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Review by Hassan B. Bn Hadhram:

Before i start let me just tell you “what’s New” with the iPod touch Third generation” :

-Faster Cpu/Double the ram/Better graphic (faster Boot time/faster loading is all what i did notice)

-Double the storage for the same old price

-Voice control (I’ll explain it in a second)

-Latest firmware for free

-New Earbuds with built in remote+Microphone (So you can use voice control)

And that is everything~ depends on your needs upgrading from 2G to 3G might be not worth it.

*Important Note* : only the New iPod touch 32GB/64GB are third generation ~ (8GB is repacked 2G) Details below.

About the new Voice control function, if you love to take your iPod with you to the Gym the new feature “Voice control” is pretty cool, it does allow you to control your music via your voice, no need to get the iPod out of your pocket you can simply say “Next” to move to next song, say “shuffle” for shuffle , say “Pause” and music playback will stop etc, that is why i recommend the iPod touch over iPod classic for gym users, my friend bought an iPod classic and now he complains that the iPod classic is too heavy for him when he goes to the gym and he will have to buy another iPod “properly Nano” for his Gym, for me i use my iPod touch for the gym, it’s so light that sometimes i forgot that it’s even in my pocket.

After playing with my iPod touch 3g for a while i honestly did not notice any difference from the outside or the inside compared to my old iPod touch Second generation (It’s supposed to be faster but i did not notice anything during music and video playback or the menus, however browsing with safari and loading facebook was faster, same thing with boot time), you properly can only notice it being faster with heavy applications since video/music playback is already fast enough with 2G.

I got the 64GB iPod 3G for [...]$, if you think of upgrading your 2G iPod touch honestly do yourself a favor and save yourself the money unless you really need that much of a storage (I do that is why i bought one), also remember that the 3G battery lasts less than 2G,(3G battery = 30 Hours of music playback versus 2G 36 hours of music playback according to apple official specs)

*VERY IMPORTANT* for the people who wants the new 8GB version, the new third generation 8GB iPod touch is NOT 3G it’s a second generation iPod touch but apple did repack it/renamed it to 3rd generation, which seems to be misleading by APPLE and it’s not cool at all, it is IPod Touch 2G+Updated firmware and that is it.

The iPod touch 3rd generation 32GB/64GB versions comes with a free mic+remote with the earbuds while the 8GB do not (it comes with normal earbuds), the 32GB/64GB have the New CPU+Graphic (According to apple the new cpu is twice as fast just like the iPhone 3GS) while the new 8GB use the same old CPU/Chip from the old iPod touch second generation.

Here is APPLE description on the iPod touches page about the 32/64GB versions : “”"Enjoy all the great features of the 8GB model along with better performance, richer graphics and voice control”"”

The iPod touch 3rd generation is the same awesome iPod touch second generation was.

You can play your music/watch your videos/play games, even read your kindle books/etc “you can read amazon big description of what it’s capable of if you do not know yet, it’s better than what would i say because it has pictures and everything.

The iPod touch got the best browser i have ever seen in a portable device, i do not even need to carry my netbook with me anymore thanks to my iPod touch, if you hated browsing with lame browsers that crash a lot or slow (many mobile phones) trust me on this one, the iPod touch browser is not a toy or a gimmick it is a browser you can depends on, it’s super fast and smooth and after using it for like a full year it has only crashed on me once!

Short list of pros and cons about the iPod touch

Pros:

-Slick,small and light device

-Great touch screen

-The BEST web browser on a portable device

-Amazing video/music playback

-App Store (Too many cool applications for Free)

-Display screen is clear and bright

-No bugs and annoying stuff a very reliable hardware

-64GB Flash based mp3 player

Cons:

-Not much of an upgrade over 2G (people were disappointed because they did not get upgrades like camera/OLED/etc)

-Weaker battery, only lasts 30 hours for music playback versus 2G iPod touch 36 Hours music playback

-Expensive for the 64GB version

-Still no FM radio without the use of online applications

-Bluetooth is still half locked

I hope my review was helpful

Review by Alex Honda:

This is my first iPod and MP3 player. So far I’ve had the iPOD TOUCH (32-GIG/3RD GEN) for two-weeks and I’m loving it.

It’s does so much more than just play music, which is why I wanted one. I’m not a Mac person at all but the iPod Touch…I love it.

Out of the box it found my Wi-Fi connection and had me surfing the net (the real Internet and not the cell phone web pages like the one on my Verizon phone). It was intuitive to use and I’m finally getting accustomed to using the touch screen to scroll and type away.

This review is mostly for other iPod newbies like myself. Here’s what it comes with:

***The iPod Touch- slick and smooth and very thin

***A USB Cable- this hooks your iPod to your computer to recharge the battery and to sync it with iTunes.

***Plastic Docking Thing- this is a small plastic part that allows you to dock the iPod to an external device (I’m not sure what).

***Head Phones with Microphone and external volume control.

***Teeny-tiny insert- with bare-bones info. You have to access the full manual, which is available for free download in PDF format, at the apple website.

My advice is to buy an external cover for the iPod–the 2nd Generation iPod Touch skins/cover fit the new 3rd Generation ones because the body is the same–and buy a screen protector so you keep the screen free from scratches and such. I already scratched the shiny back of my iPod just by placing it down on the table so be careful when you first get it if you don’t have a cover for it.

As long as you have Wi-Fi (wireless Internet connection) in your house/apt you can get full use out of the iPod Touch. You can also access free Wi-Fi hotspots in stores, restaurants, and other areas, so you can get on the Internet and download applications (apps) etc., check your email, go on facebook, youtube, even Amazon has an app, that can be downloaded onto the iPod.

The iPod Touch is configured to automatically search for Wi-Fi networks, it looks for both either locked (need a password) or unlocked (no password) networks, and displays them in the settings for “Wi-Fi.” You really don’t have to know anything about Wi-Fi to get it started. You just pick one of them and it connects to it.

I’ve tried my iPod at some hotspots like a shopping center with a Starbucks and it found the Wi-Fi and connected but since a lot of people were using it, it took a while to connect.

You need the program iTunes, which is a free down-loadable program for Windows or Mac, and an iTunes account to purchase and download the apps (most are free but you still need an account to download them). If you’ve used iTunes before for buying song downloads or just to register then you already have a login account…if you haven’t used iTunes before it’s free to download and easy to install. Then you sign up for an account which is also free, unless you plan on purchasing songs or videos.

The pluses on the iPod Touch:

===== Applications (Apps) =====

The apps are a plenty on the iPod Touch and there’s an app for everything (practically). They’re arranged by category like games, news, productivity, etc., and are furthered displayed by best selling, top-free, and release date. You can also search by keyword or check out the most popular and featured apps.

Some apps are free and some cost a one time fee of between $.99-.99 and up. If you’re a news junkie like me, you’ll really love it. I’ve downloaded Time Magazine, NPR (radio and print stories), BBC READER, New York Times, USA Today, AP (Associated Press) and ABC News…all for free!

I really like that the BBC Reader will download their stories into the cache memory, once you connect via Wi-Fi so you can read the articles offline (when Wi-Fi is not available). NYT and AP will allow you to save articles that you can read offline as well. And the AP will deliver breaking news as long as you’re connected… ALL FREE!!!

I’ve downloaded a dictionary, spell checker, facebook, Grimm’s Fairytales and Alice In Wonderland books to read…all for FREE! I also got this free app called “Pandora” which is a radio station that will only play songs by artists that you want to hear. Too cool!

I know that I sound like a broken record with the “free” stuff but being a Verizon Wireless user, I’m sure other VZW customers feel me, I’m amazed that one can download and install quality, portable applications onto a device for no charge or subscription plan.

===== Other Fun Stuff =====

Calendar for appointments etc., contact phone book, clock, weather, calculator (you can download a free tip-calculator), notes and maps. These all come with the iPod Touch.

iTunes will keep the stuff (music, apps, videos) on your iPod, backed-up on your computer so you’ll always have a copy of those things. And you can tell it which play-lists to sync so that you don’t have to carry around your entire music/video library from your computer on the portable.

Anyway, I’m loving my iPod Touch and it was the perfect birthday gift to myself. It really is like having a mini-computer with you at all times. The only thing that’s missing is a camera, but that’s not a big deal at all. It’s great for people who want an iPhone, but don’t want AT&T’s lousy service. I also love not having to pay a monthly subscription charge to Verizon for apps on my cell phone, now that I have the iPod Touch!

The only thing I would advise getting–in addition to the iPod–is the cover protector skin and screen protector mentioned earlier, and the Apple USB Power Adapter which will allow you to plug the USB cord into an electrical outlet (though it isn’t necessary, it charges a lot faster than when it’s charging from your computer).

Since this is my first iPod, I don’t know how it stacks up against the previous versions. But this one is great and really addicting! So if you’ve been wondering if you should get one and you don’t have an iPhone, have access to Wi-Fi, then I’d say…yes! The iPod Touch has so much to offer the user that you can find something to do with it even if you don’t plan on using it as an MP3 player all that much.

*** A Note About iTunes ***

Even if you don’t buy MP3s–I’ve only purchased about three from iTunes; the rest was from Amazon through credits from special purchases and iPod can play them–iTunes is really handy because it makes taking songs from CDs so easy by capturing them and turning them into MP3s. The program will even retrieve song and artist information for you so you don’t have to label the file once you import it. From there you can make your own playlists and burn your own CDs from those playlists, not to mention carrying them on your iPod, so it’s definitely worth it and really easy to use.

Review by Hassan B. Bn Hadhram:

Before i start let me just tell you “what’s New” with the iPod touch Third generation” :

-Faster Cpu/Double the ram/Better graphic (faster Boot time/faster loading is all what i did notice)

-Double the storage for the same old price

-Voice control (I’ll explain it in a second)

-Latest firmware for free

-New Earbuds with built in remote+Microphone (So you can use voice control)

And that is everything~ depends on your needs upgrading from 2G to 3G might be not worth it.

*Important Note* : only the New iPod touch 32GB/64GB are third generation ~ (8GB is repacked 2G) Details below.

About the new Voice control function, if you love to take your iPod with you to the Gym the new feature “Voice control” is pretty cool, it does allow you to control your music via your voice, no need to get the iPod out of your pocket you can simply say “Next” to move to next song, say “shuffle” for shuffle , say “Pause” and music playback will stop etc, that is why i recommend the iPod touch over iPod classic for gym users, my friend bought an iPod classic and now he complains that the iPod classic is too heavy for him when he goes to the gym and he will have to buy another iPod “properly Nano” for his Gym, for me i use my iPod touch for the gym, it’s so light that sometimes i forgot that it’s even in my pocket.

After playing with my iPod touch 3g for a while i honestly did not notice any difference from the outside or the inside compared to my old iPod touch Second generation (It’s supposed to be faster but i did not notice anything during music and video playback or the menus, however browsing with safari and loading facebook was faster, same thing with boot time), you properly can only notice it being faster with heavy applications since video/music playback is already fast enough with 2G.

I got the 64GB iPod 3G for [...]$, if you think of upgrading your 2G iPod touch honestly do yourself a favor and save yourself the money unless you really need that much of a storage (I do that is why i bought one), also remember that the 3G battery lasts less than 2G,(3G battery = 30 Hours of music playback versus 2G 36 hours of music playback according to apple official specs)

*VERY IMPORTANT* for the people who wants the new 8GB version, the new third generation 8GB iPod touch is NOT 3G it’s a second generation iPod touch but apple did repack it/renamed it to 3rd generation, which seems to be misleading by APPLE and it’s not cool at all, it is IPod Touch 2G+Updated firmware and that is it.

The iPod touch 3rd generation 32GB/64GB versions comes with a free mic+remote with the earbuds while the 8GB do not (it comes with normal earbuds), the 32GB/64GB have the New CPU+Graphic (According to apple the new cpu is twice as fast just like the iPhone 3GS) while the new 8GB use the same old CPU/Chip from the old iPod touch second generation.

Here is APPLE description on the iPod touches page about the 32/64GB versions : “”"Enjoy all the great features of the 8GB model along with better performance, richer graphics and voice control”"”

The iPod touch 3rd generation is the same awesome iPod touch second generation was.

You can play your music/watch your videos/play games, even read your kindle books/etc “you can read amazon big description of what it’s capable of if you do not know yet, it’s better than what would i say because it has pictures and everything.

The iPod touch got the best browser i have ever seen in a portable device, i do not even need to carry my netbook with me anymore thanks to my iPod touch, if you hated browsing with lame browsers that crash a lot or slow (many mobile phones) trust me on this one, the iPod touch browser is not a toy or a gimmick it is a browser you can depends on, it’s super fast and smooth and after using it for like a full year it has only crashed on me once!

Short list of pros and cons about the iPod touch

Pros:

-Slick,small and light device

-Great touch screen

-The BEST web browser on a portable device

-Amazing video/music playback

-App Store (Too many cool applications for Free)

-Display screen is clear and bright

-No bugs and annoying stuff a very reliable hardware

-64GB Flash based mp3 player

Cons:

-Not much of an upgrade over 2G (people were disappointed because they did not get upgrades like camera/OLED/etc)

-Weaker battery, only lasts 30 hours for music playback versus 2G iPod touch 36 Hours music playback

-Expensive for the 64GB version

-Still no FM radio without the use of online applications

-Bluetooth is still half locked

I hope my review was helpful

Review by Alex Honda:

This is my first iPod and MP3 player. So far I’ve had the iPOD TOUCH (32-GIG/3RD GEN) for two-weeks and I’m loving it.

It’s does so much more than just play music, which is why I wanted one. I’m not a Mac person at all but the iPod Touch…I love it.

Out of the box it found my Wi-Fi connection and had me surfing the net (the real Internet and not the cell phone web pages like the one on my Verizon phone). It was intuitive to use and I’m finally getting accustomed to using the touch screen to scroll and type away.

This review is mostly for other iPod newbies like myself. Here’s what it comes with:

***The iPod Touch- slick and smooth and very thin

***A USB Cable- this hooks your iPod to your computer to recharge the battery and to sync it with iTunes.

***Plastic Docking Thing- this is a small plastic part that allows you to dock the iPod to an external device (I’m not sure what).

***Head Phones with Microphone and external volume control.

***Teeny-tiny insert- with bare-bones info. You have to access the full manual, which is available for free download in PDF format, at the apple website.

My advice is to buy an external cover for the iPod–the 2nd Generation iPod Touch skins/cover fit the new 3rd Generation ones because the body is the same–and buy a screen protector so you keep the screen free from scratches and such. I already scratched the shiny back of my iPod just by placing it down on the table so be careful when you first get it if you don’t have a cover for it.

As long as you have Wi-Fi (wireless Internet connection) in your house/apt you can get full use out of the iPod Touch. You can also access free Wi-Fi hotspots in stores, restaurants, and other areas, so you can get on the Internet and download applications (apps) etc., check your email, go on facebook, youtube, even Amazon has an app, that can be downloaded onto the iPod.

The iPod Touch is configured to automatically search for Wi-Fi networks, it looks for both either locked (need a password) or unlocked (no password) networks, and displays them in the settings for “Wi-Fi.” You really don’t have to know anything about Wi-Fi to get it started. You just pick one of them and it connects to it.

I’ve tried my iPod at some hotspots like a shopping center with a Starbucks and it found the Wi-Fi and connected but since a lot of people were using it, it took a while to connect.

You need the program iTunes, which is a free down-loadable program for Windows or Mac, and an iTunes account to purchase and download the apps (most are free but you still need an account to download them). If you’ve used iTunes before for buying song downloads or just to register then you already have a login account…if you haven’t used iTunes before it’s free to download and easy to install. Then you sign up for an account which is also free, unless you plan on purchasing songs or videos.

The pluses on the iPod Touch:

===== Applications (Apps) =====

The apps are a plenty on the iPod Touch and there’s an app for everything (practically). They’re arranged by category like games, news, productivity, etc., and are furthered displayed by best selling, top-free, and release date. You can also search by keyword or check out the most popular and featured apps.

Some apps are free and some cost a one time fee of between $.99-.99 and up. If you’re a news junkie like me, you’ll really love it. I’ve downloaded Time Magazine, NPR (radio and print stories), BBC READER, New York Times, USA Today, AP (Associated Press) and ABC News…all for free!

I really like that the BBC Reader will download their stories into the cache memory, once you connect via Wi-Fi so you can read the articles offline (when Wi-Fi is not available). NYT and AP will allow you to save articles that you can read offline as well. And the AP will deliver breaking news as long as you’re connected… ALL FREE!!!

I’ve downloaded a dictionary, spell checker, facebook, Grimm’s Fairytales and Alice In Wonderland books to read…all for FREE! I also got this free app called “Pandora” which is a radio station that will only play songs by artists that you want to hear. Too cool!

I know that I sound like a broken record with the “free” stuff but being a Verizon Wireless user, I’m sure other VZW customers feel me, I’m amazed that one can download and install quality, portable applications onto a device for no charge or subscription plan.

===== Other Fun Stuff =====

Calendar for appointments etc., contact phone book, clock, weather, calculator (you can download a free tip-calculator), notes and maps. These all come with the iPod Touch.

iTunes will keep the stuff (music, apps, videos) on your iPod, backed-up on your computer so you’ll always have a copy of those things. And you can tell it which play-lists to sync so that you don’t have to carry around your entire music/video library from your computer on the portable.

Anyway, I’m loving my iPod Touch and it was the perfect birthday gift to myself. It really is like having a mini-computer with you at all times. The only thing that’s missing is a camera, but that’s not a big deal at all. It’s great for people who want an iPhone, but don’t want AT&T’s lousy service. I also love not having to pay a monthly subscription charge to Verizon for apps on my cell phone, now that I have the iPod Touch!

The only thing I would advise getting–in addition to the iPod–is the cover protector skin and screen protector mentioned earlier, and the Apple USB Power Adapter which will allow you to plug the USB cord into an electrical outlet (though it isn’t necessary, it charges a lot faster than when it’s charging from your computer).

Since this is my first iPod, I don’t know how it stacks up against the previous versions. But this one is great and really addicting! So if you’ve been wondering if you should get one and you don’t have an iPhone, have access to Wi-Fi, then I’d say…yes! The iPod Touch has so much to offer the user that you can find something to do with it even if you don’t plan on using it as an MP3 player all that much.

*** A Note About iTunes ***

Even if you don’t buy MP3s–I’ve only purchased about three from iTunes; the rest was from Amazon through credits from special purchases and iPod can play them–iTunes is really handy because it makes taking songs from CDs so easy by capturing them and turning them into MP3s. The program will even retrieve song and artist information for you so you don’t have to label the file once you import it. From there you can make your own playlists and burn your own CDs from those playlists, not to mention carrying them on your iPod, so it’s definitely worth it and really easy to use.

Review by Trevor E. Miller:

I picked this sucker up for from Fred Meyer, after they made it clear that they had no other options available for charging my iPod from my computer (I was on vacation with no cord and a dead battery). I was only expecting it to last throughout the vacation, but I’ve been using it ever since.

I keep the car charger in my car, with no extra cables to burden it, and I keep the wall charger plugged into the wall. The cable retracts easily, with a design much like that of a window blind (pull until you let go, where it locks, and then pull a bit more and let go to release).

It’s a small, unobtrusive, and incredibly convenient device for your iPod, and at this price, it’s a steal. You’d pay two or three times this at some electronics stores for the wall charger or car charger alone, let alone one that is so solidly constructed.

No question — if you own an iPod, purchase this product. I was impressed enough to come and write this review — perhaps you will be too.

Review by CyberDude:

This kit is one that no iPod user should be without. The pieces are well constructed, and the wall charger beats Apple’s own overpriced model. Also reasonably priced. I am very satisfied with this product.

Review by Alex:

NOTICE: This review is for the NEW 2009 160GB iPod Classic, NOT the 2007 160GB iPod Classic!

The new 160GB iPod Classic is easily Apple Inc.’s best iPod to date, and out of all of the iPods that I own, this is my favorite.

First, the capacity of this iPod is simply unbeatable. I’ve yet to see another portable media player that can match the iPod Classic in capacity. I have a huge music library, and it’s nice to be able to carry every song that I own on my person at all times. What’s more, thanks to the iPod Classic’s capacity, I also have room to carry a few videos with me, and some of my photos. If you don’t like having to pick which songs to load onto your portable media player, the iPod Classic is the way to go.

The second thing that I love about this iPod can be summed up in two words: it works. The 160GB iPod Classic that was introduced in 2007 was extremely buggy, had a non-responsive Clickwheel on many units, crashed frequently, and required a hit-and-miss firmware update to stop the hard drive from spinning even when the device was “off,” which often lead to dead batteries. All of these problems left the 2007 160GB iPod Classic warming shelves and earning it the infamous “honor” of being the “worst selling iPod ever,” according to Apple. I’m pleased to say that the new 160GB iPod Classic released earlier this month has virtually none of these problems. There’s no “spinning hard drive bug,” the Clickwheel is incredibly responsive, and the device isn’t crash-prone. While it’s true that many of these issues were fixed with last year’s iPod Classic, there hasn’t been a truly functional 160GB model until now. To put it bluntly, this is the iPod that Apple should’ve released in 2007.

Another thing that I really like about this iPod, and the iPod Classic in general, is it’s ability to double as an external hard drive. While I believe that the iPod Nano is also capable of this, the only iPod that really has enough space to function as an external hard drive is the iPod Classic. The hard drive functionality admittedly reduces the number of devices I have to carry on me at any given time. If you regularly work with large files and are considering a new iPod, the iPod Classic is the way to go, plain and simple.

So what are the caveats? Well for starters, as with every other iPod Classic, this is a hard-drive (rather than flash-memory) based device. As a result, it has moving parts which make it unsuitable for running or any physical activity that exerts mechanical shock onto the iPod. Unless you exercise constantly with your iPod though, this really shouldn’t be an issue. The only other caveat, which is more of personal taste than an actual flaw, that I can find, is that Apple has not made any cosmetic changes to this device since they introduced it in 2007. Now don’t get me wrong, the point of an iPod “Classic,” is to retain the “Classic” design, but after seeing how much better a black Clickwheel looks on the silver iPod Nano, I’d have thought that Apple would have given the silver iPod Classic a black Clickwheel as well. However, I admit that this is entirely my personal preference and not a “flaw” per se. I’ve put a quick list of pros and cons together, which can be seen below:

Pros: Largest iPod Capacity-wise, long battery life, “Genius” feature, excellent value for your money, well-built, doubles as an external hard drive, and improvements to Cover Flow.

Cons: Hard Drive (rather than Flash memory) based storage medium; device is cosmetically identical to the 2007 80GB model. (I still don’t understand why Apple hasn’t colored the Clickwheel black on the silver model to match the iPod Nano.)

Finally, I would highly recommend this product, which is why it gets five stars from me. I don’t like the iPod Nano; it’s too small for my hands, and the screen is too small for my eyes. While the iPod Touch may have app store access and Wi-Fi, I find it to be a really gimmicky device, that makes for a poor portable media player, (Apple was wise to position it as a handheld game system,) and is really an “iPhone without a phone.” In contrast, the iPod Classic is an excellent portable media player, it has an excellent interface, and it only costs 9 dollars. To put things in perspective, the 2009 160GB iPod Classic costs dollars more than a 16GB iPod Nano, and 0 dollars less than a 64GB iPod Touch. All in all, I highly recommend this product.

Review by Matthew Mitchell:

I am quite new to the portable mp3 world, although I have about 250 gb of music on my computer. The only mp3 player I own is a 1 gb Samsung Pebble, which I use at the gym. This was the only mp3 player I thought I needed since both of the stereos in my vehicles have mp3 disc players. But then I started thinking…since my new Camry has an auxilary jack to hook up an mp3 device, wouldn’t it be great to have one and get rid of those giant cd wallets?! The first task was to get permission from my wife to spend 250 bucks. After a little hesitation, she agreed. And then it was on to the research. Since I have such a large collection of music, the capacity of the device was number one on my list (as well as positive reviews & quality). I was pleasantly surprised to see that Apple had reissued the Classic in 160 gb form instead of the 120 gb. So after much personal debate between the Zune and the new 160 gb iPod Classic, the iPod won out.

Although the iPod is a fantastic little device with a large capacity, the software is not without its troubles. I downloaded the most current version of iTunes (verison 9) and immediately began importing my mp3 files from my hard drive. This process can take some time, but not much longer than any other media player. I was so excited to finally have the majority of my music all on one device; and have the cover art as well (I just think that is awesome)! After loading a large chunk of my files into iTunes, I noticed that only a handful of the albums had the cover art. I attempted using the “get cover art” function, but it didn’t work. My only option was to track down the cover art online, right click, save, and then add the picture to the album file in iTunes. I know that it’s not such a huge deal, but when you’re dealing with A LOT of music, it can become quite a pain & time consuming. I later learned that the files have to be spelled exactly like they are in iTunes. And if they didn’t come from iTunes in the first place, 9 times out of 10, the album art won’t come up anyway. I would like to see a function that gets the cover art from other online sources, not just iTunes; and without a strict spelling criteria. There’s no reason that the way I name my “The” bands should restrict the retrieval of cover art. An example being “Animals, The” instead of “The Animals.”

So other than the minor annoyance with the cover art, the player itself is fantastic. I found the interface very user-friendly and intuitive, without much of a learning curve. Again, I am new to the world of iPod, but I can honestly say that I am very pleased. I wanted to write a review for people that have a large digital music collection that came mostly from ripping cd’s to their computers. I am one of the people who still enjoy listening to an entire album, and is not satisfied by just downloading the single, so I still buy physical cd’s & collect vinyl. I would definitely recommend the 160 gb iPod to any music fan with a large collection. Just remember to be patient when getting the artwork for all of those older albums. If you don’t have a collection full of Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers, or Beyonce, iTunes just may not recognize your music!

Review by Hassan B. Bn Hadhram:

Before i start let me just tell you “what’s New” with the iPod touch Third generation” :

-Faster Cpu/Double the ram/Better graphic (faster Boot time/faster loading is all what i did notice)

-Double the storage for the same old price

-Voice control (I’ll explain it in a second)

-Latest firmware for free

-New Earbuds with built in remote+Microphone (So you can use voice control)

And that is everything~ depends on your needs upgrading from 2G to 3G might be not worth it.

*Important Note* : only the New iPod touch 32GB/64GB are third generation ~ (8GB is repacked 2G) Details below.

About the new Voice control function, if you love to take your iPod with you to the Gym the new feature “Voice control” is pretty cool, it does allow you to control your music via your voice, no need to get the iPod out of your pocket you can simply say “Next” to move to next song, say “shuffle” for shuffle , say “Pause” and music playback will stop etc, that is why i recommend the iPod touch over iPod classic for gym users, my friend bought an iPod classic and now he complains that the iPod classic is too heavy for him when he goes to the gym and he will have to buy another iPod “properly Nano” for his Gym, for me i use my iPod touch for the gym, it’s so light that sometimes i forgot that it’s even in my pocket.

After playing with my iPod touch 3g for a while i honestly did not notice any difference from the outside or the inside compared to my old iPod touch Second generation (It’s supposed to be faster but i did not notice anything during music and video playback or the menus, however browsing with safari and loading facebook was faster, same thing with boot time), you properly can only notice it being faster with heavy applications since video/music playback is already fast enough with 2G.

I got the 64GB iPod 3G for [...]$, if you think of upgrading your 2G iPod touch honestly do yourself a favor and save yourself the money unless you really need that much of a storage (I do that is why i bought one), also remember that the 3G battery lasts less than 2G,(3G battery = 30 Hours of music playback versus 2G 36 hours of music playback according to apple official specs)

*VERY IMPORTANT* for the people who wants the new 8GB version, the new third generation 8GB iPod touch is NOT 3G it’s a second generation iPod touch but apple did repack it/renamed it to 3rd generation, which seems to be misleading by APPLE and it’s not cool at all, it is IPod Touch 2G+Updated firmware and that is it.

The iPod touch 3rd generation 32GB/64GB versions comes with a free mic+remote with the earbuds while the 8GB do not (it comes with normal earbuds), the 32GB/64GB have the New CPU+Graphic (According to apple the new cpu is twice as fast just like the iPhone 3GS) while the new 8GB use the same old CPU/Chip from the old iPod touch second generation.

Here is APPLE description on the iPod touches page about the 32/64GB versions : “”"Enjoy all the great features of the 8GB model along with better performance, richer graphics and voice control”"”

The iPod touch 3rd generation is the same awesome iPod touch second generation was.

You can play your music/watch your videos/play games, even read your kindle books/etc “you can read amazon big description of what it’s capable of if you do not know yet, it’s better than what would i say because it has pictures and everything.

The iPod touch got the best browser i have ever seen in a portable device, i do not even need to carry my netbook with me anymore thanks to my iPod touch, if you hated browsing with lame browsers that crash a lot or slow (many mobile phones) trust me on this one, the iPod touch browser is not a toy or a gimmick it is a browser you can depends on, it’s super fast and smooth and after using it for like a full year it has only crashed on me once!

Short list of pros and cons about the iPod touch

Pros:

-Slick,small and light device

-Great touch screen

-The BEST web browser on a portable device

-Amazing video/music playback

-App Store (Too many cool applications for Free)

-Display screen is clear and bright

-No bugs and annoying stuff a very reliable hardware

-64GB Flash based mp3 player

Cons:

-Not much of an upgrade over 2G (people were disappointed because they did not get upgrades like camera/OLED/etc)

-Weaker battery, only lasts 30 hours for music playback versus 2G iPod touch 36 Hours music playback

-Expensive for the 64GB version

-Still no FM radio without the use of online applications

-Bluetooth is still half locked

I hope my review was helpful

Review by Alex Honda:

This is my first iPod and MP3 player. So far I’ve had the iPOD TOUCH (32-GIG/3RD GEN) for two-weeks and I’m loving it.

It’s does so much more than just play music, which is why I wanted one. I’m not a Mac person at all but the iPod Touch…I love it.

Out of the box it found my Wi-Fi connection and had me surfing the net (the real Internet and not the cell phone web pages like the one on my Verizon phone). It was intuitive to use and I’m finally getting accustomed to using the touch screen to scroll and type away.

This review is mostly for other iPod newbies like myself. Here’s what it comes with:

***The iPod Touch- slick and smooth and very thin

***A USB Cable- this hooks your iPod to your computer to recharge the battery and to sync it with iTunes.

***Plastic Docking Thing- this is a small plastic part that allows you to dock the iPod to an external device (I’m not sure what).

***Head Phones with Microphone and external volume control.

***Teeny-tiny insert- with bare-bones info. You have to access the full manual, which is available for free download in PDF format, at the apple website.

My advice is to buy an external cover for the iPod–the 2nd Generation iPod Touch skins/cover fit the new 3rd Generation ones because the body is the same–and buy a screen protector so you keep the screen free from scratches and such. I already scratched the shiny back of my iPod just by placing it down on the table so be careful when you first get it if you don’t have a cover for it.

As long as you have Wi-Fi (wireless Internet connection) in your house/apt you can get full use out of the iPod Touch. You can also access free Wi-Fi hotspots in stores, restaurants, and other areas, so you can get on the Internet and download applications (apps) etc., check your email, go on facebook, youtube, even Amazon has an app, that can be downloaded onto the iPod.

The iPod Touch is configured to automatically search for Wi-Fi networks, it looks for both either locked (need a password) or unlocked (no password) networks, and displays them in the settings for “Wi-Fi.” You really don’t have to know anything about Wi-Fi to get it started. You just pick one of them and it connects to it.

I’ve tried my iPod at some hotspots like a shopping center with a Starbucks and it found the Wi-Fi and connected but since a lot of people were using it, it took a while to connect.

You need the program iTunes, which is a free down-loadable program for Windows or Mac, and an iTunes account to purchase and download the apps (most are free but you still need an account to download them). If you’ve used iTunes before for buying song downloads or just to register then you already have a login account…if you haven’t used iTunes before it’s free to download and easy to install. Then you sign up for an account which is also free, unless you plan on purchasing songs or videos.

The pluses on the iPod Touch:

===== Applications (Apps) =====

The apps are a plenty on the iPod Touch and there’s an app for everything (practically). They’re arranged by category like games, news, productivity, etc., and are furthered displayed by best selling, top-free, and release date. You can also search by keyword or check out the most popular and featured apps.

Some apps are free and some cost a one time fee of between $.99-.99 and up. If you’re a news junkie like me, you’ll really love it. I’ve downloaded Time Magazine, NPR (radio and print stories), BBC READER, New York Times, USA Today, AP (Associated Press) and ABC News…all for free!

I really like that the BBC Reader will download their stories into the cache memory, once you connect via Wi-Fi so you can read the articles offline (when Wi-Fi is not available). NYT and AP will allow you to save articles that you can read offline as well. And the AP will deliver breaking news as long as you’re connected… ALL FREE!!!

I’ve downloaded a dictionary, spell checker, facebook, Grimm’s Fairytales and Alice In Wonderland books to read…all for FREE! I also got this free app called “Pandora” which is a radio station that will only play songs by artists that you want to hear. Too cool!

I know that I sound like a broken record with the “free” stuff but being a Verizon Wireless user, I’m sure other VZW customers feel me, I’m amazed that one can download and install quality, portable applications onto a device for no charge or subscription plan.

===== Other Fun Stuff =====

Calendar for appointments etc., contact phone book, clock, weather, calculator (you can download a free tip-calculator), notes and maps. These all come with the iPod Touch.

iTunes will keep the stuff (music, apps, videos) on your iPod, backed-up on your computer so you’ll always have a copy of those things. And you can tell it which play-lists to sync so that you don’t have to carry around your entire music/video library from your computer on the portable.

Anyway, I’m loving my iPod Touch and it was the perfect birthday gift to myself. It really is like having a mini-computer with you at all times. The only thing that’s missing is a camera, but that’s not a big deal at all. It’s great for people who want an iPhone, but don’t want AT&T’s lousy service. I also love not having to pay a monthly subscription charge to Verizon for apps on my cell phone, now that I have the iPod Touch!

The only thing I would advise getting–in addition to the iPod–is the cover protector skin and screen protector mentioned earlier, and the Apple USB Power Adapter which will allow you to plug the USB cord into an electrical outlet (though it isn’t necessary, it charges a lot faster than when it’s charging from your computer).

Since this is my first iPod, I don’t know how it stacks up against the previous versions. But this one is great and really addicting! So if you’ve been wondering if you should get one and you don’t have an iPhone, have access to Wi-Fi, then I’d say…yes! The iPod Touch has so much to offer the user that you can find something to do with it even if you don’t plan on using it as an MP3 player all that much.

*** A Note About iTunes ***

Even if you don’t buy MP3s–I’ve only purchased about three from iTunes; the rest was from Amazon through credits from special purchases and iPod can play them–iTunes is really handy because it makes taking songs from CDs so easy by capturing them and turning them into MP3s. The program will even retrieve song and artist information for you so you don’t have to label the file once you import it. From there you can make your own playlists and burn your own CDs from those playlists, not to mention carrying them on your iPod, so it’s definitely worth it and really easy to use.

Review by toost:

This was shipped in a flimsy plastic bag with absolutely no protection/padding, so the cover arrived damaged. IF this would have arrived in usable condition, I would still not recommend it because there is not any protection for the screen. Overall, not worth the trouble!!

Review by P. L Slice:

What’s with the no protection for the screen? The body won’t get scratched but the screen will…..

Review by Nathan Andersen:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3GCL7CCLCHZCY When Steve Jobs announced the newest generation iPod nano, he suggested that with its new video capability the nano would easily compete with the Flip Video camcorder. While someday down the line this may be a serious contender in the pocket video camera market, it’s not there yet. I took some comparison footage with the iPod nano and the standard definition Flip Mino to show why. My point in all this is not to suggest that you go buy a Flip instead of an iPod nano, but that you ask yourself what it is you really want. If you want to make videos you can upload to Youtube and you want them to look pretty decent, and you don’t care much about music or you already have an mp3 player, I wouldn’t buy this iPod just because now it has video. On the other hand, having some video capability might be enough to give this the edge over most other music players; if games are more important to you than video, though, you’d be better off with an iPod touch.

One thing you’ll notice in the footage, where I shot the same things back to back with both camcorders, is that where the Flip really shines is in low light. I shot the hamster moments at night, in a room illuminated only by a lamp. Not only did the iPod nano take grainy video, it also didn’t do any kind of white balancing and the indoor lightbulb added an orange tint to the clip; I’m not sure exactly how the Flip is designed to address this (whether it automatically adjusts white balance or just has a better average setting), but the footage shows that it captured light correctly both outdoors and indoors. If you compare the hamster shots with the Flip and with the nano, I think it’s clear that for indoor and lowlight there’s no comparison and the Flip has the nano beat hands down. The outdoor images are closer, but I think even this small video shows greater detail in the Flip video. When you blow the images up bigger there’s no comparison — the Flip looks decent even on a big screen TV, the iPod nano footage looks like it was shot with, well, a toy camera. In all fairness, that’s all it is at this point. (Note, by the way, that, like the Flip, the nano will only take video and doesn’t take photos. You can manually add photos to the nano from your computer, but you can’t use the onboard camera to capture stills.)

Another thing that bugs me a bit about the new iPod nano is the bizarre placement of the camera lens. It’s nestled down in the corner of the backside below the screen — exactly where it is most natural to hold this thing if you are shooting with it. Even if you just grasp the thing at the corners, there’s a tendency for some part of a finger to accidentally edge into the camera frame. In fact, I found that even after I was aware of this fact I kept doing it anyways — the way this thing fits in my hands just makes it likely I’ll catch an edge of a finger in my shots unless I’m conscientious about avoiding it, and that detracts from the spontaneity this is designed to take advantage of. (I even noticed I’d done it on most of the iPod nano footage for this video comparison — and I thought about doing it over, but then decided to leave it in just to show how easily it can happen.)

So, to sum up: what you really get with the iPod nano is a toy camera, fun to have in the pocket and very cool to have just in case there’s something you want to shoot, but not quite the quality we’ve come to expect from the handy pocket camcorders like the Flip Mino and the Creative Vado and the Kodak Zi8, that keep getting better and better. Video is a nice new feature on the Nano, but not really a radical innovation and not a game changer.

What makes the iPod Nano worth it is that in addition to video on the fly, you get to listen to music, you get an FM radio that works quite well and even tells you what song you are listening to, you get a voice recorder (a VERY nice feature, excellent for students who can listen to music on their way to class and then record a lecture), a decent quality mini speaker, a somewhat useful pedometer, decent game options for killing time. You don’t get any of that with the Flip! Sure, the new iPod nano is a toy … but it’s a very cool toy.

Review by S. K. Plante:

Let’s face it…we are not all clones and look for different features when it comes to an MP3 player. I wanted a small, portable player for the gym. The FM Radio feature is what I have been hoping for for a very long time! I don’t need apps. I don’t need to surf the web. I need to play my tunes. Genius is a great way to create a mix for the gym. The fitness tracker is incredible. And finally I can tune in to the TVs in the gym. Love it! This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. Perfect device for my needs.

Review by A. Rodriguez:

If you’ve been waiting for a good case for your new ipod touch 2g than your wait is over. First, I had the belkin wave silicone case and it’s good but not worth , maybe . This case by speck, is definitely worth the money. It fits the ipod perfectly, it has a nice grip, and feels sturdy enough to take a fall because of it’s extra thick corners. It does not add much bulk to the touch so it’s still looks cool in your hands.My suggestion on this product is if you don’t have a case buy this, if you have one, consider buying this one, you will not regret this purchase.

Review by K. Deutsch:

I’ve owned dozens of iPod cases over the years and this without question is the best one for the iPod touch 2g. Several things make this case superior. 1st and foremost, if you sit it on the dash of your car and turn a corner too sharp it won’t go flying out the side window. The volume, power and home button are all covered and raised so their easy to find and adjust. Removing the iPod is a breeze, it fits snugly but also stretches. The sides and back are treaded so it feels more secure in your hand. Make sure and buy a good screen protector, it finishes off a percect product.

Review by Nathan Andersen:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3GCL7CCLCHZCY When Steve Jobs announced the newest generation iPod nano, he suggested that with its new video capability the nano would easily compete with the Flip Video camcorder. While someday down the line this may be a serious contender in the pocket video camera market, it’s not there yet. I took some comparison footage with the iPod nano and the standard definition Flip Mino to show why. My point in all this is not to suggest that you go buy a Flip instead of an iPod nano, but that you ask yourself what it is you really want. If you want to make videos you can upload to Youtube and you want them to look pretty decent, and you don’t care much about music or you already have an mp3 player, I wouldn’t buy this iPod just because now it has video. On the other hand, having some video capability might be enough to give this the edge over most other music players; if games are more important to you than video, though, you’d be better off with an iPod touch.

One thing you’ll notice in the footage, where I shot the same things back to back with both camcorders, is that where the Flip really shines is in low light. I shot the hamster moments at night, in a room illuminated only by a lamp. Not only did the iPod nano take grainy video, it also didn’t do any kind of white balancing and the indoor lightbulb added an orange tint to the clip; I’m not sure exactly how the Flip is designed to address this (whether it automatically adjusts white balance or just has a better average setting), but the footage shows that it captured light correctly both outdoors and indoors. If you compare the hamster shots with the Flip and with the nano, I think it’s clear that for indoor and lowlight there’s no comparison and the Flip has the nano beat hands down. The outdoor images are closer, but I think even this small video shows greater detail in the Flip video. When you blow the images up bigger there’s no comparison — the Flip looks decent even on a big screen TV, the iPod nano footage looks like it was shot with, well, a toy camera. In all fairness, that’s all it is at this point. (Note, by the way, that, like the Flip, the nano will only take video and doesn’t take photos. You can manually add photos to the nano from your computer, but you can’t use the onboard camera to capture stills.)

Another thing that bugs me a bit about the new iPod nano is the bizarre placement of the camera lens. It’s nestled down in the corner of the backside below the screen — exactly where it is most natural to hold this thing if you are shooting with it. Even if you just grasp the thing at the corners, there’s a tendency for some part of a finger to accidentally edge into the camera frame. In fact, I found that even after I was aware of this fact I kept doing it anyways — the way this thing fits in my hands just makes it likely I’ll catch an edge of a finger in my shots unless I’m conscientious about avoiding it, and that detracts from the spontaneity this is designed to take advantage of. (I even noticed I’d done it on most of the iPod nano footage for this video comparison — and I thought about doing it over, but then decided to leave it in just to show how easily it can happen.)

So, to sum up: what you really get with the iPod nano is a toy camera, fun to have in the pocket and very cool to have just in case there’s something you want to shoot, but not quite the quality we’ve come to expect from the handy pocket camcorders like the Flip Mino and the Creative Vado and the Kodak Zi8, that keep getting better and better. Video is a nice new feature on the Nano, but not really a radical innovation and not a game changer.

What makes the iPod Nano worth it is that in addition to video on the fly, you get to listen to music, you get an FM radio that works quite well and even tells you what song you are listening to, you get a voice recorder (a VERY nice feature, excellent for students who can listen to music on their way to class and then record a lecture), a decent quality mini speaker, a somewhat useful pedometer, decent game options for killing time. You don’t get any of that with the Flip! Sure, the new iPod nano is a toy … but it’s a very cool toy.

Review by S. K. Plante:

Let’s face it…we are not all clones and look for different features when it comes to an MP3 player. I wanted a small, portable player for the gym. The FM Radio feature is what I have been hoping for for a very long time! I don’t need apps. I don’t need to surf the web. I need to play my tunes. Genius is a great way to create a mix for the gym. The fitness tracker is incredible. And finally I can tune in to the TVs in the gym. Love it! This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. Perfect device for my needs.

Review by Mac Aladdin:

The cable they sent is a cheap generic cable that doesn’t work properly. It does not look anything like the image and it is not an Apple product. This product page is utterly misleading and should be modified to correctly describe the product this company is selling (i.e. a non-Apple, third party cable),

Review by Joshua T. Jenkins:

While the picture shows an iPod connector manufactured by Apple, you are sent a third party cable which doesn’t even allow me to connect my PC to my iPod. A total failure of a product and of a company.

Review by Nathan Andersen:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3GCL7CCLCHZCY When Steve Jobs announced the newest generation iPod nano, he suggested that with its new video capability the nano would easily compete with the Flip Video camcorder. While someday down the line this may be a serious contender in the pocket video camera market, it’s not there yet. I took some comparison footage with the iPod nano and the standard definition Flip Mino to show why. My point in all this is not to suggest that you go buy a Flip instead of an iPod nano, but that you ask yourself what it is you really want. If you want to make videos you can upload to Youtube and you want them to look pretty decent, and you don’t care much about music or you already have an mp3 player, I wouldn’t buy this iPod just because now it has video. On the other hand, having some video capability might be enough to give this the edge over most other music players; if games are more important to you than video, though, you’d be better off with an iPod touch.

One thing you’ll notice in the footage, where I shot the same things back to back with both camcorders, is that where the Flip really shines is in low light. I shot the hamster moments at night, in a room illuminated only by a lamp. Not only did the iPod nano take grainy video, it also didn’t do any kind of white balancing and the indoor lightbulb added an orange tint to the clip; I’m not sure exactly how the Flip is designed to address this (whether it automatically adjusts white balance or just has a better average setting), but the footage shows that it captured light correctly both outdoors and indoors. If you compare the hamster shots with the Flip and with the nano, I think it’s clear that for indoor and lowlight there’s no comparison and the Flip has the nano beat hands down. The outdoor images are closer, but I think even this small video shows greater detail in the Flip video. When you blow the images up bigger there’s no comparison — the Flip looks decent even on a big screen TV, the iPod nano footage looks like it was shot with, well, a toy camera. In all fairness, that’s all it is at this point. (Note, by the way, that, like the Flip, the nano will only take video and doesn’t take photos. You can manually add photos to the nano from your computer, but you can’t use the onboard camera to capture stills.)

Another thing that bugs me a bit about the new iPod nano is the bizarre placement of the camera lens. It’s nestled down in the corner of the backside below the screen — exactly where it is most natural to hold this thing if you are shooting with it. Even if you just grasp the thing at the corners, there’s a tendency for some part of a finger to accidentally edge into the camera frame. In fact, I found that even after I was aware of this fact I kept doing it anyways — the way this thing fits in my hands just makes it likely I’ll catch an edge of a finger in my shots unless I’m conscientious about avoiding it, and that detracts from the spontaneity this is designed to take advantage of. (I even noticed I’d done it on most of the iPod nano footage for this video comparison — and I thought about doing it over, but then decided to leave it in just to show how easily it can happen.)

So, to sum up: what you really get with the iPod nano is a toy camera, fun to have in the pocket and very cool to have just in case there’s something you want to shoot, but not quite the quality we’ve come to expect from the handy pocket camcorders like the Flip Mino and the Creative Vado and the Kodak Zi8, that keep getting better and better. Video is a nice new feature on the Nano, but not really a radical innovation and not a game changer.

What makes the iPod Nano worth it is that in addition to video on the fly, you get to listen to music, you get an FM radio that works quite well and even tells you what song you are listening to, you get a voice recorder (a VERY nice feature, excellent for students who can listen to music on their way to class and then record a lecture), a decent quality mini speaker, a somewhat useful pedometer, decent game options for killing time. You don’t get any of that with the Flip! Sure, the new iPod nano is a toy … but it’s a very cool toy.

Review by S. K. Plante:

Let’s face it…we are not all clones and look for different features when it comes to an MP3 player. I wanted a small, portable player for the gym. The FM Radio feature is what I have been hoping for for a very long time! I don’t need apps. I don’t need to surf the web. I need to play my tunes. Genius is a great way to create a mix for the gym. The fitness tracker is incredible. And finally I can tune in to the TVs in the gym. Love it! This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. Perfect device for my needs.

Review by E. E. Campbell, III:

Everything in the picture arrives in the package. However, quality is certainly not what I hoped for. Also, had I thought about it for maybe 30 seconds more, I would have gone to eBay and bought only the items I am really going to use. I think I would have used the hard clear case if it didn’t have the honking huge non-removeable belt clip (think Batman utility belt) sticking out of the back of it. Car charger – maybe. I’ll throw it in the glove box in case the need arises. House charger? Nope. Never. Just go to the laptop. Headphone splitter and extra headphones may come in handy after I retire and start taking bus trips with my wife. Final analysis is I just got my touch, and I wanted to dress it up. This stuff is everything advertised, and the price if broken down is about fair, but the bottom line is you’d have to be the mother of all ipod dorks to ever need all his stuff. So, the laughs are on me. Just ask my wife. 25 bucks better spent on Guinness.

Nov 16 – after 2 weeks – neither charger works, retractable usb cord doesn’t work, not worth my time to pack up and send back. This is a package of cheap junk.

Review by J. Winzer:

The leather flip case I was most interested in closes with Magnets that KILL your IPOD – it came back the first time (when I assumed I had messed something up)…

But as I put it in the case the second time I watched it wipe the screen clear and haven’t gotten it to come back on yet.