Engadget and its interesting to see that they've just announced their second safari/touch-capable mobile device. The iPod Touch in 8Gb and 16Gb versions. In essence, its the iPhone without the phone, and the contract.Its got the same screen and what looks to be the same core software with the Cover Flow interface and a cut down set of app's. Its even slightly thinner than the iPhone and shows that Apple are pursuing a strategy of iPhone-family devices. 
Of course this device isn't going to be your UMPC replacement. No way. There's even a massive difference in capability between something like a MID and this iPod touch but the browser is there and if its the same browser as on the iPhone then the N800 has big competition in the consumer market now. For those that want an Internet companion that just works, the iPod Touch is going to be very attractive.
'It is the best web browser on any mobile device, and it's built in to the iPod touch' said Steve Jobs. Availability is said to be 'shipping in a couple of weeks' That applies worldwide too so in most places outside America, the iPod touch is going to be arriving before the iPhone. At least it gives people a chance to test out the interface and browser before buying an iPhone (which, incidentally, has just been reduced in price by $200 which is going to seriously upset those who waited in line!)
Battery life is quoted as 5 hours video playback which is usually a sign that WiFi-on browsing is going to be something like 4 hours. Not bad for such a tiny device and on-par with the N800.
What's missing from the iPod Touch?
By 'missing' I mean 'missing in comparison to a UMPC.' How about Bluetooth for a start. This is an important one. There won't be any tethering possibility so mobile it isn't. In my book its not a mobile device. Its a portable web browser that can only be used in WiFi hotspots. No bus, car, train browsing. Park, camping site etc etc.
If I go down my list of phone/umpc applications and the Ubuntu mobile application list there are a lot of other things missing too. Here are some of the things that you won't find on your iPod Touch (to the best of my knowledge.) To be fair, I've ignored the features that you will probably find on your mobile phone (contacts, calendar, email client, camera)
- Simple photo editing
- Full format (800x480) screen
- Offline RSS reader
- Expansion through USB
- Video-out
- Speakers
- E-book reader
- Cut-and-paste ( I assume its the same problem as on the iPhone.)
- Wide range of third-party app's
- Full desktop PC compatibility
- Navigation and mapping software
- Video conferencing (voip/video over IP)
- IM client
- Offline blogging/posting tool
- Office doc viewers
- Games
- Remote desktop client
- Audio recording capability (I'm not 100% sure about that one)
- Processing power (arguable point!)
BUT, this is a device that starts at $299 which is less than a Nokia N800 and half the price of the cheapest Raon Digital Everun UMPC and it comes with the most celebrated user interface, music library and music, video and photo player going. It also has access to the new iTunes WiFi stores and a lot of style thrown in for free. Would I buy one? Maybe. Just to play with and test out the browser because I haven't even had hands-on with an iPhone yet (maybe soon here in Europe.) Would I use one? No way. It doesn't add much more to what I've already got in my mobile phone and it doesn't even scratch the surface of the list of things I'm doing with my Everun UMPC. In-car use, FIE, office applications, annotations via touch, multi-protocol audio, video and IM and all the fun you can have with the gazillions of Windows XP software packages that are out there. Why would I want a third device that hasn't got a single unique feature for me?
Question to readers: Is it a sub-UMPC? Should I add it to the sub-UMPC list?
As I finish this post the Apple store has just come back online. The iPod Touch is shipping in the US by Sept 28th. On the German Apple Store the iPod Touch is showing for 299 Euro. Also shipping 28th Sept.
Thanks Kornel and JKKmobile for the heads-up on the iPhone Touch.
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Engadget and its interesting to see that they've just announced their second safari/touch-capable mobile device. The iPod Touch in 8Gb and 16Gb versions. In essence, its the iPhone without the phone, and the contract.Its got the same screen and what looks to be the same core software with the Cover Flow interface and a cut down set of app's. Its even slightly thinner than the iPhone and shows that Apple are pursuing a strategy of iPhone-family devices.
Of course this device isn't going to be your UMPC replacement. No way. There's even a massive difference in capability between something like a MID and this iPod touch but the browser is there and if its the same browser as on the iPhone then the N800 has big competition in the consumer market now. For those that want an Internet companion that just works, the iPod Touch is going to be very attractive.
'It is the best web browser on any mobile device, and it's built in to the iPod touch' said Steve Jobs. Availability is said to be 'shipping in a couple of weeks' That applies worldwide too so in most places outside America, the iPod touch is going to be arriving before the iPhone. At least it gives people a chance to test out the interface and browser before buying an iPhone (which, incidentally, has just been reduced in price by $200 which is going to seriously upset those who waited in line!)
Battery life is quoted as 5 hours video playback which is usually a sign that WiFi-on browsing is going to be something like 4 hours. Not bad for such a tiny device and on-par with the N800.
What's missing from the iPod Touch?
By 'missing' I mean 'missing in comparison to a UMPC.' How about Bluetooth for a start. This is an important one. There won't be any tethering possibility so mobile it isn't. In my book its not a mobile device. Its a portable web browser that can only be used in WiFi hotspots. No bus, car, train browsing. Park, camping site etc etc.
If I go down my list of phone/umpc applications and the Ubuntu mobile application list there are a lot of other things missing too. Here are some of the things that you won't find on your iPod Touch (to the best of my knowledge.) To be fair, I've ignored the features that you will probably find on your mobile phone (contacts, calendar, email client, camera)
- Simple photo editing
- Full format (800x480) screen
- Offline RSS reader
- Expansion through USB
- Video-out
- Speakers
- E-book reader
- Cut-and-paste ( I assume its the same problem as on the iPhone.)
- Wide range of third-party app's
- Full desktop PC compatibility
- Navigation and mapping software
- Video conferencing (voip/video over IP)
- IM client
- Offline blogging/posting tool
- Office doc viewers
- Games
- Remote desktop client
- Audio recording capability (I'm not 100% sure about that one)
- Processing power (arguable point!)
BUT, this is a device that starts at $299 which is less than a Nokia N800 and half the price of the cheapest Raon Digital Everun UMPC and it comes with the most celebrated user interface, music library and music, video and photo player going. It also has access to the new iTunes WiFi stores and a lot of style thrown in for free. Would I buy one? Maybe. Just to play with and test out the browser because I haven't even had hands-on with an iPhone yet (maybe soon here in Europe.) Would I use one? No way. It doesn't add much more to what I've already got in my mobile phone and it doesn't even scratch the surface of the list of things I'm doing with my Everun UMPC. In-car use, FIE, office applications, annotations via touch, multi-protocol audio, video and IM and all the fun you can have with the gazillions of Windows XP software packages that are out there. Why would I want a third device that hasn't got a single unique feature for me?
Question to readers: Is it a sub-UMPC? Should I add it to the sub-UMPC list?
As I finish this post the Apple store has just come back online. The iPod Touch is shipping in the US by Sept 28th. On the German Apple Store the iPod Touch is showing for 299 Euro. Also shipping 28th Sept.
Thanks Kornel and JKKmobile for the heads-up on the iPhone Touch.
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iPod Touch. Consumer web pad with style, value. Limited application set
Posted on 05 September 2007, Last updated on 22 May 2015 by Steve Paine
I’ve just been watching the Apple special event coverage via Engadget and its interesting to see that they’ve just announced their second safari/touch-capable mobile device. The iPod Touch in 8Gb and 16Gb versions. In essence, its the iPhone without the phone, and the contract.Its got the same screen and what looks to be the same core software with the Cover Flow interface and a cut down set of app’s. Its even slightly thinner than the iPhone and shows that Apple are pursuing a strategy of iPhone-family devices.
Of course this device isn’t going to be your ultra mobile PC replacement. No way. There’s even a massive difference in capability between something like a MID and this iPod touch but the browser is there and if its the same browser as on the iPhone then the N800 has big competition in the consumer market now. For those that want an Internet companion that just works, the iPod Touch is going to be very attractive.
‘It is the best web browser on any mobile device, and it’s built in to the iPod touch’ said Steve Jobs. Availability is said to be ‘shipping in a couple of weeks’ That applies worldwide too so in most places outside America, the iPod touch is going to be arriving before the iPhone. At least it gives people a chance to test out the interface and browser before buying an iPhone (which, incidentally, has just been reduced in price by $200 which is going to seriously upset those who waited in line!)
Battery life is quoted as 5 hours video playback which is usually a sign that WiFi-on browsing is going to be something like 4 hours. Not bad for such a tiny device and on-par with the N800.
What’s missing from the iPod Touch?
By ‘missing’ I mean ‘missing in comparison to a UMPC.’ How about Bluetooth for a start. This is an important one. There won’t be any tethering possibility so mobile it isn’t. In my book its not a mobile device. Its a portable web browser that can only be used in WiFi hotspots. No bus, car, train browsing. Park, camping site etc etc.
If I go down my list of phone/umpc applications and the Ubuntu mobile application list there are a lot of other things missing too. Here are some of the things that you won’t find on your iPod Touch (to the best of my knowledge.) To be fair, I’ve ignored the features that you will probably find on your mobile phone (contacts, calendar, email client, camera)
- Simple photo editing
- Full format (800×480) screen
- Offline RSS reader
- Expansion through USB
- Video-out
- Speakers
- E-book reader
- Cut-and-paste ( I assume its the same problem as on the iPhone.)
- Wide range of third-party app’s
- Full desktop PC compatibility
- Navigation and mapping software
- Video conferencing (voip/video over IP)
- IM client
- Offline blogging/posting tool
- Office doc viewers
- Games
- Remote desktop client
- Audio recording capability (I’m not 100% sure about that one)
- Processing power (arguable point!)
BUT, this is a device that starts at $299 which is less than a Nokia N800 and half the price of the cheapest Raon Digital Everun ultra mobile PC and it comes with the most celebrated user interface, music library and music, video and photo player going. It also has access to the new iTunes WiFi stores and a lot of style thrown in for free. Would I buy one? Maybe. Just to play with and test out the browser because I haven’t even had hands-on with an iPhone yet (maybe soon here in Europe.) Would I use one? No way. It doesn’t add much more to what I’ve already got in my mobile phone and it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the list of things I’m doing with my Everun UMPC. In-car use, FIE, office applications, annotations via touch, multi-protocol audio, video and IM and all the fun you can have with the gazillions of Windows XP software packages that are out there. Why would I want a third device that hasn’t got a single unique feature for me?
Question to readers: Is it a sub-UMPC? Should I add it to the sub-ultra mobile PC list?
As I finish this post the Apple store has just come back online. The iPod Touch is shipping in the US by Sept 28th. On the German Apple Store the iPod Touch is showing for 299 Euro. Also shipping 28th Sept.
Thanks Kornel and JKKmobile for the heads-up on the iPhone Touch.
