The iPod, although not the first of its kind, has nevertheless propelled Apple into the top ranks of the industry. Spanning a total of almost ten years in the market, the iPod has already seen several major upgrades and revisions. Every major refurbishment is called a generation. To date, the iPod has five models: classic, mini, nano shuffle and touch. Each model has been upgraded several times. Only the latest generation iPods for each model are available in the market today.

The iPod Touch is the latest model in the iPod’s line. Spanning four generations, the iPod Touch is as close to perfect as any portable media player could get. But would it be enough for the discerning owner? We’ve recently put one under scrutiny to find out whether or not the iPod truly lives up to its dominance in the market. We will be reviewing the iPod Touch as end users, therefore focusing on the factors that would most affect the iPod Touch’s performance and appeal to regular customers.

iPod Touch Hardware

After almost a decade of development, one can hardly expect the iPod Touch to be just a portable media player. In fact, several users have touted the iPod Touch to be anything and everything but a phone (we have the iPhone for that).

The fourth generation iPod Touch does not seem to have any major facelifts deviating from the standard Touch design. The device retains its previous build, glass front and metal back, despite the iPhone 4′s departure from the classic design with its glass-sandwich innovation. The iPod Touch, however, is thinner than previous generations and even the iPhone 4 which has been touted to be the thinnest iPhone in the line. The general setup and location of the usual buttons remains the same save for one exception: The iPod Touch now sports a camera on the back and another one on the front, both allowing owners of the latest iPod Touch to take advantage of the FaceTime application readily available in the market

The Insides

The iPod has been tinkered and tweaked almost incessantly ever since its inception. The latest iPod Touch is a far cry from the very first iPod released by Apple. With the A4 processor powering the device, it is capable of several functions that even Steve Jobs himself couldn’t have predicted possible on the iPod a decade ago. The fourth generation iPod Touch packs the same processor as the iPhone four and the original iPad allowing for similar performance on what is supposed to be just a portable media player.

The iPod Touch still doesn’t have an internal GPS chip, much to the chagrin of iPod fans. Apples reluctance to add GPS support on the iPod Touch has been puzzling to most as there are already several apps that would be able to take advantage of this feature. The device’s processing power proves capable enough to handle any GPS related application, making the iPod Touch one function less without any clear reason.

The iPod Touch’s camera proves itself capable enough, but not on the iPhone 4’s level. The guys at Apple have attributed the lower end camera to a lack of space. The iPod Touch’s super slim design practically prevents any better camera to be installed. It is, however, sufficient enough to be used for FaceTime and other video and camera related applications so no one is really complaining too hard—it is after all, the first iPod to have a camera.

Software

The fourth generation iPod Touch comes bundled with Apple’s iOS 4 operating system. If you’ve used an iPhone before, particularly the iPhone 4 (as it comes with the same operating system), you’ll see no difference in performance. Tests have shown the iPod Touch’s performance with this OS to be in top shape. Playing games is faster than ever without any of the occasional lag suffered by previous releases. Multitasking on the device, with its powerful processor, works like a charm—a very welcome selling point as switching from playing music to whatever else the iPod Touch is capable of doing is done effortlessly and without any hitches to performance.

Now with cameras, the iPod Touch can take advantage of several apps available in the market that would take advantage of this nifty addition. One such app is FaceTime. The major difference between this application on the iPod Touch and the iPhone 4 is that it uses your email address in order to place calls, instead of the regular phone number.

Games on the device are better than ever. With the more than capable processor, the iPod Touch’s gaming performance skyrockets, particularly compared to its predecessors.

Conclusion

The iPod Touch comes from a long line of portable audio devices developed for almost a decade. It is not surprising that is the top performing, if not the only, competitive portable media device on the market. With a decade’s worth of development, the iPod Touch has really only a few serious flaws—no GPS would be one.

However, despite the lack of a GPS function, the iPod Touch is foremost a portable audio device, and it has proven to be an excellent one. The iPod Touch also comes bundled with several other functions that almost make this an “all in one” device. For the discerning critic, the iPod Touch may have some flaws, but it still isn’t enough to bring it down from its pedestal.

The iPod has always dominated the market ever since the first generation devices were released. With this latest generation in the latest model of the iPod line released, Apple once again secures their hold on the market.

4g iPhone Hardware Review

What is immediately noticeable on the iPhone 4 is its departure from the previous iPhone design. The latest iPhone offers users a sleek and classy look that makes the previous releases look and feel bulky at best. The iPhone 4 does not only look good, it’s packaged to be stronger than most smartphones in the current market. The material used for the iPhone 4′s screen is as strong as sapphire—the material used in most high-end scratch-proof watches. This allows the iPhone 4 to be carried around in pockets without having to worry about scratching the screen.

Owners of the previous iPhones have noted a slightly annoying difficulty in pressing the home button. We’re happy to see that the latest iPhone’s design allows users better access to the device’s home button. Redeveloped volume keys and the ever handy mute switch is located on the device’s left side, while the micro sim slot occupies the right side of the iPhone 4. The standard power button and ear jack can be found on top of the device. The iPhone 4 however, departs from the standard hardware setup with it’s noise canceling microphone.

The iPhone 4 features a backside 5 megapixel camera with a 5x optical zoom and a nifty LED flash.

External Hardware Conclusion

The iPhone 4 is built like most smartphones, offering the standard buttons for easy navigation. The strengths of the iPhone 4′s hardware relies on its sleek design allowing it to be thinner than previous releases, and its durability. The iPhone 4 is built to last, setting a pretty high standard for smartphones in terms of design and durability.

iPhone 4 Software Review

As with most smartphones (or just about any other piece of technology), hardware forms only a part of the whole device. Software is an equally important aspect that companies need to continually develop. Over the years, Apple has proven to update the iPhone’s operating system several instances in order to address some of the issues encountered by users. The release of the iPhone 4 has included with it an update in the company’s operating system, allowing for increased capabilities never before seen  from previous generation iPhones.

iPhone 4 Software

The iPhone 4 comes packed with Apple’s iOS 4. This operating system is designed to keep the latest iPhone’s performance at an optimum level, at the same time bringing with it several nifty features.

Previous iPhone owners will be happy to note that the iPhone 4 finally has multitasking capabilities.  This allows faster switching between apps and the possibility of picking up where you left off. The iPhone 4′s multitasking works so well that it does not even tax battery life nearly as much as most users feared. This finally givese iPhone users a smartphone feel to their devices.

The iPhone 4 was also hyped for video calls. With FaceTime, an app for video calling, the iPhone 4 definitely lives up to this hype. The 5 megapixel camera on the backside allows users to share live videos to whoever is on the other line.

Another welcome feature that comes with the iOS 4 is folders. Devices running on this operating system will now be able to place apps on folders. The main problem that instantly presented itself is that the folders could only hold 12 items at any given time. This is a rather annoying limitation as we would rather place similar apps on a single folder and not several iterations of it.

Software Conclusion

The operating system update that came with the iPhone 4 offers several improvements to previous releases. It is, however, far from perfect and leaves much to be desired. It is nevertheless a welcome change that has addressed some of the issues of the previous operating systems. We feel that the iPhone 4 could have done with a better operating system, but that is a small concern as Apple could always (and has repeatedly done so in the past) update the software to better harness the iPhone 4′s capabilities.

iPhone 4 Internal Hardware

The iPhone 4 looks and feels different from the standard iPhone line. Open one up and you’ll see that the departure from the standard is not limited only to its outside appearance. Apple has packed the iPhone 4 with enough processing power to rival the iPad (and even the iPad 2 in some instances).

Internal Hardware

The iPhone 4 comes packed with an A4 central processing unit. While Apple hasn’t been clear on the processor’s clocked speed, comparisons have shown that it is certainly leagues faster than its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS.

In the memory department, the iPhone 4 doubles the 3GS’s with its 512 Mb RAM. In most cases, 512 Mb of RAM is enough to handle the processing power of the iPhone’s A4 CPU. In fact, it’s twice as much as even the iPad’s 256 Mb. While it could have done with a bigger RAM, the fact still remains that it has the same memory as the iPad 2, released almost a year later, so no one is really complaining that hard.

Storage, however, is a disappointment. iPhone users have continually stressed the need for an expandable memory slot. With the iPhone 4 released and no expandable memory slot in sight, it looks like this is one wish the Apple fan base won’t be getting any time soon. The iPhone 4 comes in two versions depending on its internal storage size: 16 and 32 Gb. In most instances, storage spaces like these will be enough for any smartphone, but with Apple introducing higher definition video recording capabilities on the iPhone 4, even the 32Gb might not be enough to store all your recorded  videos.

The new design does not only make the iPhone 4 sleeker, it also allows space for a bigger battery. Although still not as easily replaceable as most smartphones’ batteries, the increased performance by a bigger battery is a welcome addition to the iPhone line.

Conclusion

The device’s sturdy build, classy design and extra durability are only one part of the improvements Apple has added to the iPhone. A very capable processor, ample memory and an operating system that takes full advantage of the phone’s capabilities, completes the package. The iPhone 4 is wihtout a doubt one of the top performing smartphones in the market today. It has everything any smartphone needs, and more.

The iPad, however, was far from being the perfect tablet having a number of issues on both its software and hardware. The recent release of the iPad 2 is in most instances an attempt to address some of the shortcomings suffered by the original iPad. With the release of the iPad 2, the question still stands: does it live up to the hype it has generated?

External Hardware

If you own one of the first gen iPads, the first thing you’ll probably notice about the iPad 2 is its size—it’s a tad smaller than the first model and a whole lot thinner. The iPad 2′s thickest part measures only .34 inches, making it around a third thinner than the original model. It is also a little bit lighter than its predecessor, but not so much that it becomes instantly noticeable. The iPad 2′s surface is similar to the older model with one difference: cameras, both front and rear-facing.

Yes, Apple has finally added the much-needed (and the much-asked-for) camera on the iPad 2. It may be too early to jump for joy, however, as the iPad’s camera proves to be inferior compared to even the iPhone 4′s. However, with the cameras in place, despite its quality, the iPad 2 now offers video call capabilities to users—a rather useful feature on any tablet.

As is essential to most tablets, Apple promises better battery life on the iPad 2. Several tests have shown Apple to have made good on this promise, with results pegging the iPad 2′s battery life with a continuous video playback, WiFi and a relatively bright screen setting, to last 10 hours and 30 minutes.

Hardware Conclusion

Video call capability, battery life and a sleeker design is huge step up from its original model, but the iPad 2 offers little else in terms of its external hardware improvements. Despite this, the iPad 2 is set to be a top competitor (as Apple has always been), in the second generation tablet market.

Ipad 2 Software

A successful tablet finds an effective balance between its hardware and software. Reviewing the iPad 2 on its hardware alone is a disservice to Apple, which has shown a commendable effort at improving some of the issues encountered by the first generation iPad.

Software

Software for Apple is a touchy subject. While the company has developed a competent and competitive operating system for the iPad, most owners believe Apple could have done better.

As Apple rolls out the iPad 2, Flash compatibility still remains an Apple owner’s wet dream. With the iPad 2 having no Flash support, it looks like Apple continues its crusade to avoid anything that has to do with it.

The software update that came with the iPad 2, however, has some welcome surprises up its sleeve, most notably, faster browsing. Tests have shown the iPad 2′s browsing to be almost twice as fast compared to the original iPad running on the older operating system.

Multitasking on the iPad 2 proves to be better in every way compared to its predecessor. Side by side, it quickly becomes apparent that the original iPad’s multitasking capabilities is pretty clunky.

Camera Applications

There are notable applications that had rolled in with the release of the iPad 2— FaceTime and Photobooth. With the iPad 2 sporting front and rear-facing cameras, it is hardly surprising that camera apps will be made available. FaceTime, and Photobooth are hardly new applications if you own other Apple products, but on the iPad 2, these are huge steps forward. Both applications refreshingly work well with the tablet, considering its low-quality camera. The workability of the apps more than make up for the iPad 2 camera’s lack.

Software Conclusion

The software upgrade is an excellent complement to the iPad 2. The tablet’s improved processor and memory , coupled with the new operating system allows for a significantly faster experience. All these combine to make the iPad 2 a definite improvement, propelling it once again to the top spot on the tablet market.

Ipad 2 Internal Hardware

Internal hardware is an equally important focal point for any tablet. A device can have the best software and external hardware, but it can only go so far with limited processing power. Apple has promised better overall performance with the iPad 2, stressing a new and improved internal hardware.

The Insides

While the iPad 2 may look a lot like the original iPad on the outside, save for the front and rear-facing cameras, it packs a significantly different and better internal hardware. The iPad 2 boasts a 1 GHz dual core processor, the A5, that is a leap from the A4. The dual core processor handles the iPad 2′s multitasking like a charm.

Playing around with the apps, the iPad 2 has also clocked in consistently higher speeds compared with the original iPad and with the iPhone 4. Performance tests have registered the iPad 2 at more than twice the figures clocked in by the iPhone 4 and almost 40% faster than the iPad.

The iPad 2′s RAM receives mixed reactions. Having only 512Mb of RAM, the iPad 2 is at the same level as the iPhone 4, and has twice as much as its predecessor. The increase in memory helps in the tablet’s browsing speed which was somewhat of an issue for the first gen iPads. Some, however, believe that the iPad 2 could have done with more RAM. At the moment, tests have proven the phones memory to be enough, coupled with the tablet’s processor.

Internal Hardware Conclusion

The iPad 2′s increased processing power has allowed for faster performance, making its other improvements even better. While the phone’s RAM is could have been a little better, there is no indication of it bottlenecking the processor’s performance, so there really isn’t any major problems. In fact, performance is better than ever.

Overall, the iPad 2 is a huge leap forward, deserving of some of the hype it received. The improvements, most notably the OS upgrade and the processing power, mesh together extremely well to provide users with a fast and intuitive experience—both of which are hallmarks of a top of the line tablet such as the iPad 2.

• Optimize system features to improve general performance, save hard drive space, and conserve RAM.
• Maintain data structures relied on by your system and applications to keep them running safely and smoothly.
• Troubleshoot crashes, odd behavior and the “spinning beach ball.”
• Generally customize your computer to better fit your needs.

Pros: Good interface that’s pretty much self-explanatory. Have been using it for several years having upgraded from the old program, SOX. I used to use MacJanitor for some regular maintenance but this utility has more features.

Cons: Has no ‘Help’ just a message “full documentation coming soon.” I upgraded as soon as Socks was released and have been waiting over a year for the alleged documentation.

Summary: I would be nice to have documentation to fully explain some of the functions such as those in the Spotlight screen..