Buying Guide: iPod Touch or iPhone
If you are weighing whether to get an iPhone or an iPod Touch (or commonly called the iTouch), here the main differences.
They look essentially the same, the iTouch is slightly less thick.
The iTouch has all the features of the iPhone except it has no built in microphone, no video camera, no photo camera, no voice control, no compass and most important of all, it’s not a cell phone. It can only access the internet through WiFi signals and not over the air with “EDGE, 2G or 3G” wireless access.
Otherwise, it runs the same OS, has access to everything in the iTunes Store including the APP STORE. There are some apps that do not work on the iTouch and some that are not all that useful if you can’t randomly use on the street like MAPPING APPS, STORE LOCATION APPS, etc …
The most useful feature of having an all-encompassing device is that the iPhone is that it’s all encompassing where-ever you’re at. Is AT&T the greatest cell coverage provider ever? No, but I’ve pretty used every other cell company in America at one time or another and personally, there are none that I love. Yes, the Verizon map thing is impressive but since I live in a major metro area and I only travel to other major metro areas, AT&T service works fine for me wherever I seem to go. If you live further away from major metro areas or are called to non metro areas and have need of 3G everywhere you go, then you may have to stick with Verizon but otherwise, AT&T is okay for me.
And this is not intended as a review of every smartphone – just a comparison between the iPhone and the iTouch.
The iPhone obviously allows you to make calls all over and works everywhere (remember the Verizon ads are only about 3G access versus slower internet surfing and not about making phone calls). Some people cite the cost of an iPhone over its 2-year contract but two things to keep in mind – if you’re like most, you’re paying for a family cell plan anyway – it’s not like your current cell phone expense is zero per month so while AT&T is probably not the cheapest choice in America, it’s only slightly more than what you’d pay anyway unless you are planning on going without a cell phone. Of course, the key difference is easy internet access – if that’s unimportant to you and you just want a phone to make calls, obviously, the iPhone is overkill.
The main difference is whether you’d find internet access useful on a smartphone. And frankly, it’s the best internet experience you’ll find on a cellphone. Only the iPhone offers multi-touch and zoom (patents) by just flicking with your finger or expanding pages using your finger. It’s smooth as silk and it’s frankly still amazing. There is no keyboard but the keys expanded visually on-screen as you type with a reassuring click (if you like). It’s also smart so by now, my personal phone dictionary knows if I type MATER, I am not trying to type MATTER and it does not offer than suggestion. Very cool.
The iTouch does all this also but only with WiFi access to the internet (either at home, office, school or stores).
You can actually install a “phone” app such as Skype or Fring (both free) but you need WiFi to make & receive calls.
The Skype app which allows FREE calls to other Skype users worldwide works on both the iPhone & iTouch and is nice when it’s working but kind of flakey so it’s not like you can depend on it to make calls and of course, if you have no WiFi access, no calls of any kind – including no 911 calls. Fring actually lets you receive video calls now but again, only under WiFi.
Also, keep in mind, the iPhone is really an iPhone & iTouch, after your contract is over, you can simply remove the SIM card, switch the phone to AIRPLANE WIFI MODE and you have a “free” iTouch.
The iTouch does NOT have a video camera or a photo camera though I suspect in early or mid 2010, they will add that feature.
The minor difference is the iTouch has a weaker speaker than the iPhone & there’s no built in microphone. The speaker is of course an easy fix and while you can add a microphone, some apps may not be able to access that 3rd party microphone.
Two minor notes on the iTouch, it has no voice control (again, a feature they will probably add in 2010) and no electronic compass (for GPS) which mapping apps can get around anyway.
Of course, the iTouch does not require a contract with AT&T.
The iTouch is an iPod with a giant touchscreen and access to every music, tv show, movie, audiobook and podcast in the iTunes Store or whatever you want to load-sync in iTunes. It will load and run probably 90-95% of the 100,000+ apps available in the iTunes Store. For gamers, I think that % probably rises to 99.9% of games that will play on the iTouch with no problems.
With WiFi internet access, the iTouch can surf the web, send and receive email and send & receive text messages.
The iTouch is available in 3 storage capability sizes ranging from 8GB (@$182) to 32 GB (@$275) to 64 GB (@$358). And make you sure you are buying the THIRD GENERATION iPod Touch as the 2nd Generation one has no built in speaker – making game playing much harder and not as much fun 🙂
*You can buy an unsubsidized iPhone without an AT&T contract for $699 ($400 more than the contract price) but since AT&T does not offer prepaid iPhone “contracts,” you can only use it on the T-Mobile network in the US and you lose some features but if you want the phone without the contract …
So, the bottom line is the iPod Touch is a state of the art video iPod everywhere you are … AND you can load hundreds of APPS. When you have WiFi access, it can even resemble an iPhone but ONLY when you have WiFi. With Wifi, it is like an iPhone cousin with internet access & surfing, email, texting and even some phone like functions.
The iPhone is a 24/7 Video iPod + Internet Access + Cell Phone + APPs.
13 December 2009
34 Comments
iPod is not a proper communication device the basic difference is the idea of developing of these devices, Truphone was first VoIP to introduce microphone for iPod to convert it into a communication device and now in latest iPod has built in microphone, with that users now can use skype, vopium or fring apps on iPod. iPhone is perfect device which has every thing set and in place.
The 16GB 3GS is free on O2 here in Ireland. There are various price plans but the one I will use (Santa is bringing an iPhone!)costs $28 a month with free calls to all land lines in Ireland and free calls to other O2 phones. It also includes 150 free texts and 1G od data. So there you know exactly how much an Irish iphone costs.
Totally agree. Spening on hobbies or wants is all relative to what you like. There is no right or wrong. I know guys who spend thousands a year for paintball equiptment and to play every few weekends. Now I personally wouldn’t spend 800 on a paintball gun but if that’s what you like go for it. To say anything one spends on isn’t worth it is wrong because it’s their money and their life. To each is own. I wouldn’t pay high for a jacket because it has a Northface tag but again to each is own.
I will say though that the money spent on the iPhone data plan is well worth it to me personally. For an extra dollar a day you have a computer on you at all times. It’s the same principle as a cell phone. Why have a cell phone when you have a home phone? We all know why. You want to be able to talk on the phone anywhere and anytime you want.
Well it’s the same with the iPhone. I cannot use the Internet at work but with the iPhone I can. I don’t have to go home when another member says something just went on sale on Amazon.com. The convenience of being able to do everything from looking something up to doing online banking is just great.
Whenever I get stuck in a line I get things done. Whereas the 5 or ten minutes to wait in a line was boring, now I am reading take 5 or checking the weather or writing an Email, maybe even seaching the stores inventory for a product I am looking for and before you know it the line is gone and it’s my turn.
So don’t buy one if you don’t want to or if you can’t afford it but to knock what someone else enjoys because of what it costs is wrong. Wheather it’s a 200 pair of shoes or 300 handbag or an extra 2,500 on a sunroof option package if it is worth it to you than it’s worth it period and the Iphone to me is darn worth it.
Four questions you shouldn’t ask someone:
How old are you?
How much do you weigh?
How much money do you make?
How much did you pay for that?
If you really want to know how much it costs to have an iPhone you can check out the AT&T website or go to an AT&T store.
It doesn’t matter how much it costs because I suspect whatever YOU pay monthly is what works for YOU
Well! … I am satisfied with my N95!
I do some developing of apps for the iPhone it’s a great phone like they said above a mini computer really. The best part is that apple keeps adding features via software updates no other cell phone adds that many features for free.
But if everything met said doesn’t give you a good reason to get one ( you can check TFAD any time you want if nothing else) that’s gotta be good enough right Met?
(MET: Yes, collect them all – whatever 🙂 ).
I am paying $200.00 a month for 4 phones. Two of them are iphones. All have unlimited text and more minutes than we can use.
I love my iPod Touch. Can’t imagine holding it to my ear to talk…too big…
ok my 2 cents, i have an LG Renoir, a 3g phone which can pretty much do everything an I-phone can (except access I-phone apps but the ones it hs are similar). I am on pre-paid credit so I buy $30 credit and it covers all costs, texts, calls, internet. The LG cost 1/3 of the price of an i-phone (in Australia).
What I believe is they are simply a novelty tool. Take the camera for example, mine is 8mega-pixel, however our normal digital camera (12meg) does a better job. Apps are ok, but interent is fairly slow, costs money and again, for me is quicker, cheaper and easier to use a PC. Same with music, sounds good while travelling, but at home, need a stereo. Also the apps are sometimes useful, but again, I would find most of them are easily improved upon by using a book, internet on pc or downloading a program. Plus you have the fact they are all limited by memory.
I could go on, but it is all opinion anyway. I really only use my for texting or calling, the rest is all novelty. Look at the phones of yesteryear and what phones could potentially be doing in another 10 years or so. These things always get outdated and are easily broken. It ouwld be nice, if a plan for a phone included being able to actaully update the phone, its software and its hardware. I have had at least about 5 phones in 10 or so years and that to me is shocking for technology replacement.
I don’t have an Iphone or Itouch but I am a huge fan of my Ipod. I use the 160 gb classic and it’s within a couple gbs of being full. I agree with you htb all the programs they put on these things are a novelty. To me the only thing a cell phone does the best is make a phone call. Now don’t get me wrong I would like to have one but they don’t offer big enough storage yet for my taste. 64 gb is way to small for what I’d like to use it for. I got on a cell plan 8 yrs ago or so that gives me free internet, text, pictures on 2 phones for $85 a month. It’s the stripped down internet not the real internet but basically it’s for checking sports scores, the weather and other on the go stuff. I really don’t see the need to pay $30 a month for internet on my phone when I’m already paying comcast $45 for internet at home and I’m a desk jockey all day at work. Like you said, it can do the internet but it’s nothing like being at a real computer. I’m not paying $30 a month so I can check the internet while in the can.
hurray for the the 160 gb classic we own 3. One for Audiobooks and music and the other for storage of important files and my wife has one. they are nice
Wow I’ve always wondered the Difference Thanks and Jason P.’s Holiday cars custom Contest ends today!!
Yes, service provider exclusivity is what kept me from the iphone in the first place. the iPod touch was what I settled on instead. Though it sucks that I have to search out wi-fi, and I’m too much of a cheapskate.
My reglar phone is a RAZR, and don’t have internet access for it, or even a keypad to properly send the normal amount of text messages I should be, according to statistics.
i like to ipod touch because you can use it as a book reader just like those other book readers
Thanks for this very helpful review! I wasn’t aware that the iPod Touch didn’t have a camera. I’d love to get an iPhone, but I refuse to so long as AT&T (and for that matter, Verizon) are the service providers!
Thanks again!
Agreed,
No one has posted what the total monthly charge is.
i wanna see what they are paying for the iphone monthly
yea they can keep the iphone and there high monthly rates. i have a pre paid phone plan and pay no more than $38 with taxes for 1000 minutes/1000 texts more than enough for me.yea lets hear the monthly payment you iphone owners pay?? please post and i mean with all fees and taxes
34.99
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited texts (cant stand them anyway)
Cricket
awesome
i didn’t think many Americans were into cricket? that is cool but.
30.00 a month extra for unlimited Internet access and Email. It’s the best 30.00 a month I ever spent. I guess if you don’t have an iPhone you don’t miss what you don’t know. However I can assure most if you an iPhone for a month you can never live without it. It’s worth more than it’s weight in gold. If I had to sit at home in front of a computer like before my first iPhone I would harldly ever check my Email or surf the web. I can’t even begin to say how useful the iPhone is. From Internet browsing while in the restroom to the GPS it is amazing. Video camera, notes, apps for everything, flashlight mode, Emailing while walking the dog and the list of uses goes on and on. I don’t care if others don’t know what they are missing. As long as I have my iPhone, that’s all that matters. I could never go back to a regular phone. Ok time to go watch some videos. Peace.
I bought 2 refurbed 16gb iphone 3gs on black friday for $49 ea.
I pay $100/mo for unlimited internet, text, and 1400 rollover minutes after corporate discount for both phones. Not great, but not too awful bad.
The thing is awesome, especially all the little apps you can download – gps, bar code scanner, inventory trackers, radio stations, movie showtimes, restaurant and attraction guides, games galore. The 3G is surprisingly fast too.
Here are the cons I have found so far.
– Battery drains quickly… lasts a little over a day.
– Good cases are expensive.. Splurge for an otterbox which runs for about $30-$40. You can find some decent cheap cases though at Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx for $4-$5. screen protectors run about $3/piece.
– No warranty plan… have to pay $100 each phone for warranty. Haven’t checked squaretrade yet, but I am sure they would be cheaper.
– Data plan is manadatory… This is a bunch of crap, really.. $30/mo. on top of your phone plan, unless you have school/military/ or work discounts. Plus there is no bundled package with texts, so you have to buy texts seperately.
My plan was to buy the first phone for my wife. I was going to fleabay the second one after 30 days and cancel the data plan to buy a cheaper phone. But I am having too much fun with it, and have decided to keep the second one. 🙂
too much for me i already have gps ,dont need to know movie times when i have a comp,store inventory can mostly be found by calling or checking online with most items, the itouch has plenty games,done need abar code scanner. so well lets see for that price i really dont need it
its not for everybody.
and we do a lot of stuff on the fly, so it really comes in handy for us.
pretty soon most phones on the market will be iphone clones anyways. Its already started.
I absolutely love my iphone. I have the older 3G not the 3GS. With the upgrade received I can do photos in text and play video in text. I took a very long trip across county last year. Found very few areas where my 3G did not work. I do not believe the Map commercials are accurate. It shows zero coverage in some of the northern states I traveled through and I personally know that to not be true.
I am eligible to upgrade again in June and I will be getting the latest iphone when I do. I hear another iphone release is coming then and I cannot wait. I feel like I am carrying a personal computer in my pocket. I love Apple too. They are very good to their customers.
We have 4 people on our family plan and of that 4, two are iphones. Met is correct. You go the family plan way and it is pretty reasonable.
Im jealous. My cell phone is about 10 years old and has an antenna you have to pull out…..
Was in Wal-Mart this morning and saw a box on the bottom of a pallet of Cars Boxes that was labeled CARS CHARACTERS SIDEKICKS. The way it as stacked I couldn’t tell if it was the size/depth of a normal Mattel box or not. There was no one around to help and it was on the bottom of a big stack. Anyone have clue as to what this might be?
My guess is they are the “short cards” for hanging on the pegs in and around the checkout lanes. Also commonly reffered to as Lane Mates
I saw a box ;ast weekend like that and it said “TS Cars Character Sidekicks” on the box, so I peeked in the box, they are Toy Story character cars.
I saw a box last weekend like that and it said “TS Cars Character Sidekicks” on the box, I peeked, they are Toy Story character cars.
Word on the net is that the iPhone is coming to Verizon when AT&T’s contract expires in June 2010.
There is debate whether Verizon will give Apple the control it wants and whether Apple will develop a phone that runs on their technology.
I think with the data issues AT&T is having on the 3G network and the inability to provide the enhancements Apple launched in the 3G version (namely Photos and text together) I think the migration to Verizon may make sense.
There is no arguing AT&T has a 3G network, though a large portion is not owned by them but contracted by AT&T to provide the service from either other wireless carriers or independent groups. Verizon has a much larger owned and developed 3G network. (hence the “map” commercials)
I would wait until July or August before signing any long term contracts and leaning to the iPhone.
all that said, great post MET – very informative!
Never understood why….
Whats the point of entering 20 minutes of text (writing a novel or a series of texts…) when a 2 or 3 minute phone call would be faster and easier and not take your entire attention away from work…driving…walking through the store and bumping into everyting
(MET: That’s why you need the iPhone Text App that activates your camera so you can walk safety while typing …).
Hooray for me! I win today.
I know it is childish…but I could use an Iphone.