Apple’s Second-Generation iPod Touch

AppleInsider’s Prince McLean offers an extensive review of the second generation iPod touch, saying that this 2008 model inches closer to the iPhone line while retaining its iPod branding.

With new audio input and recording features, a speaker, volume controls and a variety of bundled apps, including Nike+support, it is something of a different, if hybrid, animal.

McLean writes,”When the iPod touch debuted last year, we warned that it wasn’t really the “iPhone without the phone” that many assumed it would be. Apple seemed to be too wary of creating any product confusion between its new iPhone and the existing iPod line, and made a series of compromises on the touch intended to create artificial differentiation.”

Like all previous iPods, the original iPod touch had no audio output speaker, and therefore no volume rocker buttons or silent switch. The iPhone had such a speaker, as well as a fourth conductor on its headphone jack, which made it impossible for the iPod touch to work with the iPhone’s mic-integrated headphones for audio recording and the play, pause and ‘click to skip’ remote control features. It also lacked iPhone’s mail app, Google Maps, Stocks and Weather and Notes. These missing features were offered months later, for a charge, and then bundled on new iPod touch units thereafter.

McLean states that this second generation iPod touch fills the software gaps and rounds out the missing hardware features. It has a new integrated speaker. This also allows the iPod touch to sound the same alarm and alert sounds as the iPhone. The touch still does not have a camera, GPA or mobile data network features. But in exchange, it has some “new tricks up its sleeve”. For instance, it offers the iTunes Genius feature, which allows you to automatically create a playlist of similar tracks which are based on a song you choose just by tapping the Genius atom icon. More heavily promoted are the apps and games. WiFi and the accelerometer support is included, writes McLean, “so the only iPhone software that would not be compatible with it are those that require a mobile data network, GPS, or camera. Most titles make efforts to ensure they are compatible with both, even if they can make use of features that are only on the iPhone.” In this sense, the iPod touch is positioned to compete with other hand-held gaming systems, and in that way create a niche for itself alone among the iPod/iPhone line of products.

To see the entire article, plus links to related articles, see: Apple insider