Good Enough to Touch? Apps for the iPod Touch

Many times the iPod Touch feels like the secret, illegitimate brother of the iPhone - not the least of which is that we have now been forced to pay a rather high price for two software updates over a short period. For obvious reasons, the iPhone and its new 3G version have garnered most of the attention of the press and, apparently, Apple. The thing is, although the iPhone and iPod Touch look and behave almost identically, they have some significant differences that mean that everything good for the iPhone is not necessarily so for the Touch. For instance, the first major update (which was a pricey $20) included email which, in my opinion, isn't terribly useful on the Touch. Why? Well, the Touch is only connected via WiFi and, generally speaking, when you have WiFi available you generally have a laptop or desktop available to check you email in a quicker and easier manner.

My point here isn't to complain about the Touch or the cost of the updates (though I could go on). My goal is actually that the latest update (at a more reasonable but still unnecessary $10) does bring some exciting new features to the Touch, specifically via the App Store. Nonetheless, most apps in the app store focus on the iPhone and are better suited for that product. Thus, I am starting a series of posts that will review App Store apps specifically with the iPod Touch in mind. My prmary criteria are as follows:

1) Doesn't require an "always on" connection (since the Touch is only WiFi)
2) Can be done without audio (with the exception of music stuff) because the Touch has no external speaker

The latter criteria will be weighted to a lesser extent and will be considered differently for music apps but the former is the primary differentiator. I will favor free apps since I don't want to invest a lot of money into this, but I will review any paid apps I may purchase. My first review, which I hope to post tomorrow, will cover the Remote application by Apple. I am also inviting anyone who would like to either guest post or recommend an application to be reviewed to go ahead and do so by contacting me via the comments.

Posts:

App Review: Remote for the iPod Touch

App Review: Texas Hold'em for the iPod Touch

App Review: Super Monkey Ball for the iPod Touch

App Review: Free Apps for iPod Touch Roundup

I downloaded the lite version of Moonlight Mahjong last night for my iPod Touch. It's the free version. There's 4 gird layouts and every puzzle is solvable. I've played two and they both were solved. This game doesn't require internet connection to play and has no audio, so it's a great game for waiting rooms and lunchtime at work. The only thing that annoyed me is that sometimes I would click on a pair and they wouldn't remove. I thought that maybe I wasn't hitting them right until I figured out that they don't remove if they aren't the right pair to solve the puzzle. I'll probably buy the full version, which I believe is $9.99.

I downloaded the lite version of Moonlight Mahjong last night for my iPod Touch. It's the free version. There's 4 gird layouts and every puzzle is solvable. I've played two and they both were solved. This game doesn't require internet connection to play and has no audio, so it's a great game for waiting rooms and lunchtime at work. The only thing that annoyed me is that sometimes I would click on a pair and they wouldn't remove. I thought that maybe I wasn't hitting them right until I figured out that they don't remove if they aren't the right pair to solve the puzzle. I'll probably buy the full version, which I believe is $9.99.