So, what else is missing from iPod touch?

[TheFly]

So, I'm trying to put together a spreadsheet comparing the iPhone to the new iPod Touch.

Sure, the price per gigabyte for the 8GB models is different. Say, $50per gig on the iPhone versus $37.50 on the iPod touch. (goes down to $25per gig for the 16 GB model).

But what else is missing?

I don't see any mention of the Google Maps feature, which was one of the key developments in the iPhone IMHO.

I planned on getting an iPhone, but switched back off AT&T after three weeks of terrible service and quality. Frankly, I was more interested in all of the other features over the phone. So this new iPod Touch gives me the opportunity to get the other functionality and not mess with AT&T. But, of course, they've dropped some of the more palatable features.

Google Maps is a big loss.

Edit to Add: I also notice there's no external speakers. Not a terrible loss. However, I have some video I've produced on my 5th gen iPod that I like to show to people. It would be nice to be able to use the external speakers and not have them use my earbuds (yuck!).

[Mr. E.]

I'm sure there's going to be easy to use, compact external speakers. Seems like the mini speakers you can pop on to the iPod would work just as well, so I don't see no speakers as a problem.

I saw no mention of e-mail, which surprised me. If you can surf the web, you can get you e-mail, so why not include it?

Chat is still not present. Another no-brainer for something that's internet enabled.

I'd like an SSH client.

And VoIP, but that could really be an iPhone killer. I know there's no microphone on this thing, but there's already 3rd party mikes (in fact, there's a nice mic/speaker combo that might solve your no-speaker issues, too), so you gotta figure they could find a way to make VoIP work if they wanted to. It's just hard to know if they want to.

Edit: And I haven't used Google maps on an iPhone. Is it a stand-alone ap, and, if so, is it that much better than just using the website, which it seems like you would have access to?

[Jesse Hollington]

No Camera, No E-Mail support, no Google Maps, Weather, or Stocks widgets. No Notes support either.

Also no Bluetooth, although the iPhone used that only for the phone side anyway, so it was really a phone feature like SMS or EDGE.

[TheFly]

Oh, the camera. That's right.

Oh well, I'm expecting a 10mp prosumer DSLR for Christmas. So that's no big deal.

No Mail is a real bummer. Though I guess I could suffer through web mail.

I never thought Stocks should be a core app anyhow. Honestly, how many average people really need that?

I expect I'll set up a .PHP GTD web app on my home server, so I guess lack of notes is okay.

So, pretty much GMaps and Mail are the real missing ones.

[leebee]

Is the safari browser fully featured (apart from flash)? If so, wouldn't you still be able to get google maps and MacMail through that despite the loss of a widget? I'm pretty sure that apple will be releasing downloadable widgets over time - perhaps tying in with the new OS launch.

Does anyone with an iPhone know if they can access digital radio stations through this version of Safari?

[Jesse Hollington]

I suspect the Safari browser is identical to the one found in the iPhone, so the short answer is yes.

However, the Mail app is more than a "widget" as it allows you to keep your mail on the device itself. The iPod touch, as a mail device, would be lacking that type of ability, meaning you could only read your mail when you were near an access point, as opposed to downloading it and taking it with you to deal with later.

I have not had any luck with digital radio stations with my iPhone, although it may be dependent upon what form they stream in. The Safari browser only supports Quicktime-based audio.

[a113524c]

I am very excited about the release of the iPod touch, i just ordered a 16GB. I have to wait about 23 days though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it will be worth the wait

I imagine apple will be adding some cool apps to the ipod touch in the months to come. Maybe even a email app after they realize a lot of people want it.

[Mr. E.]

I hadn't thought of the camera. That's too bad. I guess since it's not a cell phone replacement, and since almost every cell phone already has a camera, it might not be necessary, but the iPhone camera is better than the camera in my cell phone, so that would have been a plus for me. So it's starting to sound like, for the price of an iPhone, you get a crippled, feature-poor iPhone with twice the storage. Not that it's still not appealing for people who don't want/can't get the AT&T data plan, but comparing features and comparing straight prices on the devices, I'm not sure the iPod Touch is stacking up that well.

[madmaxmedia]

I imagine that Mail can be hacked and copied over from the iPhone. As well as Notes, Maps, Stocks, Weather, and all the other 3rd-party apps and hacks.

A chat client would be nice, but so far the Safari-based ones seem to be doing a good job. No matter, it's only a matter of time before a regular app is developed...

[Jesse Hollington]

Exactly. I'm happy with my iPhone, even though I'm in Canada and can't use it as a phone, it still provides more functionality over WiFi than the iPod touch will.

Even when the iPhone comes to Canada, I probably won't use it as my primary phone (I have a Nokia E90 Communicator), but as an iPod with WiFi, it's a pretty slick device, and I do like the mail client and other features.

If I had to choose even now between the 8GB iPhone and 16GB iPod touch at the current price point, I'd happily still choose the iPhone.

[kornchild2002]

I really don't think Google Maps is a big loss especially whenever the Safari browser can access that page just fine. Part of the problem is that the iPhone and iPod touch are two completely different products marketed towards completely different groups. The iPhone is for people who want a all-in-one cell phone while the iPod touch is for people who want a all-in-one DAP. Some people say that they go towards the same market as many iPhone users have an iPod. Granted, the markets may intertwine but the core markets are completely different.

So comparing the features of the iPhone against the iPod touch isn't really fare. You might as well compare the features of the iPod shuffle against the iPhone.

[Mr. E.]

Yep, they're really making it a hard sell for me. If it had the capacity of my 5G, then I could just look at the WiFi stuff as a bonus, and it'd be awesome. And if it had all the features of the iPhone along with Chat (and maybe VoIP and SSH), I could learn to live with the smaller capacity, but as it stands it holds far less than the video iPod I already have and does less than the iPhone that I could theoretically buy for the same amount of money.

It's still pretty. It's still tempting. But I can already see that I would be butting up against some Apple-imposed limitations from the very beginning, and not getting the best deal for my money. Especially not if the iPhone is really, functionally unlocked without requiring the AT&T data plan. In fact, if it is truly unlocked as a cell phone, I could use it as my cell and just use the data features only in hotspots, just like I would the iPod Touch.

[Mr. E.]

Originally Posted by kornchild2002

So comparing the features of the iPhone against the iPod touch isn't really fare. You might as well compare the features of the iPod shuffle against the iPhone.

I disagree. They may be aimed at different audiences, but the comparisons are completely fair. Since the iPhone came out, there have been people saying, "Wouldn't it be great if I could have that without the AT&T service." The iPod Touch could meet that want, but they've left features off. Now there sitting there at the Apple store, looking very similar, and having the same price point and similar features. They are begging to be compared. And if the double storage of the iTouch doesn't make it more appealing to some, in spite of the missing features, then you still run up against hundreds of dollars of data charges you'd get with iPhone if you use it without a hack.

[iPod Dance]

The reason that they don't include Google Maps is because iPod touch has no EDGE network.

So, on the touch, do you look up a map while in wifi, and then go driving and not leave safari or the map will disappear? Seems twisted.
I really don't care if there isn't a GPS, though. I'll still get lost regardless of whether I have an iPhone or a iPod touch!

[IpOdChIcK]

The speaker is missing!!!!!