language through sounds, images, and videos.

PLAY:- The graphical power of the PSP or Nintendo DS, with the interactivity of the Wii make the iPod Touch a compelling piece of game-play machinery, play traditional games like Tetris to the very latest Star Wars game, race your way across the finish line, or fight your opponent to the death. The iPod Touch uses incredible technology "tilt" that means you're in the heart of the gameplay action simply by tilting your iPod left or right, with racing games you use your iPod like a steering wheel. Many of these games are free, but others do have a charge up to about £20, but you are talking superior graphic power and as long as you have the space your gameplay is endless. . If you remember those old interactive adventures from the 1980's which were essentially stories that you chose to turn left, right or pick things up; there is a great free programme called Frotz that gives you access to all of those pre-installed with 20 different interactive novels, and access to thousands more. Best of all if you update your iPod in later times all the information is transferred in just about an hour, you'll never lose your stuff

As well as games and music you can download movies to keep or just rent as well as the latest TV shows, from Doctor Who to The Apprentice, The Dark Knight to Sex In The City, all have a charge granted but help to make your iPod really special. And I even forgot to mention BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel Fours on demand streaming services all of which you can access with simple free downloads.

Of course you don't have to have Wi-FI to enjoy the iPod, you can transfer all that information through your ordinary PC.

Let's not forget the iPod's main feature it's a music player and the one weakness is that it's not quite as loud as previous iPods, although still loud enough to completely drown out the outside world. The Touch has the opportunity to make the sound quality better, with the most enhanced graphic equalisers of all the iPod ranges. With each track you download or install, the touch like many other iPods will install artwork, download direct from iTunes and you often even get music videos thrown in, booklets, and documentaries. Also like other iPods you have the ability to store your favourite playlists, and even let the iPod pick mood music for you dependant on your state of mind.

Not all facilities are required for download first, the Touch comes with E-mail, Stocks & Shares, Maps, Notes, Weather, Calculator, Calendar, World Clock, and Youtube pre-installed and ready to go whenever you want them.

The 32GB version I own, has currently 4000 Tracks, 150 applications, and a series of videos and I have yet to have used 16GB of the of the memory. To be honest 4000 tracks is more than I ever need, and i'm more tilted to the great applications.

SOME WORDS OF CAUTION:- Because the Touch does so much, battery life is not so good as other iPod's, if you're listening to music and that's it, things are the same. But if you're playing games or watching video you're looking at a maximum of three hours from a charge, you can of course charge as you use the Touch. Also like most other iPods it charges via a USB unless you purchase a electric charger, this means you need to be near a PC in order to pump new life into your machine. Electric chargers might set you back up to £30, but charge with one of these and the battery life is an awful lot better.

As an owner of a hundred mobile phones all of which get scratched after a while and often do not work quite the same I think it's important to invest in something to protect your Touch, after all if you scratch or damage your screen its game over. I purchases a special material, it looks like the protective plastic that covers electrical items when you first purchase them, but this is the same material they use to cover helicopter blades and for the £9.99 it costs you, I think it's the best insurance policy you can add to the Touch, of course when you pull it out in public you'll always get some dickhead saying "Oh look you've left the protective screen on!" but who cares, which would you prefer, that or a smashed iPod?

Something really special to point out about the Touch is that it is the easiest sort of device I have ever used, no lengthy installations, no detailled instruction books; it simply does with ease whatever you want it to do, even my 85 year old Grandmother can use it.

I have had PDA's, and also the funkiest of phones, but I have to hand it to Apple, this really is the most terrific device I have ever used, the uses are absolutely endless. The range varies dependant on GB capacity from 8GB to 32GB prices go from £149 - £289, but you would pay this or similar for a less effective PDA. Of course if you want the best of all worlds you might invest in an iPhone which will give you all the power of the Touch, with the facility to make phone calls too.

Spencer Hawken 09/08