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If you’ve got $400 to spend on an Apple product this season, you may face a tough choice: an 8GB iPhone (after the recent price drop), or a 16 GB iPod Touch
See how the iPod touch compares to the iPhone in my iPod touch vs. iPhone feature comparison:
iPod touch features
Every feature on iPod touch has already been seen on the iPhone — expect for the iTunes WiFi music store, which will debut on iPhone sometime this month (read more about it below). Not every iPhone feature is on iPod touch, however.
Some of the useful applications on iPod touch include:
| Safari | |
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Just like the iPhone, iPod touch will let you surf the web over a WiFi Internet connection. You’re out of luck if there are no networks nearby, though, since iPod touch lacks iPhone’s EDGE network. |
| YouTube | |
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Also like the iPhone, iPod touch will feature a YouTube application for watching videos on the run. From the looks of it, you won’t be able to comment on videos, a feature also lacking on the iPhone — I referred to the lack of a YouTube comment interface on my list of 25 things wrong with the iPhone. |
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The iPod touch will play and sort through your music and videos in the same way as iPhone does. But instead of music and video being subdivisions of the “iPod”, like with the iPhone, the Music and Video applications will each have icons on the home screen. |
| Contacts | |
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As with the iPhone, iPod touch lets you sync your contacts, only you won’t be able to dial them. Instead of listing contacts as a subdivision of the phone (like on iPhone), iPod touch displays a Contacts icon on the home screen. iPhone should feature this Contacts shortcut as well, in my opinion. |
| Photos | |
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The iPod touch photo album works just like iPhone’s. You can flick through photos with your finger and zoom in by “pinching” the screen. The only difference is that iPod touch won’t have a camera, so there will be no Camera Roll in the Photos app, like in iPhone. |
iPod touch will also have iPhone’s Calendar, Clock and Calculator applications.
7 iPhone features iPod touch lacks
All of the following applications are on the iPhone, but lacking on the iPod touch:
- Phone (including SMS)
- Camera
- Stocks
- Maps
- Weather
- Notes
Update: Apple has issued an iPod Touch update that upgrades the device to include the Mail, Maps, Stocks, Notes & Weather applications found on the iPhone. The upgrade costs $20 via iTunes.
For more info on iPhone features, check out my iPhone review.
What’s new on iPod touch?
I’m particularly excited about one new feature addition to both the iPhone and iPod touch:
iTunes WiFi Music Store
With the iPod touch, Apple will introduce what will essentially be a mobile version of iTunes. With the iTunes WiFi music store, you’ll be able to sort through, preview and buy music, videos and audiobooks on your iPod. This feature is coming soon to iPhone via a software update.
16 Comments So Far...
Thanks for the iPod Touch info. I’ve been holding out on getting an iPhone and now with the release of the iPod touch at the same time as the price drop of the iPhone my decision is even harder. I’m in Canada so the phone is pretty much useless to me at the moment, but the crippling lack of some of the better features in the iPod touch is really annoying. You can’t even add things to the calendar - why does Apple take AWAY functionality?
Anyhow, this info will help me decide come Sept 28 which one I want. Thanks!
Another noticble difference between the iPod Touch and iPhone is the screen quality. Shades of black are handled much better on the iPhone than the iPod Touch. Apple claimed that the difference is almost unnoticable, but when putting the two side by side that bad quality of the iPod Touch is very noticable.
It’s not something I’m too concerned about, because I’ll be getting an iPod Touch just for it’s internet capabilities and music. Plus, the slick design is to die for.
its really very boring how things go in and out of fashion. a while back i got a 2 gig ipod nano that was state of the art when i bought it, and a month later the latest type of ipod came out. man, that sucks!
Thanks for the comparison, it really influenced my decision on which one to get
hi, i was wondering. because in my country the iphone is not in service yet but i’m still able to get one. after seeing your review it clearly is obvious that the iphone is better. however i was wondering is it possible to buy an iphone and not insert a sim card and still be able to use all its other functions? thanks
Hey, i live in australia and can’t wait till the iPhone comes out. Is there anything that the Iphone is lacking? or that isnt as good as it should be?
Jezzika, you might want to take a look at my article 25 Things Wrong With the iPhone. My iPhone review covers some pros & cons as well.
If the ipod touch has wifi, why only youtube is availible? why not mail, maps, etc…?
what is the release date of the iphone in australia?
I have both the iphone and the ipod touch. I first got the ipod since I wanted one, then i picked up the iphone because it got so much hype. After trying both I gave the iphone to my wife. Reason, very simple. The iphone does not work with reguar headphones! I have bose 3 noise cancelling headphones and you cant use stereo with the iphone.
How can the Ipod touch lack anything that the Iphone has????
IT IS AN MP4 PLAYER, NOT A PHONE…DUH….So why compare the features on the two???? Dont waist a whole day deciding what to get…do you want to make calls and txs??? yes?? get the iphone… Do you just want to watch movies, listen to music and other things that dont include contacting anyone??? Get the touch…. just be smart…damn.
The iPod Touch lacks 2 more features. The iPhone has these features but the touch does not:
1. External Speaker
2. External Volume buttons
Why would we want to make a better iPod than the acctual iPhone. It would ruin our marketing if the iPod was better.
~I am sorry for using your email, Mr. Jobs, sir
Both of them do not have am/fm radio and tv app. Will these features be available in the next release?
hey i i need a new phone and ipod…. my phone still works but its 2 years old and i want a new 1…. are the plans for the iphone affordable? i heard they are like 75 a month which i think is a lil iffy…. if so ill just get touch and a new phone… i also heard the iphone has gps… and can the iphone reiceve internet connection anywhere?
This is a really tough choice. He are some arguments for the iPod Touch:
-Less battery drain
-More storage for your buck
-Now has maps and mail, etc.
-Don’t have to worry about dropping your phone when you go to the bar
Bascially, the only thing the iPhone has going for it is that you have all of your devices in one convenient package, so you don’t have to carry your phone separately. I just got a new phone 3 months ago, so I’m wondering if it’s worth it…