A lot going on in the world, maybe more than usual. For one thing, I downloaded Google Earth for my IPhone today, and it felt as if the future, almost a science fiction future, suddenly materialized.

And then, the Economy, the World Mess, going into “withdrawal” over the “fake” pumped up financial system, that just crashed.

With all of this, decided to “go within” and paint about it, painting with Light, that is, on my iPhone.

I just got a link from Jonathan Dingman, who organized WordCamp NYC last weekend, on the complete videos from the day - I already posted quite a bit on WordCamp NYC, all from my 3G Iphone.

Here’s the posts I did

WordPress WordCamp NYC part 1

WordCamp NYC part 2 Aaron Brazell from TechnoSailor.com, making it into the Big Leagues

WordCamp NYC part 3 Shey David and Interactive Blogging

WordCamp NYC part 4, Jeremy Clarke, Running a Blog Network on WordPress

WordCamp NYC part 5 New york Times Bloggers and Blogging

I'm kinda leaning to buying a 3G Iphone that just went on "sale" yesterday.  Too bad the rumor from @chrissieb of Steve Jobs waiting on line at the Apple Store on 59th Street wasn't true - he should have waited on line, what a story that would have been.

I'm testing all this out on my iPod Touch - but …… but ….. but… what do you do with an iPod Touch without interent connectivity half the time - you kinda have to end up with the iPhone, esp, with some of the new Social Networking and Directional software that's been made available.

Still, I'm only willing to buy one if I can get at $199.00, I'm not spending $500+ that many are still shelling out on it - we'll see once I try to sign up - but I'm not waiting on line for 5 hours like most of my friends did, yesterday.

Reading iPod Touch Commercial - Democratized Creative Hits Prime Time reminds me of how boring most commercial advertising is, including corporate PR.   And yet, when you have enthused fans creating content that is authentic, it can go over much better, like the iPod Touch Commercial that was created by an 18 year old Apple fan Nick Haley from the UK.

I don't know if all advertising can be user generated - but I bet a lot more of it can be.   And it also reminds me of how squalid corporate messaging can be, and I have a personal experience with that recently - but won't give the details.  Suffice it to say that I'm in the process of writing an paper for an academic publication - the paper would be a collaboration with someone else, however, it's based, partly on corporate work.

As soon as we brought in corporate messaging - the proposed had many more restrictions and probably won't be half has good, when published, than were we allowed to write the thing the way we'd like to, but can't.

I understand the need for corporate messaging, but I also understand that most people, including those making up the branding, as consumers - are turned off by the very messaging they're creating.  

Anyway, getting back to the iPod Touch Commercial - it reminds me that I bought an iPod Touch recently and did not have much time, till tonight, to do anything with it - but I found, again, that while the iPod Touch is much closer to a full laptop or desktop experience, it falls short in several ways.   For one thing, I literally can't blog with it - I can't log into secure sites using the iPod Touch - and I tried several times.

Also, it's still pretty cumbersome to type - and I wish a convertible keyboard that is portable could be plugged in, when desired.  

Finally, while the iPod Touch and iPhone give the illusion of a fully enabled internet interface, they fall short - I think it gets halfway there - but I'm still trying to decide how much to put on the iPod Touch and what the content is going to be.

Now I own an iPod Touch I'm trying to figure out how to use it - and haven't been much (no case for it yet - till today; not much I'd put on it yet, not using the wireless much yet) but something I just found about about peaked my interest - read this post about - We’re now tracking iPhone apps on the Wakoopa blog.

Here's a nice application for a Social Network - and I believe it would also cover the IPod Touch - since it's really the same device but without the phone:

"…Today I’m happy to announce that we now support the iPhone! What does that exactly mean? Well for start, you’ll be able to check out cool iPhone applications at wakoopa.com/iphone. Every iPhone app now has its own software page on Wakoopa, just like any other piece of software. Take Bloglines for instance."

"…If you have an iPhone, check it out at i.wakoopa.com. Here you can check the complete list of all iPhone applications, ordered by popularity or added date. If you’re a Wakoopa member, you can also mark the apps you are using by hand (we’ll build a tracker for this later on) and see what you’re friends are using. Our whole office is falling in love with it as we speak, and we hope you do too!"

According to the comments - there's not that much yet for the iPod Touch vs. the iPhone - though I'll have to see for myself.   It depends on what we're talking about - if the applications are depending on the use of the Phone part of the device - than that's be true, but if it's based on anything else, there should be no difference.

Actually, I bought a 16 GB iPod Nano Touch as I said I'd do earlier tonight in my iPod Touch movement is here - Jeff Jarvis post.  Managed to get some of my Paris Trip Videos moved onto my new iPod Touch Nano but not so successful doing a post on this blog from the iPod Touch - it may be too hard to do this for any really serious posting.

It's not so much the typing, it's losing the virtual keyboard by some movement of my hand and not yet knowing how to get it back - it's having a virtual keyboard that's a little too small for my fingers to always hit on the right part of the screen and it's going back constantly and fixing the text, so it's correct, that make posting or writing tedious.

Perhaps, as I use it more, the iPod Touch will replace the laptop, as Jeff Jarvis seems to suggest it can (but then again, for all his talk about how great the iPod Touch is … he does not put his money where his mouth is …. and I did).

But I never really used my other iPods much either - and even gave away a new iPod Shuffle I won recently to a friend…as I was holding out for a video iPod - which I now have.    Plus, the wireless capabilities is what did it for me…and that's the way I plan to use it the most.

The iPod Touch moment has arrived, according to Jeff Jarvis and it's significant because it makes me want to go and buy a iPod Touch today.  Also, Jeff Jarvis's post on The iPod moment is here — on the iPod makes a point that the reason iPod Touch did better in the UK than then here in the US; people are seeing the iPod Touch (why didn't they just call it "The iTouch") as an step down from the iPhone..but in the UK, they don't see it that way because they the got the iPod Touch before the iPhone.

"….These new devices represent the next generation of the computer: small, sleek, powerful, portable. Everything that the computer, the web, and the browser have done to content - enabling it to become infinite but personal; instantaneous yet permanent; unrestricted by medium because it offers all media; and enriched by the conversation around it - is now in the palm of your hand. Everything you can do on the web you can do with media on the iPhone, anywhere, any time."

Jeff Jarvis admits that he doesn't own an iPhone or iPod Touch, but wishes he did:

"….Sadly, I don’t own an iPhone. My teen son has one, bought with the proceeds of his Facebook application programming. His mother has ruled that if he can teach his dad to write apps, then perhaps I, too, can afford the wondrous gadget. But once in a while, he lets me play with it. And more important, I get to observe him using it. And what I see is quite simple and obvious: he’s on the web. For this is just a browser, always connected constantly with him."

Seems like Jeff Jarvis could just go out and buy an iPod Touch already - after writing a post like he just did - I don't understand why he hasn't.

It's also interesting that as soon as you call the iPod Touch a smaller laptop, it suddenly gets a lot more interesting to own one.  Just a thought.

Decided to wait for the G-Phone and not buy an iPhone but get a iPod Touch, instead. An article in AM New York titled: G-Phone: Cracking the Google mystery settled the question I had … iPhone, G-Phone or keep current phone (SideKick 3) and get new iPod Touch…and I made up my mind to do the latter.

Here's the thing: I really don't need another phone yet and if the G-Phone is free and ends up running on other networks (like TMobile) I can have my cake and eat it too…. enjoy all the things the iPhone does well, without having to tie myself into buying that functionality as a phone.

And the biggest things I'd do with the IPod Touch is Surf the Internet using it's wireless connectivity… and the music/video features would also be used.

Just wanted to share my opinion on G-Phone vs. iPhone vs. IPod Touch.

iPod Touch or iPod Nano Touch now gives a little video for everyone  as a result of an updated iPod Nano product line (first introduced on September 7, 2005) released today, with 4GB and 8GB models starting at just $149.   According to Eclectic Commons, who was at the Apple Store in mid Manhattan today, the street was packed with people waiting for the announcement with the pomp and pageantry with which Apple makes all its announcements.

Little speaks volumes (according to Apple).  While Apple cuts iPhone price, retools iPods by introducing the iPod Touch, a touch-screen device that lets anyone in range of a WiFi hot spot buy music or surf the Web, Apple has decoupled the phone from the iPhone (in my opinion) and given us the iPod Touch, instead.

"…The iPod Touch offers most of the features that the iPhone does — except cell phone functions."

Back in 2005 when the 2G iPod was first released the Nano was described to be so thin that it slips effortlessly into the coin pocket on a pair of women's jeans, with room to spare; against today's iPod Nano Touch.  

So my dilemma is this …. do I buy a 8GB iPod nano Touch that does not have a phone or just go out and buy an iPhone (that just went down on price, BTW).  While Steve Jobs Introduces Changes in iPhones, iPods it's still not that easy for me to want to surf the internet in Starbucks using iPod Touch that has no keyboard to touch vs. the iPhone that does have one.   And then, when I'm not near a useable wireless network, I can't do anything with the iPod touch except play music and videos with it while the iPhone can still connect to the internet and is better for writing a letter.

So what will it be for me?  Will Apple's Ipod Touch me in all the right places? Has Apple has found our collective G-Spot or not?

Does anyone care to give their opinion here?  Would you hold out for the 8GB iPhone or buy an iPhone Touch?