I downloaded, installed, and played SimCity on my first-generation iPod Touch earlier today and I can tell you that, yes, it’s worth $9.99 if you like the SimCity series of games. I’m a big fan of the franchise, especially SimCity 3000, and the iPhone/iPod Touch version is basically a shrunken down version of SC3K with a few changes.

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Take an iPod Touch, swap out the LCD screen with an OLED screen, and you might just have Sony’s next Walkman. Sony Insider is reporting that we’ll apparently see a device with the following specs at CES this year:

• Capacities of 16GB and 32GB
• Three-inch WQVGA (480×320) OLED touchscreen
• Built-in Wi-Fi connection
• Click an artist’s name while a song is playing to view their videos on YouTube
• Apparent "full access" to YouTube website (although the post then says it’ll be similar to YouTube on the iPhone/iPod Touch)
• Support for audio podcasts and Crackle video feeds with automatic downloading
• Music purchases via Amazon’s music store
• File support for MP3, WMA, AAC, PCM, AVC, MPEG-4, and WMV
• FM radio
• Web browser (no word on Flash support)
• Built-in digital noise canceling

No word on pricing or anything since it’s still just a rumor. Looks solid so far, though. 

Ah, yes. Another factoid to put under the “wipes the smile off an iPhone user’s face” category. See, I don’t have anything against iPhones, but I sure have trouble with people talking as if they’re in some secret, privileged club. As it turns out, the 2G iPod Touch has an advantage of almost 100MHz over the rest of Apple’s touchables, and that makes a major difference when you’re talking games and almost certainly other apps.

The developer in this interview notes that they could put 500 more polygons on each player in their tennis game when coding for the Touch 2G, which also suggests that the graphics hardware has been clocked up as well. Of course, the Touch doubtless has less stuff taking up its RAM and cache due to not functioning as a phone and internet device as well. Makes me want one even more.
[via MacRumors]

Hitachi Maxell today unveiled noise-canceling iPod-only earphones [JP] that are powered through the player and therefore don’t require extra batteries. They weigh 22 grams and are 95cm long.

All that users need to do is to plug the HP-NC20.IPs to the dock connector, having to take into account the battery life will be reduced by up to a whopping 66%. In addition, users are forced to control the volume with the slider on the earphones since volume control on the iPod itself won’t work anymore.

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Having a dedicated numeric keypad can be a lifesaver occasionally, and while a dedicated pad with real keys is the best, a little application can turn the iPhone or iPod Touch into an impromptu one as well. The Numberkey is only $1.99 and utilizes WiFi (really? no Bluetooth) for the 18-keypad connectivity. Four skins (after the jump) come with the app so you can match up your new keypad with your notebook’s keyboard. Nice.

App Store via technabob

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If you happen to live near a Meijer store – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan – and you’re looking for an iPod Touch, you can pick up the 8GB version for $229.99 which includes a free $50 iTunes gift card.

There’s also some loose talk (according to FatWallet) that there’s a coupon floating around Meijer’s Sunday circular for 10% off any electronics item, which would bring the price down to $206, although I wasn’t able to find that particular coupon anywhere. Your mileage may vary. Still, even the regular price plus a $50 iTunes card is nice.

Those of you with Sonos equipment already filling your abode with the sweet tunes of your music library and an iPhone or iPod Touch should promptly hit up Apple’s App Store and download their free app now. It may or may not be available right this second, but it should make its way to the App Store sometime today. There are two other Sonos apps currently available but they want you to pay $15 for each.

Having seen the app in person I can say that it’s very intuitive and easy to use. You will also be prompted to update your Sonos’ firmware to 2.7 today so that it is compatible with the software. So if you bought Sonos equipment in 2005 and you own an iPhone then you’re sittin’ pretty. A demo of the app in action and other screen shots are available after the jump.

But that’s not the only announcement Sonos has for today. Read More

Wireless provider Korean Telecom reportedly signed a “memorandum of understanding” with Apple to combine “WiBro, a third generation-based communications technology, with Apple’s hit products such as the MacBook laptops and iPod media players,” according to Unwired View.

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Looking for a good time-waster? Check out Adrenaline Pool Online for the iPhone/iPod Touch. It’s just $4.99, easy to pick up, and features online play. You can play four different games: 8-ball, 9-ball, Straight, and Snooker.

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Back in December of 2007, I brought you news of the Pogo stylus for the iPhone and iPod Touch. I remarked that the initial price of $25 sounded a bit expensive for an aluminum stick and that a stylus sort of defeats the purpose of the iPhone/iPod Touch. Some of you agreed with me and some of you made a good point that the Pogo would work well in the wintertime (assuming you don’t buy those Dots gloves now).

Well today only until 10:01 PM Eastern time, you can get the Pogo for $10.01 to commemorate Ten One Design’s first anniversary. Shipping is still $3.50 for USPS or $9.99 for UPS but, hey, the regular price of the Pogo has dropped to $19.99 and the $10.01 deal might be enticing to those of you who’ve been sweet on it.

Pogo Stylus [TenOneDesign.com]

Here’s my concern about this deal: I come to your bank, I put seventy-five thousand dollars into your coffers, and as a congratulations you give me an 8GB iPod Touch? You couldn’t spring for the 16GB? Not classy! I’m going to keep my $75,000 under my mattress.

Image credit: Consumerist

LMAO. I <3 The Joy of Tech. Hit the jump to see the rest of the chart. Read More

It’s not cold yet, but winter is just around the corner. Plan ahead this season with Dots Gloves. Tiny little metal dots stud the fingertips of each digit, allowing finger-less contact for touchscreen devices.

It’s simple. It’s smart, and they promise it won’t scratch up your iPod or iPhone. You might want to wear these in any season, if just to keep fingerprints off your stuff.

Dots Gloves via Wired

I picked up five 32GB iPod Touches yesterday at the Apple store – we gave away some at TC50 and our benefactor Michael Arrington wanted two – and I can confirm that the Touch is worth looking into if you’re hunting for all the power of the iPhone without all the “cancer,” “dropped calls,” and “service charges.” Not that cellphones give you cancer, but there’s always a possibility.
Click through for more photos

After being pulled from the app store a month ago, TheMacBox announced this morning that a new version dubbed Lightsaber Unleashed will be available soon. Working in conjunction with THQ and Lucas to streamline the new version with the multi-platform title SW:TFU the LU will feature characters, “vastly improved graphics, sound effects and optional dueling music (which was a popular request).” The best part of this announcement is that the app will be free.

Interesting. Well, I guess there is a difference between the old Touch and the new Touch — although Apple’s been mum about it. The chip iFixit found supports Bluetooth 2.1+EDR+FM. What do you think, people? Secret ripoff or secret surprise? Reminds me of the secret 3G in Dell Inspiron Minis.
[Thanks for the tip, Staguave!]

Just plugged in my first-gen iPod Touch to the new iTunes 8 and was notified of a software update to version 2.1, which adds the Genius playlist creation feature. So there’s that, I guess. There also seem to be some speed improvements all around. It’s still downloading and updating, though, so I haven’t actually tried any of it out yet. If you don’t hear back from me, assume everything went swimmingly.