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iPod Touch Followup
November 27, 2007

How do you currently manage your calendar and contacts? How do you access media on the go? How convenient would it be if both of these tasks were combined in one device? Let me assure you that it is indeed quite handy. I am greatly enjoying using the iPod Touch to not only listen to audiobooks and watch movies, but also keep my calendar straight.

When the iPhone was released, I was very excited. Oooh....shiny, and all that. But then the reality kicked in. I live in a pretty rural part of western NY and AT&T coverage is just not a viable option for many of the areas in which I am working. I was sad. Please understand, though, that this wasn't just the sadness of someone who won't be getting a new toy, but rather the deep regret of someone who won't be able to be on the cutting edge of what I really believe is a whole new type of computer development. The iPhone really is different from other smart phones. PDA/Phone combos are just that - the PDA sits in one compartment of the little paper tray, and the phone is over where the french fries would go. The iPhone integrates everything into a single always on, always connected, always live, always in the know device. Or at least it gets pretty close.

So imagine my anticipation when the new iPod Touch was announced. Here was the iPhone...only without the phone. That isn't an entirely fair comparison, but it gets us into the same semantic ballpark. Then we can start to talk about how the iPod Touch is different - less, but also much more that a crippled iPhone. You can be sure that when the device first arrived just over a month ago and I learned that Apple indeed had disabled calendar event entry and editing that some strong words about it being a crippled iPhone were said. But then I started to use the device. After a few trips, I was marveling at the iPodness of the Touch. Driving through the Adirondack forest, the Touch was there to keep me going with an audiobook. On a flight to another conference, the Touch helped pass the time with a movie. And throughout it all, whenever I encountered wi-fi, I could check my e-mail, read my RSS feeds, and enjoy the power of a full web browser.

To say that I grew to love the Touch; well, let's not get too sappy. After all, this is just a hunk of metal and glass and other assorted bits of lovely electronic goodness all packaged up in the gleaming case with those perfectly rounded edges that sits so smoothly, so softly in the palm with a weight that is, but isn't, and...Oh, pardon me, I seem to have gotten off track a bit.

My love for The real power of the iPod Touch emerged a few weeks ago, however, with the release of a new software update that enables editing of existing appointments and the addition of new events. While it still lacks a notepad, the Touch does have contact entry/editing. Let's just say that the first person in my address book is named A. Note. Mr. Note helps me remember things, if you know what I mean.

As I head off to the SLJ Leadership Summit this weekend, the iPod Touch will certainly be coming along. I just purchased the first season of Battleship Galactica for the flight, the agenda is in the calendar, A. Note knows all my hotel and travel information, and I will be sniffing out wi-fi for quick e-mail fixes.

For anyone considering a new handled computer/PDA type device, I would highly recommend the iPod Touch as an alternative to consider. Pros: great media handling, beautiful screen, easy interface, nice battery life. Cons: no additional software. For someone who had a fully loaded handheld with all kinds of software, that was a huge con. I can honestly say, though, that after about a month of use, the only thing I miss from my software is a really nice dictionary. Give me some wi-fi though, and I am all set!

Posted by Chris Harris on November 27, 2007 | Comments (0)