Apple iPod Touch 32GB review

Apple's 32GB iPod Touch is one of three players here with a touch-screen interface, but it's easily the most responsive, accurate and pleasing to use.

It supports multi-touch gestures, so you can zoom in and out of photos and web pages by pinching and spreading your fingers, for example.

The Touch has built-in WiFi, so you can buy music and third-party software without using a computer. It can't stream music from a UPnP media server as the Archos 5 or Zen X-Fi can, but you can use it to control iTunes playback on your computer or listen to streaming music from last.fm using free third-party software. It also has an excellent web browser and email program.

Unlike the original Touch, this model has physical controls for adjusting the volume, which can be more convenient than using the touch screen. It also records audio if you use earphones with an integrated microphone. The 3in screen has a slight yellow tint. Apple claims this makes photos and videos look warmer, but we'd prefer greater colour accuracy.

The Touch plays only MPEG4 and H.264 video, but it supports chapters and alternate audio tracks (similar to those on a DVD) if your video files have them. Unlike the original Touch, videos can be organised into playlists. These are listed under the Music program for some reason, but video played flawlessly.

Music sounds clear, detailed and rich, with no hint of distortion when we boosted the bass using the equaliser. The included earphones sound muddy, though, so you'll need a better set to enjoy your music at its best.

We were even more impressed with the iPod Touch than we were with the original. At £273 it's very expensive compared with the iPod Classic, though, which has four times the capacity for £108 less. If you want to watch videos that aren't in MPEG4 or H.264 format without re-encoding them, the Archos 5 is a more versatile video player.

Author: Barry de la Rosa