Slashdot Mirror
How the iPod Touch Works
starexplorer2001 writes "The iPod Touch isn't in stores yet, but HowStuffWorks has a nice summary of how the 'touch' part of the iPod Touch works. Very similar to how the iPhone works, without those pesky rebates! From the article: 'The iPod touch also has a few other features that iPod enthusiasts had hoped to see on standard iPod models. Some users hoped for a wirelessly enabled iPod so they could synch their music or share files with friends over a Bluetooth or WiFi connection. The iPod touch is the first iPod to have wireless capability, although it doesn't use it to synch with a computer or friends' iPods. Instead, you can use it to browse the Web, watch YouTube videos or download music from a WiFi-specific iTunes Music Store. With its widescreen display and WiFi capability, the iPod touch might sound like a big step up from older iPod models. But the iPod touch isn't for everyone.'"
It simply doesn't support Firewire any more.
The first time I heard this, I was shocked and dismayed. Every time I've heard it since, I've been angry.
Via USB, my iPod takes 15 to 20 minutes to transfer my 18 GB of music.
Via Firewire, the same operation takes 8 minutes.
Why am I forced to put up with inferior mechanisms when I replace it? New iPods suck ass because of stupid people that don't know that Firewire is better. This isn't just simple anger, this is pure hate. I hate idiots and the stupidity they cause.
4G iPod forever! (Or at least until Apple puts Firewire support back in.)
The reason Firewire is faster is that everything is its own device on the network. USB requires a host. It's also why USB requires more CPU. However, that firewire chip isn't small. When Apple had to choose between firewire chip or video chip, they choose the video.
The Reason given at the time was that the Physical Size of the Firewire chips was holding back the reduction in size