iPod touch: out of jail
One of the first things I did with my iPod touch when I got it last year was jailbreak it. And from that point on, I avoided upgrading the firmware, so that I could keep my precious illicit applications intact. Until now. Last Friday, I upgraded to 2.0, and I haven’t looked back since. While the App Store isn’t perfect, the range of applications available, from games to ebook readers, is stunningly robust. And despite the fact that Apple has vetoed certain functionality (background processes, VoIP over 3G), the App Store includes some programs that I was sure it wouldn’t, including Pandora, AOL Radio and a number of other streaming music applications. One can only wonder how AT&T will react when users start taking advantage of those “unlimited” data plans to stream Internet radio all day; drivers with long commutes and good 3G coverage could turn their iPhones into ersatz Sirius radios, minus the monthly fees. For me, the new apps make my touch a worthy replacement for my Chumby and Nokia 770, both of which I’ve put on eBay. Of course, there are some jailbreak apps that I miss, most notably Mobilecast, which allowed over-the-air downloads of podcasts. But word is the developer will have an App Store version soon enough, and my touch will then be complete.
Standard disclaimer: My opinions are mine alone and not those of my employer or anyone affiliated with my employer.
