review: iPod Touch

For a week, I was able to use an iPod Touch...

===============================

(As of 2009 September 4) There are three versions: 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB flash drive models. I used an 8 GB unit.

The displays are 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreens. There is a built-in speaker, and the supported audio formats are:
AAC
MP3
Apple Lossless
AIFF
and WAV.

To set the tone of my review, and to give a quick summary of my experience: first and foremost, even though it has other functionality, it is an iPod.

-------------------------------------------------

I appreciated Contacts, Calendars, Notes, and the Calculator applications that were included.

{Per page 11 of the User Guide}  Contacts will synchronize with the Address Book, and Google Contacts on a Mac.  With Windows, it will synch with: Yahoo! Address Book, Google Contacts, Windows Address Book (Outlook Express), Windows Vista Contacts, or Microsoft Outlook 2003 or 2007.  I was using Windows and found, via iTunes, I could configure:  Yahoo Address Book, Windows Address Book, Google Contacts, and Outlook.The Calendars application works with iCal on a Mac, and Microsoft Outlook 2003 or 2007 when using Windows.

{Per page 103 of the User Guide}  Notes with sync with Mac OS X Mail, and Microsoft Outlook.

I wish iTunes had the functionality to edit Notes, Calendar, and Contacts...like Palm Desktop.

There is a Voice Memos application...but no microphone on the iPod Touch to take advantage of it. On Apple's website I found "Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic" for $29. (If you have an external microphone, consider using Skype for iPhone:  Skype-to-Skype calls are free.)

There is a standard 3.5mm TRS connector (tip, ring, sleeve) for earphones.  And the iPod Touch can connect to Bluetooth headphones (Andy has used that feature).

I'm disappointed that I cannot send and receive files, pictures, and more via Bluetooth.

===============================

I was able to watch SOME streaming YouTube content (from CBS News, Current, and others).

And, I learned that the multitasking capability of the iPod Touch...in my opinion...sucks! I was watching a video that was being streamed, and when I changed to a different application (like Notes) the video was terminated. I was able to use only one function at a time.

===========================

I had hoped to be able to connect the iPod Touch to a Windows computer, that did not have iTunes installed, and be able to access the iPod as a drive for storage: if using a Windows operating system with the iPod Touch, to access the iPod Touch, iTunes must be installed.

==========================

Some (free) applications I installed and used were:
Evernote
Twitterrrific
MySpace
and Facebook.

Y! Music has content supplied by CBS RADIO. The Yahoo! Messenger application will allow you to sign-on "invisible"...but the only other two options (for all contacts) are "busy" and "available". And, there is a Yahoo! application for accessing some of their other services...

You can participate in a discussion in our forum about applications for the iPod Touch and iPhone.

===========================

Before I returned the unit, I was able to erase all of its content and settings.  It must be connected to a power source because it could take more than four hours to complete the procedure (which probably pertains to the 32 GB models: the 8 GB model I used only needed about an hour).

There is an option to reset your preferences and settings where contacts, calendars, and media (audio and videos) aren't deleted.

============================

Overall...I LOVE THIS FREAKIN' THING! I think it's one of the greatest devices ever invented. ("Huh...look at that...my birthday is a few days away...")

I DO need/want an external keyboard: my fingers are large, and I make a lot of mistakes when using the touchscreen. And, I want a stylus.

share music wirelessly, BYOE (bring your own earphones)

The TechtalkRadio Product of the Week is the i2i Stream.

You can watch Andy's Tech Tuesday segment that was on KOLD at http://www.techtalkradio.com/koldtv/koldtv.htm (Tech Tuesday airs every Tuesday around 5:40am. His latest KOLD website column is at http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?s=8900102)

The i2i Stream allows you to broadcast to other i2i Stream devices...

Each unit comes with a neck lanyard, and a belt/pocket clip. Plug an audio player into the bottom of the i2i Stream, earphones into the top, and you can broadcast what you are listening to to other i2i Stream receiving units.

Every i2i Stream can broadcast or receive music via 2.4 GHz (that is useable up to 30 feet between units). There are seven channels to broadcast with, so if there can be at least seven people broadcasting seven different types of audio in the same area.

The sound quality is like that of CD audio: 10Hz-24kHz frequency response, and a 16bit @ 48ksps Stereo bit rate.

The rechargeable batter life is 5 to 7 hours, and is charged via a USB cable.

Inside the i2i Stream Two Pack box:
2 i2i Stream units
2 12” Audio Cables
2 28” Audio Cables
2 USB Charging Cables
2 Neck Lanyards
2 Belt/Pocket Clips

An i2i Stream One Pack is in the works:
i2i Stream
12” Audio Cable
28” Audio Cable
USB Charging Cable
Neck Lanyard
Belt/Pocket Clip

My First Video!

I've been working pretty hard these last couple of weeks putting together this website for a client who is in Florida. The site is about 100 pages. It took me rougly two weeks to get it done.

So, tonight, or should I say this morning... I decided to take a much needed break... I was browsing around the net to find out how I can add some 80s music to my myspace page... I found a really cool player that I could just add music too and upload to the myspace... I wanted to post the player in the myspace blog, but realized I couldn't do it. So I came to blogger and realized I couldn't do it there because it was only for myspace...

Then I saw that you can post videos in blogger. Andy is pretty much the "video" guru around here. So, I wanted to see how easy or hard it was and what better video to make then a video that includes "music"... The music, of course, that I grew up with and I love... the 80s!

Then I thought, well, I don't think I have a program on my computer right now that can do it... I looked around the home office and saw that I could load one program or another on the computer but then I wanted to see if they had anything free I can download quickly.

I found out that Windows XP includes a free video program called "Movie Maker" so I decided to take a stab at it... I only did about 5 songs and added some video effects and transitions.

It took me about 3 hours and about 25 minutes to encode the video, but here it is, My First Video...

Thoughts and comments are welcomed.