Apple iPod touch 3rd Generation Black (32 GB)

I've always kind of been an anti-apple type of person TBH...
But I recently decided I needed a 2nd MP3 Player (something a bit smaller than my HTC Sensation XE phone 32gb microSD) I have been using constantly. So I looked up my options & TBH there's not many options available for MP3 Players that can hold 32gb or more of music out there.
So kind of reluctantly I opted for an Ipod touch (the 3G 32GB Model) as IMHO The 4th gens are way too expensive considering they only have a camera extra compared to the the 3rd gen I bought & I have a nice PROPER Pnasonic camera + a camera on my HTC Sesnation XE anyway.
When I 1st stuck on some mp3's via itunes (BTW, that is my biggest annoyance with apple that the fact you need to use itunes for just about everything you will ever do with your ipod/ iphone or ipad... its a joke that in this day & age you cant plug your ipod into your pc via USB & do a simple drag/ drop for your files)
Anyway, I wasn't expecting much from the ipod touch TBH so it actually suprised me that I actually liked when I was bored sitting playing angry birds etc...
It's internet abilities are nothing to bang on about & compared to my HTC Sensation XE's screen browsing the net can be a pain most times, so I tend to use the bigger screened HTC XE for internet usage over the ipod touch 3g.
Music wise It sounds bad off the bat but IMHO either most people are deaf or they just don't care how bad the supplied apple headphones/ mic thing actually is because it sounds like 3 cats fighting inside a steel bin instead of a music song.
So for gods sake buy some decent headphones.
I also like my music loud so I also have a headphone amp attached too, depending as to which mood/ kind of music Im listening to = the kind of amp/ headphone's paring I go for.

For trance/ dance/ techno = I use my little Bass Boost cMoy v2.03 Amp paired with a set of beats audio's (depending my environment if its buds or over ears) = they then sound nice & bass'y :)
For normal rock/ pop = I use my little NU Force Icon Mobile USB DAC Headphone Amplifier paired with a set of monster turbine pro copper's = they sound suprisingly crystal clear & pretty true & satisfying.

Now I will say that just upgrading your headphone's alone will certainly improve the ipod touch's sound greatly but if you want a proper more dare I say "TRUE" sound then you can't go wrong with investing in something like the "NU Force Icon" & make sure you pair them with the correct type of headphone's... something clear & true maybe like the "Monster copper's" or check out some "Grado's" or whatever takes your fancy as theres plenty of choice's you can make in the Headphone market & even in the portable headphone amp market too.
But IMHO the ipod touch 3g with its supplied bog standard apple headphones might either give you a sore head or might make you want to chop off your own head as they sound that bad even with a lossless track or 320kb mp3.

So in summing up I'm glad I bought the ipod touch 3g 32gb model although I also had to then buy a headphone amp & a half decent set of headphone's too :)

So once you add your preferred choices of portable headphone amp & headphone combo = you should be quite happy with the resulting sound oh & also please don't mess with the ipods EQ settings as on FLAT = their fine with the 2 upgrades I've suggested.

As for internet & app/ game wise etc... = I would say it fails compaired to the android because Apple want $ for same games/ apps that android do free !

Excellent product as replacement for my former iPod 5G 30GB and very nice as a remote for your MBP, iMac of Mac Mini as well. Due to the missing of an GSM/GPRS/3G module however, it's worthless as a PDA or other business oriented device. Nice for indoor browsing etc. but not effective when your 'on the move' so you'll need a iPhone/BlackBerry/Android device for you mobile needs.

However, I use this Ipod Touch only as an iPod (music function) and as a remote for my Mac Mini (media centre) and I can tell you: it does its job excellent.

Music function: the internal music function of the iPod Touch is more sophisticated than my former iPod 5G 30G and the 64GB flash disk is big enough to store all my music (current library 37GB). Automatic synchronisation with your local iTunes works wel (nothing new here)and the access via iTunes or via your iPod to the iTunes Store is a nice feature. If your local iTunes library is nicely sorted en up-to-date with album art and Genius function turned on it'll show nicely on your iPod. So: nothing to complain here!

Remote function:
I've installed four Remote apps to test the control of my Mac Mini with the. As a music remote the standard app of Apple (Remote) works nice. It shows your local iTunes library and via Wi-Fi you can control the iTunes player on your Mac. Very responsive! I've also added the Plex app to control my Plex Media Server. That doesn't work yet however. For general use of my Mac Mini I've installed Rowmote Pro and Air Mouse Pro. Rowmote Pro imitates the standard Apple Remote and focusses on simplicity with a basic interface. Air Mouse Pro is a better looking app and has a more versitale interface for use with different apps on your Mac. After a quick view at these apps I think Air Mouse Pro probably suits me the best for use as a trackpad and to control all my apps on my Mac Mini. I'l have to sort out how the use the Plex app, but I already discovered that Plex also works with Air Mouse Pro. So there isn't a real need for the Plex app to work soon.
I'm not used to the iPod/iPhone keyboard yet, so how my iPod works as a replacement for my bluetooth keyboard I don't know yet. I don't hear any complains about the use of the on screen keyboard so I think I'll be fine.
Overall nothing to complain about the Remote function of my Ipod Touch!

The only issue I have with this device is: the day I received it (sept 1st 2010), Apple anounced the follow-up iPod Touch 4th Gen with new features as: front/back camera (HD), new screen (960x480), new processor (A4). Although I don't use the camera function and the 3rd Gen screen is perfect for my use as well as the processor, you'd rather want the new one. ;)

Headphones come with microphone for Voice control:
Voice control recognised over 90% of my commands like "Play songs by Pendulum"!

Safari Browser loaded pages much quicker than 2nd gen and fluidity was AMAZING! This is thanks to the faster processor which clocks 600MHZ.

Music was of great quality but no improvements from previous generations.

Video Playback is great. You can view in 21:9 ratio as well as fullscreen.

Browsing Photos is EXTREMELY Fluid! Great experience.(Thanks to multi-touch capabilities so you can pinch to zoom, double tap to zoom and pan around using your finger.)

Loading games is fast! And the built in accelerometer makes Driving Racing games AWESOME! (New OPEN-GLS microchip improves gaming graphics)

You can access and download music and apps from the itunes/app store directly to your Ipod through a Wi-Fi connection.

Touch screen is very responsive and hardly any pressure has to bed applied due to the Capacitive screen.

Overall and amazing piece of technology all packed into a small thin beatiful device!
I advise you to go for the 32gb or 64gb models as they have all the hardware upgrades unlike the 8gb model.
And also get a silicone case for your ipod because the back is a shiny silver chrome finish and it can scratch easily and grease accumulates easily.

A big investment for a small device but these new ipods are the crème de la crème of the ipods and they are even faster than the iPhone!

Go for it!

p.s. Download Skype onto the ipod for FREE and transform your iPod to an iPhone by making free Voip calls! The only downside is you need to have a Wi-Fi connection to make these internet calls.(The headphones included are needed for this as they have the new microphone built in!)
I have made loads of calls to family using my ipod so its worth it!

I bought a 32gb 3rd Gen iPod touch for my wife a couple of years ago as a birthday present - she wanted a new MP3 player. This one's a replacement as it got smashed. Not the iPod's fault, they are fairly tough, a 9 year old boy got his hands on it for 2 minutes! They aren't indestructible.

Pro's
-Small, stylish, good screen, good sound, can do lots of other stuff.
Con's
-Far too easy to scratch, tendency to die at the slightest hint of moisture.
-iTunes, iTunes, iTunes, did I mention iTunes?
Wishes
-Usable without iTunes, please!
-Some (discrete) shoulder buttons would make games more comfortable.
-Come on Apple! Why won't you allow Flash on your devices?

Epilogue / Rant
I tried very hard not to buy an iPod Touch for my wife, but ended up with one as the combination of features (ok, the Apps store) was hard to beat in any competing device - still is IMO.

Why am I so down on iPods? iTunes of course...
...I can see why Apple would want such a means of control but from a user point of view it's deeply annoying that this enormous monster of an application is taking up valuable HDD space, is getting in the way of, and complicating file/data transfer - what would be wrong with iPods simply behaving like a pen-drive? You then just use your computer's OS to handle everything in a familiar way. This would also mean your iPod isn't tied to computers with iTunes installed or indeed OS's for which it's available - they could also then be useful as an occasional memory stick.

Some years ago my wife kindly bought me an iPod Nano which got a total of two weeks use before iTunes thoroughly ticked me off - It's now gathering dust while I'm very happy with an el-cheapo MP3 player that simply behaves like a memory stick so making it much more useful and convenient to use.

In a nutshell:
If iTunes doesn't drive you crazy iPods are great - though I bet you still find yourself occasionally wondering 'For the love of God, why?'
If having a pointless / intrusive / HDD space hog of an app getting in the way of how you want to use your computer and iPod is going to get on you nerves, do your self a favour and spend A LOT less money on a simple portable media player that doesn't require the extra bloat.

My wife loves her iPod, loathes iTunes - I agree.

I never thought that i could love an electronic toy so much. Having previously had a very basic MP3 which only played music this is such a step up. I can now access the internet nearly everywhere which is surprisingly handy, play games, look at "silly" APPS and even listen to music with pictures of their album covers - it is great. I never thought that a 50 something woman would take to it but with my student daughter having one for Xmas I was hooked. And even better, on Ebay I purchased it as an unwanted gift, still boxed and £100 cheaper than the High Street. Money well spent