Apple iPod touch 4th Generation Black (32 GB)

The most striking thing about the new iPod touch is that it looks almost exactly like an old iPod touch, only thinner. When you learn about the improvements packed into the fourth generation of what is now the bestseller of Apple’s iPod range, it’s hard not to be surprised. The new iPod touch has an HD video camera, a second, front-facing, camera, a gyroscope for motion-sensing apps and the high-resolution Retina display like the one that graces the iPhone 4.

Did I mention that it’s thinner too? Now that the iPhone has switched to a chunkier, more industrial design, the iPod touch has the curved back form factor to itself. It sits in the hand nicely and feels significantly lighter than the iPhone 4, though the difference is a mere 30 grams.

The iPod touch has often been described as an ‘iPhone without the phone’ - or an “iPhone without the contract” as Steve Jobs pointed out last week - but that’s less the case with this version. FaceTime video calling, which uses the front-facing camera, means that an iPod touch is getting closer to being a phone too. Admittedly, the calls work only to iPhone 4s or other iPod touches at the moment and require a wifi connection but this is a significant step forward.

As with the iPhone 4, the Retina display looks amazing. A 960-by-640 resolution on a device this size means pin-sharp visuals and since the iPhone 4 has been out for a few months now most apps have been updated to take advantage of it. Games, text and photos all look astonishingly sharp.

Games have been the runaway success of the iPod touch, with Apple now claiming that their handheld games device outsells those of Sony and Nintendo put together. iOS 4.1, the latest version of Apple’s touchscreen operating system, brings Game Center to the iPod touch, adding achievements and social gaming.

The video shot by the phone looks wonderful on this screen too but the fact that it shoots in 1280-by-720 resolution at 30 frames-per-second means that it will also look good on your computer or your television.

The one area where Apple does seem to have skimped is with the stills camera. At less than a megapixel - 920-by-720 pixels - you won’t be making prints from these images. It means that the iPod touch won’t be a portable casual camera as the five-megapixel iPhone 4 now is. However, a better camera would certainly have added to the iPod touch’s bulk, not to mention its price, and that’s presumably a compromise that Apple didn’t want to make. They’re clearly banking on video being a better selling point.

Storage-wise, this year’s iPod touches match last year’s. There’s an entry-level 8GB model, a 32GB model and a 64GB model. Apple says that customers aren’t really demanding more storage. The 64GB version should offer enough space for most of your music, video and app needs. Anyone with a more demanding music collection is directed to the iPod Classic, still hanging on to its slot on the shelves.

Apple has made some significant upgrades to what was already, in my view, the best portable media player on the market. If you’ve held off buying one until now, don’t delay any longer.

A decent upgrade from the 3rd gen. the screen is better quality thanks to the retina display, which is around 4 times the pixel count of previous ipods/iphones and shows, every single little detain is amazingly sharp, not a single pixel stair or jagged line in sight.
Facetime is excellent, allows you to video call anyone with an iphone 4 or other ipod 4th gen providing you are within range of a wifi signal.
One thing that lets it down is the camera quality. i was expecting the same camera that the iphone 4 got, which is 5 megapixel. but instead Apple opted for... nope, not the 3MP camera from the 3Gs, or even the 2MP from the 3G... but a 0.7 megapixel camera, which is slighty disapointing given the price of the ipod and that it has the retina display, the tiny camera resoulution hardly makes use of the crisp and sharp display capabilities. the battery life is good when just listening to music, but go on the internet or play games and you can expect it to only last a few hours. I use mine with the AKai synthstation to create music and it works perfectly, but an hour of using the synthstation takes over 1/3 of the battery life.

Overall a notable improvement over the 3rd gen with the addition of the camera (albeit a low quality one), facetime, extended battery life and the retina display and more.

The iPod Touch 4th generation 32gb holds alot of music apps, books and podscats etc, and it doesnt break a sweat when using 3D games. The internet is usually fast with a good connection but sometimes poor and occaisionally you can't get a signal whenn you mov furyher away, but normally it's OK. I think the design has let them down and the edges aren't very nice to hold, but the back design and material has improved, except from the writing which has decreased in size durastically! The camera does it jsome ustice and it has decent quality HD video recording which surprised me the most. The screen is amazing and the quality has improved greatly with the higher ratio (par to the iphone 4) i bought this product simply as an upgrade to my old iPod Touch 2nd gen and i think this was the right decision for the good reasons above, it holds its own against other mp3 devices and the gaming is my main use, cosidering the battery, i can get about 6-7 hours of compete gaming, bit of music and some app store use before the battery needs charging. It's of good quality but still a bit overpriced from retailers hence why i bought it on ebay for just £165!! great deal, you are really just paying for the name. Overall its a good investment if you think you'll get you money's worth on it but with the new tablets (iPad) coming out maybe it's worth that forking out that extra amount for simply the same thing but much bigger and probably better.

First of all... it's an iPod. It's designed PRIMARILY to play music. It's not the iPhone. So.. with that in mind, let me just say that this iPod Touch is absolutely amazing. My iPod nano broke (had it for years so no biggie) and I upgraded to this one, instead of getting the new nano model.
This iPod Touch is awesome.. the apps are insane.. loads of freebies to download via the app store (a lot of browsing is needed to uncover loads of hidden gems). Even "paid for" apps cost only 59p mostly (but can cost more.. depends on the license.. still great value though).
The graphics on some of the games are amazing.. I play Real Racing 2 and the game looks better than Gran Turismo on the playstation. I have loads of other games as well such as Tetris and whatnot and they are really good. My best game is called Flick Football and is amazing value at 59p.. I can play it for hours.
You can also load video onto it and in high res as well. For recording with the HD camera, I have downloaded the 8mm app, which has different lenses and ye olde style black and white.. looks great.
Oh yes, the music :) The music plays fine and the menu's are very user-friendly.
The battery life is excellent whilst playing music.. it lasts all day. But it suffers when playing the graphically demanding games... maybe lasting 3 hours tops.
All in all, really recommended, but go for a higher storage model as mine is full already. I had to convert my high bit-rate music to a lower bit rate - most of my music was in 320kbps bit-rate, and I've now downgraded it all to 160kbps, which allows me to store more music on it.
Great stuff!

Display and size is excellent! Did have some other MP3/4 players but this is "top of the line" in my opinion. Other big advantages is the WiFi and camera - truly nice addons to an MP3-player. Bought this one mainly for MP3 and watching videos. All other features is a BIG bonus! Didn't want an Iphone - my cellphone is instead "a real phone" - Nokia. Final words - do you think of buying one?....dont hesitate - you wont regret it!