Digital Trends

Apple iPod Touch 2G 32GB

October 21st, 2008 | by Nick Mokey

Features and Design

While the iPod Touch is consistently mistaken for its flagship big brother, the iPhone, the second-generation version moves a bit further away from the ubiquitous handset with a more rounded back that generates the illusion of feeling even thinner, despite similar dimensions. Even more importantly for the iPod’s intended audience of fashion-conscious hipsters in skinny jeans, the new shape helps smooth out the unsightly pocket bulge created by the old, more geometric shape. The chrome rear of the phone also reaches around the front side, creating a shiny lip running around the edge, rather than the old beveled black one.

Media capabilities remain relatively unchanged in the new version. It will play MP3, AAC and other audio formats, and display video and photos on its massive 3.5-inch, 480 by 320 pixel display. Apple currently produces three variants: an 8GB version for $229, a 16GB for $299, and a 32GB for $399.

Although you won’t catch Apple marketing the Touch as anything other than an all-out entertainment machine, in truth its feature set places it quite close to that now-antiquated device, the PDA, in organizational and productivity abilities. Besides built-in Wi-Fi and a competent browser, there’s a notepad, scientific calculator, Google maps app, stock viewer, weather and more, plus infinite expandability via Apple’s viable App Store. In short, it offers far more than most other PMPs.

Perhaps the only feature visibly lacking from such an otherwise well-equipped machine would be Bluetooth. Granted, its Wi-Fi connectivity makes it possible to wirelessly download (and stream) data much the same way as you might with Bluetooth, but it serves as no substitute for connecting wireless headphones. 

Ports and Controls

Contrary to Apple’s usual button extermination routine, the company has actually populated the iPod Touch with more buttons the second time around. While the first-gen Touch had only a power button and home button, Apple added discrete volume rockers to the newest version, making it easier to adjust on the fly without first unlocking the display. It’s a welcome addition for adjusting volume in your pocket, but we wish the company could find a classier solution than the sharp-edged cookie-cutter buttons it ended up using.

Although Apple’s decision to locate the headphone jack on the iPod in the bottom right seems nonsensical, we actually didn’t find much on an issue with it after learning to put it into pockets upside down, so that the connector faces up. Unfortunately, the unsealed nature of the ports also seems to demand this special treatment: both the data and headphone jacks on our model immediately started collecting pocket lint in their cavernous depths after just a few trips placed carelessly into a pocket right-side up.

Image Courtesy of Apple