On Thursday, I got an iPod Touch 64 GB. I didn’t have much time on Friday to play with it but yesterday, woo hoo, whenever I had to take a break from Hild I went to play in the app store. I downloaded all the mail and calendar wotsits, picked a nifty photo for my lock screen, got the digital Economist app, iGoogle, and uploaded my Janes Plane videos. (Oh, yes, I have edited those. Yes, I’m tormenting you again. Ha ha ha.) I played with the camera a bit–just enough to determine that it doesn’t suck, and just enough to make me fear the notion of Face Time video calls–then I downloaded Scanner, the scan-barcode-get-comparison-prices app.
Then I lost time.
I got obsessed with scanning the bar codes of things I already own to torment myself with how much cheaper I could have got them if I’d had Scanner my whole life. Thankfully, the urge wore off. Still, it’s forty minutes of my life I’ll never get back. There again, I’m pretty sure I’ll save a zillion dollars over the next year or so.
Then I downloaded the Kindle app. Bloody hell. More lost time. Books look utterly splendid on that jewel of a screen. And popping to the index or footnotes (I’m currently reading Schiff’s Cleopatra: A life) is a delight compared to my Original Lumbering First Batch Kindle. (It’s so old the battery only holds a charge for three or four days. It makes a horrible clunking sound when I hit the menu button.) I still prefer reading fiction on the Kindle; epaper is easier on the eyes than a back-lit screen. (Just downloaded McKinley’s Pegasus, FYI.) But non-fiction, oh yep, iTouch ‘r’ us.
Speaking of the Kindle, the other day I saw that Dear Author had posted a just-in-time-for-the-holidays shopping comparison guide for ereaders. If you’re not sure whether the Sony or Nook or Kindle or iPad is for you, read their guide. All the info you could possibly need.
But back to my current device: the iPod Touch rocks the thunderdome. I can’t imagine how I got along without checking email from the sofa. Next on my wishlist? The newest Kindle, of course. And then a TV that will let me cut the Comcast cord. And then a car. And then–well, I have a list…
Nicola Griffith 
My wife likes her Nook– she likes being able to get books from the library & sources other than Amazon.
I don't need a smart-widget in my life? Most of the time I would use it– like, when I'm not at home where we have two laptops or at work where I'm in front of computer– is when I do a lot of reading.
mordicai, I don't think most of us 'need' an iThing, but it's enormous fun to play with :)
>the iPod Touch rocks the thunderdome< Yes, yes, it does. I adore mine!! And I have all the e-reader programs so I can read books from pretty much anywhere.
Maria, yep, it's pretty agnostic that way.
The only thing about that iPod Touch is that the camera is a huge disappointment. I didn't realize until yesterday that the latest upgrade did not get the same camera as the iPhone.
Oh, and me? I definitely NEED an iPad! But you know – just for work.
jennifer, of course you do ;) As for the camera, I'll do some pix tomorrow–but, yep, far from perfect.
I love the Eucalyptus app — pretty format versions of all the Gutenburg library of out-of-copyright texts. Verne, Conan Doyle, Milton, Smollett, ghost stories of antiquaries — oh wait, where did hear about that one?
so have, y'know, checked out Blue Place on the Kindle app?
Anon, nope, haven't checked TBP. I looked at Ammonite on Kindle–it looks fantastic. But haven't peeked at any others.
Eucalyptus. Sounds fab.