iPod touch 2G - first hands-on

We just got some hands-on time with the new iPod touch, and we're really feeling this one. Jury's still out on the new nano, but the second-gen touch is a marked improvement over the first gen model. The WiFi antenna looks much better integrated, the speaker doesn't sound like complete trash despite not even having any speaker holes, and the thing is crazy thin. Like, really, really thin.

Gallery: iPod touch 2G - first hands-on

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[juan @ Sep 9th 2008 2:21PM]

i was hoping for 32GB for $300.

[renitori @ Sep 9th 2008 2:37PM]

Uhh.... recessed headphone jack?

I thought new designs were supposed to move forward >

[Terrance @ Sep 9th 2008 2:40PM]

I was hoping for a 32GB Touch and a SSD version of the classic. Now I don't know what to get. It's either a 16GB Nano or 16GB touch. I want the bigger screen for videos but prefer the click wheel.

[EmoChicksAreHot.....Seriously @ Sep 9th 2008 2:38PM]

I was hoping for a 64gig iPod Touch.

Or at least different colors or something.

[Bill Jobs @ Sep 9th 2008 3:08PM]

Hey um, I have a small dilema (sp), and I was wondering what everyone's opinion is.

I have a first gen iphone that is use as a glorified ipod touch. I don't use it as a phone - its hacktivated.

1st gen's are going for 400 bucks and up because of their unlockability - should I sell mine and buy the 8gb ipod touch? (i have a 8gb iphone)

I'd lose the camera (which would be sad) and they microphone, but would it be worth that to put a few hundred bucks in my pocket?

[jim @ Sep 9th 2008 4:02PM]

does new mic enabled earbuds with touch mean I can now use as voip phone?!!!!!

[pakkman781 @ Sep 9th 2008 4:05PM]

@rentori: Not recessed, just curved off.

I'm really torn about this one. A speaker is a huge improvement, but is it worth selling my current touch and nano to upgrade to a 32GB touch (from 16)? I think I'll see when the 2.1 update comes out and see if it seems worth it...

[Paul Chapel @ Sep 9th 2008 6:19PM]

Apple is making it harder for me to hold out, that's for sure.

[alberto @ Sep 9th 2008 6:32PM]

I was hoping for a cheaper version too. But what really has me disappointed is that they didn't add bluetooth. Something soo simple, but yet a concept too new for Apple to understand I guess. Their iphone touch still doesn't support stereo bluetooth.

Kool, slick and sexy...but I pass till they install bluetooth.

[Jheaton @ Sep 9th 2008 9:45PM]

Yeah 32 GB would be nice but how about bluetooth or gps! i know i may be picky but it would be nice to have wireless headphones but would be extremely awesome if they had gps cause then its like having a not-as-good but still bearable tom-tom

[KP @ Sep 10th 2008 12:14AM]

Hmm i'll have to put in an insurance claim on my current ipod touch so i can get the newest one..which would be the 16GB for the same price i bought the 8GB for. Fucking Apple assholes!

[RUGRLN @ Sep 10th 2008 12:40AM]

Me too! Damn...

[alberto @ Sep 10th 2008 3:09AM]

I didn't realize they built a mono speaker on the touch. What a waste of space. Apple take the speaker out and put in something really useful like bluetooth.

[Geir E @ Sep 10th 2008 4:16AM]

"Hmm i'll have to put in an insurance claim on my current ipod touch so i can get the newest one..which would be the 16GB for the same price i bought the 8GB for. Fucking Apple assholes!"

So you do insurance fraud whenever technology move forward? You do that on your computer when new models come out too?

[jamEs @ Sep 10th 2008 9:52AM]

The speaker is the addition I liked the most about this. As an owner of the first gen iPod Touch I know the speaker is a must after picking up a used 1G iPhone. I used to carry my Touch around just for it's handy wi-fi abilities and often found I was caught without any way to listen to something if I didn't have headphones with me.

[TMFAN @ Sep 9th 2008 2:22PM]

Oh boy. Get ready for the non-stop stampede of apple posts.

[Rene @ Sep 9th 2008 2:25PM]

Considering there are only 2~3 major apple events per year, I think it should be bearable. Maybe you should stay away from Engadget after Apple events if you don't like Apple posts.

[nerdtalker @ Sep 9th 2008 2:27PM]

Get ready indeed... It's always a nonstop flood of stuff after one of these.

First, the story/liveblog about the event itself, then 10 or so stories about each little line item from the event, and then another 2 or so about rumors and speculation, and then "so how's the iPod touch 2G working?" You know, since we totally need one in addition to our iPhone, iPod nano 4G, MBP, and Wii.

[nerdtalker @ Sep 9th 2008 2:45PM]

I almost forgot, there's also the obligatory prepubescent low ranking of posts from people who are not "fanbois" of the latest over hyped incremental apple product updates.

We must all conform in our reverence to the christlike figure of Jobs himself. The metaphor is uncanny, even the sickly about-to-die-for-thou air about him.

[Nat @ Sep 9th 2008 2:58PM]

"I almost forgot, there's also the obligatory prepubescent low ranking of posts from people who are not "fanbois" of the latest over hyped incremental apple product updates."

Not to mention the complaints about the quantity of Apple posts from the "anti-fanbois". Just stay away for the day if you don't want to read the stuff. Nobody forces you to be here.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 9th 2008 3:03PM]

nerdtalker,

You're not paying attention. Most of the high ranked comments I see are from idiots who are claiming that $79 earphones are overpriced because they bought a pair of Koss earbuds for $5.

[nerdtalker @ Sep 9th 2008 3:12PM]

It's like a cult. Stay away if you don't like it?

You realize that applies in reverse as well? If you don't like hearing anti-fanbois poke holes in your logic, GTFO yourselves.

[kurt.tappe @ Sep 9th 2008 5:11PM]

@nerd
You are like a smoker who tells those who like clean lungs to go away if they don't like it. You for some reason cannot fathom the fact that you're going out of your way to read posts you don't like and wasting even more of your precious time you complain about having lost to post about having lost your precious time. It's amazing how much effort you're going to in order to become annoyed, and THEN you have the gall to blame those who are not annoyed for your annoyance. Were you born naturally annoying or do you have to practice at it?

[Josh @ Sep 9th 2008 2:22PM]

Looks pretty nice!

[MilesErik @ Sep 9th 2008 8:38PM]

This guy looks like me

[famm113 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:23PM]

Tip of the hat

[CT @ Sep 9th 2008 2:42PM]

Wag of the finger!

[Dr Zoidberg @ Sep 9th 2008 3:27PM]

Shake of the bootie.

I went too far didn't I?

[hiko36 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:23PM]

I love the new design but hate the stainless steel back. I realize they had to differentiate between it and the iphone but stainless steel? I think I'll buy one and then brush the back with a dremel...

[BradVT @ Sep 9th 2008 2:30PM]

Yeah, there's nothing like buying a 400 dollar gadget then scuffing it up by laying it on the table while unboxing it. They should make it like the back of the first iPhone. That was aluminum, right?

[S @ Sep 9th 2008 4:51PM]

Well your issue is not with the stainless steel, as SS is actually LESS prone to scratching than aluminum, but the fact that it's polished. If they brushed it, like the 1g iphone, stainless is actually the superior choice!

[who? @ Sep 9th 2008 7:33PM]

And for god's sake- no plastic, please!!! Ugh.

[AJ @ Sep 9th 2008 2:23PM]

Ryan, how thick is it?

[ScooterDe @ Sep 9th 2008 2:34PM]

The news here is Ryan Block blogging for Engadget. How's that new venture coming along?

[AJ @ Sep 9th 2008 2:37PM]

It really isn't ScooterDe, but thanks for the hijack ;)

[AJ @ Sep 9th 2008 2:46PM]

Apple website refreshed... 8.5mm vs 8mm 1st gen. I like the new one a lot, but calling it thinner is a lie.

[OneLove @ Sep 9th 2008 4:23PM]

that's what she said.

[Ryan @ Sep 9th 2008 2:24PM]

I'm a Touch owner right now and I feel stupid. These features are ones that Apple couldve easily added on with the first generation, especially the Nike+ and the volume buttons. Those two things are what I sorely miss in my iPod right now. Well I guess most Apple users have to get used to the feeling of inadequacy.
I'm just saying that Apple makes these updates seem so amazing when it should have been a feature on the first one. A few years ago we got used to being WOWed by Apple during their keynotes. Now it's just them setting our expectations low so that we can feel better about their next iteration of a product.

[Marlon @ Sep 9th 2008 4:01PM]

I disagree 100%. We the consumers make these products out to be a big deal. Not once did I read anything more than new features and buttons being added to the new iPod Touch. Something's gotta give, you can't expect new ground breaking products every year...

And honestly, that same comment about what "should have been added to the first generation" is cliche since it's used whenever ANY product's successor is released. In all electronics there will be a compromise, whether it be the cost to manufacture, size, battery life, or the time spent getting something to work and ship on on time.

[ScooterDe @ Sep 9th 2008 2:31PM]

I feel you. The lack of GPS is a big fail. I can't wait another year for an update, so will instead hope for a better, alternative product to emerge in the next 3-6 months.

[PHO @ Sep 9th 2008 2:31PM]

I concur, they did the same thing with the lack of 3g for the 1st gen iphone... a feature that should have been implemented from the get go. I honestly believe those features were left out on purpose that way they would be able to always give their products a little bit more of an edge(and sales numbers) when they are ready to release the next generations.

[PHO @ Sep 9th 2008 2:35PM]

As far as GPS, why are you let down? If they implemented it within the ipod touch we would have known about it a while ago because apple would have to register the device with the fcc, since the ipod touch doesn't use cell phone frequencies, apple would have to use a satellite signal... dur

[avester @ Sep 9th 2008 2:56PM]

Get iPhone if you need those features, this isn't iPhonewithoutcontractandabilitytomakecalls this is iTouch.

[Andy TGD @ Sep 9th 2008 3:26PM]

avester, actually it kinda is...

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 9th 2008 3:42PM]

Ryan,

These are truthful words you speak.

[r3loaded @ Sep 9th 2008 4:28PM]

Hardware volume buttons, a speaker and a Nike+ receiver. Not a big loss imo (got an iPod Touch 32Gb in June). Nike+ receiver is useless for me, and I just set the volume right before listening to music (or double-tap Home at the lock screen to change volume).

I will miss the speaker, but I often improvise using big headphones and the volume at full :P

[DB @ Sep 9th 2008 5:07PM]

i didn't really want a speaker. i'd rather to keep my music to myself.
i don't want to be one of those annoying people who listen to their music and have it so the 20 people around you have to hear it.

im quite content with my ipod touch. i bought it like the day after they came out. of course i knew that there would be a new one sometime, but i wanted one then. haha.

you bought the hardware in the first place because you wanted it and it was cool. just because a new one came out that is different doesnt mean that the ipod touch you bought sucks now.

[Eddie @ Sep 10th 2008 5:09PM]

I feel your pain... But at the same time, technology changes at a fast pace and as things become easier to implement (smaller chips that allow easier board designs, etc) additions like this will always trickle into new gens of existing devices.

The way I see it, this is a $229 (if you go 8GB) WiFi device with a full-featured Safari browser, full Exchange Server and calendaring functionality, a fairly high-res screen (considering its size), conductive based touchscreen technology, gyro sensor, and with the App store, unlimited apps and games support... Let's not forget the music, videos, and YouTube support.

Bluetooth would've been an awesome addition, but at its current price point I don't see why its feature set can't be considered great. I think they are. When the 1G's were released, I'm sure as part of the design sketch a lot of the current hardware-level additions were thought of... Perhaps price was a factor. During the R&D stages, things can get quite expensive and become a gamble, especially for first gen products... Give Apple some credit for at least bringing these features now than later. You could always be happy with your 1G and wait for the 3G... Then the 2G owners will probably be all mad and you'll be glad to be saying "Ha ha...suckers!".

[CynisterSix @ Sep 9th 2008 2:24PM]

how bout a better shot of how thin it is if its so much of a thin thing

[PHO @ Sep 9th 2008 2:24PM]

I thought the back was supposed to be all stainless steel? or am i nuts?