The best iPod we've ever created

[SmartAlx]

I never owned an ipod, but I’ll bet a lot of EIP members have. I hear a lot of people wondering where this feature’s at or can you do that function with the iPod on the iPhone. Seems to me that the “best ipod ever” claim is a bit... exaggerated. Coverflow and a touchscreen interface hardly makes it the best. But I’d like to really know, rather than just bash it.

Is there a place/chart that lists the differences between your best ipod and the iPhone’s ipod? I found a basic one, but there has to be more. Has anyone really examined the claim that the ipod on the iPhone is really “the best ipod (Apple’s) ever created?” If there isn’t one already, could we create such an organized chart of features ourselves? I’d be willing to organize the list if other people contribute.


EDIT: And please refrain from saying that the phone and internet make it the best ipod ever. Apple says the iPhone has a great phone, internet, AND the includes best ipod ever. I'm speaking Apples to Apples only. Let’s keep this iPod to iPod.

 

[FAsnakes]

IMO
It's the best iPod ever.

 

[DRabbit]

Well, "best" is a bit subjective, don't ya think?

As an example, it's not the "best" to someone who needs more than 8 gigs of storage, but it sure is the "best" to someone who needs one device that takes the place of two -- their cellphone and iPod nano.

Another example... it's not the "best" to someone who doesn't need to get on the internet and who doesn't want to shell out $600, but it sure is the "best" to someone who needs those features and has the money to pay for them.

You can't quantify "best"... it's going to be different to different people.

 

[wildonrio]

I never owned an ipod, but I’ll bet a lot of EIP members have. I hear a lot of people wondering where this feature’s at or can you do that function with the iPod on the iPhone. Seems to me that the “best ipod ever” claim is a bit... exaggerated. Coverflow and a touchscreen interface hardly makes it the best. But I’d like to really know, rather than just bash it.

Is there a place/chart that lists the differences between your best ipod and the iPhone’s ipod? I found a basic one, but there has to be more. Has anyone really examined the claim that the ipod on the iPhone is really “the best ipod (Apple’s) ever created?” If there isn’t one already, could we create such an organized chart ourselves? I’d be willing to organize the list if other people contribute.

Besides small hard drive and no lyrics, it really is the best ever IMO. The controls are amazing, as well as cover flow.

 

[iPhobos]

Well i am not sure if you watched the Keynote speech, but you get a better understand of what he means by its the best iPod ever.

Basically the iPhone is an iPod with the phone and internet added to it. Thats what makes it the best iPod ever. It has all the qualities ( Minus the capacity) of an iPod with the expansion of the screen, the phone, and the internet.

 

[iphonenut]

why would Apple market their new product as "the okay-est iPod we've ever made"

IMO, it is the best ipod. Music is music is music, and storage is storage is storage. some people don't need 80GB iPods (8GB is perfect for me)...so the only thing that's worth any sort of evaluation is the UI, and in this case, the cover flow and touchscreen do absolutely make a difference. the album art when the song is playing, the now playing button that's available at all times, the widescreen video playback.

instead of me telling you why it is, please tell me why it's not (and don't say storage as storage is a matter of individual preference)

 

[SmartAlx]

I don't think it's fair to say the iPhone's ipod is better than your 80gb ipod because it includes the phone and internet. Let's keep things ipod to ipod, okay?

I want features. Obviously the iPhone doesn't have the scrollwheel. But the iPod doesn't have the touchscreen. There's a tradeoff.

 

[Michael Baturin]

Well I don't have a list or anything, but take this into consideration.

iPhone's touchscreen interface has opened up possibilities for the iPod which were previously inhibited. Their "wheel" originally revolutionized the mp3 industry, and it was based off of, you guessed it, touching (in circles).

There was no exaggeration involved in the introduction and implementation of the iPod function in the iPhone. It does what they said it will do, and it does it better than the current iPod.

The primary reason the iPhone's version of the iPod is better than the current stand-alone iPod is Navigation. I am a web designer, and if I had to tell you what the most important part of a website is, I would say navigation. The navigation on the iPhone is equally as important and is clearly more advanced than on the iPod. Besides that, its more fun.

How is the navigation enhanced? Through the touchscreen (see the pattern). So in essense, the reason the claim "the best iPod we've ever created" is true is because of superior (not to mention more fun) navigation. And this is achieved through touch screen technology.

Heres a quick list of things that enhance navigation of iPhone's iPod compared to stand-alone iPod (which I owned 3 versions of throughout its time).

Consistency. Like a website, navigation links should be available through search of the website. Likewise, the iPod should have links throughout your search of the music (or video) you wish to listen to. Not only does iPhone have this, but this menu (at the bottom) is customizable (and readily available to click on while searching any category).

Repetition. Each screen brings you to a similar looking and functioning screen than the last. You hit artists, playlists, videos, and you get taken to a screen to scroll and navigate further (excluding coverflow of course).

Flow. Everything is seamlessly integrated in the iPod function, down to the last phone flip. Say you are in coverflow, and you hit an album chose a song and turn the phone back to portrait, the cover actually does a flip in the horizontal and vertical directions all at once! This along with everything else in the iPod function is testimate to its awesome GUI.

The list can go on, but i'm sure everyones tired of reading by now. It is hard to grasp the power of the iPhone until you have really sat down and played with one, and notice how I say play. Besides the normal phone, internet, and iPod, I consider this thing my toy (and an expensive one at that). It is just generally fun to scroll through your music, contacts, webpages. Navigation + Entertainment is what makes it superior. Hope this helps.

 

[SmartAlx]

Okay, let me add a couple of issues. This should give you an example of the things I'm looking for.

iPod plays these formats: AIFF, WAV, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless
iPhone these: AAC, MP3 (It's missing AIFF, WAV, and Apple Lossless)

Battery life:
16 hours for iPhone.
14 for iPod.

iPhone doesn't work with a lot of iPod accessories. Though that advantage should disappear quite quickly.

 

[Tinman]

Just a note about the capacity angle...

Keep in mind the iPhone is wireless. So with that in mind I have been listening to audio streams from the Web. Even at 64 kbps, which I can still use via EDGE, they sound pretty good.

I've also been playing with TVersity and with that can access every song on my PC. It will stream those tracks at either WiFi or EDGE speeds. Still a little rough around the edges (no pun!) but it works. And there are other options besides TVersity--and I expect we'll see even more as time goes by.

Granted this is done outside of the iTunes app, but it's still my iPhone after-all. And to me streaming might/will give me access to more music (and video) than I could fit on the largest of iPods.


Just my .02...


-- Mike

 

[Michael Baturin]

Okay, let me add a couple of issues. This should give you an example of the things I'm looking for.

iPod plays these formats: AIFF, WAV, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless
iPhone these: AAC, MP3 (It's missing AIFF, WAV, and Apple Lossless)

Battery life:
16 hours for iPhone.
14 for iPod.

iPhone doesn't work with a lot of iPod accessories. Though that advantage should disappear quite quickly.

I understand what you are saying. The increased battery life may be one of the reasons Apple claimed what it did.

The format types are a non-issue as iTunes will convert them to the necessary formats anyways (even AIFF, WAV, and Apple Lossless), and iTunes is the only way to get music on the iPhone.

But i'm pretty sure their claim had mostly to do with its superior GUI. It is just a more fun and intuitive design. Besides that, theres not many differences. Screens look similar, navigating them is different. You navigate on the screen itself instead of under it.

Album art is bigger and more attractive. Coverflow is existing. (BIG + in terms of GUI and entertainment)

 

[wildonrio]

Okay, let me add a couple of issues. This should give you an example of the things I'm looking for.

iPod plays these formats: AIFF, WAV, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless
iPhone these: AAC, MP3 (It's missing AIFF, WAV, and Apple Lossless)

Battery life:
16 hours for iPhone.
14 for iPod.

iPhone doesn't work with a lot of iPod accessories. Though that advantage should disappear quite quickly.

Just a small correction, the iPhone has 24 hour audio playback. See here and look under the category "Power and Battery".

 

[kcarr91]

i wish they would incorporate the click wheel in to the iPhone some how
not necessary the fast forward pause etc but the wheel function

the wheel was so simple and quick to use

i could navigate though the ipod so much faster

 

[rittchard]

Honestly I'd say the screen (size and aspect ratio) alone makes it the best iPod ever. Assuming you are interested in watching videos, TV shows and movies in widescreen format. There's almost no comparison. Not only is the screen nearly twice as large, but it's in a widescreen aspect ratio, making shows like The Office and movies just a joy to watch. The wonderful interface and coverflow, etc. are just icing on the cake for me.

FWIW, the other day I was playing with my (video) iPod and actually got annoyed at the interface (I wanted to jump immediately from where I was to sort by Artist or something like that). I couldn't believe I was actually complaining about the interface I used to praise so much.

 

[SmartAlx]

Oh, one more thing...

I understand that you can drag/drop files onto the iPod.

You can't do that with the iPhone.

 

[Michael Baturin]

Oh, one more thing...

I understand that you can drag/drop files onto the iPod.

You can't do that with the iPhone.

Drag/Drop files onto the iPod? Are you talking about its hard drive capability?

 

[SmartAlx]

Drag/Drop files onto the iPod? Are you talking about its hard drive capability?

From the computer to the ipod interface in iTunes. Is my ignorance showing?

 

[Michael Baturin]

Well....

Just Kidding . Populating the iPod and iPhone are done in exactly the same way with no difference between the two. Because they both sync through iTunes, it doesn't matter what you drag in there, both the iPod and iPhone are going to sync to the same iTunes.

If you are referring to the iPods capability of being a "portable hard-drive", that is, you can store files on it like a flash drive, well, iPhone can do that too. Of course the iPods 80GB is far superior to the iPhones 8GB maximum. But who buys a $250 / $600 hard drive? We use the thing for music and movies!

 

[SmartAlx]

Populating the iPod and iPhone are done in exactly the same way with no difference between the two. Because they both sync through iTunes, it doesn't matter what you drag in there, both the iPod and iPhone are going to sync to the same iTunes.

But can't you drag/drop music/movies around in iTunes for your iPod? The only way to specify which music/movies get put onto the iPhone is to create a playlist first. I was under the impression that the ipod doesn't suffer from this limitation. That you could just drag what songs/movies you wanted for the iPod. Is this not true?

 

[ColsTiger]

It's the best one I've ever seen. I've used the iTunes software on Motorola phones (ROKR and SLVR) and the Nano and 30 GB iPod versions and this iPod is definitely the best I've ever used. The display when you play video is FANTASTIC!