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How the iPod Touch Works 208

starexplorer2001 writes "The iPod Touch isn't in stores yet, but HowStuffWorks has a nice summary of how the 'touch' part of the iPod Touch works. Very similar to how the iPhone works, without those pesky rebates! From the article: 'The iPod touch also has a few other features that iPod enthusiasts had hoped to see on standard iPod models. Some users hoped for a wirelessly enabled iPod so they could synch their music or share files with friends over a Bluetooth or WiFi connection. The iPod touch is the first iPod to have wireless capability, although it doesn't use it to synch with a computer or friends' iPods. Instead, you can use it to browse the Web, watch YouTube videos or download music from a WiFi-specific iTunes Music Store. With its widescreen display and WiFi capability, the iPod touch might sound like a big step up from older iPod models. But the iPod touch isn't for everyone.'"
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How the iPod Touch Works

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  • by Brit_in_the_USA ( 936704 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:05AM (#20603327)
    Anyone taken one apart and verified if there is bluetooth hardware in it?

    Stereo bluetoth headphone support is long overdue for ipods. If hte hardware is there software coudl be round the corner?
  • by TheCycoONE ( 913189 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:09AM (#20603381)
    One of the great features of the clicky wheel is that you can grab your ipod in your pocket and adjust the volume or skip tracks easily without looking at the device. On a multi-touch interface you're going to have to look at the screen to know what you are touching, which will make it a lot harder to use in your pocket or while driving.
  • by Sciros ( 986030 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:12AM (#20603405) Journal
    $400 for 16 gigabytes of storage is simply not good enough for a lot of people with large music libraries who like to have 30-40 albums to listen to on command.

    I like to watch video on these portable players (I have a Cowon A2 myself), so there's also seasons of anime or whatever to take up 4-8 gigs each.

    In a year or so, when these things will hold 64 Gigs of flash memory, they will be great purchases for someone like myself. Until then, they're not even an option. And that's the single biggest "improvement" I'm looking forward to in future iPods. (Though I'll probably just grab a Q5 when it's available.)

    But hey gotta start somewhere.
  • by maczealot ( 864883 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:12AM (#20603409)
    Just as the iPhone's "exclusive" with AT&T was only a speed bump to those who wanted to use it on any network so too will the iTouch's inability to share music wirelessly with friends only exist for a short time.

    I expect there to be multiple hacks for sharing music wirelessly with friends within a month after it hits stores. And to be honest I'm starting to expect this kind of wink-wink nudge-nudge release from Apple. They can't release a product the way consumers want it so they get the recording industry/telecom industy to agree to "rules" that just make their devices likely targets of benign hacking.

    Now, I KNOW what my account name is but you HAVE to admit that Apple's use of the greater software community pwns Microsoft who regularly attracts NEGATIVE hacking.

    And just to prove what a fanboy I am: This is the first device since the Newton that I'm wetting my pants over.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:16AM (#20603475)
    You do realize that comment was true at the time, right? Two things have changed since then:

    iTunes now runs under windows.

    iPods now only work with USB. (I once made the mistake of using a Firewire iPod cable with a 5G iPod. The iPod itself will display an error message. It simply doesn't support Firewire any more.)

    It was only AFTER Apple supported Windows and the iPod gained USB support that the iPod took off. Before then it was only a curiosity enjoyed by Apple fanbois.
  • I'm waiting a bit (Score:5, Insightful)

    by TeamSPAM ( 166583 ) <(flynnmj) (at) (gmail.com)> on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:23AM (#20603585) Homepage

    As a long time Apple fanboy, I'll invoke the don't buy the rev a rule on the iPod Touch. To an extent, the Touch is what I wanted when I saw the iPhone. Unfortunately, the storage space isn't big enough for my music collection. I'd like to have at least 32GB of storage available before I think about buying one.

  • by Itchyeyes ( 908311 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:24AM (#20603615) Homepage
    Sounds like this would be a pretty short article: "Exactly the same way the iPhone does, but without the phone."
  • by xxxJonBoyxxx ( 565205 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:25AM (#20603623)
    This Slashvertisment rates a 4.7 out of 5.

    The (product) isn't in stores yet, but (whatever) has a nice summary of how the ("gee whiz" feature) of the (product) works.


    Excellent opening statement. It stimulates Desire, which we all know is the precursor to in the marketing "AIDA" scheme. (And when you release the product, just submit another article.)

    With its (feature 2) and (feature 3), the (product) might sound like a big step up from (previous model of product). But the (product) isn't for everyone.


    Great introduction of the features, especially the "big step up" part. And you've even given your target audience a reason to click into the submitted link too. (You've suggested there are people this product may not be perfect for, not that anyone reading this on Slashdot would fall into that "un-hip" category.)

    Fellow Slashvertisers take note - this format can be applied to your next submission too!

  • by Mr. Underbridge ( 666784 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @11:34AM (#20603743)

    The "I MUST have every single song in my collection at all times!!" demand is such a red herring.

    Well, these days it's somewhat reasonable to expect a device to exist that will hold the music collections of everyone who isn't a professional DJ. That said, such a device exists: the full-size regular iPod. What's not reasonable is to expect every music player on the market to hold all the music you could possibly own.

  • Re:utter bs (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Sciros ( 986030 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @12:24PM (#20604607) Journal
    But so what if you only listen to a song once a year? There's something to be said for having as much music available to you at all times as possible so when the mood to listen to a random song *does* hit you, you can do so without having to access your PC for it.

    As for saying 1000 gigs of music is impossible to have without piracy or whatever, I encourage you to check out something like ocremix.org or vgmix or whatever. Lots of free-to-download music out there if you like that kind of stuff and know where to look :-)

    No-one is talking about life-or-death necessity here. It's not like you can't breathe if your iPod holds less than 40 gigs. It's simply a matter of convenience. At the moment some devices offer the kind of convenience folks with large music libraries are looking for, while others aren't.
  • by morgan_greywolf ( 835522 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @01:01PM (#20605165) Homepage Journal

    Aaaaand he also said publicly many times that Apple wasn't making a phone. I don't trust anything he denies in public.
    That's right. While he denied Apple was making a phone, he said that Apple wouldn't make a phone because he didn't think they would do well in cell phone market -- something that seems to be proving itself out since Apple slashed iPhone prices and introduced the iTouch because iPod users said they wanted an iPhone for the media player. Something changed his mind about that, and maybe his original thoughts were correct, maybe not, only time will tell.

    However, his reasons for not doing a PDA were well-justified. He just thinks that cell phones will be the devices to carry this information in the future, not PDAs. And if you look at the PDA market, this seems to be true because, by far, the largest segment of that market are -- wait for it -- smart cell phones.

    IOW, Jobs was right in 2003 and if he still thinks the same way, he's right now.

  • by grimflick ( 947516 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:00PM (#20605999) Journal
    Bluetooth could instantly turn this into a great wifi phone or skype phone if you will. On Another front I want to know what processor it runs off of and what it's comparitive performance is with respest to desktop processors I have known ...
  • Easy Explanation (Score:2, Insightful)

    by egyptiankarim ( 765774 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:14PM (#20606189) Homepage
    How the iPod works is easy... 1. Create a recognizable branding. 2. Dedicate yourself to the production of pretty consumer electronics with nifty functionality. 3. Appeal to a small but fiercely loyal fan base. 4. Market the HELL out of said products. 5. Profit.
  • Re:really (Score:3, Insightful)

    by bozone ( 113268 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:50PM (#20606601)
    then don't buy the touch.... buy the classic that has twice the storage of the older iPod... you have choices ... including not getting one if it doesn't meet your needs
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:52PM (#20607627)
    "In Chicago, where I live, a "hands free" headset is required by law if you're going to talk on your phone while driving"

    Which has fuck all to do with an iPod.

    So what was your point, apart from showing us you can't read?

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