Device
My iPod Touch turned up today, and it really is a spectacular piece of hardware. It’s so light, so thin, and the screen is so big, it’s amazing just how far the iPod has come since it’s debut. I’ve not used an iPhone before either, so getting to use what is essentially the same interface for the first time is as much of a joy as I hoped it would be. I’ve watched all the videos, I’ve read and heard all the comments about it and how it would work, but for it to actually be like that in reality is still a surprise. It really does work just like they say it will, and the first time you do a pinch movement and see it zoom in on a photo, or you rotate the device and see the photo rotate with you, a smile is likely to spread over your face.
The video quality is excellent, I didn’t experience any of the contrast problems or washed out issues that some people have been reporting online. I also worked out that I can convert any of my existing videos to play on there using Videolan in about ten minutes, which is perfectly reasonable. I got the 16GB model, and even though I’ve put my last years worth of photos on there, plus a couple of videos and some music, there’s still plenty of space. I need to shift the music around on my network before I can properly fill it up however. The reality is that there isn’t an iPod out there that can take my whole collection, so I’m always going to have to cut it back somehow. And 16GB is more than enough space to keep you going for a good few days without needing to repeat anything. Plus I usually listen to the same artists over and over anyway.
If somebody from 20 years ago saw this thing, they just wouldn’t believe it. It’s all your music, your photos, your TV shows/movies, all your contacts and calendar, and thanks to the internet connection; your library, news feed, and the sum of human knowledge, all in a device that fits in your pocket. I can’t even being to imagine what we’ll be putting in our pockets in another 20 years.
