The iPod Touch as a Video Camera

The Touch's cameras are not identical to those found in the iPhone 4. Although the rear-facing camera shoots video at the same 720p (1280 by 720) resolution, when you compare the results of the same scene shot with each device, differences are apparent. To begin with, the Touch's videos appear to be zoomed out slightly as compared to videos taken with the iPhone 4. Shoot both cameras side by side and the iPod Touch captures more of what's in front of it. Also, the iPod's rear-facing camera is more likely to produce washed-out results in bright conditions than the iPhone 4's camera. Still, while its results aren't as good as those produced by the iPhone 4 or one of the better HD pocket camcorders, the Touch takes reasonable-looking videos under well-lit conditions.

In underlit conditions you more clearly see the difference between the two devices' cameras. The iPod Touch's video is grainier and shows less detail. And, unlike with the iPhone 4, you don't have the option to switch on the flash because the iPod lacks a flash. Rather, the Touch includes a backside illumination sensor, which is designed to make the rear-facing camera perform better in low-light. Yet even with this sensor the iPod Touch's results were poorer than the iPhone 4. But perhaps without the illumination sensor they'd be worse yet.

The 4G Touch supports Apple's $5 iMovie app. Just as with the iPhone 4, you can create movies on the Touch complete with titles, themes, and soundtracks. And, you can now upload those movies in HD. Under iOS 4 on the iPhone 4, you could create and export 720p movies, but when you uploaded them from the Photos app their resolution was reduced. With iOS 4.1 that's no longer the case. You can now upload HD videos to YouTube and a MobileMe gallery and they retain their 720p resolution.

The iPod Touch as a Still Camera

I mentioned that with video, the Touch's rear-facing camera is a bit more zoomed out than the iPhone 4's. The opposite is true with still images. With these images, the iPod's camera is more zoomed in, hinting at a smaller sensor. Also, iPhone 4's camera captures stills at 1936 by 2592 pixels, while the iPod Touch's rear-facing camera shoots at 720 by 960 pixels. That's 5 megapixels on the iPhone 4 versus less than 1 megapixel on the Touch.

Given the lower resolution and lack of a flash, it shouldn't be surprising that the 4G Touch's still pictures don't measure up to the iPhone 4's. The images it produces are far less detailed and the camera's more susceptible to being blown out when capturing bright images--vibrant yellows, pinks, and reds, for example. Inside, in under-lit conditions, the Touch's camera pushes very hard to get the image, but in the process can produce grainy and washed out results. Unless you're shooting under ideal conditions or you don't have a better camera at hand, this is not the camera you want to use to create prints.

FaceTime and the iPod Touch

With the cameras comes FaceTime, which works on the new Touch very much as it does on the iPhone 4. As with an iPhone 4, you have the option to switch between the front- and rear-facing camera and your voice is picked up by the external mic. Again, even though the microphone is on the back of the iPod--and thus facing away from you as you talk into the front of the device--the mic is sensitive enough to pick up your voice. And, again, the internal speaker is loud enough that you can easily hear the person speaking to you. You can optionally use a compatible wired headset--the microphone and headphones on Apple's iPhone headset works perfectly with FaceTime. My Plantronics Bluetooth headset, however, didn't work at all for FaceTime calls.

The difference between FaceTime on the Touch and FaceTime on the iPhone 4 is that with the former you don't need a phone number to place or receive a FaceTime call. Instead, FaceTime requires only an e-mail address. When you first launch the FaceTime app on the Touch, you're asked to enter an e-mail address. Apple sends an e-mail message to that address that asks you to verify your address by clicking a link in the message. This launches your Web browser and takes you to a Web page on Apple's Website where you enter your Apple ID and the password associated with that ID. Click a Verify Address button and your Touch is verified to receive FaceTime calls at that address. (You can add additional e-mail addresses within the FaceTime setting. Do so and you repeat this process for each added address.)

To make a call, just open a contact. (You can choose contacts from Favorites, Recents, and Contacts screens within the FaceTime app or select a contact within the Contacts app). On a contact's screen will be a FaceTime button. Tap it to initiate a FaceTime call. Alternatively, if you know that the person you're calling has an iPhone 4, you can simply tap that phone's number in the Contact screen and the Touch will place a FaceTime call. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection. You can disable FaceTime simply by tapping FaceTime in the Settings screen and flicking the On/Off toggle switch to Off