Apple iTouch, the New PDA
Let’s get crazy for a moment and declare the iPod touch the New Breed of PDA, a personal digital assistant, not to be confused with public display of affection, even though there are few zealous Apple proponents who might blend the two for their obsession with Apple devices. The iPod touch or iTouch is essentially the iPhone, minus the phone and things like Edge, but keeping the cool touch screen and allowing for connectivity not just through iTunes, but Wi-Fi as well. With the iTouch having the strength of the new iPhone SDK, the tech savvy jailbreak applications ranging from NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) emulators to Apollo Im, and even possible enterprise support similar to its cousin the iPhone, like syncing with a Microsoft Exchange Server; what is to prevent this extendable portable music player from becoming a full blown PDA device?
The answer: nothing. Even Google has made their calendar accessible from the web to devices like the iPhone and iTouch. You also currently have the ability to sync your contacts and calendar through outlook or iCal, your todo lists from websites like rememberthemilk.com, and your e-mail directly from your account. One can’t ignore the power of having your data, music, you-tube videos, movies, pod-casts, contacts, and more, locked into sleek colorful device that can go with you any where, even when disconnected from the web.
You have to admit, this could even be seen as Apple’s play at creating a PDA, releasing both the iPhone SDK and creating the iTouch targeted at people who didn’t want it as a phone. Or this could have even possibly been the target all along for the iPod, since it always (to my limited knowledge) had the ability to store contacts and calendar information from initial production.
Granted the current, biggest drawback is that iTunes does not sync calendars with the Windows Calendar (on Vista) or any calendar application you use outside of Outlook on Windows, or the iCal on Mac OS X. But most people who have need for a PDA, are most likely going to have either the iCal or some form of Outlook. Combine that with things like Plaxo or even the Google Calendar syncing tool with Outlook, you can now have your mail, music, videos, games, contacts, calendar, grocery lists, and much more in the palm of your hand or for the avid jogger, in an band around your arm.
If anyone has any cool applications for the iPhone/iTouch, that would enhance the quality life or help with organization, help the community and leave it in the comments below.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Where can I get instructions how to sync my ITouch calendar with Outlook Calandar?
May 1st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I cannot get my iTouch to sync with or recognize my Outlook at work -which is the most important information for me. I can get it to recognize my Outlook at home however. This is a big disappointment for me. If anyone has any idea how I can fix this please let me know. I have tried disabling some Outlook add-on’s but I need admin rights to do so.
I have Plaxo -but want a stand alone (not internet dependent calendar with my work information on my iTouch (iPod Touch). Thanks for any help! I can sync my work Outlook with
July 14th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I am having the same problem. I have been using a Dell PDA for over 5 years and now I want the iTouch I just bought to sync with Outlook.
Have you had any luck yet?
November 15th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I had the sync problem between iTouch and MS Outlook 2003. Ensure you are upgraded to SP3 and the problem goes away. Rumors of a required add-in driver are not true.
November 29th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I would love to get the ITOUCH but it can’t sync to Microsoft Outlook Tasks and Notes.
What software can I buy to be able to sync ITOUCH to my Outlook tasks and notes?
Thank you
Youssef
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I have SP3. I-tunes says it is syncing but nothing changes on either the Itouch or Outlook (both calendar & contacts)
January 13th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
There is another roundabout way to approach this if you use Google Calendar and have a Mac.
First sync the Google Calendar with Outlook.
Next sync the Google Calendar with iCal on your Mac. You need a program called BusyMac ($25) to do this (there are other similar programs, but I like BusyMac).
Finally, sync iCal with the calendar on your iTouch using iTunes.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I wanted to use for PDA but does not group contacts. Anyone know how to do this or is there an application ?
August 1st, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Alot more people have to recognize what this is and the way it can help, I thoroughly enjoyed this post and I really hope that others did aswell. BTW I hope you don’t my if I link this to my site, becuase i know my readers would love this, Thanks. Thanks
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Youssef
Did you ever get a response to this question as it relates to Outlook Tasks? I can sync Outlook to Notes (but cannot alphabetize it, which makes it useless!) I have Outlook 2003 and really want my Tasks on my iTouch!
Sandy
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:35 am
Mobile Me does sync outlook with your Apple ITouch or IPhone.