The fourth-generation iPod touch is the latest version of Apple's handheld computer with added features, such as the speedy A4 processor, front and rear cameras, FaceTime video chat, iOS 4.1, and a high resolution Retina display.
It is currently available starting at $230 for a version with 8 GB of storage, $300 for the 32 GB version, and $400 for the 64 GB one.
I've only had this device a few days, not time enough to for me to fully test it out. I'll follow this preliminary review up with a full review in the coming days.
BUILD & DESIGN
The new iPod touch is beautifully designed, as all Apple products are, with sleek lines and modern details. Unlike the iPhone 4, it isn't at all boxy. It is remarkably thin and light, with strongly tapered edges. If you use the device "naked" you may not even remember it's in your pocket -- it really is that small.
With smartphones, they sometimes seem quite light... and then you notice that the battery is still in the box, so you are immediately disappointed with a light phone that almost instantly becomes a heavy "brick" in your pocket.. That isn't the case here; the iPod touch is sealed so it comes fully assembled with the battery inside and it weighs just a few ounces.
The build quality is excellent, as you would expect from Apple. There is no creaking, bending, or flexing of any kind.Display
The new Retina display on the iPod touch is absolutely gorgeous. I haven't had the opportunity to see it side-by-side with a new iPhone 4 yet, so it's hard to make direct comparisons. I can say that it is vastly superior to my old iPod touch. It is extremely sharp and clear, and much more readable outside in bright sunlight.
The new Retina display on the iPod touch is absolutely gorgeous. I haven't had the opportunity to see it side-by-side with a new iPhone 4 yet, so it's hard to make direct comparisons. I can say that it is vastly superior to my old iPod touch. It is extremely sharp and clear, and much more readable outside in bright sunlight.
My photos look better than ever before, and video does too -- amazingly sharp and clear. If you have an older iPod touch, you'll see a huge difference in the display -- the new Retina technology represents a great improvement.
This improvement isn't really all that surprising, considering the screen resolution has gone from 320x480 to 640x960, but the display size hasn't changed -- it's still 3.5 inches.
Keyboard
The iPod touch doesn't have a physical keyboard, instead relying on a virtual keyboard for text entry.
The iPod touch doesn't have a physical keyboard, instead relying on a virtual keyboard for text entry.
It works well, but of course I have long experience with the old iPod touch so there's nothing new for me here. I can say that typing is easier with the new model because it is fast enough to make the built-in word completion utility a pleasure to use instead of a pain.Other Buttons & Controls
The front of the device seems to be all screen, because it is all black. This differs from my original first-generation model, which has a display that appears lighter when it is off, like a calculator. The Home button is centered below the screen.
The front of the device seems to be all screen, because it is all black. This differs from my original first-generation model, which has a display that appears lighter when it is off, like a calculator. The Home button is centered below the screen.
A low-res camera for use with the FaceTime video-conferencing app is centered over the top of the display, while the main image/video camera is on the top left corner of the the back of the device.
The power button is on the top right, the volume controls are on the upper left side of the device, and the headphone jack and charge/sync port are on the bottom edge.
The external speaker is just to the left of the charge/sync port. It works fairly well, with nice volume, but of course the sound isn't nearly as good as what you get listening with headphones. For games and sharing a new tune with your friends it's plenty good enough, but you won't want to use it all the time.
Since there aren't yet any cases available for the new iPod touch, I am using an old Proporta dual skin silicone case to protect my new device. It works tolerably well, but it is just a bit too big. That makes it easy to see that the new touch is just a little smaller in all dimensions, most notably width and thickness
PERFORMANCE
The new Apple iPod touch is blazingly fast -- everything just works, and works quickly, as soon as you launch an app. This is a noticeable improvement over the earliest models in this series, which can be very slow, depending on the app.
This is also my first experience with the latest version of Apple operating system, and it's nice that iOS 4.1 is preloaded on the device so that there is no need to download and install it myself. As you can imagine for a hardware and software reviewer, I have a lot of apps. Folders are a great addition, and have really helped me organize the home screen of my device. Multitasking works well too, allowing me to jump from app to app with just a couple of taps.
WirelessWi-Fi wireless networking works great, with excellent signal strength and none of the annoying "incorrect password" issues that show up almost daily on my previous iPod touch. My old touch often gives me errors when using it with my home network, requiring me to type in the password almost every day. Nothing like that occurs with the new model, and I'm quite pleased with its performance.
When it comes to Bluetooth, things went just as well. I had no trouble pairing it with my Apple Wireless Keyboard. It's ironic, considering that I used a Landware GoType and then a Stowaway Bluetooth folding keyboard with many of my Palm OS Handheld over the years, but being able to use a wireless keyboard with the iPod touch turns it into a real (pocketable) productivity tool.
Productivity and Entertainment
Whether it's getting things done or having some fun, it's all about the apps. The new iPod touch comes with Calendar, Contacts, and Notes built in, and you can sync with Outlook, an Exchange Server, or Google's online services if you like.
Whether it's getting things done or having some fun, it's all about the apps. The new iPod touch comes with Calendar, Contacts, and Notes built in, and you can sync with Outlook, an Exchange Server, or Google's online services if you like.
You'll also find Calculator, Clock, and Voice Memo apps, along with Weather and Maps. Photos, Videos, Camera, YouTube, and FaceTime round out the applications included with the device. And if you want to add more music, video, and apps, of course you'll find the iTunes Store and the App Store.
There are no games preloaded on the iPod touch, but there are plenty to download from the App Store, both free and paid.
The new Game Center makes gaming a much more social experience, with the ability to add friends, earn achievements, and play online with others. This will be tested extensively for the full review.CameraI've only had the new iPod touch for a couple of days now, and since I'm on the road I haven't been able to try it out fully as of yet. I have taken a couple of rather hasty shots in my hotel room. Viewed on the screen of the iPod touch, they look OK -- good enough to capture something quickly that you might otherwise have missed, but certainly not good enough to replace a standalone digital camera.
I will be testing the camera and its video capture abilities much more extensively in the final review.
Battery Life
It's too soon for me for me to render a judgment on this model, but I've never had any problems with battery life on Apple products, and I believe the same will likely be true with the new iPod touch.
It's too soon for me for me to render a judgment on this model, but I've never had any problems with battery life on Apple products, and I believe the same will likely be true with the new iPod touch.
However, I have some slight concerns, because the battery almost completely drained overnight the first day I had it. I have been using it quite a bit since then (the last three days) and the battery meter has barely budged -- I haven't even unpacked my charger yet.
At this point I suspect that was a fluke or an aberration; when I first connected the new touch to my laptop late Friday afternoon, iTunes reported that it was almost fully charged. I of course spent the next little while adding apps and a substantial portion of my music library to the device, and unplugged it shortly thereafter. When I woke up Saturday morning, the battery was almost dead, but I haven't had to charge it since.
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION
Obviously I can't draw any final conclusions on the new Apple iPod touch after just a few days with the device, but at this point my impressions are almost overwhelmingly positive.
The new display is stunning, and while the external speaker is a little underpowered, it's great to have one and makes playing games without headphones a lot more fun. Being able to use it with the Apple Wireless Keyboard means that the touch can be much more than a simple entertainment device if you want it to be. My only concern is the battery issue mentioned above.The fourth-generation iPod touch undeniably represents a significant upgrade from my first-generation model. Whether or not the new features like the camera with video capture and the new Retina display make it a worthy upgrade from a second- or third-generation device is a more difficult question to answer at this point, and depends a great deal on your budget.
If you don't already have an iPod touch and can't stand the thought of signing a contract with AT&T in order to get the iPhone, the new model is a great all-around entertainment and productivity device.
Buy IPod Touch Gen4
