Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL

Customer Reviews

This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
My original review focused on whether you can successfully use an 8 gb version of this 4th gen iPod Touch in lieu of a more expensive, larger memory version. My conclusion (at the end of this highly revised review) was, and remains, a resounding YES but there is one aspect, that applies to ALL the iPod Touch 4th generation editions (8/32/64 gb), that I now think is MUCH more important:

The quality of the screen display.

Simply put, this device has near-iPad screen quality in a 3.5" device. (960x640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch, vs. 1024x768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch).

That means you can get almost iPad quality video in approximately 3.6 ounces of device vs. 24 ounces of device; in a device that fits a shirt pocket vs. a device you need a separate bag for. In a device you can hold up as a reader vs. a device that tires your arms.

This Touch is VERY practical for reading NYTimes articles or USAToday articles in their reader applications, optimized for this size display (crisp, large type). VERY practical for browsing the regular on-line editions of most newspapers (tap once to fit a column to a screen with nice readable type). GREAT for YouTube since the YouTube app included with the device is optimized for delivering high def YouTube content - if available, HD videos are automatically preferred. GREAT for Netflix and Hulu Plus. GREAT for gmail and ok for Facebook (I am sure FB will make its dedicated app more user-friendly in the future).

Great, for me, for online banking and stock research/trading.

Great for catching up on tech websites in their "mobile" formats.

So-so for Yahoo; I don't like Yahoo Mobile right now and their regular online edition, via the built in Safari browser, doesn't scale up and down as nicely as the online NYTimes does.

And oh yeah, the device can store adequate amounts of your own music library (or stream Slacker or Pandora, customized for you, in free or pay editions) and download iTunes paid video content for later consumption, stream to Apple TV, or you can move your own DVD content to the device via easy conversion programs.

Last year I ventured out on some vacations with an iPod Touch, the last generation, as a "backup" to my netbook. I found myself easily reading emails, but preferring the netbook for replies. I didn't read any books with it until earlier this year, and was surprised by how well book reading worked. I Skyped home.

When this new generation Touch came out, I got it as a matter of reflex, justifying the purchase on the basis of the built-in camera and built-in microphone (which means I don't have to use "inline mics" with ear buds any more). But in reality, the sharpness of the screen is MUCH more important. I have now, simply as a result of this device, switched to e-reading from print reading. On the road, this has largely displaced the netbook (except for reviews like this); most friends communicate in shorter emails these days anyway, and most emails are ads and blurbs, not stuff you need to reply to.

But now at home I find myself ALSO using this new generation iPod Touch a LOT. In the morning to check emails for anything really important, to check NYTimes headlines, before I even roll out of bed. Anytime I want to check emails or Facebook the rest of the day, without firing up the regular desktop computer. At bed to read.

In short, the darn thing is a working computer. Great for CONSUMPTION, patience-testing for INPUT. (Although forcing my input to slow down, say, for Simple Notes entries may be a good thing - forces me to slow down and be a lot more concise.)

***********A word on gaming and pricing. My kids have the 8 gb, 4th gen (this one) model and LOVE it for games. The motion detector is VERY responsive and watching a 3.5 y.o. use "dual thumbs" on the screen blows me away. You will NOT get the same screen responsiveness and motion detection on an Android device. Some developers are even reluctant to develop Android versions because the hardware for Android devices simply has too many variants in the marketplace vs. much smaller overall market share. This can change, but for now Apple dominates the gaming market. This week Apple is offering the Touch in 8 gb mode for slightly over 2 bills but with a 25 gift card. The value for dollar is incredible. Think carefully before you try to find a substitute! (FWIW I love Apple hardware but don't like the "locked down" system it has become - I hate having to use iTunes as "Grand Central Station" for Touch operations. So I am actually inclined to be biased AGAINST Apple, but in the case of the Touch the results are simply too good to ignore.)


***********Best accessory ever: ClassicReader Three-pair Valu-Pac, +3.00 The screen on this new generation of iPod Touches is very, very sharp, but in order to enjoy all that sharpness, you need to bring the screen really close to your eyes (assuming you don't have presbyopia and can focus close) OR simply carry a pair of cheap reading glasses as an "accessory" to these super sharp 4th generation screens. This lets you actually read the tiny type on the NY Times website, actually see the richness of colors and depth of detail on a video. So even if you don't need reading glasses for magazine reading, CONSIDER trying a pair of STRONG reading glasses (1.75, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, or even 3.0) to magnify the 3.5" display screen. Strong reading glasses make high-def YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu Plus videos POP for me.

My original review, edited to be slightly briefer, is below, so you will know where most of the pre-12/20 comments come from:

______________________

Can you get by with an 8gb Touch?

Yep, based on my experience with a 3rd gen 32 gb, and on my recent local purchase of the 4th gen (this current model) in 8 gb capacity.

When using the old 32 gb, I found out that I barely used its greater storage capacity. (I don't haul around a lot of music or videos - I just transfer what I want to listen to/watch for each road trip or listening/viewing cycle using iTunes). Apps, I discovered, don't take up much space, even games and books don't take up much space, unless you want to haul substantially more of your whole collection with you. Amazon's Kindle app is esp. device friendly, since you can archive books you've finished back to Amazon instead of keeping them on the device. iTunes is a great way to manage what content you want to store on your home computer - which becomes a sort of large "docking device" - and what you want top take "to go."

As a netbook substitute, storage isn't even that important. I can check my bank balance, transfer funds and execute orders on a brokerage account, listen to radio on Pandora or Slacker, watch music videos (and a lot more ) on YouTube, Skype, stream Netflix, and do a whole lot of other stuff on the 8 gb just fine.

In fact in hindsight the only real reason for me getting the 32 gb version in the older edition was to get the faster processor. But in the current generation, ALL THE 4th GENERATION HARDWARE IS THE SAME, except only for memory.

Do keep in mind on the 8gb edition you give up about a gig to systems operations, leaving only 7 gb or so for your stuff. And you need to leave from for apps and their space. I probably wouldn't put more than 6 gb of music and videos on the 8gb version. The other editions also give up the same space, but proportionately it is a smaller "hit" to your storage.

The 8gb makes a nice intersection on my personal "cheapness" and "minimalist" curves. The price doesn't get into nose-bleed territory where I start to wonder whether a netbook would makes more sense, and it's inexpensive enough to subject to the toils of daily wear and tear - keeping it handy in an outside day pack pocket, instead of more safely stowed deep inside the pack.

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
I purchased my Ipod Touch 8G in January just for fun and to see what all the fuss was about. I use a laptop and have wireless connectivity in my home. But I don't store music on an Ipod and don't have "smart" cell phone. After using the Ipod Touch for a few months, all I can say is "WOW".

This device is like carrying a small computer in your pocket. I can connect to the internet wirelessly at home and anywhere I can find a public connection--library, cafe, etc. I check my email (read and compose), facebook, Meetups, Ravelry, take pictures and movies, and with the Skype App, can video call my kids. I have become hooked on the Angry Birds game, which is fun to do while waiting anywhere. I have also downloaded audio books from my library to take with me when I travel. I knit and have any pattern I am working on loaded on my Touch so I don't worry about losing it. All this in a 2x4 inch little device I can carry with me everywhere.

I considered getting a smart phone instead, but Verizon's additional monthly cost of $30/month for internet access turned me off. It would be nice to have internet access where ever I am, but I don't need it and don't want to pay $360/year for it. I like the fact that the Ipod Touch does not require any additional monthly costs.

I compared my Touch to my friends Ipad. It appears that my Touch does most everything the Ipad does, but it's just smaller.

My son has a Droid, which does what my Touch does plus it is his cell phone. But games wear his battery down quickly. I don't have to worry about that since my phone is seperate from my Touch. And I think my screen is a little bigger and sharper.

If I needed to be connected to the internet at all times and have a cell phone too, I would probably stick with a smart phone and pay the extra $30/month. But if you want a very versatile tool in a small package to carry with you, I highly recommend the Ipod Touch.

So much fun!

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
As mentioned by many previous reviewers, this is another great product from Apple. It has wifi and blue tooth capability, two cameras, microphone and speaker for communication and even a gyroscope 'motion' sensor. I use my iPod for checking email (can setup even MS Exchange emails easily), browsing, checking google maps, keeping contacts, skype, taking pictures and videos (okay quality), transferring files and of course listening to music. You can download a number of apps (free or as cheap as $0.99) either directly using WiFi connection or through iTunes setup in your PC or Mac. The appstore allows you to search for free apps if you like. So, I like all the great offerings that iPod has as an entertainment and productivity tool.

The biggest con I haven't seen mentioned in many reviews is... iOS4 (the operating system used in this iPod & iPhone 4G) has multi-tasking capabilities. So applications that you open keep running in the background. There is no 'close' button for apps. Depending on the app, this can drain your battery pretty fast. Only when you turn off your iPod do these apps close.
*** So, How to Close Background Apps w/o turning iPod off? ***
To close apps, you need to double-click the home button. This would reveal a 'task bar' at the bottom that shows all running apps. If you touch and hold an app, all the apps get a '-' sign on top. touching the '-' sign would close the app. what a round about way to close background apps? Hopefully, apple would put a close button on apps in the next update of iOS.

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
I purchased this for my wife's birthday and she loves it. Had no problems setting it up. Everything works great. The only criticism I have is the capacity. It is advertized as 8 GB. But as soon as you connect to the computer and go to iTunes, you find out that the capacity is really 6.5 GB. I thought this might be an anomaly unique to this particular unit. But when I started researching I found lots of other users of the 4th generation "8 GB" that had the same problem. There is no response that I could find from Apple. Some of the bloggers said the missing 1.5 GB is the operating system. But I found that hard to believe. While my wife is perfectly happy with it and unconcerned about the difference in actual capacity vs. advertized capacity, I would have gone ahead and got the 32 GB model had I known.

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
Hey guys! I don't know why the iPod touch 4g is stuck with having a 4 star overall rating, because this is definately deserving of a perfect 5. Unfortunately, that's as high of a rating as I can give it :( I just have one thing to say to people who are pondering buying this, or losing sleep wanting one. Buy it already! It's like having a mini iPad, only now it has two cameras; it's more portable then the iPad; and you can do everything that a computer can do. Surf the internet; send and receive e-mails and video calls; with certain apps you can text anyone on their mobile phone for free (well, you're texts don't cost you anything, but they'll still have to pay the .10 cents). Games are awesome, especially since they are updating a lot of them to take more full advantage of the Retina Display (which is..you guessed it, AWESOME!
I can't give this iPod anything but a quadruple thumbs up (because I'm an alien with four hands, duh!) Buy one, you won't regret it. But get the 8g, because 32 is just too much space to spend an extra $50.00 on. 8g's holds plenty of games videos and music, trust me :)
~APlaceOfMagic~

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
I bought this item, upgrading from an iPhone 3g with no service, (essentially an iPod Touch). I am impressed with the front and back cameras, and the retina display is awesome. But my main complement is the speed. Multitasking is essential! I love it, it allows me to do things I never thought possible on my new touch. It seems to make it more and more like a pocket computer. I can have 30 apps open, all running, at a time before it even starts to get a little slow. I have bought and installed iMovie, and that makes my videos taken with my iPod made more awesome. I absolutely LOVE this product, and no matter if your purpose is buisness, schoolwork, email and music, or just plain fun, YOU WILL LOVE IT TOO!!!!
1 million stars.

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
Hello All the Ipod touch is a great device you have probably read about all the features. So I will go straight to the cons. Battery life. What is the point of having a portable device if it cant hold a charge for a respectable amount of time . I barely get 3 hours on mine and its brand new. Yes even with wifi turned off anyway its seems to vary depending on what function your using. playing music with wifi off seems best. But when I play Sentinel (GREAT TOWER DEFENSE GAME) with wifi on battery goes out quickly. Hope they can improve on that and NO I do not want to buy a Power-monkey to attach to it for extended power lets not forget its supposed to be a portable device.

Second squabble is its too damn slippery would it have been hard to but matte finish somewhere on the gripped edges? Its like holding a wet bar of soap. I Will buy a rubberized case to solve that. Perhaps design one myself.

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
After I lost my iTouch4 32G I purchased a 8G version from Amazon, and it runs much slowly compare to my olde one(I mean for the big games and email). It has the same machine as 32G but the storage force it runs slowly, so if you are going to play big games and run alot mulitasking on it, go buy a 32G version. Also, it only has about 6.4GB free on a 8G iTouch.

 This review is from: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL (Electronics)
Okay, so this is my fourth ipod, and I had a Mac when they were called a "Macintosh". I've been exclusively using Macs for about 15 years, but that's because I'm in "the arts" and it was the computer made for us (not so much anymore). Here are some things to keep in mind when buying iPods:

1) You can only use it on ONE of your Mac computers. I don't know about PC's, BUT even if you have all your Macs registered in your name, and your address, with your same credit card, and with Apple Care, you can still only connect your iPod to ONE of them. Choose wisely.

2) Amazon is WAY cheaper than the iTunes store. Save yourself a TON of money and BUY HERE AT AMAZON!! It's just as easy as the iTunes store too. Maybe even easier, because they're not trying to cram the latest Lady GaGa gag-me song or whomever down your throat.

3) When you download an MP3 to your computer, don't expect to have it on your next computer or your next. You MAY never be able to access it again once you change Macs UNLESS you take several steps to insure your transfer (that I have yet to figure out properly). I know you can hook up your new Mac to your old Mac and transfer certain things, but I really don't like cluttering up my new system with all the crap I'm trying to get rid of on the old one. Plus the OS is usually several versions newer. The iTunes store seems to "keep" your purchases, but since I can't even plug my iPod into my laptop without doing a "restore", I'm not sure how this is supposed to work. I'm probably missing something simple, but I don't want to jump through fifty hoops to listen to a song I bought five years ago. Some songs I bought from iTunes on my Mac (under the SAME EXCACT ACCOUNT), are now suddenly no longer able to transfer to my new iPod (yet, will still go on my older one). I have no idea why.

4) If you want to insure you keep your music collection for YEARS to come, buy the CD, then load it onto your Mac. I have bought the same digital albums multiple times because of buying new computers and ipods. I've gotten so sick of loosing songs, I've gone back to the old school. Plus, why pay the same for less? You don't get the CD that you can take anywhere. You don't get the artwork or any of the "extras". You don't get the track information (i.e. who played what instrument on which track, or who sung which vocals). Those things are rather important when you're talking about a band say like the Beatles, who were always using different instruments, and switching vocalists. Without the physical CD and the information contained within, you'll have no idea how awesome your music actually is.

5) People with PC's don't seem to have these problems as much, but I don't really know because I have three Macs with three different song libraries. I'm getting pretty sick of how grabby and greedy Apple has become.

6) I am NOT a computer or electronics expert in any way. I'm just an artist who works on Macs. So if anyone can tell me how to get my iPod hooked up to my other Macs, without having to erase all the previous data, and replace it with the other Mac's data, do let me know. I have about 200 songs I'd love to hear again.