iPod Touch or iPhone?
iPod Touch or iPhone?
iPod Touch or iPhone?
Christmas is around the corner and either you are trying to decide what piece of new technology you want for yourself or to buy another. In that, maybe you are weighing out whether to invest in the new Apple iPhone or just purchase the iPod Touch. After all, both are quite similar and run the same cool apps. So what is the difference?
Of course, to start comparing would mean to identify which model of each you are comparing to the other. So, for arguments sake, let's compare the newest of each model.
The biggest difference between the iPod Touch and iPhone is the fact the iPod Touch is not a phone. This can be either good or bad. If you already have a cell phone contract that doesn't expire for a while and have a quality cell phone, this can be good. You don't need the phone portion anyway. The iPod Touch is considerably cheaper than the iPhone too and maybe this is why so many people are asking the question regarding which device to buy in the first place. Maybe the bigger question is, can I buy the iPod Touch and have just as much fun with the applications as the iPhone? This also depends.
The iPod Touch does not come with GPS or data connectivity such as 3G. Without the phone, iPod Touch of course does not come with instant messaging but you can use a third party application such as AIM to receive instant messaging. As a side-note, you can also use Skype for making phone calls. The only thing you will need to use these two services is a Wi-Fi connection and a remote microphone and earphones.
The iPod Touch is not only cheaper to purchase on the front end, but you are also not obligated to sign a two year contract with a carrier and phone fees. Because the iPod Touch is cheaper, Apple does make you pay for software updates, which would normally come for free with your iPhone.
While the gap between the iPod Touch and iPhone was much larger in the past, today with the fourth-generation iPod Touch, the two devices are much more alike than ever. Now, the iPod Touch includes a front-facing camera for FaceTime, and a rear camera for taking pictures. It also includes a high-definition video. While the resolution is not as high in the iPod Touch, at least there is now a camera. (iPhone can take 1936 x 2592 px images while the Touch is at 960 x 720 px)
So which to choose? If you are ready to sign a new cell phone contract then iPhone might be a good choice. Paying an extra $30 a month for 3G access for your iPhone does offer you a lot of convenience. You virtually have Internet everywhere you go, not to mention your phone, music and applications are all in one device. With the iPhone you can also take advantage of apps that have built in mapping systems and GPS. There are numerous apps that can help determine where you are and then provide you with information regarding the closest restaurants, types of restaurants or even directions for driving or walking. One could not use these apps obviously with the iPod Touch.
The iPod Touch also does not have speakers or a microphone built in, but, you can buy them as an add-on. But, for the sake of argument, without a built-in microphone you cannot speak into your device for apps such as voice command or song-finder Midomi. (Midomi can find the name of a song or the performer simply by having you hum the song into the software or even placing a song playing on a radio in front of your device)
What other apps would one not be able to use without GPS, a phone, microphone, speakers and a high-resolution camera? Google Goggles would be out - this software depends upon a high quality photographic image for identification or research.
One could not use LingvoSoft's Phrasebook. This app allows you to translate spoken phrases into your language. Let's say you are visiting another country, somebody says a phrase to you that you don't understand - need a translator? Simply have that person speak into this app and voila!.
There are probably many other applications that are quite popular and enjoyed that may not translate over to the iPod Touch due to some of its differences from the iPhone, but there are also over a thousand other apps that can be used by both devices. It will all depend on what you are seeking or want.
The iPod Touch is also suggested for those who don't want a full-blown computer, such as a laptop and who are also not very techy. The Touch is much easier to maneuver.
So which will it be for you or your loved ones this holiday season?
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