iPod touch having display issues?
By Nilay Patel 
posted Sep 15th 2007 11:57AM
posted Sep 15th 2007 11:57AM
[Thanks, Mobilehavoc]
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Ahhh I have ordered a touch and now I want one less and less
The good thing I find about Apple is they usually exchange products like this if they have problems. Back when I purchased my 5G iPod I found one dead pixel, I rang Apple and they exchanged it for a new one immediately. Rest assured if your iPod touch can't display blacks correctly, if you let Apple know you'll get it exchanged promptly.
This Gizmodo (spit) image is pretty damning:
http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/09/IMG_2013.JPG
Look at the difference in how they display black/grey colours. (Iphone on the bottom, Touch on the top)
@ireland
That is complete BS, It may be the apple store that I live by, but when my Macbook charger was on the verge of lighting my house on fire when the outside insulation started melting, they tried to make me buy a new one. Again, it may be the store I go to, but they had given me complete crap.
@DaMan09:
It isn't the store you go to, it is you.
They wouldn't replace it because there's no way for them to know if the insulation problem was caused by manufacturer defect or abuse by the owner (you). If you constantly roll your chair over your power cable, for example, the insulation is going to get messed up. That isn't Apple's fault.
I'm not saying you messed up your cord, I'm saying Apple can't determine for sure if you did or not, thus they won't just replace it. For something that is clearly a manufacturer defect (like a dead pixel), they will gladly swap it out as I've experienced first hand.
@JOHNZILLA
Well, it was the end closer to the laptop (IE right next to the charger port.)
Actually, it's not just an ipod touch problem. I have an iphone and I have the exact same problem with my screen. I got my phone about a month ago. The other phones in the store could render blacks much better.
When I asked the "genius" at the apple store in pasadena, he said that apple wouldn't do anything about it or exchange it and that it was in spec. Apparently not being able to make out any detail in dark scenes of video is acceptable to apple, or the guy working at the bar was just a jerk collecting a paycheck.
DaMan,
I dunno why you had the trouble. When I had the connector begin to fail, i.e. long before fraying, my local store (Pleasanton, CA) replaced it outright. Granted it was clear that mine wasn't abused since I had it swapped before it looked mechanically damaged.
Alan Partridge,
How exactly is this damning? You're going to see differences if you have them set side to side '69' like that. Not to mention why on earth would one think they are going to use the same display between the two machines?
Man, Apple is letting me down more and more lately. Sure they're coming out with some cool developments. But, at the same time, they're getting crappy with the quality of their products. Maybe they need to choose their factories more carefully.
No one every believed me when I said that Apple was just like every other company and that once they started getting too popular, they would drop the ball just like every other corporation out there. Sure they're still making nice looking products, but the more they come out with (and more intricate they are), the lower the overall quality of their products become. When you are popular, you tend to rush a little bit more and have less control over quality unless you scale your business properly, unfortunately, a lot of companies stumble when they get to this part.
I'm no Apple fan, but I do hope that Apple can start pulling it's self back together before it gets out of control. Competition is a nice thing to have, and they do help force companies to implement ideas that can be good for the industry/consumer.
Yah lately. What rock have you been hiding under? Apple has had issues on every one of their products from the iBooks, MacBooks, to the touch. Apple had shit QC on both their software and hardware and that isn't an exageration. (I've lost count the # of times Apple has pulled a software update hours after releasing it or released an update for the update.) I'm 100% certain that its simply due to Apple and their dumbass approach to secrets.
man, you think the factory decided to use 18-bit panels on their own?
The fanboys are the root of Apple's problems. Everytime someone complains about the lack of quality in some Apple product, there would be 10 fanboys jumping up and down claiming that it's all FUD and the problems don't exist.
This automatically lead to Apple thinking that Jobs' Reality Distortion Field works so well that Apple customers are willing to put up with ANY kind of sh*t just to be able to say they bought some Apple product. So they start cutting costs, service and so on.
Apple used to have quality products. I have a first generation iPod, paid a bloody premium for it at the time. The amount I paid for then can buy a cheap laptop now, and I was happy to do so, because it was a pretty cool product then. I haven't bought a single product since. I even avoid using Quicktime, not to mention iTunes.
Their recent hostility towards OSS is more reason for me to avoid their products.
Perhaps Apple is only really good when they are the alternative, the underdog seeking to open new markets and avenues. But they act like every other profit-first-customers-last companies once they have established footholes in their niche.
It's sad, but I really do think the fanboys contribute significantly towards this "Apple culture".
Only the best components for Apple Products.. thats why you guys are paying the Apple Tax.. lol @ u .. LMAO!
When calling people dumb I recommend using words instead of idiot tween acronyms. You should also consider putting apostrophes in your contractions, like "that's." Otherwise people just see you as someone like the "Get a brain, moran" guy and dismiss whatever you have to say.
This public service announcement was sponsored by Will.
Many users report about mediocre audio too (the same as iPhone).
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=355025
http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=205272
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/apple/tested-iphone-screen-better-than-the-ipod-touch-screen-299774.php
It seems that in order to low the prices, instead of cutting down profit margin, they cutting down component quality.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=354772&page=3
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1131324&tstart=0
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=354541&page=9
This is part of the customary Apple release cycle. Apple users are notoriously some of the most anal-retentive, pedantic consumers on the face of the planet. After any new release you have someone who goes over said product as if they were inspecting a NASA space shuttle. Obviously, flaws are found, then propagated amongst the online communities making other apple users aware of issues they would have never knew existed without being OCD. I know this because I'm an Apple user and see it happen after EVERY product release.
I'm not giving Apple a pass here, but other manufacturers aren't subjected to nearly the amount of scrutiny that Apple is. This is why you have the constant perpetuation of the "don't buy anything Apple first generation", yet they continually have the lowest failure rates, and highest customer satisfaction in the industry. A bit incongruent--don't you think?
exactly.
You're right, it does sounds like you're giving them a pass. It doesnt negate the fact that the Touch is an premature, inbred pos that needs more gb, bt, and a better screen.
I think the Gizmondo link somebody posted above speaks volumes over what you're saying. Your generalized statement just got trumped by photographic PROOF.
its also why other manufactures sit so far in the shadows of apple. if your going to make a name for having good hardware then you better take the heat when you sell garbage.
any company that charges a premium and trumpets superior design and features will naturally be subject to stronger scrutiny - and have further to fall, if it gets it wrong
Ah the mythical Apple premium rears its ugly head. Pity it doesn't, you know, actually exist:
Archos 605 Wifi 80GB = 399 Euros or £275
16 GB ipod touch = £269
Creative Zen Vision = £270
Bhaal:
First of all, where the hell you getting those prices from? On amazon.com the Archos 605 wifi 160GB is selling the exact same price as the iPod touch 16GB. Besides, even with you prices, £6 more for no touch screen but wifi, 64GB more, DVR capabilities, 5.1 surround sound capabilities, ebook reader (PDF), build-in speakers, and a crapload of other functions the iPod doesn't have. All that is worth a hell of a lot more to me than a lousy touch screen.
actually it does. both the other PMP's have 5x or 2x the ammount of memory and better codec support, plus higher quality components, and not to mention better sound quality.
plus in the US:
Archos 160gb 605 wifi: $400
Ipod Touch 16gb: $400
archos has higher screen resolution (800x400 vs 480x320) more codecs and a non-crappy screen, plus 10 times the storage for teh same price.
and you say that there is no "apple premium" it sure looks to me like i could get a tremendously better PMP for the same price
@Urza
the 605 wifi does infact have a touch screen, thus making it better.
Apple court PR and attention like no other company with regards to their products, its a natural and perhaps fitting response that what they put out should thus be subject to that same level of focus & attention;
if you live by the sword, you die by it
Dude, you shouldn't buy anything by ANY manufacturer first-gen, apple or otherwise unless you absolutely HAVE to be able to say "I GOT IT BEFORE YOU DID LOLOL"... and face it, if you HAVE to do that, then you need to find your jollies someplace else.
Are you related to Steve Jobs? If there is a fault with the product it should be passed around. Plus, Apple devices are unique. They can have limitations that are literally ignored by reviewers in the media....because it's from APPLE. Example....crap internet connection speed on the iphone = ignored in favour 'innovative' product........?????????
So when the Apple-fanatics-cult jump all over MS for all their wrongs what do they say about stuff like this? Apple is no better or worse than most companies. They're all in it for the money and will screw customers if they think they can get away with it. That's the way capitalism works.
You tell 'em - Apple used to be little bro, but they've grown up and are as bad as MSFT, etc. I hear that disk mode doesn't even work on the Touch either (one review said that - here or gizmodo) - is that true?! if so I think I'll skip..all that space for only music is a waste off money! Though it was only ONE review....The new Creative Zen looks like the best PMP/dollar atm.
wow, it seems like apple is getting horrific in their quality, which is why i am glad i didnt get one.
people always jump to its defense, but once again Jobs lied and screwed over the customers.
at least 19/20 other PMP companies dont do this
Actually, this is not the way the device is supposed to look, so no, Apple isn't screwing over customers yet, I'm sure those with problems will be addressed quickly by Apple... You haters are so boring
This makes choosing between the iPhone and iPod touch a lot easier.
All I ever expected (and wanted) the iPod touch to be is a iPhone without the phone but as the iPod touch launch date nears, it seems that most reports and hands-on opinions from customers and websites alike is sounding more downbeat as each passing day come and go.
I am certainly going to wait until the 28th September then make my mind up then.
It is a bit of a shame that the iPod touch isn't living up to our (high) expectations at the moment.
What the hell are you talking about?
A limited number of users are talking about the negative screen effect, a few people have complaints about the "add" function of the calendar and some people care that it doesn't have bluetooth.
Aside from that, what the hell are you talking about?
Get bent fanboi.
I've read a few places that people have been complaining about the picture quality. I dont know if only some touches are affected but I picked up my 16gig touch yesterday, and it looks as good if not better than what i've seen from the iphone. Granted I haven't tested them side by side, but i've watched a few movies/shows on it and the black levels look fine.
As for sound quality, most of the complaints are most likely coming because of the crap headphones apple always bundles, pick up a pair of shure's and it's not a problem..
Here you are:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=355025
@ Dias
How many times do you need to post this link?
I think it's time to up your OCD meds!
If you read any of those links, people were testing with Shure E4C or similar headphones, not the crappy Apple buds, and the Touch still sounded worse. Is this also true of the iPhone? I hope they fix the audio quality when they release a 16GB 3G-enabled version.
So it could be the same screen. If people are getting them swapped out at the Apple stores and the second unit isn't having problems, the it says that there is most likely a bad batch of LCDs along the lines. LCDs are hard products to manufacture-especially if you're going for color accuracy.
Hey if I had a defective product and it was replaced as easily as the posts makes it sound I'd be pretty happy.
I have an iPod touch and I like it alot. I haven't really noticed anything wrong with blacks except for maybe when I watch a video, otherwise everything is fine. In fact, i am writing this post on my ipod touch!
the fact that you cant extend the space by providing us a micro/mini sd is already considered a flaw. there are better mp3 players/pda phones out there that are not on total lockdown. meaning you cant add or costumize your toys. its the way apple sells and market their products. it makes us all wanna eat all that apple up and pay $$$ for a piece of their hardware. its all hype and we are all caught in it.
Ive personally never had an Ipod ever. But with the ipod touch, I am more tempted than ever to grab one.
`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··._.· OHHHH the irony!!!! Of all computer companies out there, Apple, the supposed "shiznit for graphics and videos" can't do color right??
Dear Engadget,
I like Apple’s products, but I am started to get a little sick of your i(Phone,Pod…) coverage. Please tell us more about some other great products we don't know about.
Thank you.
dear tvl,
shut up
Hear, Hear. Why don't you just go the whole hog and rename the site to Enapple, or given the position Engadget occupies worshipping all things Apple, In-Apple???
I assume there are other companies producing tech that will recieve equal levels of coverage from yourselves as a 16GB touch screen PMP is getting?
Well seeing as how I hopped on the other day, and the top five breaking news was all apple and 3/5 of the breaking news was... guess, go on, guess...
apple. I'm also getting sick of it. why isnt there an applefanboy site and get rid of this crap(ple) from Engadget. I didn't mind apple much before, but this is downright absurd.
I think they are owned by apple. The amount of coverage they do on apple products is ridiculous, same as gizmodo
i've never seen a complete walk through of the lg prada inteface, i wonder why,manybe because it came out b4 the iphone and the apple heads told them to not report on it.
i thing i've seen every inch of the iphone/itouch
Dear everette,
Screw you.
8/18 most recent articles are about iShit. Why not just rename this place "The Wannabe Apple Weblog"
I picked up a 16GB from Best Buy yesterday and the video play back is nightmarish. Anything with black looks ghosted. It's not just subpar, it's defective. I'm going to do one exchange and if the problem persists, I'll just have to return the thing.
Other than that though, I have to say that it's a very very sexy device.
Forgot to mention that there are about half a dozen or so dead pixels that look like tiny specks of dirt. Very unsettling...
I'll be picking up an 8gb from Best Buy tonight, hopefully not all the Bestbuys got ones like this.
I have the ipod touch and I noticed that if you maximize the brightness, the blacks look much better and don't fade as much from a different viewing angle.
Yes and then your battery life will go to hell. The product still doesn't work as advertised.
Will cancel my pre-order if it's true, hope they correct this befor I do that.
It must have killed Engadget to post this article. Maybe we should all band together and help the staff get through this horrible crisis. Now they are they finally seeing what millions of people see everyday - the mediocrity and overall low quality of Apple's products.
Come...lets embrace in a huge group hug.
I would bet it's not a hardware issue, but a software issue that can be corrected with an upgrade. Just think of it like a TV or monitor that can be adjusted by software (controls) if it displays too dark.
Oh Apple :( How you keep failing me.
It's disappointing how Apple has great ideas but increasing poor execution. It used to be that first-gen Apple products were great, albeit with some design oversights and inconveniences that would be rectified by the second iteration.
Nowadays it's not design problems, it's pure manufacturing problems. *sigh*
OK...let's get this straight...luckluster iMac screens, lackluster iPod Touch Screens, cracking iPod screens, leaking Power Macs, discolouring laptops, moo-ing laptops, overheating laptops, laptops with dead lines all over their screens, melting laptops, breaking cables, lackluster iPod touch audio (and it's primarily a music player people), etc, etc...
I've never known of a single company to have so many widespread and recognised problems with their hardware...and over so many product lines...never...ever...at all...it boggles the mind the amount of Apple hardware that breaks down or has a design "flaw"...and I'm sorry, I don't care how willing Apple is to replace it (...well when they finally admit that there was a problem in the first place, and don't try and delete threads from discussions boards) these things shouldn't be going wrong in the first place.
Now I'm sure that many Apple users on this forum will only be too pleased to tell us that they've never had a problem with their hardware (good for them), but Engadget itself has reported most of these issues as effecting a HUGE number of Apple customers.
How people, leap to Apples defence and proclaim their products God-like is beyond me...OSX may be hack-proof wonderfulness (even if it does freeze and crash like any other operating system)...and they might release fabulous designs...but the bottom line is the hardware and build quality SUCKS BIG TIME!
I disagree with you for the reasons you've already stated. I've never had a problem with any of the Apple products I've purchased, which is exactly why I keep purchasing them, and why I've stopped purchasing products from other vendors when there is an Apple product in the same niche.
No wonder u give them out for free
Is it me, or is the echo effect of the internet getting louder? Apple products sell like crazy and if there was an actual serious flaw a lot of people would be complaining.
Yawn.
The bashers are getting pretty boring 'round here.
Exactly what is "widespread" problems? In the time someone wrote a basher comment, Apple sold another 3000 units. I would say that only a small percentage probably has some defect. And the reason you actually hear about problems is because Apple is the media's darling. They sneeze and it makes Engadget/Gizmodo's headline.
Get over it.
Just wondering, if all blacks are washed out why is it that pics of the UI (the main icon screen) always show a black that is as dark as the bezel around it?
See the main pic here - http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/apple/apple-ipod-touch-review-verdict-good-in-the-face-of-greatness-300127.php - looks perfectly fine there, yet they have the same complaint.
What is the battery life of iPod touches? I am surprised I haven't already read a dozen posts here or elsewhere on that subject.
I hope to buy one of these very soon, my first Apple product. My second purchase will be some kind of Bluetooth adapter. If the screen is good on the one I'm buying here in Madrid, Spain, I'll post a note to that effect. Not that I mind, but is there a language choice during the initial set-up?
Look at this photo I took of my iPod Touch and tell me if I'm being overly critical or making things up. The device only looks somewhat normal if tilted back and to the left, and that's sure how I want to watch my 2 hour movies on this device.
http://home.comcast.net/~audi-fan/IMG_5940.jpg
OMG, that is horrific.
WT/? Was that a real a pic?! Terrible! I feel your pain...but maybe your unti hass a defect..I've heard about "washed out" but that takes the cake.
That's clearly a defect. Get it replaced. At an Apple store they should do it on the spot as long as they have the same model in stock.
Actually I've been through two of them now and they are both the same. There are now dozens if not hundreds of video clips and photos of the problem and I'm not yet convinced that ANY units DON'T exhibit this behavior.
I don't believe it's the iPod Touch's screen. It appears to be a video setting with some setting turned up wayyy too high. Nobody complains about the background of the iPod Touch on the main apps screen, that's black.
Well, I just came from the Apple store in the Westfarms Mall, Farmington, Connecticut. As of Saturday morning, Sept, 15, 07 - they had four 16 GB Touch demos on the floor. The Wifi in the store was out and despite lingering in the store for over an hour, they still hadn’t fixed it - so checking out the Safari browser on the Touch was out of the question.
On every demo model the video was noticeably darker. I played a couple of the videos on each demo with included a Jack Johnson video, Coldplay and School of Rock. The “
negative dark” image was definitely there! No question. A few of the other customers also commented on the video quality. I Then walked over to a few Iphones which had the same videos loaded and immediately could tell the quality was much better on the phones ( Note * I made sure the brightness levels for each unit was on 100%).
I then walked over to the Genius Bar and asked to speak with the Store Manager. Well, he came out and after explaining the video problems, he asked if I could show him the units in question. I walked him thru the same “diagnostic” test I performed. He did not see it! Instead, he held the Touch approximately a foot away from his face, tilted it slightly away and stated, “That’s the correct viewing angle” when viewing video on the Touch.
I asked if he had even heard of any complaints about the video on the Touch and he replied “Nope. Not a one. You’re the first.” He asserted it was not a hardware issue. I then walked over to a desktop and connected to Ilounge.com and showed the manager the numerous threads which discussed the same video issue on the Touch.
He simply shrugged and asked me if there was anything else he could do for me.
That’s it, folks! My experience with the Touch. BTW, it IS a beautiful device in person. I really lusted for one, but after seeing the video, I’m going to wait until this thing is fixed.
Thanks!
mine works great
There is nothing broken about the iPod touch screen, that is exactly how it is manufactured. The washed out blacks prove an inferiorly manufactured panel that Apple is using in the iPod Touch. Apple probably outsourced the manufacturing of the iTouch screens to China. The iPhone screens are made by Sharp so it's not surprising it is better.
Dell also had some LCD issues in the Inspiron series due to bad Samsung LCDs. I would pick an Apple over an HP product for sure, but Dell tends to take good care of their customers(if you have a business account, good luck getting US-based tech support if you bought off the home channel), but I would get a MacBook over an Inspiron...
- Apple's main LCD supplier: LG.Philips (Apple Cinema Displays, Apple MacBooks)
- EIZO, HP and DELL's main LCD supplier: S-LCD, a joint venture between Samsung and Sony
- Apple iPhone's main LCD suppliers: Toshiba/Sharp/Epson/Matsushita
Could be the same iPhone screen, LCD manufacturing is far from perfect 100% of the time, dead pixels are a famous production flaw LCDs can have.
Apple killed off Linux support with the latest iPods. Don't buy Apple anymore. Buy Creative.
If you're a Linux / custom firmware user then sure. But if not, the rest of us will enjoy the product and be able to sleep at night.
Sleep well at night, knowing you are lining the pockets of a hypocrite.
I hope and think the only problem is that there was some errors in the manufacturing, because somebody have perfect video quality on their iPod Touch, some even says that it's better than iPhone.. But many also have problems.
A guy said that the iPod touch already is launched in Denmark (which means Europe). I haven't seen it in the stores yet, but maybe it's only in Copenhagen and some other big cities. I'll ask him about the video quality, and report back.
Maybe they accidentally took the black out when they took out the bluetooth. Or perhaps we can buy them both as and added feature later on...
Lmao - the next gen iPod touch might be monochrome if they keep that up!
So.. I'm writing this from my touch right now. I can dedinitely tell the screen has problems displaying blacks. I doubt that they would exchange or refund the purchase cause its not a defect its just a sucky screen. The sound quality is also not nearly as good as my shuffle. What is it, 30 dollars to return it? Just took me 15 minutes to type that.
As far as internet browsing and other non-video use is concerned, does the "negative black" screen problem show up at all?
Video playback is not a deal-breaker for me.
no the only time the black thing is an issue is when watching dark movies
I'm confused. Are ALL the touch screens having the same problem I am with the negative blacks? Should I return mine and exchange it for a new one or are they all going to be this way?
Could you guys at Engadget address this.
I picked up a 16 GB on the 13th 10 minutes before closing. Yesterday I watched my first movie and saw exactly what everybody is talking about with the difficult watching black. I was packing it up just now to return it when I wanted to get the exact location in the movie in which you can notice it most. When I was looking at it like I was before, you can tell the difference. However, when I moved it farther away from my face and changed the angle, it's perfect. The angle is probably around 30 degrees starting with the unit parallel to the ground, screen up.
I should add this, however. I love the Touch. It's easily the sexiest ipod I have ever had and I've had gen2, photo, 1st shuffle, 2nd shuffle and two nanos. This is not only easy to use but it's gorgeous. I am sitting at my computer and I would rather be on the touch. It's fantastic. I can't wait for the Starbucks feature just to see how it integrates.I look forward to future apps.
And, for the record, it sounds better than any of my previous mp3 players.
As an actual proud owner of an iPod touch, I have to say that I'm completely pleased with the display on this device. It's more than adequate and images look crisp and beautiful. I have no such complaints. I've had mine since yesterday.
Uhm, tilt the screen towards your face retards. The iPod touch has a worse viewing angle. Let's all freak out about it. Jesus
Nice attitude... The problem is that this happens when you look directly at the screen. I don't think that the correct viewing angle is supposed to be tilting the top 30 degrees away and the left side 20 degrees away. Of course when you do this the viewing angle for the other colors is off and they get washed out.
It's kinda like having to rest your head on your desk to read your computer screen.
So basically the viewing angle on the iPod Touch sucks. That's nothing new. Nintendo just released a special edition crimson/onyx (red/black) DS Lite which has a inferior touchscreen when compared to last year's DS Lite screens. Same problem, poor viewing angle. Companies like Apple, Dell & Nintendo are getting substandard LCDs from China.
Have the people encountering this problem gotten a replacement and did the replacement exhibit the same problem? Perhaps it's a (seemingly widespread) defect and not a feature? I'll find out when my touch comes in any case. I'll also be comparing the audio to my 5g iPod.
I am an Apple fan if not quite a fanboy. I bought a 16GB Touch at Best Buy, and have this screen issue. You can tilt the screen to minimize the effect, but then colors start to fade (as with all LCD screens.) I wouldn't mind if the picture degraded off-axis, but the problem manifests itself when you are looking DIRECTLY at the screen. So then you end up tilting the screen back and forth when you watch video, trying to get good overall color but eliminate the weird blacks.
I'll wait and see what happens, but I'm just glad I bought at Best Buy and don't have to eat a restock fee if there's no solution. I never thought I'd consider another player, but I am now as this issue has been a bit of a buzzkill.
It's really too bad, because otherwise the touch seems like it came from 10 years in the future. Super sleek and thin, great UI, wonderful design. The only other wish would be a faster CPU for faster Safari. But it's too bad about that screen...
My 16GB iPod touch is just fine. I don't see any problems. The blacks are black. The whites are white. The only time I get a "negative" effect is when I try to watch from a wonky angle, and even then that's only on certain videos that haven't been well-encoded. Photos and web pages look fine no matter what angle I hold it at. The sound, by the way, is identical to the nano. No difference. No problems.
I love the thing. Best iPod I've owned so far, and I love the new nano... But I still returned my nano to get the touch.
16GB is just enough to get all my 3-star or better songs on it, and store a season or two of some of my shows. I can't complain about storage, since I'm not really the kind of person who needs to be able to play all my 1-star songs when I'm on the go.
And for the record: My 24" iMac is GORGEOUS, and as I type at it right now, I see NO GLARE WHATSOEVER. I swear some of you guys are just whiny babies, and the others are simply Apple-bashers. I don't care if you like Apple or not. They work for me. I like their products. They've been great at the customer service thing, and I have always been satisfied by their warranty service.
My first 24" iMac had two stuck pixels in the middle of the screen. I took it to an Apple store, and they swapped it out without a hassle. The guy told me "It should be perfect, so let me get you another one." just like that. THAT is what I expect, and that is what I always get from Apple.
If you have an iPod touch with a screen defect, then take it back and they'll take care of you. If you get a rep that doesn't help you, ask someone else. Most Apple representatives are friendly, helpful, and follow the company policy of replacing a defective item with no questions asked if you bring it back within 14 days of purchase. After that, you've still got a year of Applecare and can boost that if you want.
Actually, now that I mess with it, I do see a shimmer around some of the blacks on my touch.
So there's something there--- It's not quite the dramatic horrible thing some people are making it out to be, but there's definitely some weird issue with the black levels. If you tile the screen it goes away, but you really shouldn't have to do that on a $400 device, I agree.
So forgive my rant about the screen, but I still mean it when I say this isn't meant to be an iPDA. It's an iPod, which has always been a music player with bells and whistles.
With such a technology upgrade, why does apple still stick to those shitty white, ROUND earbuds....they don't match the phone OR fit anyones' ears. Try to keep up a little....