I’m based in the UK and so I’ve only recently been able to try the iPhone. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it and would have bought one… If it weren’t for these points:
1. The contract prices in the UK are a joke: £35 (over $70) a month only gets you 200 minutes and 200 texts. That is so lousy that I’d need to go for the mid-range £45 ($90+) per month option that gives 600 minutes and 500 texts. That would be £35 per month more than the £10 ($20) per month I am paying for my current Wi-Fi Nokia cellphone contract.
2. It only has 8GB storage when the iPod Touch has 16GB for the same price. If the iPhone is really to be a serious video device, 16GB should be a minimum – a few movies, TV shows, pictures and healthy sized music playlist easily exceeds 8GB. That is not good news if you’re only taking the iPhone on a trip with you and don’t have a Mac/PC to get more content from.
3. Where’s my 3G network? I’m in a 3G country and Edge only covers 30% of it. I can’t believe O2 have downgraded their network for this device.
4. I’d like the option of having GPS so that if I’m lost I can find out where I am using the Google Maps widget.
5. The camera is pretty poor unless taking shots in good light (not that important an issue for me).
6. The iPhone cannot record video. I can’t believe that a £269 phone can’t take video. With such a lovely screen and the touch capabilities, this is a missed opportunity.
As for points 3 and 4 above, yes, I know 3G and GPS eat the battery but I’d like the choice of whether to have these options turned on or off, just like you can choose whether to have Wi-Fi turned on. I’d even pay more than £269 for a phone with these features.
So, I decided to save on the total £630/$1,260 incremental monthly cost that the iPhone would have cost me over the 18 months contract and bought the 16GB iPod Touch instead.
I have had to sacrifice the visual voicemail feature which my current cellphone doesn’t have but that feature isn’t worth £630 to me.
I have subscribed to the Cloud Wi-Fi network for £3.99 per month which gives me access to all the Wi-Fi hotspots that iPhone users have access to in the UK.
Of course, Apple are hoping that by crippling the iPod Touch’s applications you will upgrade to the iPhone. That’s where my gratitude goes to the hackers, such as those from Conceited Software and iJailbreak. Thanks to their efforts I have been able to install the iPhone apps such as Mail, Google Maps and Weather and at the same time install apps that even the standard iPhone doesn’t have, such the Instant Messenger app Apollo, MobileRSS and games such as the amazing TapTap Revolution and a Tetris-like game called Tetromino. You can even use an app such as Customize to change the icons and their position on the iPod Touch. (Note: these apps are also available on hacked iPhones).
Another advantage of the iPod Touch is that because its headphone socket isn’t recessed, it doesn’t need an adapter to allow some third-party headphones to fit it.
So, what’s not to like with the iPod Touch? Nothing much except it’s not the best music iPod! I really like watching video on it but, unlike the iPhone, you don’t have headphones that allow you to pause or skip tracks, so you have to look at the iPod Touch to pause, rewind / fast forward or select the next track. I use my iPod while running or walking my dog and don’t want to keep stopping to make adjustments to what I’m listening to. So, I’m finding I still have to use my 2nd Gen iPod Nano for that purpose. That’s probably what Apple want anyway. My wife and I have an iPod Shuffle each for the gym, I have an iPod Nano for my dog walks and running with the Nike+ system and we have two iPod 5th Gens to store all our music libraries. Each iPod has its function. The iPod Touch now gives me the web, email and excellent video playback all in a device that fits in my pocket. I love it!
Continue reading:
- Everything New Apple Just Announced (Septembe
- Apple Watch Pre-Order
- Apple Research Kit launches with 5 Apps
- Apple TV now only $69
TAGS: Hacks, ipod touch
