iPod touch first hands-on

Here she is, the iPod touch! It's definitely thinner than the iPhone, and feels completely solid (as we'd hope it would). The home button is far smaller, the face is completely flat, and generally the whole thing feels far more angular than the iPhone -- but it's all familiar territory. We were kind of hoping the touch would have a matte rear screen, but that just isn't the case, it's all chrome.

Gallery: iPod touch first hands-on

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[mick @ Sep 5th 2007 2:36PM]

Does it work with gmail?

[Paul @ Sep 5th 2007 5:36PM]

Hopefully. I'm still not sold on it though. Do they actually consult consumers when it comes to things or just maintain the "we're apple, we know best" company line.

Things I would've liked to see. And I think most would've liked.

Higher Capacity. 80GB would've made me happy, more would've made me ecstatic and I would've sacrificed a lil weight and thickness for it.

Rubberized rear end, since it's always going to be set down, which means scratches to the metallic backing which more than likely will continue to be made out of the softest and most scratchable metal known to man.

Bluetooth. Apple is supposed to be forward thinking. Prepare for the future and toss an A2DP profile bluetooth chip in there. Just think Apple, then you can make it even sleeker without that pesky headphone jack.

[Adampianoman @ Sep 5th 2007 8:52PM]

The specs say you can't use it above 3000ft altitude so you can't use it on most flights. And is there an antenna on/off switch?

Also I think it's a huge mistake to leave out the camera.

And what about wifi connectivity with my laptop and other iPod touches? (iPods touch?)

[thetinguy @ Sep 5th 2007 9:59PM]

Thats ridiculous. Of course you can. And why would it have a camera? It's a music player, and it has internet because it had wifi and it would be stupid not to have safari. If you want a camera, buy an iphone.

[Paul @ Sep 5th 2007 10:16PM]

Does it have gmail is only the tip of the iceberg.

What an absolute joke of an announcement today by Apple ("The Best iPods Ever" pshhhh). I have been eagerly anticipating the release of a touch screen/wide-screen ipod for quite some time now but this...THIS is what I/we were waiting for?

The main blunder, screw-up, or {your comment here} that Apple made regarding the ipod touch was giving the thing 16 GB of storage. Seriously? Seriously! Did we just jump back to 2002 when apple released a 20 GB ipod as it's powerhouse must have gadget?

Releasing a 16 GB video ipod is like telling an alcoholic that he can only drink 1 Zima a week until the day he dies. It aint gonna work. We have become accustom to having TONS of storage (160 GB!!!) in part by apple itself. Now they are saying "OK, you like what we've done...zoinks...all gone. But isn't it pretty?"

And for $400!!! Give me a break. I think we all realise the ploy here...iPod touch for $400 or iPhone for $400? "Jeee Ma'. I gets me a sumfisticated phone for da same price...duuhh'ok, i'll take me one of them fancy fellers." You make me sick Apple.

Main point: Clean it up apple. Stop cutting corners and give consumers what they want, not what they will most likely buy anyways just because its a new product. "Think different" Steve cause today's BS put you right in line with all the other corporate jokers out there that you so adimantly pride on not being. I'll end with that before I even get started on the Nano...good god.

[Adampianoman @ Sep 5th 2007 10:34PM]

Read the tech specs on apple's site. Top right it says environmental conditions "maximum operating altitude 3,000 meters/10,000 feet." I'm not joking. go look.

Most long distance flights fly around 30,000 ft/10,000 metres (that's 3 times higher than apple say you can use ipod touch)

Also I'll say it again, FAA rules state that you may not use a device that contains an antenna on a flight unless the antenna can be turned off and you may not switch the antenna on for the duration of the flight. (Have you noticed the switch on your laptop that does exactly that?)

So unless the iPod touch has a "wifi off" switch (and it seems unclear to me at the moment) you can't even power it up on a plane.

Now I'm aware that many aircraft pressurize the cabin to be effectively at a lower altitude and that may have some bearing but again, this is unclear.

So sorry thetinguy but I'm respectfully gonna take your assertions with a pinch of salt.

[clayton.coffman @ Sep 5th 2007 10:46PM]

Apple limit features so you will buy the other products. For example, they are never going to increase the capacity, because they want you to buy an iPod classic. for that. They won't add bluetooth (or a mic) because they don't want you to use voip, they want you to buy an iPhone. This is the same reason they didnt add a camera, they want to make you lean towards the iPhone. The wifi was added to get you to buy more iTunes songs (think impulse buying, I hear a song, I want it immediately thus the starbucks nonsense). They added safari and youtube as an extension to the wifi. Its really too bad they left out the mic, voip would have been nice, but thats what the iPhone is for.

Hopefully though this thing will be as hackable as the iPhone.

[Ryan @ Jun 30th 2008 6:34PM]

To the "won't work above 10000 feet" people. You do know that that same restriction has been on all hdd-based ipods (and I imagine it has to do with the touch screen this time.) You could still use those on the plane--planes are pressurized to about the equivalent of 6000 feet. Basically you can't use it at the top of a mountain. You'll be fine on a plane.

[Paul @ Sep 5th 2007 11:26PM]

Ah, but they can add Bluetooth with just the A2DP profile which I believe doesn't have support for mic, just for stereo.

And they will up the capacity if they know what's good for 'em. It's not a matter of competition between models if the pricepoints are different. If you introduce an 80 gig touch, it'll big a lil bigger than the classic, and tack on $100. I'd easily lay out another $100 if it means I get 80 gigs of storage on a touch.

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Sep 5th 2007 11:48PM]

Airplane cabins are pressurized.


Genius.

[Mike @ Sep 6th 2007 11:47AM]

Sure a plane cabin is presurized but what about all those mountains I go to in the winter that are all above 10,000 ft. Mammoth Mountain, Aspen Mountain and all those other big ones in Canada.

[batman @ Oct 5th 2007 1:13AM]

Hey Morons - about the altitude thing. Jets fly at 30,000 ft but the cabins are pressurized to about 5-6000 ft. The iPod Touch will work when you fly in airplanes - has nothing to do with how high the airplane flies but what altitude the cabin is pressurized at. Sorry. You'll have to go find something else to bash Apple about. Go get educated before you embarass yourself anymore.

[DrummerBoy @ Sep 5th 2007 2:37PM]

you guys are so fast it's terrifying.

[)O(The Cat)O( @ Sep 5th 2007 3:44PM]

Scary indeed... I just love these guys...

[FeistyGirl @ Sep 5th 2007 2:37PM]

Is the Headphones jack recessed like the iPhone or 'normal' ?

[Bob @ Sep 5th 2007 2:47PM]

from the photos, looks like it is normal, but will wait confirmation from Ryan and co.

[Peter Grant @ Sep 5th 2007 2:38PM]

so basically they covered the camera and took off the phone app and labeled it ipod?

[tim @ Sep 5th 2007 2:42PM]

It's considerably thinner and lighter.

[Redstripe @ Sep 5th 2007 2:43PM]

They also got rid of the bluetooth too (WTF)..

[Nick @ Sep 5th 2007 3:24PM]

and Notes.. and Mail.. and Maps.. and Messaging (which could have been IM based instead of SMS) which doesn't make any sense.. any of the internet connection based apps live or die on WiFi connection so why not have Mail if you have You Tube??

Sure for Maps ill go to safari and go to google maps..but why make it so difficult for the user? And it has the iPhone keyboard so why there is no Notes boggles my mind.

[Adam @ Sep 5th 2007 2:38PM]

Great idea!!! Putting the iphone in the hands of everyone now apple? just with out that whole phone thing. Oh well, it will still sell like hot cakes, and i will still wait for it to be cheaper. College+fiancee=poor. oh well!!

[Khris @ Sep 5th 2007 2:38PM]

This isn't the best place to come out of the closet......but Bravo I guess!

Now, back to oogling the iPod Touch!

[Timerider @ Sep 5th 2007 2:38PM]

Sweet!!
Just what i wanted. But $400 for 16GB? Lower it to $350 and I'd snatch it up (If I had the money, that is).

[wei @ Sep 5th 2007 2:39PM]

wow. the store went up and immediately crashed.. guess everyone (including me) wants one

[paradoxt @ Sep 5th 2007 2:40PM]

Hell yeah I see the Arctic Monkeys..

[John @ Sep 5th 2007 2:40PM]

Wait, so the headphone jack is at the bottom? or can you flip the display all the way around so it's at the top if you want it to be

[JugoGoya @ Sep 5th 2007 2:40PM]

You guys are all over the place.

[will @ Sep 5th 2007 2:40PM]

Looks great, but why is it only 16GB. I want a 160GB ipod, because the 30GB video feels very cramped.

[John @ Sep 5th 2007 2:50PM]

Cause the 160gb uses a hard drive, this uses flash. Not only would it be thicker, but it would have about 0 battery life.

That reminds me, were the battery stats with or without wifi on? (I'm guessing without)

[Ant @ Sep 5th 2007 3:20PM]

I'm with you on that one, 16 Gig, this is 2007 not 2003. The flash thing never washes with me, yes they are small volume but why not add a card facility for SD or something those things will go up to way over 16 gig soon, you could just have a few with your high volume media on. Personally a few millimetres for the sake of another 80 Gig (or more) is more than worth it.

[Matt @ Sep 5th 2007 10:48PM]

I agree! I like carrying my entire collection with me, so 16GB just doesn't cut it. (Universal random play rocks!)

It's kind of cruel of Apple. I'm stuck in no man's land, wanting an iPod Touch with wi-fi and all, but needing HD capacity. Make it thicker, but please make it. (I'm not holding my breath.)

[Chris Higgins @ Sep 5th 2007 6:44PM]

John,
The new 160 GB iPod Classic has 40 hours music playback and 7 hours Video playback. That's longer music playback than any of the iPods and the same video playback as the iPhone.

[Steve Butler @ Sep 5th 2007 2:40PM]

I wanna buy one but there's toooo much traffic on the Apple site :'(

[thetinguy @ Sep 5th 2007 10:02PM]

It isn't released until the 28th.

[STIEN @ Nov 7th 2007 11:01PM]

i totally agree. whenever i try to watch a demo video on apple.com it always locks up. i say ZIP FILE IT!!

[huh @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

It's huge (in size). Is this Apple's entry in the "umpc" market?

[a3rdLeg @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

I'm underwhelmed!

[Ant @ Sep 5th 2007 3:23PM]

Underwhelmed is a real good way of putting it.

[thetinguy @ Sep 5th 2007 10:04PM]

What were you expecting? Everyone knew this was happening.

[smithersmat @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

damn you apple. a 16GB toy to impress friends or a 160GB total music solution. i'm so torn

[Peter G @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

its thin

[ftf @ Sep 5th 2007 2:42PM]

Amen.....

[Tyk @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

iPod Touch = gimped PDA

[mitchell @ Sep 5th 2007 4:53PM]

It's only a small software update from being considerably more useful.

I wonder what reason Apple will give for not permitting 3rd party apps for the iPod touch?

[FireFox @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

Capacity TO low !!!!

[Jordank @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

so its a iphone
-
phone
so its a
ipod?
so
someone should
ihack?
after waiting 2 months to buy, right around the price drop to 199

[HexBox @ Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM]

$400 and it still comes with those shit earbuds? Weak!

[CharlieX @ Sep 5th 2007 2:44PM]

The worst sounding headphones, the most uncomfortable headphones. but they're WHITE! OMG!

[Ian @ Sep 5th 2007 2:42PM]

ipod "touch"?
Does this mean another losing legal wrangle with Creative?

[Trev @ Sep 8th 2007 8:44AM]

They didn't lose any legal battle, they settled, big. difference.