Posted: 8/27/2010 5:12:11 AM EDT
Who has em and what version do you suggest? Talk to me about apps, how to they work.... I'm looking at one for my kid.
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I have the first generation. The GF has the second generation. You can get them for $200 now, Apps work just by downloading them from the ipod itself over wifi. He will need a computer with iTunes installed to manage all the music. He will also need an iTunes account to download apps. The account doesn't cost anything unless he starts downloading paid apps.
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I have an iPhone, but it's pretty much the same as an iPod Touch only with the phone and microphone.
The "iPod" music/video aspect is an app in and of itself. You launch it from the home screen. It works like other iPods where you sync it with the free iTunes software on your computer to add media. Apps are found on the App Store, which is accessible from your computer in iTunes or from the device itself as it'll have an App Store app already installed. To buy apps you'll need to set up an itunes account. It's free. It is linked to a payment method so that purchases can be made without having to put your financial information every time. You do have to put in your password for every purchase though. I recommend opening an itunes account using a store bought gift card instead of your Credit/Debit card, that way it can run out, you can recharge it manually, the kid isn't buying stuff willy nilly draining your bank account, and to protect your bank account in case your itunes account gets comprimised. Also, to have some control and prevent the kid from buying stuff, you could make a pretty hard password and not give it to him. About the app store being on itunes and using itunes to load the device, that's how Apple designed it and want you to use. It works for most, but there are alternatives out there. Also remember that the ipod touch also has WIFI. This means they can surf the web. This means they can go wherever you may not want them to go on the internet. ETA: Make sure you do setup the itunes account and protect it how you see fit. if you don't set it up at all thining he won't need it, your kid WILL figure out how to set one up using your friend's computer. If you set it up beforehand it will be tied to the device and he won't be able to create a new one as it's tied to the serial number which can't be changed. See: itunes account hacked |
| I've got a 3rd gen and like it. I use it everyday in the truck (my stereo has a USB connector). I use it for things like tracking auto mileage/expenses, weather stuff, things like that. I play RockBand on it but that's about the only game. Don't do much video on it. I've been happy with it. If he has a lot of music go large. I have the 32GB model and have about 8GB free. |
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I have a 3rd Gen. As far as an iPod is concerned, it performs the way an iPod should.
As a web-browser with Safari, it performs well. So well in fact that I sometimes prefer to use it instead of my W7 Laptop. The zoom feature is smooth and the scrolling is perfect. The pages load very fast and streaming video from Youtube is very fast. Compared with a PSP and even a PS3, the Touch blows them out of the water. Notice; this is only if you have access to WiFi. Within the past few days, they released a Netflix app for it so if you want to watch streaming movies on it (if you are in WiFi and have an account) There are other handy apps for it; use a mic and it can be a shot timer with the Surefire app, KAC makes a full-fledged ballistics calculator as do some other companies, there are lots of e-books you can read on it, the SAS Survival Guide app is pretty cool (comes with a Morse Code signaler- all you have to do is type in on the keyboard what you want to send out and the screen whites out and flashes it to whoever might be watching), For school; a PDF viewer combined with a MS Powerpoint converter (pp => pdf from an online source or program you download to your PC/Mac) has been awesome for keeping teacher's e-mailed out lectures and saving paper and ink. With a WiFi enabled computer, you can also use the Touch as a PP remote. If he is interested in any college courses, there is iTunesU which allows you to download whole courses for free. (I am currently working through MIT6000-intro to programming and a Russian language course) They are videos of actual lectures complete with PP presentation. Then of course you have podcasts which are free and can be had on any topic. |
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I have one and use it mostly for email, facebook, casual web browsing, and even AR15.com reading. It works pretty well, once you get used to zooming in on web pages (easy to do). I highly recommend it.
What they need to do is come out with a 1/2 size iPad, or a 2x size iPod Touch, that would be a good balance between screen size and portability. |