As soon as I picked it up, the thickness difference was immediately noticeable, and welcome. It is a lot easier to grasp than the iTouch.
Next thing, the layout changed a bit from the iTouch… which I don’t like too much. The headphone out is now located at the top left of the device, rather than the bottom right. The button, due to this, was shifted to the top right of the device. I’m right-handed, so I would have much preferred the opposite (button on left, output on right) due to hand placement. Minor inconvenience at most. There is also a new switch (not button) above where the volume control is; this is for toggling silent. The power adapter location was unchanged, but there is something new around it… wire mesh, to guard the upgraded speakers, as well as the microphone.

The menus are about the same, there are a few new icons coming from the iPod Touch and a few missing icons as well; the changes I recall are:

[New] Camera
[New] Compass
[New] Messages
[New] Phone
[Replacement] iPod → [Gone] Music & Video

In Settings you now have:

Airplane Mode
Sounds [contains your ring settings, ringtones, vibrate, etc.]
Phone [has your number, call settings (forwarding, waiting, CID), etc.]
Messages [preview, repeat, MMS]
iPod (replaced music & videos)
General -> Networking -> Enable 3G
General -> Networking -> Data Roaming
General -> Networking -> VPN
General -> Networking -> Tethering (if supported)

[Performance]
You also have an ass ton more memory to fiddle with. (I’m currently sitting at 141MB of memory free with Safari, Phone, iPod, and Mail in the background) You also have a bit more processing power and 3D acceleration for those awesome and not-so-awesome games on the crAppStore. Cydia runs a noticeable amount faster than on the older pods.

[Battery]
The battery life is around the same, I think it runs out a little faster due to the 3G, 2G, and EDGE networks, so try to turn those off when you don’t particularly need them to ensure you can last.

[Speakers & Microphone]
The speakers sound a hell-of-a-lot better compared to the iPod Touch 2G… they are a lot louder and clearer; the microphone picks up my voice well up close and at a distance (tried with Google Mobile App and Voice Control).

[AT&T & WiFi Network Speeds]
The AT&T 3G speeds are not the best, but I can average about 1mbps download and 200kbps upload in town; where I like they drop to around 200kbps up and down. For WiFi, I can now transfer at more than twice the speed from my desktop. (Used to be 1200kb/s tops, now it’s 2500kb/s tops)

More Info

Jailbreaking…

Apple is trying to make it illegal. Why? It hurts their profits, they lose complete control over what you do, and it allows users to implement things Apple might have planned to suck you dry of more money in the future… copy and paste might ring a bell? Maybe bluetooth? Do it anyways, just to piss them off; you most likely need the money more than they do.

Why jailbreak? Open-source programs, more control over your iPod, better apps (apps have restrictions that go on the crAppStore… for example, no running in background, no brightness changes, 3G restrictions), functions are easier to perform.

Here’s just a few reasons I jailbreak:

• Themes (Winterboard is what I use)
• SBSettings – Swiping your finger across the status bar pops a menu up, allowing you to toggle things on and off. (For example, WiFi, 3G, Airplane mode, bluetooth)
• Cydia & Rock – Browsers for open-source and a few pay-for apps; also has themes and  ringtones, as well as a few other things
• Installous – Try those apps before you buy them.. most of them suck! (This is illegal so I don’t *cough* actually *hark* do it *harrrrrrrrkkk*)
• iBlank – Blank icons for organizing your pages
• Poof! – Make unnecessary icons go away
• Backgrounder – Allow applications to run in the background
• Insomnia – Lets your WiFi connection work in the background
• Kirikae – Application switcher, easier than visiting the springboard every time
• Veency – Access your pod through VNC (Veency is a server, not a client)
• qTweeter – Tweet while you’re doing anything, just slide your finger down from the status bar; you can even include photos, videos, the song you’re listening to, the page you’re visiting…

Oh I see.. What case do you use?

I fell in love with my first SwitchEasy case, so I decided to go with them again. I got myself the RebelSerpent reluctantly. The case I was wanting was on display on the front page, but was not yet for sell.. 4 days after I ordered and received my case, their site had been updated to introduce the CapsuleRebel M. I e-mailed them to see if I can’t get an exchange to that case, as I like it’s shell better; I’m awaiting a reply from them. The RebelSerpent is a very nice case though, very similar to the CapsuleRebel for my old iPod Touch. The buttons seem to be easier to press on here though… perhaps they fixed that?

You still get the case, two screen protectors, squeegee, cloth, dock plate, power adapter guard, and video dock. For some reason they decided to leave out the headphone adapter guard and short headphone cable. I have not had problems with the jack yet, so perhaps that is why.

But… the front?

What about it? I’m using a Zagg Screen Protector. They’re semi-permanent too, so you don’t have to replace them as often. Take a dremel to it for all I care, but pay me the 20$ for the replacement. Ass.

You’re an ass.

That’s not a question… don’t waste my time.

As shown on the site, they send you a package including:

• (1) RebelTouch Case consisting of:
  • (1) RebelTouch Soft Inner Shell
  • (1) RebelTouch Hard Outer Shell
• (1) ~2″ 3.5mm Male to Female Audio Cord
• (1) Dock Adapter [You can use your universal dock without removing the case]
• (1) Video Stand [Stands your iPod up at two different angles, to allow watching videos horizonally]
• (1) Power Jack Guard
• (2) Anti-static Screen Guard
• (1) Squeegee for ↑
• (1) Microfiber Cloth

Now that you know what’s inside the box–err—plastic, I’ll start on the actual “review”.

First of all, the case is somewhat of a hassle to get on, and more-so to take off… but you shouldn’t need to do that.
Revisit: Actually, the case is easy to get on when you read the directions…. :/

Look: Many people are concerned that cases take away from the appearance of the iPod, or that it covers too much of the iPod. I think this case does not negatively affect the iPod’s appearance. To be honest, I don’t like the silver backing at all, and having a complete black case makes the iPod look very sleek. The hard outer shell gives a shiny appearance, and since it looks similar to a spine, it looks pretty damn cool. No Apple logos are visible, and the only SwitchEasy logo visible is an embossed circle with three semi-diagonal lines entering it, about two-thirds of an inch in diameter.

Feel: It is a very snug fit, and the only area that seems loose is the bottom, where there is only a slim piece near the power jack. Since this is the case, it feels like this case is part of the iPod itself, and does not wiggle around like many cheaper alternatives. The case does not feel rubbery, which I was somewhat looking forward to for better grip. The hard outer shell protrudes from the softer inner shell to allow better sliding on cloth surfaces (into your pocket, for example).  Unless you have issues holding the iPod itself, I do not foresee any droppings in the near future due to this case. (Also see: Button functionality)

Button functionality: The buttons are some-what difficult to press, but I am almost certain that this is due to being a fresh case. Once the case wears in, these issues should disappear.

Protection: The inner shell is a complete piece that covers both volume controls and power control, insuring no debris can get inside there. The outer shell covers each corner, has a back spine, and 3 ribs to the sides to further protect sideways falls, then you get the absorption of the plastic inner shell along with this. Unless you plan to play tennis with your iPod instead of on it, you should have significant protection for your 100-400$ toy. Add the included power jack guard and you’re set to go.

Dock Plate: The dock plate is very snug, and has a cut-out for using the home button easier (unlike Apple’s dock plates). Very nice addition to the package, and seems more secure than the official dock plates.

Screen Protector: The included screen protector is on-average with most on the market right now. It’s definitely a plus to get some with your case though. If you are replacing your screen protector while putting on your new case, make sure to take the case off prior to applying the protector. Do not make the same mistake I did :/…

Video Stand: This is something I was thinking about making out of a clothes-hanger… now I don’t have to! The stand allows you to stand your iPod up HORIZONTALLY ONLY. Don’t try to stand it vertically, it WILL fall… get a dock for that. The smaller side is for a larger angle, and the larger side for a smaller. The iPod feels quite sturdy on the dock, but I would not set it at the side of a desk. If you plan to be using your iPod while in horizontal position, take it off the dock to make sure it does not fall.

Audio Cord: This is primarily for those plugs with too large of housings to plug into your iPod, normally due to a case. The provide you with this so you don’t have to worry about that, unless you have quite a few of these.

Now that that’s out of the way, lets see some pictures!

All the sites used the same payment option [paypal] and were placed on the same day near the same time [Oct. 19].

← skip to shipping prices and date →

Order #1 – SwitchEasy.com

First item I decided to purchase was my case, reluctantly. Why? The site did not offer any shipping options, and was priced at $3 for shipping and handling. I thought that this would mean that I would not receive this week. I went ahead and placed my order regardless of that, and I’m glad I did. Not even a half-hour later, I received an e-mail including the tracking number for the shipment.

Order #2 – B&H Photo Video (bhphotovideo.com)

The second item I purchased was a SmartTalk microphone for my iPod. This site had quite a few 5 star reviews, and shows it too. The item was priced 6$ under the suggested retail price, and plenty of shipping choices were offered, including UPS, US Mail, and Fedex.

Order #3 – ANTOnline.com

This time I strayed far away from my “safe zone”. This site is featured on both Amazon.com and Buy.com, but there seems to be controversy about site (for example, antonlinesucks.com). I decided to take my chances, and placed my final order for my iHome portable speaker. They offer ground and 2-day shipping methods. After placement of the order, I did not receive any follow-up emails concerning my order, and the only possible way to get support is via your order number, only found on ONE page, which is your receipt. Fortunately, I still had this page in my history.

Ridiculous shipping price from ANTOnline, and suprisingly the lowest shipping cost and least “known” ship method is going to be delivered first. All products weight less than .5lb (ANTOnline’s shipment weighed .34lb)

Spec: <Item> : <Price @ Time of Purchase>

Case: Antec P180 : $190
Power Supply: Antec NeoPower 650W : $99.99

Motherboard: eVGA 750i SLI FTW : $189.99
Processor: Intel “Wolfdale” E8400 Core2Duo @ 3.0GHz : $189.99
RAM: OCZ HPC Reaper Edition (2×2GB) @ 800MHz : $97

Video Card: eVGA Geforce GTX280 SSC Edition (1GB GDDR3) : $459.99

DVD-Drive: Samsung 20X DVD Write w/ Lightscribe : $27.99
Hard Drive: 500GB Western Digital SATA 3GB/S, 7200RPM : Not sure

Monitor: 22″ Samsung 2253BW (2ms GTG), No Dead Pixels : $269.99

Total spent at time of purchase: $1,524.94 (Not Including HD)

Update [10/19/09] : 5th Game Announced

#1 – Google Ea—

#1 – NFSU

Need For Speed Undercover on the iPod sounds a little… meh. It’s actually quite good!

#2 – geoDefense Swarm

“Tower” Defense game that allows custom pathing (no set paths like in the regular geoDefense!

#3 – Fieldrunners

Another “Tower” Defense game that allows custom pathing.

#4 – ColorBlind

Are you a web developer learning RGB color codes, or just wanting to exercise your color memory? Here’s a “game” for you.

#5 – Rock Band

You heard it right. Rock Band has packed up from the consoles and moved onto your iPod.

Unfortunately, since the App Store sucks, I will not be providing links. Just search.

#1 – Google Voice

Go figure, another Google app on my top 1, what can I say? Given you have a Google Voice account, you have access to your free SMS, voicemail, and connect calls to your phones. Sorry guys, only installable through Cydia (Jailbroke iPods only)!

#2 – NESynth

NES-sounding piano or NES controller. Very fun to play the tunes from your old games, or transform new songs/game themes into this 8-bit genre.

#3 – Guitar Toolkit

*: Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to try out the tuner in this app. (I think this is the app I’m thinking of… :/)

Other than that, this app features a fretboard showing scales, a metronome, and chord database (including playback). It allows you to change the tuning of the guitar or bass to anything.

#4 – Colloquy

Multi-server IRC Client, supports auto-connect, auto-join, auto-identify, and bouncing to other Colloquy clients on Mac. Doesn’t run in the background unfortunately… but you can always get Backgrounder from Cydia.

#5 – Skype

Place calls to phones *as long as you have a wifi connection*.  This can potentially turn your iTouch into an iPhone. Pair this with Google Voice for awesome functionality. Unfortunately, you cannot receive calls if you do not have a Skype number, and calling requires a subscription or credit.

#1 – Google Chrome

Yep, a browser is my number one application. First download on a fresh install of windows, every time.

Main reason I like it: Extremely fast
Main thing I don’t like: Slim, not much customization

#2 – WinSCP

Very nice FTP/SFTP with many many features.

Main reason I like it: Send-to extensions
Main thing I don’t like:  Nothing, at all… perfect app

#3 – Foobar2000

Audio (only) player that supports a generous amount of audio file types.

Main reason I like it: Slim, simple-but-informative interface
Main thing I don’t like: “Simple-but-informative interface” takes a while to set up

#4 – Notepad++

Feature-filled notepad replacement that supports syntax highlighting for commonly used coding languages; also introduces macros, a FTP interface, plugins, and much more.

Main reason I like it: Syntax highlighting, tabbed interface
Main thing I don’t like: Seems more bloated than needed

#5 – Daemon Tools Lite

Nifty tool that allows you to mount disk images onto a virtual drive, using them as if it were a CD drive.

Main reason I like it: Easy to use
Main thing I don’t like: Explorer integration never seems to work

First was the case, a simple Griffin slider case (pictured below), as well as a dock (pictured below). Strange that he’d part with the dock? The Incase case that he got would be too difficult to remove each time he wanted to use it (practically every night). I also received a wall outlet to USB adapter, to allow charging without a computer, a pack of screen protectors (ugh… pain in the ass to put on), and the rest of the extended warranty (about to roll over to one year).

When I got it, it already had the 3.0 firmware installed, as well as the newest (3.12) update. I’ve, since then, jailbroke it (3.12) with blackra1n, installed Cydia and Installous, as well as a few other nifty apps. To name a few: Winterboard, SBSettings, qTweeter, OpenSSH, Veency (VNC Server, which the following pictures are from… the X is your ‘virtual finger’)

I went with the minimalistic theme approach; don’t really like all the graphicy themes out there, and there’s too many to browse for a decent looking one… most, sadly, suck.

Anyways, lets start. First of all…:

Other than that, I have an assload of games, synthesizers, guitar toolkits, like 6 clocks (lol), few utiities, IRC, Pandora, Skype and a few browers installed.

Currently I have

• 2259 Songs
• 150 Music Videos, Movies, and short films
• 6 Photos (Probably backgrounds)
• 61 Applications

using a total of 27.4gb with 2.2gb free.

New Accessories

Of course with new stuff, I have to find things for it; it’s a necessity for me… After a few hours of browsing I’ve finally made up my mind on what to get for my new gadget. Unfortunately, I can’t afford a better pair of headphones currently, but these Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds will hold me off long enough.

Lets begin, shall we?

Top Priority, New Case

This Griffin case is scratching the hell out of the back of the iPod; the new case is only going to mask it.

I decided to go with the SwitchEasy RebelTouch case, and gawd does it give you quite the package with it. It comes in multiple colors, and includes everything in the picture below. For $24.99, I feel this was a no-brainer.

Skype, tuners, voice memos… where’s my microphone?!

Too bad there’s not a built in microphone… and I really don’t want a pair of headphones with a mic that I can only use for the iPod.

Alas, the Griffin SmartTalk fixes this for us. This nifty accessory is a microphone (with a 30″ cable leading to it) that allows you to connect any pair of headphones or speakers into it.

Can’t hear shit? Plug in a speaker or two.

The built-in speaker is near… well.. absolute crap? It’s only good for a few things, and that just doesn’t cut it.

Treat yourself with the iHome iHM7 (Portable Speaker), or it’s bigger brother iHM77 (not pictured). Don’t waste your money buying batteries, this one includes a Li-on USB-rechargeable battery that lasts 4+ hours. You’re also able to “expand” the speaker to give it an extra bass and volume boost, as well as add on more iHome speakers with the hidden expansion wire on the bottom of the speaker (iHM7 only I think) to give it even more volume. Collapsed, it measures 2″ x 2″ x 2″ and weighs roughly .3lb.

Update: Ugh, registry-saved settings suck.