Post number 28 - inititial views of the iPod touch.

My iPod touch is the 16gb version (8gb and 32gb are available).

I have now loaded 53 CDs (mostly classical), 560 photographs, and over 30 applications (software programmes) which include weather, shopping list, Radio Times, diary system, dictionary, games, and direct links to: my e mail, Wikipedia, Google, my own and several other blogs.

The unit is designated with a nominal 16gb, but I guess its own operating system takes up a certain amount leaving a net 14.52gb free. So far I have 60% of this still remaining, so I could more than double my cd collection.

If you have a cd with a major symphony with another item thrown in to fill the cd the only way to ensure you play only the symphony is to isolate this into a separate “playlist”.

There are hundreds of applications that can be downloaded direct onto the iPod. Initially you have to set up an account with iTunes and through this you can organize and purchase music and download your own cds then connect up the iPod to the computer and it loads all the changes or additions you have made. I have now got a playlist of Wogan Tog like pop music that would play for 1.2days!

I have established that I can blog from the iPod touch, but was unable to upload photos. I think there is a way of doing this by setting up a special Blogger account and your post is sent to them and they post it to your blog, but I will have to set a day (or perhaps a week) aside to explore this further.

This is by far the most user-friendly piece of computer related equipment I have ever come across. The main drawback is of course that you can only get onto the Internet through a local wifi connection, and I suppose if this were available you would use the proper computer anyway, although I do find it handy to use the iTouch if I’m watching tele when I wouldn’t normally be bothered to get up and use the pc to Google something. All this can be solved by acquiring the iPhone which has Internet connection wherever you have a phone signal, and also includes a camera, but at the moment this is exclusive to O2 and they have no signal in my home area; there are rumours that their exclusivity expires in October and it may be that Vodaphone et al will be able to market the iPhone. If this comes to pass I will certainly have one.