(c) Apple

July 10th is gonna be an important date in the history of Apple. The new all-in-one iPod has been released… NO, do not run into your favorite retailer, there is no new iPod, this is just the new software update. However, it is so important that it deserves to be assimilated with a new product. This software release is valid for all iPod Touch and of course the new iPhone 3G.

First of all, it includes Mobile Me: Imagine you can synchronize ‘ala’ windows mobile all your calendar, emails, pictures but only for your regular email account, not the professional one. Mobile me offers that option.

Then comes the Application Store. The principle is not new; people can download applications from their PDAs, Windows mobile for more than 10 years now. BUT, one more time, Apple makes the difference in the ease of usage:
1) You do not have to browse through dozens of websites to find your applications. They are all available on the Application Store in iTunes
2) You do not have to browse to find the correct version that matches your phone/operating system (OS). There is only one… :=)
3) Ease of installation. Just click on the application and iTunes will do the rest.
4) Easy payment. Like any iTunes product, just confirm your order and you will receive the invoice later.
5) Access from the iPod or iPhone directly. This is a breakthrough. Like the Music, you can directly browse from your favorite gadget to install any application…

I have tried to install a couple of them and did not suffer from any hiccups. It was pretty smooth and worth it for most of them…

Then, there are the GAMES… Same here, it is not new to have games on a phone or PDA. However, I have to say the ones I tried are really amazing… I will not sell my PSP or Nintendo DS but I will FINALLY play with my iPod… Take a look at Super Monkey ball and shout…WOOOOOWWWW, niiiiiiiceeee. Well done guys. Games are great, innovative by taking benefits of the touch screen panel and the graphical engine. They have some depth and are really not costly, compared to some other games you buy for your mobile phones. The accelerometer is a bit difficult to control at start but when you finally get it, it is really fun.

Some applications take benefit of the power of the Apple OS and the mobility aspects. You can from your iPod for example check your Facebook status and get all your IMs on the same window… Cool. Nothing new, but at least, it is finally usable on a mobile platform.

What is the drawback? ;
1) It is not a free upgrade.
However, with the number of available options, it is worth it.

2) You need to have a valid iTunes account
I am not sure if it will be very popular in Asia for the consumers who still cannot access iTMS. I have not tried to upgrade it with a local account and admit I was using my French account…

3) iPod versus iPhone
With the iPhone at $199 and the iPod Touch at $299 for 8GB and $499 for the 32GB, it is difficult not too fall for the iPhone (if you can find one…).

I still prefer my traditional Phone with my QWERTY keyboard to check my emails, but definitively, my iPod touch gets all my attention… and it is more than just a music player. I realize actually I used it more to play videos, surf the web, play games than really listen to music: get a nano for that.. :=)