# Just Got an iPod Touch!! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452 "2009-04-17T18:32:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/1 "2009-04-17T18:32:08Z")
I just received a brand new iPod Touch. It’s a birthday present to myself. I was considering getting a Kindle as well, but decided I couldn’t justify the price tag. This thing is quite literally the coolest gadget I’ve ever held in my hands. The only way it could be better is if it made phone calls (iPhone is too expensive for me at this point). What are your favorite things to do with your iPod Touch/iPhone? I just installed the Pandora app, logged into my gmail, and checked my location on Google Maps. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/2 "2009-04-17T19:20:07Z")
Besides the obvious music part, I also check my email, plus I Twitter from mine. I have an app to track my period, a moon phase app, and a couple of games to while away the hours with. A friend of mine has the ocarina app. Plus it makes my friends jealous. 😉 I’ve had mine since Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/3 "2009-04-17T21:54:52Z")
1. Get microphone headset. 2. Download Skype App 3. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/4 "2009-04-17T22:32:51Z")
My most used apps: Sol Free Solitaire Bejeweled 2 Pocket God 10 balls 7 cups or Arcade Bowling (skee ball) Facebook AIM Urbanspoon BubbleWrap Flixter I learned how to rip and encode my DVDs so I can watch stuff while at the gym. That alone makes it worth it to me. Picked up an armband case for pretty cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Heropsychodreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Heropsychodreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heropsychodreamer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/5 "2009-06-11T16:18:38Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > I learned how to rip and encode my DVDs I know this is a bit old but… I have been going insane trying to figure this out. Can anybody provide some step by step instructions? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/6 "2009-06-11T16:24:02Z")
I use the Stanza e-book reader and have no clue why anyone would want a dedicated e-book reader like the Kindle! I have read a half dozen books so far, all from Project Gutenberg, and I’m sure I’ll eventually buy books directly from Chapters or Amazon as well. I also like Tux Rider as a nice little freebie time waster game. I actually want to move on to an iPhone, but we can’t afford it at the moment. Since I’m usually either a home, school, or friends’ houses that happen to have wi-fi, the Skype app sounds like an interesting compromise. I’ll have to look into that! ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/7 "2009-06-11T16:31:58Z")
Congrats and happy birthday! The first time I looked up a location in Google maps and zoomed out the satellite image on this little handheld device - I literally got chills. Captain Kirk never had something this cool. I use: Tweetie Pocket Informant (tasks and calendar in one app) Appigo Notebook SparkPeople diet tracker (Lose it! is good too) iFitness workout tracker iGrocery (shopping lists) Pandora AirShare (lets you mount the ipod as a drive over wifi) Classics (ebooks) Eucalyptus Project Gutenberg interface) Star Map Remote (lets you control iTunes on your computer remotely) Games Hold 'em Poker Omar Sharif Bridge Puzzle Quest Underworlds The Quest The Creeps 7 Cities Sudoku Tangrams Wow Characters (check up on my mom & sister’s toons) It’s easy to go a little nuts. _Ahem_ I use App Shopper to track the the prices on different apps I’m interested in and only buy them when they have a 99cent sale. [http://www.appshopper.com/](http://www.appshopper.com/) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/8 "2009-06-11T17:47:20Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#): > > I just received a brand new iPod Touch. It’s a birthday present to myself. I was considering getting a Kindle as well, but decided I couldn’t justify the price tag. > > This thing is quite literally the coolest gadget I’ve ever held in my hands. The only way it could be better is if it made phone calls (iPhone is too expensive for me at this point). > > What are your favorite things to do with your iPod Touch/iPhone? I just installed the Pandora app, logged into my gmail, and checked my location on Google Maps. Apple has a Kindle app. The application itself is free and you can buy books from Kindle at regular Kindle prices. If you do eventually get a Kindle, you can sync between the Kindle and iPod Touch/iPhone. Any books you purchase on one device can be redownloaded for free to your other device as you own the book once you buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/9 "2009-06-11T17:50:34Z")
> [@Heropsychodreamer](#): > > I know this is a bit old but… > > I have been going insane trying to figure this out. Can anybody provide some step by step instructions? Are you Mac or PC? I use Hand Brake on my Mac and it’s easy as peasy to rip DVDs. Don’t know about a PC, but I’ll bet there’s similar programs. ---
**Author:** ![Heropsychodreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Heropsychodreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heropsychodreamer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/10 "2009-06-11T18:04:10Z")
I’m on a PC. I did download Handbrake for the PC, but it confused me and it doesn’t look like it does the decryption thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/11 "2009-06-11T18:53:07Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > I use the Stanza e-book reader and have no clue why anyone would want a dedicated e-book reader like the Kindle! I have read a half dozen books so far, all from Project Gutenberg, and I’m sure I’ll eventually buy books directly from Chapters or Amazon as well. … [Ereader.com](http://Ereader.com) is also a good source for purchased ebooks, and they have a reading app for the Iphone / Itouch. The reader app is free, and the book prices are competitive with Amazon if not a tad cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/12 "2009-06-11T19:14:59Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Apple has a Kindle app. The application itself is free and you can buy books from Kindle at regular Kindle prices. If you do eventually get a Kindle, you can sync between the Kindle and iPod Touch/iPhone. Any books you purchase on one device can be redownloaded for free to your other device as you own the book once you buy it. I use the Kindle app on the iTouch, and I absolutely love the fact that I always have a book handy now. No more reading those ancient magazines at the auto shop or doctor’s office if I’ve forgotten to bring a real book along! ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-ipod-touch/493452/13 "2009-06-12T15:33:05Z")
> [@Heropsychodreamer](#): > > I know this is a bit old but… > > I have been going insane trying to figure this out. Can anybody provide some step by step instructions? I tried using those type things, they take too long IMO and the files are too big. Too much hassle. I ended up getting an [Irecord](http://www.irecord.com/irecord.html) and I put everything on a 250 external HD. Movies are anywhere from 300 MB to 900 MB. You have to watch the movie (or at least have it running), but other then that, it’s great. A touch expensive ($200), but I’ve recorded 50+ movies with it.