electronicsme - Electronics / Portable Audio/Video made easy

Print this page

Apple iPod touch 32GB: Review

Posted to Portable Audio/Video 2010-01-29

The new Apple iPod touch 32GB is the 3rd generation iPod Touch to be produced by Apple. It features 32GB of storage for music, apps and movies, a built-in capacitive intelligent touch screen, and wireless technology including Bluetooth and WiFi. Voice control is a new feature which allows the user to control the music player or apps via voice command or use the device as a voice recorder.

Other features include a built-in accelerometer which can sense motion and position, a special iPod version of Apple's Safari web browser, an email application and thousands of available apps. The Genius feature, which makes recommendations based on the user's preferences and past purchases, can be used in the App Store or in iTunes, where music is purchased. The built-in Bluetooth technology allows peer-to-peer gaming and use of a wireless Bluetooth headset, and users can now cut, copy and paste content from one application to another.

Rating:

3.8 out of 5

Quality

Apple gets high marks for quality with the new iPod Touch 32GB. The touchscreen display is protected by optical glass and the device has almost no moving parts to wear out. The unit is housed in a sleek high quality housing, with its glass front and polished stainless steel back panel. Sound quality is excellent with good headphones and passable using the built-in speaker, and the bright 3.5 inch LCD screen has an excellent display. The unit is only 8.5mm thick.

Performance

The iPod Touch 32GB's real strong point is performance. From the voice control technology to the multi-touch interface to the built-in accelerometer, the device performs like few other devices. The user interface is incredibly intuitive and easy to master, and the thousands of available apps must meet Apple's standards before they're included in the app store - so you can count on quality apps that perform well. And you can switch from talking on the phone to an application such as maps or email without hanging up your call.

Summary

The 3rd generation iPod Touch 32GB is an excellent new version of the device that revolutionized the smartphone market. About the only downside is that you're still tied to a 2-year contract with AT&T in order to get the device at a reasonable price. If this is not a problem for you, then the iPod Touch 32GB is highly recommended - it's still the best smartphone and pocket computer available.

Pros

32GB of storage for music, apps and videos
Multitouch display technology
Bright 3.5 inch LCD display
Voice control technology

Cons

Requires 2-year contract with AT&T