iPod Touch and the iTouch 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Generation

On September 15, 2007 in San Francisco, Apple introduced the new iPod touch, which featured multi-touch user interface, revolutionary to the world of electronics. This allowed users to quickly find their favorite music videos and lots more. Everything was viewed on a widescreen display with a mere tap of the finger, first debuted on the iPhone thanks to amazing new software. But the iTouch was the first to include wireless networking via Wi-Fi, not to mention the software that makes use of it; the advanced mobile browser for a mobile device, Safari, Google Search, or Yahoo oneSearch. Together these allowed users see web pages just like on their computers at home. Add the YouTube and iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store features and you have an incredibly versatile hand held computer, and, amazingly, it's only 8 mm thick.

It was an amazing milestone in the iPod's history, and as Apple's CEO Steve Jobs said, it was “ushering in a whole new generation of features based on its revolutionary multi-touch interface and built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking. People are going to be amazed at how thin it is and how much it does.”

But as it is with electronic devices in these days of rapid advancement, this was only the beginning of the iPod Touch's amazing journey. Since this debut of the iTouch 1^st generation, close on it's heels have been the iTouch's 2^nd generation, 3^rd generation, and 4^th generation. Depending on which features you want and how much you want to spend, you can find an iPod Touch to fit within your budget.

At it's most basic level, the iPod Touch 1^st Generation is not only a portable media player, but also a Wi-Fi mobile platform and a personal digital assistant. It's primary improvement to the iPod which came before was the addition of the multi-touch graphical user interface.

The basic iPod was already hugely successful, but this was something completely different and new: the first iPod where you could actually access iTunes and the Apple App store. You can buy and download content directly onto your iPod Touch. By the end of 2009, 32 million iTouch units had been purchased by appreciative customers.

"So this our new baby, I hope you love it as much as we do. Thank you very much." - Steve Jobs

But Apple's engineers weren't finished yet. There were many improvements just on the horizon.

The iPod Touch 2^nd generation features external volume controls and a built-in speaker. The contoured back looks somewhat sleeker, plus it has the ability to connect a microphone. Then there's built-in Bluetooth and Nike+ support. If you are a runner, you can make a connection between an ipod touch and a chip on a Nike shoe. This calculates your pace and you can hear music.
So the key differences are the 2^nd generation is thinner and it adds external speakers so you don't need headphones, external volume control, and built-in Nike support. Apart from that, by updating the software, they can be made equal.

"I urge you to get your hands on one of these and see it for yourself. I just want to say thanks to the teams that have worked their tails off to create these products." - Steve Jobs

It should be noted the iPod 2^nd Generation cannot charge on a firewall connection, and an iPod 1^st Generation can. Exactly one year later, Apple introduced the next version the iTouch.

Available with either 32GB or 64GB of flash memory, the iPod Touch 3^rd Generation features hardware that's faster. Internally, it share the identical microprocessors, graphics engine, and also the RAM as the iPhone 3GS, and is equipped with a light sensor, voice control, and remote controlled remote and microphone. But it also has a slightly lower battery life. Both the 2^nd and the iTouch 3^rd Generation can be upgraded to IOS 4.x for no charge, but of course can't take advantage of the camera or GPS receiver features of the iPhone.

What's new is Voice Control, better accessibility, graphics enhancements, faster processor and a higher capacity, all improvements to a product that is already considered excellent. At first glance the updates are subtle, it still leaves any and all comers in the proverbial dust.It would appear that Apple's engineers are stumped by improving the iPod Touch. In a nut shell, the 2^nd and 3^rd look the same, but the capacities (8GB, 32GB, and 64GB) are improved and prices continue to get lower.

"It represents what Apple is all about. We're not just a tech company. Apple is more than that. It's tech and humanity. It's the hardware and the software working together. It's not just a great new camera system, it's the editing too, it's not just a front-facing camera, it's that plus 18 months of work on the software side. It's the complete solution, so all of us don't have to be system integrators." - Steve Jobs

But Apple wouldn't be stumped for long. Again, one year later, the new iTouch will hit the market, and will finally include video capacity in a big way, which was already available an the smaller Nano.

Apple's new iPod Touch 4th generation features Retina Display and not one, but two cameras ; one for what Apple calls “FaceTime,” actually talking to your friends with the camera on you, and the other for HD video recording and taking pictures. It also has an A4 chip for faster processing, a microphone for convenient voice memos and communication, and a three-axis gyroscopic sensor. This enables the iTouch to recognize approximately how far, how fast, and in which direction through space it has moved.

It's a plus that iOS 4.1 is standard, which adds Game Center to iOS, not to mention the ability to use the so called “FaceTime” via WiFi.

So how is it different from the earlier versions? The iTouch 4^th generation now has much of what we've seen in the iPhone 4. That includes video recording, “FaceTime” support with the camera that faces you, a 3.5 inch retina display, HD video recording, and an A4 processor.

"Microsoft has done a great job on this. Check it out, it's kinda cool.

There are some big new features -- the first being multitasking. People said you weren't the first, but we figured it out. If you don't do it right, you kill the battery." - Steve Jobs

Is this the end of the iTouch line. I wouldn't bet on it, but for now, all of the generations of the iPod Touch are miles ahead of any other hand-held mobile device.

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