iPod Touch Now has Calendar Input
When Apple first introduced the iPod Touch I was bemoaning the fact that the iPod Touch did not have the capability for calendar input.
Most busy parents need to be able to input appointments on the go.
Apparently Apple fixed that glitch with a little firmware update back in December that slipped by without my notice. So now after Apple Inc. announced the addition of Mail, Notes, Stocks, Maps, and Weather applications to the iPod Touch in January 2008, the iPod Touch is truly becoming the phoneless iPhone. (Buying tip: Make sure the unit that you are purchasing includes the new apps or you will have to purchase these separately as a download from Apple)
If anything, the iPod Touch is as close to an Apple PDA as they come. Now that you can input to the calendar and contacts and sync them with your computer (if you use a Mac this is perfect) you have all your information with you on the go.
Some shortcomings of the iPod Touch as PDA include:
- no camera
- no bluetooth
- no wireless sync capabilities
- wi-fi only, so you will only get internet and email in a hotspot or at home on your own wireless network
But if you want all that, you may as well get the iPhone (still no wireless sync though).
As you know, I am fascinated by all things Apple, which elevates me to “very cool parent” in the eyes of some little people that I know!
Go to iPod Touch as PDA to read more about the PDA features of the iPod Touch. Also check out my post about using a digital planner.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
That sounds pretty useful after all. I already have an ipod, so I didn’t see any point in the touch. In Canada we can’t get the iPhone yet, but those might be nearly as good.
Wow, Tim, I didn’t realize that the iPhone had not arrived in Canada yet. The iPod Touch is a good alternative because you get the same interface and no monthly fees but of course, you give up the always available internet connection and the phone capabilities.
Your post is old enough that I doubt you’ll even see this comment. But I thought I’d point out that the first “shortcoming” that you list is actually a pro for a lot of people like me.
A lot of military facilities, as well as a number of private companies with proprietary information, do not allow cameras on site. As a result, I’ve been tied to a Palm TX PDA for years. I’m also limited to the cheapest models of cell phones, unless I wanted to switch to a Blackberry, and I just hate Blackberries.
So not having a camera makes the iPod Touch nearly perfect for me, since I now know that you can directly input to the calendar and address book.
Brian ~
So true. Many government facilities do not allow cameras inside – and finding a device without a camera is hard to do these days. Many parents would probably prefer that their children’s phones were camera-less as well – but unfortunately the pickings are slim.
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