Review Draft

The 16GB (gigabyte) second-generation Apple iPod Touch (iTouch) is an mp3 player with a 3.5-inch diagonal widescreen multi-Touch display (www.apple.com). Being able to function basically as a mini-computer, this device has the ability to access wi-fi (wireless-fidelity) networks and surf the internet using its built-in safari software, play and store up to 3,500 songs, 20 hours of video, and 20,000 photos (www.apple.com). It also comes with a built-in speaker and Bluetooth capabilities. This device has revolutionized the mp3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) market throughout the world through its 85,000+ downloadable applications. No matter what you are trying to do, whether it is playing a game, taking notes in class, or check the performance information for a stock, “There’s an app for that.” (www.apple.com)
I purchased this device about two years ago, and immediately began playing with it and exploring the devices many features. I immediately discovered that the internet provided cannot perform all of the functions that a regular computer can do. For instance, the software is incapable of accessing www.youtube.com from the safari browser. Users must use the provided YouTube application to view online videos. The browser is also incapable of playing online music that may be embedded within someone’s mypace page, for example. Another imperfection that I experienced with my iTouch, was after several weeks, I was unable to utilize any of my applications and every time I would attempt to open one it would unexpectedly close. I was forced to restore my device, which deleted all of my music, movies, and pictures. I then had to resynchronize it, which was very annoying and time consuming. I later bought a new computer (an Apple MacBook Pro) and faced even more difficulty transferring my thousands of music, video, and picture files to my new mac through the device, as you cannot simply transfer music from the device to a computer. It only works one way without purchasing software to do otherwise. Only through utilizing multiple free trials and solutions via yahoo blogs, was I able to finally transfer all of my files.
I still use my iTouch today, almost every day in fact and despite my previous difficulties, I have grown to love it. Through playing with it, I am now able to do so much more with my device. The possibilities are almost endless since apple provides multiple free software updates over the year and new applications are being developed every day. Now that I live on campus at the University of Central Florida, where free wi-fi is provided, I can check my e-mails and use other online functions no matter where I am. I can use it all day without the battery dying, plug it into my car and play music wherever I go, and plug it into my TV (television) at night to watch movies. My dad has even learned to use an iTouch and can do everything from checking his company’s stock info to playing the games that he downloaded. He also has learned to download an instant messaging application and message me wirelessly while he’s out of town during the week staying in hotels. This proved to me that if my dad can use this device, almost anyone can use is. He finds many useful and productive uses for it besides just playing music in his car. My dad is horrible with electronics and asks for help with his computer all the time even if it is performing a task as simple as “copying and pasting”. Despite his computer troubles, he can use this device everyday with little difficulty. This device accordingly appeals to people of all ages as well as those with little technological abilities. People like him, can use this device’s basic functions and applications to fulfill their everyday needs and desires, while people like me, a technological teenager, can utilize the product’s features to their fullest potential.
The device is very personable and a customer can buy the right size iTouch depending on their intended usage. If the individual needs to utilize the device’s basic functions and experience an average taste of each component, then they are looking at spending the starting price of $199.00 for an 8GB iTouch. However if the user intends to store mass media including hours of video and movies and thousands of songs, they can spend up to $399.00 for a 64GB device (www.apple.com). For the average user however, the 8GB version is ideal and is reasonably priced considering its many useful functions and storage room. The iTouch has an amazing battery as well. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a daily life expectancy of thirty hours of audio playback or six hours of video playback. The device itself comes with a one-year warranty from the manufacturer, but is expected to last many years.
Overall, I rate the iTouch as a 9 out of 10. I struggled with it at first, but as I got to play with it more, I learned how to manipulate the iTunes software to my liking and learned how to do my desired actions when I changed computers. After over a year and a half of using the product, I feel I can do almost anything with it. As the times change so does my device as iTunes and myself update it. The iTouch is a great new technology that is very exciting and useful for my and millions of people all around the globe.