What will they think of next? The iPod Touch was already impressive enough simply as a music and video player, photo viewer, Web browser, weather station, organiser and jotter. Now, thanks to the launch of its Application Store through iTunes, my iPod is also a library, games console, torch, lightsaber, cyber-pet, and…wait for it…a piano.
For all its sheer brilliance there will still be the routine quibble about pricing, although there are some free applications available. While some games and reference apps can be pricey, 59p each for a classic novel by Dickens or Austen is undoubtedly a bargain. Whether or not one can work their way through Bleak House on an iTouch screen remains to be seen.
Games range from something as simple as Pong to Sega’s Super Monkey Ball, and the latter only costs £6. There is something among the growing list of games for everyone, from Etch-A-Sketch for the kids to Blackjack for the adults. Of course there is the obligatory Sudoku in there somewhere.
The iGotchi is, as you may have guessed, an update of the original Tamagotchi. In place of a kitten or baby dinosaur there is a little ball of fluff on legs, which giggles whenever it is petted, eats from a table, dances, and plays with a football. While one can only watch a fluffy ball for so long, after a while it is shame that it only exists behind the screen, as it looks so soft it should be able to be touched.
There are also useful applications such as the currency converter, language translator, tip calculator, and even the free British Airways Flight Information.
Then comes the really serious stuff like iPint, a free and refillable pint of Carling. The catch: it’s a virtual drink.
While you’re not going to be able to perform Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor on the Pianist application, the novelty of having a piano in your pocket is every bit as grand as having a lightsaber alongside it.
However, before all this fun and games can commence, iPod software version 2.0 has to be downloaded at a price of £5.99. Also some applications only work on the iPhone, so be sure to check before clicking the buy button, and trust me, you will be doing a lot of that once you have seen what is on offer.
Article comments
1 - Cindy Collins Smith
I have an iPhone rather than an iPod touch. unlike other 1st gen iPhone users, I had no trouble updating the software. It took about an hour, but once the update was finished, I had a fully functional 2.0 phone, not an iBrick.
Anyway, I've been very impressed with the Apps store in the 2.0 software. So far in the Apps store, I've only purchased Sudoku and Mahjong. Mostly, I've just been having fun with the free apps. There are a couple of Twitter apps, a Facebook app, even a free Yellow Pages and a nice Box Office app. I'll probably start going through the Top 25 freebies just to see if there's something cool that I'm missing.
This should keep me entertained until the lines die down and the activation glitches subside so I can finally buy my iPhone 3G. :-)
2 - Chris Bancells
You know, I don't often get excited about gadgets, but I love my iTouch. It's the computer I've been waiting for my whole life. With these apps, I think Apple is on the verge of perfecting a truly fine gizmo. Guess where I'm off to now...
3 - Simon Bunn
I have the iPod Touch and had to wait about 30 hours after buying my first App before 2.0 was available for download. Super Monkey Ball and Texas Hold'em are the two favourite apps (paid) but by far the coolest is free.
"Remote" uses wifi to connect to any runing copy of iTunes inside your network. Once connected (trivial) you can cover browse, play, change volume and anything else you would be able to do on your PC all from your iPod. Seriously cool, and makes it possible to control your sound system from another room or even outside your house if enjoying a summer evening.
4 - Cindy Collins Smith
Update: PhoneSaber is stupid, but fun. You can wave your iThingie around like a lightsaber and hear all the cool lightsaber sounds. It's pretty funny. And it's free!
5 - Steve
Enjoyed your views on these apps, Catherine, especially those for the iPod touch.
For your next go-round on iPhone or iPod touch apps, consider this one:
iEnvision (in the App Store)
A graphics browser that leaves behind the mountain of text/content that rains on us daily (email, docs, web pages, news, etc.) and instead gives you a refreshing VISUAL massage ... comics, art work, photography (even childrens books and newspaper covers). I'm biased, but as an artist I love to feed the other half of my brain.
Looking forward to your next review. Write on!
6 - rigved123
thanx blogcritics.org
Top Free iPhone Applications - 3 Free Downloads.
the top important iphone applications.
7 - Thomas
All these apps make the iphone and ipod touch better every day.
8 - Erwin
i want the old 90's gotchi start with an egg and it grows up..
9 - Scottsdale
Apple iPhone and iPod touches can also do thing s like open garages and change channels on TV as well. I have a friend who uses his device as a credit card terminal. Pretty soon, they will be the keys to a automobiles I bet.