Ipod Touch (2010) Hands-On
At Apples last event, Steve Jobs called the iPod touch the companys “most popular iPod,” and its easy to understand why. In just a few short years, the iPhone-with-no-phone has kept in lockstep with Cupertinos halo device, benefitting from the same kind of constant hardware and software updating that has helped turned the iPhone into an iconic gadget. The touch has been right alongside the iPhones meteoric rise in popularity, becoming the go-to second-pocket slab for millions. There are good reasons, too. Apple boasts about gaming on the device — claiming it beats out both Nintendos and Sonys offerings in sales combined. While we cant concede that the device is a dedicated game console, it most definitely games. And its still an iPod, an internet device, and a thousand other things thanks to Apples vastly populous App Store. Now the player has once again reaped the rewards of iPhone updates, boasting a new Retina Display, the A4 CPU, two cameras which allow for FaceTime calling and 720p video recording, and all the new features of the companys latest mobile operating system, iOS 4.1. But despite all of the plusses, we still have to ask: is the little do-everything box still worth the premium price tag? We took a deep dive on the latest model and have the verdict, so read on to find out.
iPod touch (2010) hands-on
Hardware
If you own the last version of the iPod touch, the design of the latest version shouldnt come as a major surprise. Instead of aping the iPhones new glass-sandwich looks, the touch hews close to its roots with a super thin profile made up of one part glass screen and one part all-metal back. The device still bears the smudge inviting chrome rear panel, and continues the trend of shrinking the thickness as far down as possible. We thought the iPhone 4 was crazy thin, but the new touch looks like a toothpick by comparison. In our large hands, we might even argue that its a little too small — but it should be just right for the legion of teens and tweens that will clamor for this come holiday time.
As with earlier version, hard buttons come in the form of a single home key, a power / sleep button (finally moved to match the iPhones placement at the top-right of the device, as opposed to the opposite side on previous versions), and two volume buttons on the left. Around back theres now a small camera lens in the upper corner of the device, while a single, VGA shooter peers out from behind the glass on the front of the player. A quick note: we had a little trouble consistently finding the sleep button when using the device — its a bit buried in the housing.
All told, we think its break even in the looks department. The thinness is certainly welcome, but not a game changer. While