Limitations On iPod Touch Data Input
One major disappointment I didn’t cover in much detail in yesterdays iPod touch review is the restriction on regions of data input. With the iPhone, you have the ability to take notes, add contacts, write emails, browse the web, and add calendar events - with the iPod touch, you’re restricted to just browsing the web and adding contacts.
I find this rather lame on Apple’s part. Limiting the users ability to enter certain data into the iPod. I fully understand the reasoning to not include the Mail application on the iPod as it’s a hefty selling point for some on the iPhone, but leaving out something as simple yet as important as adding calendar events is foolish in my eyes.
If you’re going to block out features, do them all, or don’t do them at all. I don’t think something as small as the iPod having the ability to add calendar events will stop people from purchasing the iPhone - even if it did, what does Apple have to lose? Both devices are comparable in price.
In a perfect world, I’d like to have seen both the Notes and Mail applications included on the iPod touch. I fully understand they are somewhat “large” features on the iPhone, but Apple has always been about offering as much as possible to their customers, it was possible to offer these applications on the iPod touch - but they didn’t.
Taking a swing in direction, one thing Apple do have spot on are its frequent software updates which are delivered in a fashionable way, let’s hope the lack of these features are reversed in a future update.
#1
Andre → winnopeg.com
Even my old iPod Mini has “Notes” on it; I see no reason why there’s shouldn’t be the current version of Notes on the iPod Touch.
#2
Ondra SoukupDid any iPod before Touch allow you to add calendar events or contacts ?
#3
Blog Feeds about Music » Archive » Limitations On iPod Touch Data Input → music.blogfeedsworld.com/?p=8154
[...] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]
#4
Omer Zach → mactips.org
“…even if it did, what does Apple have to lose? Both devices are comparable in price.”
Actually, Apple’s profit margin on the iPhone is probably much bigger. Lets compare the 8GB iPhone to the the 8GB iPod Touch. $300 vs. $400. For every iPhone sold, Apple makes a bundle off of AT&T. ($100, I think.) But the hardware differences are probably only a few dollars worth. Apple’s revenue from the iPod Touch is $300, and $500 from the iPhone. So, Apple pays a few dollars more and gets $100-$200 more back in return.
#5
Phil Bowell → phil.electricweekend.com
I agree with you on the point of the calendar input. To me it’s stupid to be able to alter contacts but not calendar. I understand on other iPod’s you couldn’t add calendar events, but then other iPods couldn’t add contacts and didn’t have the input mechanism the Touch has. It irks me, but when I have the funds it won’t stop me buying one.
#6
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
The key word there is comparable. When in the past has Apple purposely dumbed down a product? That sounds like a Microsoft trick.
- Vista Basic
- Vista Home
- Vista Ultimate
They are purposely “dumbing” down products to make more cash and get people to buy a better product. I’ve don’t want to see Apple head down that road, I know this has nothing to do with the examples above, but it is an example of how Microsoft employ this “technique” into their software product line.
#7
Omer Zach → mactips.org
#8
Chris Thomson → chris24.ca
Yeah, it makes sense but it also makes me mad, because being outside of the US, I really want Mail. I’d buy an iPhone just for mail - i don’t need a phone. How about this: Apple charges like $100 for the Mail addon :P I’d buy it in a heartbeat, but yeah, with all the AT&T contract money apple is getting, it still wouldn’t make sense. :/ Sad :(
#9
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
Haha, sadly, that’s something which will never happen - however I’d be willing to pay for it too.
#10
Limitations On iPod Touch Data Input | TheIPodTouchBlog.info → theipodtouchblog.info/limitations-on-ipod-touch-data-input
[...] One major disappointment I didn’t cover in much detail in yesterdays iPod touch review is the restriction on regions of data input. With the iPhone, you have the ability to take notes, add contacts, write emails, browse the web, … Read More [...]
#11
Joshua CoventryI suspect the next couple of iPod software updates will add the missing features, but at the same time I think that it won’t happen. :-/
#12
Jon → www.theappleofmyi.com/blog
Product differentiation. It will always be there. It’s nice to think that Apple will update the Touch but not for a good while. People wanting that extra functionality will go for an iPhone. If they are in two minds about it, it may well be the tipping point. Some people, like me, will buy both, and I am sure I am not alone.
#13
Spock → www.youcomprehend.com
Apple probably doesn’t want iPhone sales to dive because the Touch, so they limit or not include many of the features that make the iPhone what it is. I think they want to keep the primary focus of the iPod to be Music, Video and Photos.
#14
Indraneel → indraneel.thepurohits.net
This is simply a ploy to get the “hardcore” users to upgrade to the iPhone. And to unpromote unlocked iPhones overseas; with a device with most of the awesome features, but not all.
Nonetheless, these limitations are trivial at best, and aren’t thaaat bad.
#15
EDIT-XTREEM → iappblog.com
Hmm.. Interesting, can you manage to post to your blog from there?
#16
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
I can indeed, although it’s difficult.
#17
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Could you maybe put some pictures on your flickr of it in the plastic stand thingie? Isn’t it awkward to have a stand if you have to put headphones in to watch movies or hear music?
#18
Kiro → kirosblog.com
I was the lucky one and got long skinny fingers - or so my friends say. Oh well, at least it helps playing the guitar and piano. I am quite a musical person and the iPod touch looks like an awesome device. I’m sure it’ll be mine in the next month or two as long as my pocketbook gets bigger. ;) As for the no calendar input - bad move for apple in my opinion as well. If there’s no update, I’d just use the contact notes feature for my contact card. Heh..at least it syncs!
#19
Jenn Vargas → forever-digital.net
Personally, I’m happy with the fact that Apple didn’t bloat the Touch with “productivity” things. I use iPods for music. I use my cell phone, a calendar, or my computer for calendaring, address books, etc. My iPod is an entertainment device. If it’s a tradeoff between checking mail and having extra space for music, I vote for extra space. There are plenty of other things I could use to take care of the rest. If it was really that important that I had an all-in-one, I would have gotten the iPhone.
#20
Chris Thomson → christhomsonblog.com
Maybe what’ll happen with the Mail.app situation is the iPhone will get some HUGE Mail.app upgrade (but what could that be), and then they “give” the iPod touch users the old version of Mail.app?
It’s another thing Apple probably wouldn’t do, but it’d be cool :-)
#21
Gordon Swaby → gordonswaby.com
So true, but that’s apple for you i guess
#22
SamI just my ipod touch! but your right…there are issues with the touchkeyboard
#23
Arjun Muralidharan → www.cupofchai.net
I think the iPod touch is the “nice” version of the iPhone. As long as they can keep control of things away from AT&T, things seem to be just peachy.
#24
Nicholas Chan → inicholas.net
I have tried to iPod touch at the Apple Center, will getting mine very soon, probably next week. I have to say the virtual keyboard is pretty cool, I am surprise that I have a big thumb, but it able to detect which letter I’m touching. However, feeling kinda weird touching on a screen, typing is slow compare to QWERTY keypad on some phone.
#25
Alexander SchreckI was very surprised to see that there was so little that you could physically ad into the iPod touch yourself without the assistance of syncing. I actually had an older woman that came into where I work yesterday asking me to help her add events to her calendar. I was amazed at the fact that there was no input for these events.
Not only that, but I also felt like a dumbass when I told her she could only add events via her computer. That’s such a simple little addition in my opinion.
#26
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
Have you had much experience with the virtual keyboard? I realize you can only use it for a limited number of things, but what do you think of it so far?
#27
Ted Winder → www.tedwinder.org
Well, it is an iPod after all - no exactly a Newton/iPhone style device. Its for listening to music! :P
#28
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
The on-screen keyboard is rather impressive at first glance, but becomes a little tedious after using it for a while. It’s difficult to develop a suitable typing technique as using your thumbs is difficult due to the small nature of the keys.
In saying this, the auto correction and auto completion are wonderful features which make up for the keys being small and tedious to type on.
#29
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
#30
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
#31
JustinI agree with you completely. Why make a product that puts down the iPhone? I guess they had to make the touch VERY different than the iPhone.
#32
Sumesh → www.techzilo.com
Apple is not usually this kinda hold-back-stuff-for premium.
That’s M$’s way, and to see Apple go that way is sickening. Hope they correct it, as they have done before.
Steviee, where are you? :D
#33
Chris Thomson → christhomsonblog.com
I’ve also tried the iTouch at the Yorkdale Apple Store, I never thought of using 1 finger to type. I’ll be trying that next time I go to an Apple Store. Anyways, I found I was pressing the wrong keys, it’d type the key next to the one I wanted to hit. Oh, and the “convenient .com button” is great, we just need a .net, and .org one, and maybe a few others under another menu (maybe a TLD menu that changes with the international settings). Overall, the keyboard in Safari is great. Haven’t really tried the keyboard anywhere else on the iTouch…
#34
James Kirsop → www.jameskirsop.com
I saw on Digg today, a story that reported that Steve Jobs has said they’ll implement Calendar functionality on a later software update for the touch, wether the post is factual or not is yet to be seen.
It’s certainly one thing that would make me think twice about getting a touch right now though.
#35
Steven Owens → www.scientifics.net
I think part of the reason for the limitations are so people buy iPhones instead. ;)
#36
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Now that the iPhone 1.1.1 update has been jailbroken, the iPod touch might follow, and maybe we can get iPhone apps on the iPod like Google maps and Mail. That would definitely make me consider an iTouch over an iPhone
#37
Blair Beckwithhttp://www.macrumors.com/2007/10/08/ipod-touch-calendar-to-get-add-edit-functionality/
May be of interest?
#38
SamI cant agree…its fine!
#39
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
Glenn check this out: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/10/11/hack-enable-adding-calendar-events-on-your-ipod-touch/
#40
Blair BeckwithIMHO, not much point in a hack when it’s coming out in a patch soon.
#41
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
You know for a fact its coming out in a patch soon huh?
#42
dstaleyyou have to understand that the iPod touch is that, and iPod. First and foremost, it’s a media player. Apple wants to make clear differences in their products. The iPod touch is not to be an iPhone without a phone, it’s supposed to be an iPod.
#43
Chris Thomson → christhomsonblog.com
Yeah, true. But Apple seemed to have “teased” iPod touch users with the *almost* same look, and interface. Really, aside from the back, a little bit of the front, and the missing app icons on the screen, their aren’t many HUGE differences. They could have made the iPod look more like an iPod, and not an iPhone. It seems as though they did little things to make the iTouch different, like put the Sleep/Wake button of the opposite side of the top of it.
#44
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
Still no patch..
#45
AllanI own an iPod touch 16GB and I’m pretty sad that I can’t add my old iPod Video 30GB games and like you guys said, Notes are a very important feature that should be implanted in every iPod! I usually take notes for my exams at school, but now I’ll create PDFs and convert them into images format with iPresent It, so the notes will be displayed on the iPod touch. After all, iPod touch can now zoom on pictures to view details.
Here is the link to download iPresent It, an application that will converts your Keynote presentations, PowerPoint presentations and PDFs in viewable images resized for the iPod;
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/ipod_itunes/ipresentit.html
For the lack of Mail, Notes, SMS, Weather, Stocks, Google Maps jailbreaking the iPod is the only solution to benefit of iPhone’s handy applications..
#46
AllaniPod touch native applications are finally available for $19,99!!!! :)
I bought them and they are absolutely amazing (new features such as iTunes Movie, Rental, Web Clips, etc…)