September 11, 2008, 10:03 AM — What a difference a year makes. When Apple first released the iPod touch, it was--with its Wi-Fi capabilities and touchscreen interface--much more than an iPod. Yet originally lacking applications such as Mail, Stocks, Maps, Weather, and Notes (and a Calendar application that allowed you to create events) and eschewing external volume controls and a built-in speaker, it was also far less than an iPhone.
With software updates, Apple brought the iPod touch's applications in line with the iPhone. With the second go-round of the iPod touch--introduced Tuesday as part of Apple's annual fall iPod line overhaul--Apple takes another step in the right direction by adding those two desirable physical features: external volume controls and an internal speaker. Along the way, the company also slimmed down the case and, rounding the iPod touch's edges in style not unlike the iPhone 3G's.
The price for the iPod touch has been slimmed down as well. Where the 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB iPod touches once cost US$299, $399, and $499 respectively, the latest model can be had in these capacities for $229, $299, and $399. They also ship with the latest iPod touch 2.1 software.
This is how my new 16GB iPod touch holds up on first look. (A full review will follow soon.)
Volume controls and speaker
The touch's new external volume controls are welcome and perform exactly as they do on an iPhone. Press the top of the rocker switch and the volume goes up. A press at the bottom of the switch causes the volume to decrease. As on the iPhone, applications that bear volume sliders reflect the change in volume by moving up or down as you press the switch.
Speaking of iPhones, if you have the headphones that accompany the iPhone--Apple's headphones that carry the Play/Pause switch and microphone--you'll be pleased to know that the Play/Pause switch works with this version of the iPod touch. (It doesn't on older iPod touches, even with the new 2.1 software.)
The speaker, however, is regrettably nothing like the iPhone's speaker. As Steve Jobs said, this speaker is for "casual listening," which I'd suggest is a fairly generous description. Unlike the iPhone's speaker, which clearly sits on the bottom left of the device and is fairly directional, the sound from the iPod touch comes from no particular location--it seems to just seep out of any holes on the device.
I attempted to watch Chinatown while listening to the audio only through the iPod touch's built-in speaker and I had a difficult time discerning the dialog even with the volume turned all the way up. I had hopes that I could pass this iPod to the back seat so my daughter could watch her favorite movies on long car trips as she now does with my iPhone. Not going to happen. Couple the speaker's tinny, very low fidelity with the whoosh of car noise and I can't imagine she'd get much out of it.
