With the recent release of Apples second generation iPod Touch came even more features borrowed from the ever popular iPhone, but was this a wrong move on Apples part? and could these borrowed features damage the appeal, and in the long term, the sales of the iPhone 3G?
To ensure that everybody is on the same page, the recent revision of Apples popular iPod Touch came with a whole new look. The rear of the device is now encased in glorious stainless steel, it features external volume controls, a speaker for casual listening and built in functionality for Nike+. Along with these new features you get the usual Safari Web Browser, Calendar, Maps, Weather, Youtube, iTunes Store and App Store as found on the original iPod Touch. It’s available in 8,16 or 32GB.
Down to the nitty gritty then and the core of this article. Will the features newly implemented into the iPod Touch damage the appeal of the iPhone 3G? Well as far as similarities go between the two devices, if you were to place both face up on a table and remove the headphones you’d have a tough time telling them apart. Both devices are beautifully designed and with the second generation iPod Touch they now have similar capabilites. “but the Touch can’t make calls or send SMSs?” you might say. This indeed is true, however the recent release of Fring brought VOIP for the iPod and iPhone, allowing users of Fring to use their headphone mic to make calls and chat with friends (Fring has support for most of the popular IMs). With a jailbroken device there are certain applications that would allow one to send an SMS via the web, often costing nothing at all. It’s third party applications like these that make the functionality of the iPod Touch almost identical to that of the iPhone.
So I guess the question you’re now asking is “could applications like those mentioned above damage the appeal of the iPhone?”, and the answer is, Hardly. Although the applications mentioned above bring similar capabilities to the iPod Touch, VOIP and SMS via the web at the moment are simply no match for the real things and so you’d still be required to carry a conventional cellphone with you. Amongst this the iPod Touch lacks many of the main features that make the iPhone so desirable, These of course being the 3G/EDGE networks, the Camera, A-GPS and Bluetooth. Without these features a lot of what’s been previously mentioned isn’t possible in everyday situations as once you remove the internet connection VOIP and SMS via the web are unusable.
The main factor to take into account when thinking about purchasing an iPod Touch or an iPhone is the price. The iPod Touch 8,16 and 32GB run at £169, £219 and £289 respectively. While the iPhone 3G clocks in at a hefty £729 for the 8GB and £789 for the 16GB model with a £35/month contract (02 do a 30/month tariff. However with only 75 minutes and 125 texts i personally believe it isn’t worth paying). At these prices you could purchase an iPod Touch and a similarly capable cellphone with change to spare, although it’s understandable that carrying two devices may not be an option for some.
Conclusion:Well to conclude, I don’t believe the release of the second generation iPod Touch will do anything to damage the 3G iPhones appeal or in turn its sales. It simply lacks too much of the functionality that makes the iPhone 3G such a great cellphone. That’s not to say the second generation iPod Touch isn’t great and in fact both devices are incredible in their own right. It’s a great time for Apple Inc.First seen on our sister site: instinctivegaming.com
*Written by John Rowley (BlindFutur3)
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