I pod touch

[babalicious]

whats is the difference between an i pod touch and an i pod touch 2nd gen? also, i've never actually had an mp3 player before can anyone give me any advice on what they actually do!

[ChuckFickens]

Errrr, I would say that if you have to ask what they do then there is a good chance you don't need one!

But they play MP3s, there's a subtle clue in the name!

[babalicious]

theres absolutly no need to be perdantic chuckFickens! i know the basics just wanted to know what else they do?

[Richard1966]

ok i'll bite.

An MP3 player is a small portable music file storage device that plays music in an MP3 format. To avoid the technical jargon, these files are copies of music tracks, though any audio will work, taken from your CD collection or downloaded from music websites or from I-tunes if using a ipod. These files are compressed. These means that in order to make then smaller in size than the original special software squashes the data in such a way that most people playing most music wont notice the slight drop in quality. This compression means that you can get more tracks into the player. The exact amount of music depends on the amount of memory the player has.

Their are many types of MP3 player and the i-pod is Apple's version which plays a specific type of MP3 file that can only be used on ipods. Other makes use a more general file type which can be used with windows media player. Ipods must use i-tunes thus tying you into the brand.

apple regularly updates and redesigns their players with additional features such as games or MP4 compatibility which means video files can be played. Apples website has full descriptions.

Like Chuck, I am slightly amazed that you have managed to get through the last 8 years never coming across the term MP3. Wikkipedia will give you a full description of their development if you want more.

[ChuckFickens]

awww, go on let me, I'm really good at pedantic :)

There is very little difference between the the 1st and 2nd gen, the 2 is marginally slimmer and has apparently got slightly better sound quality, but the difference there is probably so small you wouldn't notice. But when it comes to functionality they are pretty much identical.

And I wasn't being too pedantic when I said they play mp3s, that is what they do.(and other digital music formats) it's a bit like asking what does a CD player do!

[ACtheTROLL]

's not about using it - it's about having one
bit like a head

babe - what you do is grasp it in your left hand and bring it up level with your shoulder - then from time to time just say in a loud voice NO - I SAID PRICK HIS BOIL.

[sir.knobby]

Can I be pedantic?

I do that very well

[babalicious]

for f*$k sake your all getting a bit to deep and weird for me. i should have asked the question more clearly, i have had a box standard mp3 player but not an ipod and just wanted to know what extras the i pod did? Laymans terms please!

[ChuckFickens]

it forces you to use Itunes for transferring music and makes people that know nothing about music players think your cool for having an Ipod

Stick with your normal MP3 player, ipods are not the best, they are a triumph of advertising over good technology.

[babalicious]

ok then, what do you reccommednd? bearing in mind i do already use itunes as a musice player on the computer and have bought songs. i want an mp3 player for mainly use in the rest of the house with portable speakers, and occasionally using outside!

[fo3nix]

Well I'd disagree and say that iPods are the best portable music players around. Not everyone buys them just because 'they look cool'.

The standard iPods still play music, but also play videos, and you can add photos onto them too.

But the touch is a different kettle of fish. It has a touch screen, and is more like a laptop than an mp3 player. It's basically an iPhone without the phone features. It connects via wifi, and has a web browser, email, games, calendar, address book, large screen for videos, etc.

The 2nd gen iPod touch also has a speaker to listen to music without headphones, and can use a microphone on headsets.