There is now confirmation that the iPhone is a legitimate, all thanks to Tarver Games’ new production, Ghosts Attack. This game, which should be released in the coming week, is probably one the deepest and most interesting releases I’ve seen.  From the interface, to the gameplay, to most everything in between, Ghosts Attack is one upcoming iPhone App that I am quite excited for.

To give a short overview of the plot, Ghosts Attack puts you in the middle of a rescue mission to help 13 scientists get rescued after an experiment goes terribly wrong.  Apparently the scientists were trying to invent a teleportation machine in the 1960’s.  Instead, and I think we’ve all ran into this issue from time to time, the scientists accidentally opened a portal to a alternate dimension where they were transported, never to be found.  Now, 40 years later, it is your task to help find these scientists in this dangerous, ghost-filled world.

In the beginning of the game, you are a new recruit in the world of Ghost hunting.  Most of the game’s opening missions are just a tutorial, but they are quite entertaining given what most iPhone games put you through.  You are led by Karl, your mustachioed guide and Torgan Science Rover Technician, who shows you the ropes on how to use your new vehicle.  Using fairly straight-forward missions, awesomely-poor voice acting and some uber-nerdy wit, the tutorial is over before you know it and the game begins.

The controlling scheme is quite intuitive and easy to use.  On the left side of your screen, there is a bar that allows you to change the speed that your Rover will travel with a slight slide of your thumb.  On the right, there is the button to shoot, which helps the destruction of enemy ghosts.  To steer, players must tilt the iPhone in the respective directions.  Getting used to the controlling scheme is going to take some time to master, but experienced gamers should be able to catch on quickly.

One good thing about the game is that the Rover is upgradable, specifically in the firepower and handling of the vehicle.  This adds some customization to an already deep production from Tarver.  Buying these upgrades are a fun way to spend the “credits” that you accumulate during the game.  Credits are earned by distance traveled, items recovered and ghosts killed, letting players have fun not only by spending money, but by making it as well.

Ghosts Attack uses the different functions of the iPhone in ways not even imagined by many other developers to enhance the gameplay.  For instance, with the use of the Google Maps interface, players can take their Rover to any place in the world to combat the Ghosts and recover important objects.  Selecting a region by use of Google Maps will let the game invent new levels for you to roam about, making the potential replay value virtually unlimited.  Ghosts Attack also implements less-common-but-not-previously-unused features such as Facebook Functionality, which will allow you to invite friends to play the game with you, coordinate rendezvous points or leave a package for fellow Ghosts Attack patrons.  Tarver Games’ upcoming title will also incorporate episodic content, which will allow players to download more missions, add-ons and Rover upgrades as the year progresses.  This will be a form of in-game transaction, costing each player about $0.99 per episode.

Ghosts Attack also has a very intriguing storyline.  Though I haven’t played all of the levels, many of which will be released at a later date, the plot develops pretty well for a mobile game.  Karl offers plenty of comic relief while the ghost characters are quite scary.  Let’s put it this way: I laughed, I cried and I cant wait to see what additional twists and turns will be made available as we move through the comings months.

My favorite part of Ghosts Attack was how impressively deep the game was.  Not only was the story good, the graphics tolerable and the gameplay entertaining, but the sheer number of levels was unexpected.  I think that Tarver Games really has something going here.  They have really pushed the bar to which gaming on the iPhone was thought possible.  Though it is a completely different style of game, I almost got a Half-Life vibe from Ghosts Attack.  It’s just that interestinh.

However, this brings me to one of the few negative aspects of Ghosts Attack.  First, I must add a disclaimer that this has nothing to do with the gameplay or in-game controlling schemes (things of which have been know to be very picky about).  No, instead this is more a broad, couldn’t-help-it criticism that should be taken very lightly.  I just wish that Tarver Games could have expanded on this title a little more.  It is already great, don’t get me wrong, but I would’ve liked to see this title go another step forward in development.  I know that Tarver doesn’t have unlimited resources or capital, so it is very hard to put any blame on them for this.  Let’s just hope that this game is a success, so Tarver is swiming in revenue and can kick even more ass with the sequel.  Also (and I’m nitpicking here), some of the loading times for the game were a bit slow.  Hopefully that will be taken care of to a certain exent by the time the public release is live.

Blast Factor: The significant thing about Ghosts Attack is not that it’s the best game that’s ever been made for the iPhone; that’s just not the case.  This title has shown the potential that iPhone has as a gaming platform.  Furthermore, the fact that Ghosts Attack came from a smaller developer like Tarver Games is just icing on the cake.  I cannot wait to see what Tarver brings in the future and, if we’re lucky, what a major developer can do if they sink enough resources into a project for the iPhone.  Ghosts Attack can be picked up for $4.99 at the iTunes App Store, which is a very fair price.  If you’ve got the iCash, I say give this App a shot and let your visions for the future of the iPhone as a gaming platform unfold.

Ghosts Attack will be available exclusively at the App Store for $4.99. A copy of this game was given to us by the publisher for reviewing purposes.

Panel, a new iPhone app, founded by Darius Fong, is aiming to bring back the record store experience of yesteryear, when music industry professionals and music buffs were present at your point of purchase to give you insight on what you might like or look forward to for the next addition to your record collection.

Panel is different than other music applications or online players. While many online music sites can match a playlist to your liking very well, like the engine at Last.fm, nothing is strictly personal, like press releases or ads. It’s by music lovers, for music lovers. Each Panelist can explain their choice and their influences to help users find out more about the album.

The Panel App streams two full albums each week in various categories, including rock, pop, indie, jazz and more. Curators of the Panel App will be featured panelists that are composers, radio DJs, record storeowners, producers, musicians, and others with a musical background, every month to feature music that they love.

The iPhone application will also feature interviews with the Panelists, album descriptions, and a one-touch process will be made available to users in order to purchase albums they like. In addition, these users may then comment on selections and invite friends to join, listen, and create a fan-supported community.

To find out more, go to WearePANEL.com for images of panelists and photo journals of each week’s content, interviews, “Panel Blog”, videos, podcasts, and links from featured albums to iTunes and Amazon.

“Rock Band is coming to iPhone/iPod touch this month,” EA Mobile announced on its Twitter account today but publisher’s love of social outlets didn’t stop there.

A post on the EA Mobile Facebook page reads:

“Check out the in-game Music Store to purchase additional tracks from OK Go, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz, Social Distortion, Devo, and more.”

So not only did EA confirm the game, they also confirmed an in-game music store for the game. Nice!

And best of all, EA released the game’s full core setlist. Have a look.

· 30 Seconds To Mars – “Attack”
· AFI – “Girls Not Grey”
· All American Rejects – “Move Along”
· Beastie Boys – “Sabotage”
· Blink-182 – “All The Small Things”
· Blondie – “Hanging on the Telephone”
· Foo Fighters – “Learn To Fly”
· Foo Fighters – “Everlong”
· George Thorogood & the Destroyers – “Bad to The Bone”
· Jethro Tull – “Hymn 43″
· Joan Jett – “Hymn 43″
· Lynard Skynard – “Simple Man”
· Motorhead – “Ace of Spades ‘08″
· Pixies – “Debaser”
· Presidents of The United States of America – “Ladybug”
· Rise Against – “Give It All”
· Silversun Pickups – “Lazy Eye”
· Smashing Pumpkins – “Cherub Rock”
· Steve Miller Band – “Take The Money and Run”
· The Go Go’s – “We Got The Beat”

The game will include vocal, guitar, bass, and drum parts and will take advantage of the Bluetooth functionality built into your iPhone or iPod Touch for up to 4-player multiplayer fun.

Tap Tap and Tap Tap Revenge beware, when Rock Band for iPhone hits, you won’t be the fattest cat in town.

Source: MTV Multiplayer

We also like lists. Here’s a top 10 list of the best-selling iPhone/iPod Touch games and their respective prices, as reported by Apple.

1. Dungeon Hunter $6.99

2. FIFA ‘10 $9.99

3. Madden NFL ‘10 $9.99

4. Need For Speed Undercover $4.99

5. Cartoon Wars (Blue) $.99

6. Skee-Ball $.99

7. Bejeweled 2 $2.99

8. The Sims 3 $6.99

9. Tetris $4.99

10. Tiger Woods PGA Tour $4.99

via Kotaku

Today, Electronic Arts released FIFA ‘10 for iPhone and iPod Touch, vastly furthering the reach of the footy game to the millions of Apple portable devices out there.

FIFA ‘10 for the iPhone/iPod Touch sounds like a very promising version, as it features 12,650 players, 570 teams and 30 leagues and is controlled through what EA calls a “simple and innovative two button control system that offers a free flowingsoccer experience.”

Additionally, the game features multiplayer in the form of Wi-Fi, guaranteeing you and your friends a match any time of day or night.

Download FIFA ‘10 in the App Store or on iTunes today for $9.99 , and look for the console version October 20.

The App, available today in the App Store and on iTunes, lets Madden fans check out the latest standings, league news, propose and accept player transactions, set their depth charts and more for their Franchise.

According to EA, over 200,000 franchises have already been created, so least some of you have an iPhone/iPod Touch right? EA thinks so.

Obviously though, wading through all those apps can be rather daunting. While a new App Store earlier this month certainly helped, Yappler wants to take it one step further and has launched Yappler Sync, a discovery tool for Windows and OS X that allows iPhone users to share a list of their favorite apps with their friends. The tool scans a users App Store library, and sends that list to the Yappler website, where a user can share it anonymously or post it for others.

Yappler.com Sync also creates a list of the apps used by all of its users and updates the list when new apps are downloaded or old ones are deleted, generating their own Top Apps list. Users can share their own list of apps on Twitter and Facebook, or even embed the list as a widget on personal blogs and webpages, like below. We noticed that Yappler doesn’t not which apps you personally don’t sync to your phone though. We don’t actually keep multiple fart apps on our phone. Honest.

Check Yappler out, and share your app lists in the comments.

Apple recently launched a “top grossing” list for the App store and with it comes our examination of the games department.

These are your top-10 highest grossing App store games for the week with developer in parentheses.

1. Madden NFL ‘10 $9.99 (Electronic Arts)

2. Modern Combat Sandstorm  $6.99 (GameLoft)

3. Uno $4.99 (GameLoft)

4. Scrabble $4.99 (Electronic Arts)

5. Tetris $4.99 (Electronic Arts)

6. The Sims 3 $6.99 (Electronic Arts)

7. Bejeweled 2 $2.99 (PopCap Games)

8. Need For Speed Undercover $4.99 (Electronic Arts)

9. Dexter: The Game $5.99 (Marc Ecko Entertainment)

10. Frogger $.99 (Konami Digital Entertainment)

Anything stand out? Besides EA owning 5 of the 10?

iPod Nano.

Apple is adding a video camera to its iPod Nanos, allowing users to take still pictures or film clips for easy uploading to YouTube later, all at the same price pont as a 4 GB Kickflip.  Apple is also — and finally, in our opinion — adding an FM radio. While we haven’t listened to a radio since 2003, its always seemed a cheap component that everyone else has always offered. But in typical Apple fashion, they’ve bettered it: users will be able to live-pause the music, and tag songs to later find them in iTunes. Pricing for the Nano is $149 for 8GB, and $179 for 16GB, all of which come in Apple’s standard candy colored offerings.

iPod Touch.

Apple’s iPod Touch line also saw battery and memory upgrades and price drops. The 8GB iPod touch is now only $199. However, users can also purchase the 32 and 64 GB models for $299 and $399 respectively which include new Open GL firmware for better video and game performance, a necessary upgrade to maintain Apple’s relevance in the mobile gaming marketplace.

iPod Shuffle

Apple’s iPod shuffle is also getting five new colors and price drops. The 2 GB model is only $59 dollars, while the 4 GB model is $79. There still aren’t any controls on the player itself, meaning you’re still limited to headphones with the built-in controls. Apple did announce that many manufacturers are adding support for the controls on board, or through adapters.

All of these are solid upgrades, and while there’s still no tablet, this should definitely take Apple successfully into the upcoming holiday season.

Priced at $7.99, the game allows players to trudge through an entire season including playoffs and the Superbowl while delivering a “hard-hitting and realistic” experience.

“We think fans will be impressed by the amount of detail and authenticity in Madden NFL ‘10, as well as by how intuitive it is to just pick up and start playing,” said Travis Boatman, VP Worldwide Publishing for EA Mobile. “We really took advantage of the platform’s unique capabilities so players have a new way to interact with the game. They can control the speed of the game as it unfolds to make the right call, draw routes on the screen for pass plays or with the swipe of a finger, kick a winning field goal.”

The iPhone/iPod Touch version allows for “Mutli-Touch” control where hot-routes can be traced out with the tip of your finger and like it’s console cousins, John Madden lends his booming voice to the project. Maybe you’ll want to use headphones while playing on the train? Just a suggestion.

The charging system comes in two parts. The first, the WildCharger Pad, plugs into a wall like any other charging base station. The pad is a simple, flat surface that you lay your device on. There are no sliding parts, no grooves to line up, no orientation to match — you just toss your device onto the pad and it automatically starts charging. I tried placing my iPhone in many different directions and playing around with it, but I was unable to find a orientation separate from being of the pad where the WildCharger failed to charge.

The trick, which the engineers took no effort to hide, is the twelve strips of metal in the pad that generate a potential. The second component to the system is the case you attach to your device. The iPhone case I tested has metal contacts on the back of the case in a “T”-shape. They were spaced out in just the right proportions that at least one of them would connect to a different strip of metal on the pad, completing a circuit, and generating the charge for the device. Because the pad is larger than your devide, you can also cram as many devices on the pad as you want.

So while the WildCharger Pad is technically wireless, it still requires metal contacts to transmit the power. This means that you couldn’t put something over the pad and expect it to charge. Also, should the contacts on the case ever become oxidized, it will become unable to charge.

WildCharger's universal adaptor can let you charge just about any device.

Even with these possible limitations, the technology is promising.  The company is currently developing laptop chargers. Looking even further into the future, the company hopes to put all of these devices in cafes, restaurants, and bars, eliminating the need to fight over outlets. We’ll just hope no one spills something on them. That would probably be bad.

While I used the iPhone case, the company sells cases for the iPod Touch and Blackberrys, as well as generic adapter to most phones or other devices. The case is rubber which covers the phone while also preventing scratches and other damage to the phone. The case isn’t too difficult to remove, which is a good thing since in order to charge your iPhone or iPod Touch, the WildCharger has to be plugged into the dock port on the phone, preventing you from syncing with your computer while the skin is on the case. Though many other skins cover or otherwise obscure the port, it’s still is a hassle to have to take it off anytime you want to sync your device.

Overall, I think the WildCharge is a great product, and if the WildCharger pads start to show up at my local Starbucks, we certainly wouldn’t complain. At this point, you just have to ask yourself how much the convenience of not having to charge your device with a wire is worth to you.

What’s more is that the iPhone/iPod Touch version of the game rocketed to the number 1 paid App spot in Apple’s App Store and, at $9.99 is still there ( I just checked to confirm).

You number savvy folks can also enjoy this figure: 7 million.  That’s the number of times players have downloaded user created content in the game and with such rampant success what will EA do next with the wad of cash they’re currently bathing in?

“Our business is based on building great games. Adding another platform to the mix, like the iPhone or Ipod Touch, provides great revenue possibilities for Playlogic, and provides us with new customers to experience our games,” said Rogier W. Smit, executive vice president of Playlogic.

We don’t know any specifics about the games the company is developing for the Apple handhelds, only that we’ll see them sometime in 2009.

In the past we’ve seen Roller Coaster Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon, and even a Prison version, but now handheld gamers can relive those past moments of innocence streetside selling lemonade to strangers!

The title is a business/strategy type game with decisions regarding pricing, inventory, supplies, marketing, advertising, and even your own staff left up to you. I can’t help but smile as you’re given the ability to alter weather, location, and even your secret recipe in order to maximize profits. The fact that such a game exists is inspiring and altogether exciting.

Best of all, the app is free (with sponsor messages throughout) and allows you to listen to your iTunes library in-game.

Selling Lemonade

Decisions decisions

P + L Statement

The mobile division of Electronic Arts is the publisher for the game based on the insanely popular TV show.  Bearing half the price tag ($4.99) of other EA iPhone titles, American Idol looks to be worth it, given you’re a die-hard fan that must be surrounded in all things idol between shows and on the go.

The mobile game revolves around the same ideas of the TV show, except YOU are the star and YOU determine your eventual fate.  Furthermore, judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Ryan Seacrest all make appearances in the handheld game…so maybe now it’s worth it?

A report by ComScore, the global internet information provider indicates that 32% of iPhone/iPod Touch users have downloaded Tap Tap Revenge, the intuitive tapping music game from Tapulous.

The report indicates that of the 25 most popular Apps, 12 are games.  Touch Hockey: FS5 clocks in at number 3 (26%) and Pac-Man at the 5 spot representing 24% of the user base.

Of the 15 million total users, Tap Tap’s 32% install base equates to one out of every three owners representing roughly 5 million downloads.  So look to your left and to your right, if you haven’t downloaded Tap Tap, one of them has.

Tap Tap Revenge 2, the anticipated sequel, is currently available on the App Store complete with new tracks, trippy visuals, and new game modes.

Wonder how the full list of 25 most popular Apps plays out?  Check out the image in the gallery for full details.

via Gamesindustry.biz

Tapulous, developer of the Tap Tap series has taken their game one level higher with Monday’s release of Tap Tap Revenge 2.  Sporting an entirely new game engine that allows for astounding new graphics and trippy effects, as well as rich new features, a deep collection of over 150 songs, and three new ways to play with your friends, Revenge 2 remains the free app to beat.

Every genre of music is included in Revenge 2, from eletronica to rock and everything in between, gamers of all musical tastes can find something they love.  Tapulous keeps it fresh with weekly additions to the already robust library of tracks through downloadable content.  The main appeal for me with the original was the slew of titles that not only did I recognize, but I actually said to myself “now this will make a great Tap Tap song.”

Where the original also succeeded so well was on the multiplayer front and Revenge 2 builds on that solid foundation with three additional multiplayer modes.  “Challenge” lets you email your high score to friends and grant them the challenge to beat your score.  Local split screen multiplayer, the main draw for many Tap Tap fans is greatly improved in Revenge 2 with an all new look, progress meter, and catch-up ball.  Finally, online play, which was present in the original now features immense improvements to core functionality, however details on what exactly that means were vague.

And if you thought the original was too easy, even on Extreme, Revenge 2 will kick your butt, sweep you out the door, and move on without a care in the world.  Extreme difficulty in this new iteration is just that, extreme, in every facet of the word.  Not only are note lines more difficult to actually nail, the new “tap and hold,” and “multi-tap” features combined with directional shaking prove very difficult to master.  And on the other end of the spectrum, a new “kids” mode has been added, that Tapulous promises, “is accessible to 2 year-olds.”

Tap Tap Revenge 2 looks to be everything it should be, built on the base elements of the original with dynamically improved graphics and functionality, and a number of new and alluring tracks makes this sequel an absolute must have for any iPhone/iPod Touch user.

Tap Tap Revenge 2 is available today on the iPhone and iPod Touch for zero dollars and zero cents ($0.00) via the App Store

For more information check out the Tap Tap Revenge 2 official site.

They add weight, width and bulk to your devices, but they are one of the best solutions out there for active gadget geeks. The few and the proud.

Blast took a gander at three OtterBoxes: two “Armor” class boxes that waterproof iPod touch and Nano, and a “Defender” series case for the iPhone.

OtterBox Armor Case for 3G iPod nano (Clear)

OtterBox Armor Case for 3G iPod nano
$30 4 out of 5 stars

• Waterproof to 3 feet
• Dust, dirt, drop and scratch protection
• Click wheel still works
• Adds a ton of girth to the product

OtterBox Armor Series for iPod touch

OtterBox Armor Case for iPod touch
$40 4 out of 5 stars

• Completely changes look and feel of iPod
• Waterproof to 3 feet
• Dust, dirt, drop and scratch protection
• Interface still works thanks to thin protective membrane
• Makes the iPod look tough

OtterBox iPhone Defender

OtterBox Apple iPhone Defender Case
$65 3.5 out of 5 stars

• Bump, scratch and drop protection
• Not waterproof
• Less obtrusive than other boxes
• Very expensive for a cell phone case.
• Has a holster

The iPod touch now comes in a 32GB model for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299.

“For some users, there’s never enough memory,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPod and iPhone Product Marketing. “Now people can enjoy even more of their music, photos and videos on the most revolutionary mobile phone and best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world.”

Both models feature Apple’s Multi-Touch user interface and the ability to play music, videos, photos and more with just a touch of their finger, Apple said Tuesday.

All iPhone and iPod touch models include the latest software enhancements announced last month including the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes Movie Rentals. Both iPhone and iPod touch feature the world’s most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari and great mobile applications including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes.

The new 16GB iPhone is available now through the online Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and AT&T retail and online stores.

The 32GB iPod touch is available nationwide.

The availability of the “Maps” positioning feature will vary depending on location.

Essentially 4D’s Web 2.0 Pack v11 is an online Internet application, which allows business users access to use a simple drag and drop interface, essential to perform a variety of tasks like: the ability to create graphs, perform basic calculations and much more, all without the need to ever write JavaSript.

4D’s Web 2.0 Pack v11 is mainly designed for mobile platforms such as Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, however it will also run on you standard browsers seamlessly. This new update offers support for the 4D V11 SQL as well while providing a few advancements, such as improved performance and bug fixes; all in effort to provide a better user experience.

“The iPhone’s tremendous popularity has increased the need for powerful, mobile business tools,” said Brendan Coveney, President and CEO of 4D Inc. “We developed the Business Intelligence Dashboards for 4D Web 2.0 Pack v11 to give developers the cutting-edge tools they need to meet those business needs.”

The new AJAX powered software is priced at $599 and includes a six-month subscription to any further updates. The company will also provide an additional 12-month maintenance plan, which can be purchased for $249.

Overall it’s nice to see more productive tools for the iPhone and iPod touch mobile platforms. This new advancement will give business access more functionality, all on a simple, familiar drag and drop interface, without all the code.

Click here for more information and a complete list of features.

By the way:
Due to reporting errors, the name of the 4D V11 SQL was reported 3D V11 SQL. The price of the 4D Web 2.0 Pack V11 is $599, not $600, and the 12-month maintenance plan is $249 not $250.

Then I heard Apple would release an iPhone without the phone. The 16gb iPod Touch is now in my hands.

The Touch’s design is astonishing, with its gorgeous three 3.5” widescreen display, multi touch user interface and its supermodel thinness at only .31 inches. It’s for any commuter looking to carry around their music, video collections, photos and the internet.

The unit comes in two versions, 8gb and 16gb, respectively priced at $300-$400.

I would strongly advise getting the larger capacity model because it’s still not a ton of space – considering older iPod’s gave you 20gb for just music — if you own a lot of music, videos or pictures, the device will fill up quickly. The operating system alone takes up over a gigabyte.

After using the iPod touch for a few months, my thoughts haven’t changed. The product packs a lot of functionality, which I adapted to very quickly.

One of the key features is the Safari browser. I find it extremely useful to be able to log in to social networking sites and surf the web. I can also read current events, stream media, and do regular tasks I would perform if I were on my computer.

It’s very rare that you find an ultra portable device like the iPod Touch that can stream both audio and video podcasts directly to the unit. It’s $400 spent wisely just in that feature alone.

The revolutionary touch screen interface built on Mac OS X is a head turner. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been complimented on the easy to use interface, which offers the user an optimal experience in every task.

It’s so nice flipping music with a swipe of a finger being able to quickly select a song. If you rotate the iPod Touch into landscape position, the built in accelerometer detects the position and displays you music in Cover Flow mode, similar to an iPhone feature.

Cover Flow is a technology which lets you see all the album art in you music collection. Gently tap on the cover art, and it spins around and lets you select a song within the album.

Sound quality is also impressive, with no skips because of reliable internal flash memory. The touch also offers the built-in iTunes WiFI Music store. I’ve bought a few tracks off WiFi store and was surprised on how seamlessly the store integrates with my music library.

You can browse the top one hundred songs of each genre or the top 100 songs on the iTunes store or search by name, artist, etc. for the song you want. The song will immediately download and appear in the users’ music library.

You can’t download movies, podcasts, games or music videos, but it’s a great start.

The rest of the features like video playback, the photo viewer, clock, calendar, calculator and YouTube application all work the same way as they do on the iPhone.

One suggestion that I have is if you plan to download podcasts, download the file with the Large QuickTime encoding. If you download the small QuickTime version, the video will be fuzzier and pixelated.

When watching videos, I was amazed at the quality of the picture. I sometimes forgot I was watching on a three and one half inch screen because the picture quality is so detailed.

The iPod Touch has minor drawbacks like its battery life, which in normal life only gets three hours when connected to WiFi and less than 20 hours of straight music playback if you enjoy flipping through cover flow and using some of its power hungry features.

Some other drawbacks are that Apple has blocked third party developers from creating native applications. You also can’t add calendar events on the go or download audio files other than the iTunes WiFi store.

There’s also no mail support and no flash support for viewing flash enabled sites, although hackers recently found ways to break through Apple’s encryption to add thirty party applications and features.

Overall, Apple really did a great job creating a device that provides so many useful features. I’m glad to see that Apple has taken the features from its popular iPhone and has added them into a device without the ongoing financial commitments.