After much speculation that a “phone-less” iPhone held a prominent spot on Apple’s “To Do” whiteboard, Apple released what many anticipated would be such a device in the form of the iPod touch, an iPod that shares most of the iPhone’s multimedia features and a small subset of its communications tools. Yet it bears the iPod name rather than allying itself with the iPhone. As an iPod touch its main mission remains media.
For some expecting a hybrid of the iPod and iPhone, the touch will come as a disappointment. But even without skewed expectations, the iPod touch is an imperfect player—offering a somewhat arbitrary feature set, no physical or remote controls for adjusting volume or controlling the player, very restricted video output capabilities, and, at best, an under-whelming display (and, at worst, one that’s virtually unwatchable when viewing dark video).
The is-and-isn’t iPhone
While iPod it may be, the form-factor, interface, and underlying architecture demand that the touch be compared to the iPhone rather than a “traditional” iPod such as the new iPod classic and third-generation (3G) iPod nano. Like the iPhone, the iPod touch has a 3.5-inch (diagonally measured) glass touch-screen display—one that offers a resolution of 480-by-320 pixels and a pixel density at 163 pixesl-per-inch (ppi). (At one time, Apple’s tech specs suggested that the iPhone had a lesser pixel density of 160 ppi, but those specifications have been changed to say that the two devices sport the same pixel density.) Rather than scrolling around the interface, you tap, pinch, and swipe, just as you do with an iPhone. You launch applications from a Home screen, and you turn the device on and off or put it to sleep with a switch mounted on the top of the iPod.
The audio port is located at the bottom of the player next to the dock connector port and—thank goodness—it isn’t recessed. Unlike with the iPhone, which bears a recessed audio port on the top of the phone, you can use the plug from any pair of third-party headphones without the need for an adapter.
Apple’s iPod touch
Also unlike the iPhone, the iPod touch has no physical volume buttons, which is a problem. iPod owners are accustomed to adjusting volume and moving forward or back a track without having to retrieve the player from their pocket. Without buttons and no support for a remote control, this is impossible with the iPod touch. Bad enough that the white earbuds let the world know that you’ve got some kind of iPod in your pocket on an unsavory subway. Worse is displaying that iPod to the world when you need to turn down the volume.
Giving credit where it’s due, Apple did provide a simple way to return to the Now Playing screen from anywhere in the interface. Just press the Home button twice in rapid succession, and a screen appears showing the title of the currently playing song along with a volume slider, Next, and Previous buttons, and an offer to close the window or move to the Now Playing screen.
Both devices include Wi-Fi, but their ability to take advantage of it varies. Each includes the Safari Web browser and YouTube application, but the touch lacks the iPhone’s Mail, Stocks, Maps, and Weather applications.
The iPod touch offers a separate Contacts application, whereas the iPhone puts Contacts in the Phone area of the device. Outside of this difference, the two versions of Contacts work similarly. You can create and edit contacts on each device. And when you tap a URL in a contact, Safari launches and takes you to that address. Of course, tapping phone, address, and e-mail fields within a contact does nothing on the iPod touch, as it lacks applications for taking advantage of those items.
Both devices include a Calendar application, but only the iPhone lets you create events. With the iPod touch you must create events on your computer and then move them to the iPod when you sync it. And yes, it does seem odd that you can enter and edit contacts on the iPod touch but not events.
The two Photos applications are also quite similar. Because the iPod touch lacks a camera, you’ll find no Camera Roll entry on the iPod. And as the iPod has no e-mail client, you’ll find no option for e-mailing photos or sending photos to a .Mac Web Gallery (which works by e-mailing photos to a special .Mac address). Although the Photos application doesn’t offer a command for assigning pictures to contacts (as you can with the iPhone), you can do this in the Contacts application by selecting a contact, tapping Edit, tapping the Photo field, and choosing a photo from the Photo Albums screen that appears.
You won’t find a Notes application on the iPod touch, which is another oddity, not only because the iPhone has it, but also because earlier iPods include a Notes feature. Games are missing as well as is the ability to record via a third-party microphone. And while you can manually manage media with the iPod touch (something you can’t do with an iPhone), there’s no Disk Mode for the touch, meaning you can’t use it as a hard drive as you can other iPods.
iPod and iPhone media parity
Once you enter the iPod area of the touch, you’ll find the experience nearly indistinguishable from the iPhone. Turn the iPod touch to landscape view and up pops Cover Flow. Flick to move through your collection of album covers and tap on a cover to see any tracks on that album that the touch holds. Tap a track title to begin playing the track. Rotate the iPod to portrait orientation and the Now Playing screen appears. Here’s where you can adjust volume, switch on shuffle or repeat, and drag the playhead to move back or forward in the track.
In areas of the iPod interface other than the Now Playing screen, you’ll see Playlists, Artists, and Songs buttons at the bottom of the screen, placed exactly as they are on the iPhone. Because the iPod touch has a separate Videos application that can be accessed from the Home screen (the iPhone places a Videos button in the iPod area), you’ll find an Albums entry at the bottom of the touch’s screen when using the iPod functions. Tap More, and you’ll see the Audiobooks, Compilations, Composers, Genres, and Podcasts entries. Tap an entry to view its contents.
Vetting video
Video navigation and playback are just as similar on the iPod touch and iPhone. Tap the Videos button on the iPod’s Home screen, and you’ll see your videos broken into categories including Movies, TV Shows, Music Videos, and Podcasts. With the TV Shows and Podcasts areas, you’ll be told how many episodes of a particular title are on the iPod— Macworld Video (3 Episodes), for example.
Tap a video to begin playing it. Unlike with the iPhone, which always plays video from wherever you last left off, the iPod touch includes an option for selecting whether the video plays from the beginning or from where you last stopped. In this setting, you’ll also find a TV Out option in the iPod touch’s Video settings. (The iPhone currently doesn’t support Video Out.) Regrettably, the iPod touch can output video only via new $49 Apple video composite or component cables (available around the end of September). Old accessories that support video output from an iPod don’t work with the touch.
Given that one of the main reasons for purchasing an iPod touch is to watch videos on its relatively expansive screen, it’s unfortunate that video and photos don’t look as good as they could. Macworld purchased two iPod touches. The one I reviewed displayed video that was noticeably darker than that of my iPhone. For example, dark scenes in the classic Roman Polanski film, Chinatown, were really dark—lacking detail that the iPhone nicely detailed. The display also had a yellower cast than the iPhone. Dark images in photo albums similarly lacked detail.
With brightness pushed all the way up on an iPhone (left) and iPod touch (right), it’s clear that the iPhone has the brighter display.
The other iPod touch was far worse. Dark portions of video were extremely dark, with lighter areas completely blown out as if someone had cranked the contrast too high. Regrettably, the iPod touch has no contrast control, just brightness, so there’s no fix for this problem other than returning it to Apple in the hope of getting one without the problem. We’re not the only ones affected by this issue. Others have reported similar problems with their iPod touches.
Touching the iPod’s killer app
While some may be distressed at the apparent hobbling of the iPod touch’s Wi-Fi capabilities, Wi-Fi was included with this iPod largely for a single reason—music purchasing. The iPod touch includes a new iTunes icon on the Home screen for doing just that. Tap it while connected via Wi-Fi, and you’re taken to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. Here you can browse featured music as well as Top Ten selections in a variety of genres. Tap the Search button and you can use the iPod’s keyboard to search for music at The Store. (You can’t obtain videos, audiobooks, or podcasts from the Wi-Fi store.)
The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store worked quite well in my tests. I previewed Wi-Fi Music Store files both with fast and slow Wi-Fi networks. With fast networks it took very little time for the store’s interface to appear and to preview and download tracks. On a slower network, previews took a little longer to load but, once loaded, played without interruption. I attempted to download an album when on a particularly slow network and managed to get half the tracks before I had to leave the area. After I returned home, the touch automatically logged onto my network and completed the download.
Once you download tracks, you can listen to them immediately—they appear in a Purchased playlist found in the iPod’s Playlists screen. When you next sync the iPod, the purchased tracks are automatically downloaded to your computer. You can download your purchased tracks to another computer, though they won’t download automatically (as the iPod automatically downloads tracks only to the computer it’s currently linked to). To do so just select the iPod in iTunes' Source list, and choose Transfer Purchase From iPod touch , where iPod touch is the name you've assigned to the iPod.
I really enjoyed the freedom of previewing and purchasing music on the go. Being able to pull music from the ether is terrific and something I plan to do a lot in the future.
Getting a charge out of it
Apple rates the iPod touch’s battery charge at 22 continuous hours of music playback and five hours of video playback. By way of comparison Apple suggests the iPhone will get 24 hours of music playback and seven hours of video playback from that single charge. It’s fairly typical that Apple underestimates the amount of playtime you’ll get from a single charge. In our first audio battery test, this wasn’t the case. My 16GB iPod touch played audio continuously for 22 hours and 41 minutes. We’re continuing to test audio as well as video play times both with Wi-Fi switched on and off. We’ll report the results when we have them.
The lowdown
After spending a couple of months with the iPhone, it’s hard to pick up the iPod touch and not think about what could have been. If only video looked as good on the touch as it does on the iPhone. If only Apple had compromised on the iPod’s sleek lines to add a couple of unobtrusive volume buttons (or offered a headset that included remote controls). If only the whole iPod-as-PIM-concept had been thought through to the point where both contacts and calendar events could be entered on the iPod. If only I could use my old video accessories with my new iPod.
Among my list of concerns only one is a deal-killer—the quality of the video. Yes, the iPhone-like interface is impressive. Yes, being able to surf the Web and purchase music while on the move is incredibly convenient. But the iPod touch was created with video in mind and this is the one area where it can’t shortchange its owner. Let’s hope that, with the next product run (or, better yet, the divine power of a firmware update), the touch will provide the same glorious video as the iPhone. The resulting device won’t be perfect, but it will be a vital step in the right direction.Looks just like another iphone sadly.
India needed a record score to win but instead Australia edged closer to a milestone of their own, posting their 15th consecutive Test victory as they wrapped up the Boxing Day Test within four days. Australia will now head into the Sydney Test that starts on Wednesday aiming to equal their own record of 16 straight Test wins and they will no doubt fancy their chances after India folded for 161 and crashed to a 337-run defeat at the MCG.
An extra day's rest will also be much appreciated by Australia's fast bowlers, who toiled hard in searing heat against a stonewalling India. Not only did India forget how to fight, they were outplayed in subcontinent-like conditions as Melbourne's temperature nudged 40 degrees. Ricky Ponting rotated his attack and they showed few signs of exhaustion with Mitchell Johnson picking up 3 for 21 and Brett Lee and Brad Hogg each grabbing two.
India, on the other hand, struggled in the conditions. Sourav Ganguly, who was the second-last man out when he departed for 40, had been at the crease for just over an hour when he slumped on the ground after running a two. He needed attention from the team physio and batted on in the sweltering conditions, but his team-mates kept falling around him.
The end came quickly for India, who had five wickets in hand at tea but survived barely an hour after the break. MS Dhoni attempted a lavish cover-drive against Johnson and edged behind to Adam Gilchrist, who finished with eight dismissals for the match and not only passed Ian Healy's Australian Test wicketkeeping record of 395 victims but also earned $144,000 for Glenn McGrath's cancer charity - he wore pink gloves and his sponsors offered $18,000 per dismissal.
Once the established batsmen were gone and Australia could sniff a day off it all became rather a procession. Anil Kumble edged a Johnson leg-cutter behind to Gilchrist, Harbhajan Singh was run out without facing a ball and Ganguly prodded Hogg to silly mid-off. By that stage the result was no longer in doubt and perhaps India were not upset to also enjoy a free Sunday, as Johnson finished the carnage by bowling RP Singh for 2.
The finale was flatter than last season's new-year champagne after India promised so much fizz with their bowling efforts on the first day. Back then it looked like Australia might be seriously challenged for the first time in a home Test since India last visited, in 2003-04. But that spark was gradually extinguished over the next three days and India's batsmen must find some way to reverse their fortunes before the Sydney Test.
Theirs is a batting line-up full of stars but none of them shone as they chased a whopping 499 for victory. Ganguly was at least willing to attack, as was Sachin Tendulkar, but no batsman reached a half-century in their second innings. Yuvraj Singh's place might not be certain after India rejigged their batting order to retain him at No. 6. He departed for 5 shortly before tea, missing a straighter ball from Hogg that would have crashed into his stumps. Yuvraj was cleared of showing dissent at an umpire's decision in the first innings and again he waited a few moments before trudging off after Mark Benson's lbw decision.
He did not score in the first innings and should India ditch him for Sydney it might allow Virender Sehwag to open and Rahul Dravid to drop down from the unfamiliar opening position. Dravid was painfully slow in the first innings and in the second he had 16 from 114 balls when he fell lbw just before lunch, playing back to Andrew Symonds, who had just reverted from medium pace to offspin.
That defensive mindset was also present in his partner Wasim Jaffer, who was on 15 when he edged behind off Lee to give Gilchrist his record-breaking 396th dismissal. The breakthrough was a relief for Lee, who three balls earlier had experienced the same sinking feeling that Johnson and Zaheer Khan had suffered earlier in the match when he thought he had a wicket only to see Billy Bowden's no-ball signal. Lee dug in a short one that Jaffer appeared to glove through to Gilchrist but Bowden's decision, which again was correct, stifled the appeal.
After Jaffer and Dravid departed India were ticking along nicely as VVS Laxman, Tendulkar and Ganguly played some impressive strokes but none could build a match-saving partnership. Tendulkar looked terrific when he went down on one knee to square-drive Lee through point for four but he was then out-thought by Lee, who followed a quick bouncer with a good ball outside off stump that was too full to cut, luring Tendulkar into the shot which he edged behind.
Laxman had calmly worked his way to 42 when he succumbed to the frustration of Stuart Clark's tight bowling. Clark was following the team plan of suffocating India's scoring and had 0 for 15 in his 12th over when Laxman drove on the up straight to Michael Clarke at cover and Laxman was clearly annoyed by his lapse in concentration. He had been watchful in his 112-ball innings but was quickly onto any bad balls from Hogg, who dropped short more often than he would like. Laxman pulled a pair of Hogg deliveries through midwicket for boundaries and was also impressive with his straight drives.
While there were moments of satisfaction for India their overall experience, after the first day, was disheartening. When Steve Waugh's Australians set their record 16-match winning streak it was India who ended the successful run. They have three days before the Sydney Test to work out how they can prevent Ponting's men from equalling that record.
Over the past few weeks, Finlay has neglected his personal well-being to protect Hornswoggle from the clutches of The Great Khali. At Armageddon, however, the illegitimate son of Mr. McMahon finally repaid the favor, helping the Irishman slay the Punjabi giant, and earning one of the, literally, biggest wins of his career.
In consecutive weeks on SmackDown, the brawler from Belfast felt the wrath of Khali leading up to their Armageddon clash, each time sacrificing himself to shield Hornswoggle from harm. Many had wondered if the leprechaun was the weakness in Finlay’s brutal in-ring arsenal. But at Armageddon, Hornswoggle proved his worth in gold by giving the Irishman the opening he needed to take down The Great Khali. With referee Charles Robinson’s back turned, Finlay’s pint-sized partner entered the ring and delivered a very low blow with the shillelagh, allowing the Irishman to nail Khali’s skull with the club and seal the win.
The age-old maxim “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” rang true for the Irish at Armageddon Sunday night. But will this victory put some distance between Finlay and The Great Khali, or will the Punjabi giant continue to stalk Hornswoggle despite the Irishman’s best protective efforts?.....
While these are the results of the other matches of Armageddon were -
AC Milan superstar Kaka has been crowned as FIFA's World Player of the Year, beating off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Kaka has had a glittering year for AC Milan, during which they won the Champions League, and has won the Ballon d'Or award for the European footballer of the year, FIFPro's world player of the year voted by fellow professionals and World Soccer's player of the year.
Argentina forward Messi came second, and Portuguese winger Ronaldo was in third place.
Kaka said at the awards ceremony at Zurich's Opera House: "Tonight is a really special night for me - it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one game for Brazil. But the Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for."
Ronaldo, 22, said he was hugely honoured to be short-listed for the award - which has never been won by a Premier League player.
AC Milan beat Boca Juniors 4-2 to become the first European winners of the FIFA Club World Cup. A double from Filippo Inzaghi and goals from Alessandro Nesta and Kaka earned the Italians a deserved victory at the International Stadium in Yokohama, where a sell-out crowd was treated to a fitting climax to a thrilling tournament.
It took Carlo Ancelotti's side 21 minutes to make the breakthrough. Kaka drove at the Boca defence and after his shot was blocked, he instinctively and superbly drove the ball into the path of Inzaghi, who did not require a second invitation to slot the ball home from six yards. From the restart, though, Boca quickly moved the ball up the other end and Rodrigo Palacio nodded home to level the scores.
Play resumed at a frenetic pace following the interval and within five minutes, Nesta's stunning volley restored Milan's advantage. A couple of menacing runs from the lively Kaka threatened to add to their lead, while only the post denied Hugo Ibarra a superb, long-range equaliser.
With Kaka in inspirational form, though, Milan began to dominate proceedings and it was the Brazilian who made it 3-1 just after the hour mark, slotting through the goalkeeper's legs from a tight angle after a purposeful charge down the left flank. The 25-year-old, a candidate to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award at tomorrow's Gala, then supplied a second goal for Inzaghi in the 71st minute.
Pablo Ledesma reduced the deficit with time running out, but the day belonged to AC Milan, who succeeded where the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United (both 2000), Liverpool (2005) and Barcelona (2006) had failed.
The Football Association have confirmed that Fabio Capello will succeed Steve McClaren as England manager.
CAPELLO'S BACKROOM STAFF
• Franco Baldini
Former Roma sporting director Baldini is likely to be appointed as assistant manager but will occupy a position similar to that of Tord Grip under Sven-Goran Eriksson in a hands-off, advisory role.
• Italo Galbiati
Galbiati is expected to fill a role next to Capello in the Wembley dug-out, operating in a motivational and coaching role more similar to that of - dare we say it - Steve McClaren under Eriksson.
• Massimo Neri
Fitness trainer at Juventus and Real Madrid during Capello's spells and an integral member of the team due to the manager's reliance on physical strength and speed.
• Franco Tancredi
Goalkeeping coach and Roma legend from his days between the sticks who represented Italy at the 1986 World Cup and has been with `Don Fabio' throughout nearly all of his managerial career.
The news was revealed 48 hours after Capello agreed in principle to lead the Three Lions, with the decision being ratified by the FA Board yesterday.
Final negotiations between the FA and Capello's advisors have now been completed and the former Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid coach has signed a four-and-a-half year contract and will begin work on January 7.
'I am delighted that Fabio Capello has agreed to become England manager,' said FA chief executive Brian Barwick.
'When we set out to recruit the new manager, we said we were committed to appointing a world-class candidate. In Fabio Capello we have that man.
'Fabio is a winner. His record over the last two decades speaks for itself.
'At every club he has managed Fabio has won the league title and Sir Trevor Brooking and I were left in no doubt of his passion and commitment to bring that success to the England team.'
Capello will officially be unveiled in central London on Monday, just under four weeks after McClaren was sacked following England's dismal failure to reach Euro 2008.
The 61-year-old made his desire to take the job known almost immediately and was quickly installed as the number one candidate once former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho backed out of the running at the weekend.
Capello's standing in the game mean his services come at a price.
His estimated £6.5million annual salary dwarfs the amount Sven-Goran Eriksson commanded, although, if he delivers what the FA feel he is capable of, it will be money well spent.
Capello's contract takes in not just the 2010 World Cup qualifiers but the campaign to reach Euro 2012 as well. His first official game in charge will be against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6.
'Fabio Capello is widely recognised as one of the world's finest coaches,' said FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking, who has worked closely with Barwick throughout the consultation process.
'He has achieved huge success wherever he has worked and has the respect of everyone in football.
'Fabio will have the full support of the FA and its coaching set-up. We are excited about working with him over the coming years as we focus on qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.'
Capello will liaise with Brooking over the installation of an English presence within a coaching team which has already been confirmed will include assistants Franco Baldini and Italo Galbiati, goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi and fitness coach Massimo Neri.
FA director of communications Adrian Bevington insisted Capello is willing to appoint an Englishman within his backroom team.
'Fabio is very, very open and happy to include an English coach - or English coaches - within his staff,' he said on Sky Sports News. 'The key point is that that is something we don't have to rush into.
'People should not get too hung up on the fact there is no English coach on the staff at the moment.'
Well here is a funny webbie ..If u wanna track Santa roaming around the globe go to
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.htm and check out their tracker to track santa on the christmas eve i remember doing it last year but now this year its BIGger coz they are now with google so do check it out if u really wanna see santa ;] and if u do see it or not, do tell me ;P
