iPhone 2.0 on iPod touch
Having forged a good relationship with Apple PR, they sent me a 16GB iPod touch for me to check out iPhone software 2.0 While they "robbed" me of the full experience by preloading it with 2.0, I'm happy not having to spend $10 to download the update :D
For those who have purchased an iPod touch in the last couple of months but unable to download the 1.1.x update to add Mail, Stocks, Maps, Notes, and Weather apps, it's because Apple apparently pulled it in anticipation of the 2.0 software. Purchasing and downloading 2.0 gives you all those four apps as well as the coveted AppStore, which in my opinion, is the real star of iPhone 3G.
WIFI
Having an iPod touch rocks. Problem is wifi is not freely available and most places in Jakarta that have wifi are commercialized–you gotta pay by the hour. I don't mind having to buy food to get wifi though especially when I'm gonna hang out for several hours anyway. I got 5 hours on full wifi before I had to recharge the iPod (3 hours for full recharge) but I haven't had the chance to use it without wifi off.
The reception is not great though. When my MacBook Pro has full signal reception, the iPod only got 2 out of 3 bars and I'm sitting roughly 10 meters from the AirPort Express. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to affect performance, which is crucial when you want to use the internet. T he iPhone has EDGE as well as UMTS and HSDPA on the 3G model but iPod touch only has WiFi so make sure you can find a wireless hotspot before you do anything internet-related on with the iPod touch.
Without WiFi, your iPod touch is practically no better than an iPod nano with a large touch screen, unless you have apps installed already.
APPSTORE
Through the AppStore you can download hundreds of apps (around 900 at the time of posting), many of which are free, with the majority costing less than $10 (as per Apple's Q3 conference call numbers). I've decided not to check out the paid apps because I have to return the iPod in in less than 2 weeks and it may be a while before I buy my own.
The best thing about the AppStore is that it is also available in Indonesia, which means we can actually sign up for an iTunes account and grab some apps instead of having to use other countries' iTunes Store as I mentioned in an earlier post. Credit card is required because there is currently no iTunes Gift Cards for Indonesia. I've made enquiries to Apple about this and a few other issues but haven't received any response in a week.
You can buy apps directly from the iPod touch using the AppStore button or from the AppStore through iTunes on your computer. When you buy from iTunes, you need to authorize your computer for the app before you can sync it to the iPod. Do this by going to the Store menu on the menu bar and select Authorize Computer. Apps bought directly from the iPod needs to be synchronized to the computer, just like purchasing songs from iTunes on the iPod.
Apps are limited to under 2GB but you're very unlikely to find anything beyond 100MB, even most apps on the Mac are under 100MB. All of the apps I've downloaded are less than 10MB, the largest being Tap Tap Revenge at 9.5MB because it needs to have songs built in, and the smallest is To Do by TUAW's Erica Sadun at 56K.
Among the 900 available apps, you can choose between a host of categories including social networking, games, productivity, books, education, finance, health, lifestyle, sports, weather, etc. While you can certainly download and delete all the free apps you like, there is no demo mode for the paid apps so you can't try before you buy.
Apple forbids apps from running in the background claiming (rightly) that it will affect battery life so if you have a Twitter or instant messaging app, you will not be getting any updates if that app is not active since currently Apple hasn't implemented its notification service.
SYNC
Like most iPods, the iPod touch activates iTunes the moment you plug it in to your computer. What I didn't know was that it also opens iPhoto and offers to transfer the pictures in the iPod to iPhoto. This is great for the times when I want to transfer screenshots to the Mac.
By the way, you can now take screenshots in iPod touch as well as the iPhone by pressing the hold button on top and tapping the home button. You'll see a white flash and the picture will be stored under the Photos > Saved Photos.
Synchronizing works as expected. If you're a long time iPod user, you should already be familiar with the new software. You get the Applications tab in addition to the standard Summary, Music, Movies, Photos, etc. where you can choose to sync all apps or selected few.
Something new you get with Mac OS X10.5.3 is the option to sync your contacts to Google if you have a Google account. This appears under Info tab in iTunes and also in Address Book Preferences but only if you have an iPod touch or an iPhone and have plugged it to the Mac. If you don't have an iPod touch or iPhone, this option doesn't appear. Apple only lets you sync to Yahoo instead, aside from the standard sync between the iPod and the computer.
Setting up emails for Gmail and MobileMe as well as other accounts are pretty straightforward. While Apple is struggling with the MobileMe transition from .Mac, it runs as expected on the iPod touch. The iPod touch actually has a tiny speaker that allows for alarms so whenever an email arrives, it will chirp to let you know.
While email works almost flawlessly, it does not however sync contacts on Address Book's Smart Groups. Although Smart Albums on iTunes and iPhoto are recognized in iTunes and by the iPod itself, Apple seems to have neglected support for Address Book's Smart Groups. A small inconvenience but irritating.
BUYING ADVICE
iPhone 2.0 software is worth the $10 fee if only for the AppStore. Previously Apple charged you $20 to add the five apps mentioned earlier but now it's $10 plus you get the AppStore as well as every single free app that you can download. It's a real bargain for iPod touch users and it brings the iPod touch to an even closer parity with the iPhone. I know it's a pain to have to pay again if you've paid for the five apps before but Apple can't do anything to change it because of the accounting requirements they use in the United States. It's still bit of a pain to update to 2.0 if you're in Indonesia because you have to use a credit card but here's hoping we get the iTunes Gift Card program soon.
This update is really about the AppStore and that is the real star of the show.
