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General discussion

IPod Touch

Jan 8, 2009 8:08AM PST

I am a novice. Do I have to have Wifi for my Touch to work? Or are there any other transmissions out there?
I know Edge from AT&T is available? You know what I mean! What is the cheapest way to get all that I want from my Touch?
Sam

Discussion is locked

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wifi
Jan 8, 2009 12:41PM PST

You only need wifi if you want to take advantage of the Touch's wifi capabilities (surfing the web, receiving e-mail, using other applications that require wifi). That said, I know a few people who rarely use it because of lack of free wifi. I can't say that I rarely use it, but I'm not using it for hours at a time. I have a home wifi network, so I'll connect my Touch to the network every morning so that I can update my news applications (New York Times, USA Today) in order to read the day's news offline. I'll use Pandora when I want internet radio but don't want to fire up the laptop. Sometimes I'll buy a song or download a podcast for the same reason.

Other than home, free wifi isn't readily available in the city where I live. In my city, it is available at any public library. I rarely go there these days. If you have a registered Starbucks Rewards card or have AT&T internet service you should be able to get free wifi at Starbucks. Since I don't like paying $5 for coffee I don't do that. There are a few buildings downtown that offer free wifi, which if I'm working in the area I definitely take advantage of.

I mainly use my Touch for watching movies.

Since the Touch is not a cell phone, you can't take advantage of edge.

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I Pod Touch...wifi
Jan 8, 2009 3:08PM PST

Thank you so much........my neighbor has wifi through his cable service,but locked.What does that mean? Can he unlock it somehow? And then will I be able to take advantage of being close by?
Sam

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secure wifi
Jan 8, 2009 10:49PM PST

It means that his network is secure so that not just anyone can use it. Always a good idea, not only to keep your computers and important data safe from prying eyes, but also to prevent unwanted bandwidth suckage (someone downloading or uploading lots of things, which may slow down the rightful users' internet) and illegal things (that unwanted user may use it to download child porn).

If your neighbor consents to you using his connection, he can give you a passcode that will allow you to share his wifi. As long as the signal is strong enough, then you can. I can detect my neighbors' wifi, and one of them is even unsecure...but the signal isn't strong enough to allow me to connect to it inside my house. I actually have to go outside and stand next to this neighbor's house in order to get a strong enough signal.

Do you have internet service at home? If you do, all you need is a wifi router (you can either get it from your internet provider or you can buy one from the electronics store) and you can have wifi in your home.

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router?
Jan 9, 2009 3:30AM PST

Thanks again...you are really knowledgeable and I appreciate your time.
Are routers expensive? I do have internet service right now...Verizon. Are they easy to hook up? Should I leave verizon and go to Time Warner?
I do really want to keep my Verizon cell phone....but the rest of the stuff can be changed...and I really want an IPod Touch...with the email and browser capabilities plus the apps.
Sam

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some resources
Jan 9, 2009 1:29PM PST
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to tkrebs from sparkey
Jan 11, 2009 9:49PM PST

Hi.
Thank you.You have been most helpful with my questions about the IPod touch and wifi! If I have further question,I will surely ask you.Take care.

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iPod Touch
Jan 13, 2009 3:24AM PST

If you still haven't bought the touch and are going to do so, make sure you get ether the newest version of the touch, or at least the 1st gen one with version 2 software on it. I know that places like best buy are still selling the 1st gen. ones around my area, at a reduced cost but make sure if you get one that it cames with the newest software so that you don't have to pay for it when you bring it home...