Apple iPod Touch 16Gb

Touchdown!

What is an iPhone without the phone?

In a word... brilliant. Not so much an upgrade as a total revamp of the iPod, the Touch 16GB is basically Apple's iPhone without the disappointing aspects of that device - such as the recessed earphone socket, the paltry storage, the crappy camera and, err, phone bit. It's also thinner - about a third as thick as the iPhone.

Everything we love about the iPhone is still here. The huge screen sports a multi-touch interface that's smoother than a greased eel.

It lets you flick through tracks, gawp at video and pinch-zoom photos, with no practice or manual consultation. Put next to an iPhone, the screen's got a tad more detail and better contrast, too.

The Touch's built-in Wi-Fi puts the iTunes Store in your pocket. Now, you can buy tracks that take your fancy on the move, then have them injected into your player once you've docked it back home. The Safari web browser also lets you view websites from Wi-Fi hotspots.

Apple's earphones remain iconic but cack, so bin them, safe in the knowledge that your replacements will fit into the earphone socket. Once that's done, sound quality is on a par with any other iPod.

If you're after a mid-capacity MP3 player, but don't fancy such a mugger-summoning-yet-underpowered upgrade, the Touch is an attractive prospect. Be warned, though: once you're used to Apple's multi-touch interface, you'll be spoiled for life. Nothing else is ever going to seem quite as inviting or inventive.