I frequently write about Amy and Evan on this blog, but it’s been a while since I mentioned my third child. I’m talking, of course, about my beloved iPod touch.
There were those who said that my fascination with it would not last. That once the novelty value of having it had worn off I’d relegated it to the back of the gadget drawer alongside the ice-cream maker and the hydo-electric beard buffer. But how wrong they were. I use it now more than ever.
Oh iPod touch how I love thee, let me count the ways:
Video
One of my common complaints used to be that I didn’t have any time for TV, but with the iPod touch this is no longer true. Now whenever I am faced with a dull five or ten minutes to fill I can whip out my iPod and watch whatever show I want. I have developed a voracious appetite for superhero TV cartoons. My main passion lays firmly in the Warner Bros/DC camp, with Batman, Teen Titans, Legion of Superheroes and Justice League being regular fixtures in my day. I do occasionally stray from the fold however, and enjoy the odd episode of Xmen: Evolution and Ben 10 as well.
I am, at heart, a twelve year old boy.
Whether I be bored in the office, sitting in the car waiting for the kids to wake up, or taking care of business on the toilet, I always know that the ability to watch Batman beating the crap out the Joker is just a button push away. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Of course I get all my videos completely legitimately. But if I didn’t all I would have to do is locate the TV show on surfthechannel.com, downloading it to my computer using the video download helper plugin for firefox, then convert it to an iPod video using iSquint.
Internet
I always log in first thing in the morning to see if anyone has commented on the blog while I slept. To call this routine obsessive compulsive would be to vastly understate it. Some people can’t operate in the morning without a cup of coffee. I can’t function until I’ve seen if some chap I don’t even know in Arkansas has validated my self worth by typing a couple of words into their internet browser.
With the iPod I don’t have to go downstairs and fire up the laptop to do this. Now all I need to do is reach over to the bedside table and check my comments from the comfort of my own duvet. Then, after seeing if the internet loves me or not I can make the decision whether it is worth getting up.
See the effect you people have on my life? Comment damn you, comment!
Podcasts
I’ve been doing a lot of walking in preparation for our 78 mile hike in July. Although I’ve not been as good at this as I could have been over the past couple of weeks, l since the beginning of February I’ve been walking roughly 15-25 miles a week.
There is no way that I’d have been able to do this if it hadn’t been for the iPod. Fifteen to twenty five miles at a speed of 3.5 miles an hour equates to up to 7 hours of walking a week. Can you imagine if I’d have to spend that amount of time alone with my own thoughts? I’d have thrown myself in the canal with boredom after the first forty five minutes. I’m one of the MTV generation baby, I need constant stimulation 24 hours a day.
My current favorite podcasts include The Bugle, The Adam and Joe Show, and Martin Kelner’s Piss Poor Podcast. I recomend each and every one of them unreservedly.
Stalking
Do you want to know what time it is where my friend Greg lives? It’s 10:24am. And the weather? Well it’s 1°C and snowing. I get a perverse pleasure in knowing this sort of information. I could even look at his house on Google earth if I wanted. In fact I think I’ll do that now. Mmmmm Gregory, I can see your chimney.
And there’s more! I use the notebook to record blog ideas, the photo album to show people pictures of my kids, and YouTube feature to watch kittens fall off tables. I could even check my stocks and shares if I had any stocks and shares, instead I just make do with checking other peoples.
And I even heard a rumor that you can actually listen to music on it too! Sounds a bit far fetched to me, I’ll have to check the user manual and let you know.
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 7:55 am
I think they’ve introduced a tool here where you can let your friends know where you are with your mobile (without calling/messaging) by subscribing to somekind of service. I won’t, people know where I live, can google earth my home, know my phone nr, know one or 2 e-mail addresses..I get stalked a plenty.
But it sure sounds in your lane haha.
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 8:09 am
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 11:34 am
It’s been three months and I still love my iPhone, so I know what you’re saying.
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 11:37 am
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 11:48 am
Dan, can you see if there’s smoke coming out of the chimney and let us know, please? Cause we’ve been having a problem with the fireplace drawing lately and Greg keeps complaining about the house smelling smoky when I have a fire.
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
But you’ve not sold it to me. I’m still a luddite at heart. Sorry to dis your third child.
I was tempted to go to that surfthechannel site and see if I could download the first episode of the latest series of House which I missed because a power cut knocked my VCR off… but the link didn’t work, and in the end I can live without it. I think.
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
But I must be strong, or lose the house.
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 8:00 pm
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I’m hedging around for an i-phone but need it to organise me. At the moment it can’t do it satisfactorily, and I’m waiting with baited breath for the next generation. Don’t think I would use an
i-touch though.
Have you played the ‘count the trampolines’ game on Google Earth yet?
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 9:22 pm
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on Mar 31st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Anthony – I like inappropriate hy-phens too.
Avitable – i’m resisting Twitter.
Ed – I know, i know. The problem is time. And motivation.
Deb – Sure, I’ll take a look… yeah there’s smoke comin… QUICK YOUR GARAGE IS ON FIRE!!
Rol – Sorry about the link, try it again you grumpy old curmudgeon.
Jeff – And that is how it should be.
Lady Jaye – They truly are magnificent devices.
Xbox4NappyRash – I’m just glad they stick to consumer electronics. Otherwise I might as well just transfer my salary straight into Steve Job’s bank account.
The Chick – Pah, nano! You can’t even watch the Legion of Superheroes on it!
Gail – Time zones are a wonderful thing. I looked at the i-phone but the i-touch does everything I would use and has a bigger memory and no monthly charge. The phone function would be nice obviously, but to be honest I already have a phone.
Sam – Up yours big ears.
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on Apr 1st, 2008 at 3:11 am
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on Apr 1st, 2008 at 3:50 am
My poor little 30 gig ipod only does Video and music. Oh yeah and podcasts.
I will say that you have an addiction! But that’s okay, it just means your normal!
But I still want one!
:)
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on Apr 6th, 2008 at 12:02 am
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