TUNE DIGITALLY

Review by Hassan B. Bn Hadhram:

Before i start let me just tell you "what's New" with the iPod touch Third generation" :

-Faster Cpu/Double the ram/Better graphic (faster Boot time/faster loading is all what i did notice)

-Double the storage for the same old price

-Voice control (I'll explain it in a second)

-Latest firmware for free

-New Earbuds with built in remote+Microphone (So you can use voice control)

And that is everything~ depends on your needs upgrading from 2G to 3G might be not worth it.

*Important Note* : only the New iPod touch 32GB/64GB are third generation ~ (8GB is repacked 2G) Details below.

About the new Voice control function, if you love to take your iPod with you to the Gym the new feature "Voice control" is pretty cool, it does allow you to control your music via your voice, no need to get the iPod out of your pocket you can simply say "Next" to move to next song, say "shuffle" for shuffle , say "Pause" and music playback will stop etc, that is why i recommend the iPod touch over iPod classic for gym users, my friend bought an iPod classic and now he complains that the iPod classic is too heavy for him when he goes to the gym and he will have to buy another iPod "properly Nano" for his Gym, for me i use my iPod touch for the gym, it's so light that sometimes i forgot that it's even in my pocket.

After playing with my iPod touch 3g for a while i honestly did not notice any difference from the outside or the inside compared to my old iPod touch Second generation (It's supposed to be faster but i did not notice anything during music and video playback or the menus, however browsing with safari and loading facebook was faster, same thing with boot time), you properly can only notice it being faster with heavy applications since video/music playback is already fast enough with 2G.

I got the 64GB iPod 3G for [...]$, if you think of upgrading your 2G iPod touch honestly do yourself a favor and save yourself the money unless you really need that much of a storage (I do that is why i bought one), also remember that the 3G battery lasts less than 2G,(3G battery = 30 Hours of music playback versus 2G 36 hours of music playback according to apple official specs)

*VERY IMPORTANT* for the people who wants the new 8GB version, the new third generation 8GB iPod touch is NOT 3G it's a second generation iPod touch but apple did repack it/renamed it to 3rd generation, which seems to be misleading by APPLE and it's not cool at all, it is IPod Touch 2G+Updated firmware and that is it.

The iPod touch 3rd generation 32GB/64GB versions comes with a free mic+remote with the earbuds while the 8GB do not (it comes with normal earbuds), the 32GB/64GB have the New CPU+Graphic (According to apple the new cpu is twice as fast just like the iPhone 3GS) while the new 8GB use the same old CPU/Chip from the old iPod touch second generation.

Here is APPLE description on the iPod touches page about the 32/64GB versions : """Enjoy all the great features of the 8GB model along with better performance, richer graphics and voice control"""

The iPod touch 3rd generation is the same awesome iPod touch second generation was.

You can play your music/watch your videos/play games, even read your kindle books/etc "you can read amazon big description of what it's capable of if you do not know yet, it's better than what would i say because it has pictures and everything.

The iPod touch got the best browser i have ever seen in a portable device, i do not even need to carry my netbook with me anymore thanks to my iPod touch, if you hated browsing with lame browsers that crash a lot or slow (many mobile phones) trust me on this one, the iPod touch browser is not a toy or a gimmick it is a browser you can depends on, it's super fast and smooth and after using it for like a full year it has only crashed on me once!

Short list of pros and cons about the iPod touch

Pros:

-Slick,small and light device

-Great touch screen

-The BEST web browser on a portable device

-Amazing video/music playback

-App Store (Too many cool applications for Free)

-Display screen is clear and bright

-No bugs and annoying stuff a very reliable hardware

-64GB Flash based mp3 player

Cons:

-Not much of an upgrade over 2G (people were disappointed because they did not get upgrades like camera/OLED/etc)

-Weaker battery, only lasts 30 hours for music playback versus 2G iPod touch 36 Hours music playback

-Expensive for the 64GB version

-Still no FM radio without the use of online applications

-Bluetooth is still half locked

Update : one more reason to avoid the 8GB ipod touch, Apple announced today "April 09 2010" that iPhone 4.0 OS will be released this summer and it will bring many new features to the iphone and ipod touch, however some features like Multitasking will only be available for iphone 3GS and higher or Ipod touch third generation and higher (As i said before the 8GB is second Generation only, a third generation 8gb ipod touch do not exist! so you wont be getting multitasking if you buy the 8GB ipod touch),

I hope my review was helpful

Review by Alex Honda:

This is my first iPod and MP3 player. So far I've had the iPOD TOUCH (32-GIG/3RD GEN) for two-weeks and I'm loving it.

It's does so much more than just play music, which is why I wanted one. I'm not a Mac person at all but the iPod Touch...I love it.

Out of the box it found my Wi-Fi connection and had me surfing the net (the real Internet and not the cell phone web pages like the one on my Verizon phone). It was intuitive to use and I'm finally getting accustomed to using the touch screen to scroll and type away.

This review is mostly for other iPod newbies like myself. Here's what it comes with:

***The iPod Touch- slick and smooth and very thin

***A USB Cable- this hooks your iPod to your computer to recharge the battery and to sync it with iTunes.

***Plastic Docking Thing- this is a small plastic part that allows you to dock the iPod to an external device (I'm not sure what).

***Head Phones with Microphone and external volume control.

***Teeny-tiny insert- with bare-bones info. You have to access the full manual, which is available for free download in PDF format, at the apple website.

My advice is to buy an external cover for the iPod--the 2nd Generation iPod Touch skins/cover fit the new 3rd Generation ones because the body is the same--and buy a screen protector so you keep the screen free from scratches and such. I already scratched the shiny back of my iPod just by placing it down on the table so be careful when you first get it if you don't have a cover for it.

As long as you have Wi-Fi (wireless Internet connection) in your house/apt you can get full use out of the iPod Touch. You can also access free Wi-Fi hotspots in stores, restaurants, and other areas, so you can get on the Internet and download applications (apps) etc., check your email, go on facebook, youtube, even Amazon has an app, that can be downloaded onto the iPod.

The iPod Touch is configured to automatically search for Wi-Fi networks, it looks for both either locked (need a password) or unlocked (no password) networks, and displays them in the settings for "Wi-Fi." You really don't have to know anything about Wi-Fi to get it started. You just pick one of them and it connects to it.

I've tried my iPod at some hotspots like a shopping center with a Starbucks and it found the Wi-Fi and connected but since a lot of people were using it, it took a while to connect.

You need the program iTunes, which is a free down-loadable program for Windows or Mac, and an iTunes account to purchase and download the apps (most are free but you still need an account to download them). If you've used iTunes before for buying song downloads or just to register then you already have a login account...if you haven't used iTunes before it's free to download and easy to install. Then you sign up for an account which is also free, unless you plan on purchasing songs or videos.

The pluses on the iPod Touch:

===== Applications (Apps) =====

The apps are a plenty on the iPod Touch and there's an app for everything (practically). They're arranged by category like games, news, productivity, etc., and are furthered displayed by best selling, top-free, and release date. You can also search by keyword or check out the most popular and featured apps.

Some apps are free and some cost a one time fee of between $.99-.99 and up. If you're a news junkie like me, you'll really love it. I've downloaded Time Magazine, NPR (radio and print stories), BBC READER, New York Times, USA Today, AP (Associated Press) and ABC News...all for free!

I really like that the BBC Reader will download their stories into the cache memory, once you connect via Wi-Fi so you can read the articles offline (when Wi-Fi is not available). NYT and AP will allow you to save articles that you can read offline as well. And the AP will deliver breaking news as long as you're connected... ALL FREE!!!

I've downloaded a dictionary, spell checker, facebook, Grimm's Fairytales and Alice In Wonderland books to read...all for FREE! I also got this free app called "Pandora" which is a radio station that will only play songs by artists that you want to hear. Too cool!

I know that I sound like a broken record with the "free" stuff but being a Verizon Wireless user, I'm sure other VZW customers feel me, I'm amazed that one can download and install quality, portable applications onto a device for no charge or subscription plan.

===== Other Fun Stuff =====

Calendar for appointments etc., contact phone book, clock, weather, calculator (you can download a free tip-calculator), notes and maps. These all come with the iPod Touch.

iTunes will keep the stuff (music, apps, videos) on your iPod, backed-up on your computer so you'll always have a copy of those things. And you can tell it which play-lists to sync so that you don't have to carry around your entire music/video library from your computer on the portable.

Anyway, I'm loving my iPod Touch and it was the perfect birthday gift to myself. It really is like having a mini-computer with you at all times. The only thing that's missing is a camera, but that's not a big deal at all. It's great for people who want an iPhone, but don't want AT&T's lousy service. I also love not having to pay a monthly subscription charge to Verizon for apps on my cell phone, now that I have the iPod Touch!

The only thing I would advise getting--in addition to the iPod--is the cover protector skin and screen protector mentioned earlier, and the Apple USB Power Adapter which will allow you to plug the USB cord into an electrical outlet (though it isn't necessary, it charges a lot faster than when it's charging from your computer).

Since this is my first iPod, I don't know how it stacks up against the previous versions. But this one is great and really addicting! So if you've been wondering if you should get one and you don't have an iPhone, have access to Wi-Fi, then I'd say...yes! The iPod Touch has so much to offer the user that you can find something to do with it even if you don't plan on using it as an MP3 player all that much.

*** A Note About iTunes ***

Even if you don't buy MP3s--I've only purchased about three from iTunes; the rest was from Amazon through credits from special purchases and iPod can play them--iTunes is really handy because it makes taking songs from CDs so easy by capturing them and turning them into MP3s. The program will even retrieve song and artist information for you so you don't have to label the file once you import it. From there you can make your own playlists and burn your own CDs from those playlists, not to mention carrying them on your iPod, so it's definitely worth it and really easy to use.

Review by Stephen:

iPod Touch had never included a camera prior to this September 1, 2010 update.

The lack of a camera was one of the significant aspects that kept the iPod Touch from feeling more like an iPhone.

Now, this iPod Touch has two cameras, reason for celebration? Not exactly. The usability of the cameras included is minimal.

The iPod Touch does have significant upgrades. It now features a similar display to iPhone 4, which Apple dubs Retina Display. It is twice the resolution, and looks oh so gorgeous. Honestly, I have never used a display that looks as crisp as Apple's Retina Display. Steve Jobs had described it as looking similar to the text in a high quality book, and I would have to agree. You must see it, to see the difference. Therefore, the display in the updated iPod Touch is a significant upgrade.

Secondly, the iPod Touch will feel much snappier to you than the previous generation. The reason? It now includes the same Apple A4 processor that is found in iPhone 4 and iPad. It's snappy. Applications launch with much improved speed, multitasking works easier and so forth. The processor may not make the device look different, but it's a significant feature update.

Next, to the cameras. Both the front and rear camera can be used. The front camera is similar to the iPhone's front camera, VGA only, which is rather low resolution. However, Apple knows the front camera would primarily be used for Face Time. Face Time allows you to make video chats with other iPod Touch (the new ones) and iPhone 4 users. You must be connected to WiFi to make these video chats. The Face Time icon is presented prominently on the home screen of the iPod Touch. I have had access to Face Time for several months, with my iPhone 4. It is very cool and works surprisingly well. The problem is finding other users on the compatible device (right now only iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4th generation) plus them being on WiFi at the same time. Over time, the feature will be more useful as more members of your family and friends have a compatible device. However, you simply don't always want to have a video chat with people either. Sometimes voice or even text is enough. Therefore, the front camera is not a total bust. It can be used to try out Face Time, which some users will probably find useful as least on occasion.

The rear camera on the iPod Touch is the disappointment. The rear camera is not even 1 megapixel. The camera is 960x720 resolution. Therefore, for still images the quality is quite low. After all, it's not even 1 megapixel. The iPhone 4 camera is 5 megapixel. Is the camera a total bust? Well, it can take HD video, because HD video is actually lower resolution than still digital cameras. The quality of the HD video it takes will need to be judged by the user. The camera's optics are simply not the same as used in the iPhone 4 due to the thinness of the iPod Touch. Therefore, camera quality is significantly lower compared to iPhone 4. However, you can take a video and edit it on your iPod Touch. It probably won't look as good as someone who takes a video on an iPhone 4 though.

Overall, I think highly of the new iPod Touch. The iPod Touch most attractive features are still there, indeed it will do many of its best features, better than ever thanks to the fast A4 processor now included. Gaming will be quicker and web browsing will be snappier all thanks to its faster processor. For me, these are uses most buy the Touch to do. Play games and use it as an internet device for browsing the web or reading email. The touch is still a winner in these categories. Highly recommended. In terms of being a music player, iPod Touch is as great as ever too. You can continue to touch the screen to select your music and view cover art. No change there. 40 Hours of Audio Playback. Video Playback is somewhat improved! The faster A4 processor allows iTunes HD videos that you purchase to be played, and the retina display makes them look oh so gorgeous. The cameras are the only small disappointment. The front camera is ok, but how often will you Face Time? The back camera's quality and specs are simply not up to the level many have come to expect due to mobile phones' cameras getting better over the years. However, Apple chose to make the iPod Touch thinner than ever! That thinness limits the cameras that will fit into the device.

The iPod Touch is still a solid value. Cheaper than an iPhone and with no service contract. A big plus for many especially teens and kids. iPod Touch is now as fast as the iPhone and has the gorgeous Retina display that the iPhone features. It's a winner. Some may only be disappointed by its cameras. Still, very much recommended.

Review by Steve Sack:

OK, folks, this will be my first Amazon review, though I've bought countless other things from the site. My 64GB 4G is on order, and I'll update my review after I've had some time to play with it.

Whereas I agree that the rear facing camera is not what I was expecting, I have to say that the overall improvements from the previous generation are spectacular!

I would rate the previous 32GB 3G Touch at 6 stars if I could. And here's why.

The screen is awesome.

Great battery life.

Barely noticeable in your pocket.

It's a book reader (get Stanza)

Surfs the internet

Hold my full CD Library (350 of `em)

Plays Movies

Does Email well.

Holds all of your family photos.

Reads PDF files.

Store and edit MS Office files with QuickOffice.

Does calendaring well.

Games are awesome.

Supports Telnet, RDP and VNC for my job.

Quick access to weather

Very nice Maps Calculator, Alarm Clock, et. al.

To me it seems to do just about everything!

Now comes the 4G Touch. What are you really getting with the upgrade? Well, from a hardware standpoint, I've noticed the following improvements from the 3G model....

256MB Ram becomes 512MB

ARM Cortex-A8 833 MHz (600MHz) CPU becomes 1GHz (800Mhz) with same GPU

L1 cache 64 KB (was 32KB)

480x320 screen becomes Retina 960x640

LED screen Lighting

Added 802.11n support

Gyroscope added

Front facing 640x480 camera added

Rear facing 1280x720 camera added (960x720 stills for 4:3 aspect)

Battery life increased by 33%

Microphone added

Photo exposure sensor added

Thickness reduced by 20% (1.6mm)

Weight reduced by 12% (14g)

To me, this is a rather impressive list of improvements on an already mind-numbingly cool product. Yeah, I wish the camera was 3+ Megapixels, but truthfully, I mostly just look that the photos that take, but rarely want to print them out anyway, so this is not a deal-breaker. With the G4, I'll now be able to add the following to my list of things that I can do with my iPod....

Record 720p video.

Make video calls (cool, but we'll see if I use it)

Edit my Video.

Take photographs.

Record audio without digging out my headphones. (Finally)

View photos and movies that look like photos, instead of pixels.

Use it longer before recharging.

In summary, I believe that an iPod touch is something you buy, love intensely for a year, then throw away in favor of the new model. (That is, if you can afford to do so). I'm upgrading my 32GB 3G to a 64GB 4G to hold more games and home movies, mainly. The Retina display alone would have been reason enough for me to upgrade. With the impressive list of upgrades above, it made the choice a real no-brainer for me.

I won't complain that the digital camera that's built into my high-def camcorder isn't as nice as it could have been. (But I won't begrudge anyone for doing so themselves -- this is a free country that we live in!)

ps. Maybe the G5 will have GPS.... It'd be nice to replace my Magellan and TomTom with and iPod.

Review by T. Sullivan:

I recently bought an Ipod touch and noticed right away that the silver back scratches almost instantly, and the fingerprints are all over it...it is so thin, I just didn't feel like it had any protection if dropped. I ordered this from Bargain Cell, Ive ordered alot of cell phone accessories from them and they have always been high quality. this came with a silicone black cover, 2 screen protectors, a home outlet charger, a CAR CHARGER, earbuds, and a black armband to use for working out. It was very affordable, and everything was very nice and works well together...I recommend this product for anyone with an Ipod touch 2nd generation...it has everything you need for your ipod touch!

Review by J. Boka:

I will tell you why this charger does not work with your new iPod, and this should make you really mad. I will explain the issues and offer some solutions.

I have owned a lot of iPods, I just got a new 64GB Touch 3G only to find it would not charge with any of my docking stations, car chargers or wall chargers. Why?

Apple decided they needed to make more money by selling you new chargers for your new iPods, so instead of leaving well enough alone they engineered a change in their newer iPods so they would NOT WORK with older chargers.

First I will explain some basic facts about the methods used to charge an iPod. Typically, your iPod will connect to a USB or a Firewire connection to charge. There are some other dedicated chargers that connect directly to your iPod and they suffer the same ailments I describe here and also have similar fixes, though they are somewhat more complex.

USB has one and only one voltage that it uses, that is 5 volts DC. Firewire has one and only one voltage that it uses, that is 12 volts DC. There is no difference in voltage between devices of the same type, period. So why is it your old USB charger worked on your old iPod, but wont work on the new iPod? After all 5 volts is 5 volts is 5 volts.

USB Type A connectors (as used on iPods) have four contacts, the two outer contacts are the power, one side is ground (pin 4) and the other is 5 volts (pin 1). The two inner contacts (pins 2 & 3) are the send and receive data contacts for communications between devices, for instance your computer and your iPod.

Apple engineered a new "feature" in their new iPods that looks for a signal on the data contacts (pins 2 & 3) before it will accept the device to charge the iPod. Older chargers had only two contacts in use, the outer ones to provide the power for the iPod. There was nothing connected to the data contacts because there was no reason to have anything connected to them, at least not until now. You new iPod will reject a charging device that does not have a signal on the data contacts (pins 2 & 3). This could be your computer communicating with it or simply a small voltage (2.5 volts) on EACH data contact. If it sees this signal it will accept the 5 volts on the power contacts and charge the iPod. If it sees the 5 volts, but does not see the signal on the data pins it will present a message to you informing you it will not work with that device. Bear in mind again, this is the same 5 volts that is on all the older chargers and it must see the 5 volts to even give you the message that it won't use the device. There is no excuse for not using the 5 volts and simply charging itself.

There can be no other explanation for why they engineered this change into the newer iPods other than they wanted to purposely make the old charging accessories obsolete so they can sell you new ones. As an electronics engineer for the last 37 years I can say this with absolute certainty. I can understand why the new iPods do not work with the Firewire devices, Apple probably did not want to support both 12 volts and 5 volts as it takes separate circuitry for each one, but to work with newer and to not work with the older USB devices is in my opinion, criminal.

I would like to see a class action lawsuit against Apple for this greedy stunt.

By the way, if you can get inside your old charging devices there is a fairly simple way to modify them to work with the newer iPods if you are somewhat handy with a soldering iron. I just modified an old automotive (cigarette lighter socket) charger using this technique and it works great with my new iPod Touch 3G. You will need four 47K ohm resistors (1/8 watt is large enough, but any wattage will work) and possibly a few inches or small gauge wire.

Solder one end of each of two resistors to one of the two center contacts of the USB A connector inside your charger. If there is no room to place he resistors directly at the connector use a small piece of wire to connect the resistors and place them where there is room. Now take the other end of one of the resistors and connect it to the 5 volts outer contact and take the other end of the second resistor and connect it to the other outer (Ground) contact. Do the same thing using the other two resistors from the other of the two center contacts this time. What you have done with these resistors if split the 5 volts in half at the center point between each pair of resistors and connected it to one of the data contacts. The second pair of resistors does the same for the other data contact. This puts a 2.5 volt signal on both data contacts and the iPod will now allow itself to be charged with the device.

I have also created a small 1.5 inch long male/female USB A adapter using the exact same technique with four resistors. By placing this adapter in line with my iPod USB cable I am able to charge my iPod from any older USB charging device (or hub). I did not have to buy any new chargers and all it cost me was about 16 cents for the resistors, an old USB A extension cable and a little time.

I hope this helps. It is not that hard to make these alterations.

Now go out and get mad at Apple for trying to rob you.

Review by GPG:

I was absolutely happy with this purchase. After much researching of the different cases for the Ipod touch gen 2, I decided on this. This is a great value and very high quality. Because of its padding, I know that my Ipod is well protected. All buttons and cable can easily be accessed even while in the case. To me this is a no brainer compared to those "gel/silicone" cases or other types. I like the magnetic closure because I can wrap the earbud wire around the ipod and then close the case keeping the wire intact.

Review by Skidoo Skidoo!:

When I decided to buy this product, there was only 1 review and it was a bad one. I decided to buy it anyway and I'm glad I did. I haven't experienced any problems with the product. I prefer the idea of a magnetic closure over a velcro type. The iPod Touch 2nd G looks really good in it, and with a little plastic screen protector (which you have to buy separately), my new toy is super extra big-time safe from all the sharp & pokey things in my purse or pockets. It's not that expensive, so why not try it? That's what I thought anyway, and once again, I'm glad I did.

Review by Jacob Schneider:

The two-way mirrored screen protector looks cool, but in medium to high light situations you need to crank up the brightness on your ipod all the way to see it clearly.(shortening battery life) It also cuts down on video clarity a little and shows fingerprints badly. Still, fun to try for the price.

Review by kervyn:

its okay but got old after a week, i didnt like turning the brightness up and it has a really bad glare in the sun, but good product

Review by KITTY:

Got this hard case cover for my ipod touch to protect it while in my purse and use. I am very pleased with it. Durable and stands up to the abuse of things thrown in my purse. Keeps the ipod touch from being scratched up.

Easy to snap on. I also like the design. ( I am in my mid 40's) so it is cool for adults as well as teenagers.

Review by Ginnie Mae:

This case has a super cute design which has gotten many compliments. It fits the Ipod very tightly, I had a hard time getting it on at first. This might be a drawback for someone who likes to switch their cases around. The plastic is hard and it certainly feels like it is providing great protection. I am very happy with the case and recommend it.

Review by S. Pittmon:

I love it! It is very cute and way cheaper than the cases you can buy in stores! I would definately suggest this product.

Review by Penguin Princess:

its cute and all but its not worth the money. the case doesnt wrap around enough and will easily come off. if you drop it, the case will come off and your itouch will probably be scratched

Review by I Am Not A Geek:

First off, I ordered this on a Monday and it came on Wednesday....using free shipping. Wow! Thanks amazon.

Now onto the product....simple, sleek, amazing. Set up out of the box could not have been easier. Make sure you have the most updated version of itunes onyour computer, plug in the USB cord and you're up and running. Give it a full 3-4 hour charge first time through. Load up your music, pictures, videos. The software is simplicty defined. If you can use a toaster over, you can use this device. The wi-fi immediatley found my home network (and my neighbor's). Setting up email: simple. Surfing the web: simple. And, oh yeah, using it to listen to music (ostensibly what it is for): a lifting and beautiful experience.

Might as well buy this newer version with the new software loaded. With amazon's discount, it only a few dollars more than the old version without the upgrade after you pay for it and upload it youself. Save yourself the hassle and get the new version.

So you know, this thing will get fingerprinted fast. I got a Griffin leather hard shell case with a protective screen cover for about .00. A bit pricey but worth it to protect your investment.

I went with the 8 gig verion for a few reasons and it's more than enough space. I am a music nut...I loaded it with more music that I can digest in two weeks and there's still 3 gigs free. Sure I'll eventually fill it (I guess...) but I really don't mind swapping music out for fresh music thereby making my ipod new and fresh again. I also thought if I somehow lose the thing, I'd be out a lot more money with the 16 or 32 gig version. But honestly, it's more than enough space for me.

The one caveat I discovered the hard way: shut off the wi-fi connection when you're not using it. I charged it up, thought I turned it off, and then went to bed. In the morning, the battery was fully drained. Instead of turning off, I only put the unit to sleep. (To turn off, you need to press and hold the sleep button until the power off slider comes on-screen and you turn it off fully.) And while it was in sleep mode with the wi-fi still on, it kept checking my email, etc, thus draining the battery. Just turn off wi-fi when you're not using it and you're battery will keep running.

Concluding, I love this thing, and don't know how I got by without it.

Review by Richard Jacobson:

For those who may be interested in acquiring an iPod Touch as a replacement for a PDA, I have found it to be quite useful. The primary function used in this regard is syncing with Microsoft Outlook, which works flawlessly. Now I can check appointments and find those phone numbers for early morning conference calls without waiting 10 minutes for my laptop to boot up.

The new software improves the functionality by adding the notes capability, and I even find myself frequently viewing video podcasts - something I never thought I would use.

The most important functions for me in a portable device are calendar, music, notes, photos, and Audible book playback, all of which this iPod handles very nicely. I have also used the maps feature for driving directions - load it up while on the home WiFi network, then the directions are retained for reference - in a much more useful format than if you print out the directions on Google. Just bring along a navigator, as I would not recommend trying to read the iPod while driving. The same applies to paper maps, of course.

On the downside, the battery life has not been great - less than two hours if actively using WiFi.