Apple introduced the newest version of the iPod Touch yesterday. Quoted as the “funnest” iPod ever, it is now thinner, has the volume controls on the side as opposed to going through the menu on the screen, and has a built-in speaker, which as Jobs stated is “for casual listening.” The volume controls and speaker are in the same location that you would find them on the iPhone. The prices for the 2nd generation of iPod Touch are nice: 8GB for $229, 16 GB for $299, and 32GB $399.
One item for the iPod Touch that intrigued me: Apple’s In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. I had been a huge fan of the microphones that attached to the iPod Video, iPod Classic, and iPod Nano. These microphones have been made by XtremeMac, Griffin, and Belkin. However, since the introduction of the iPod Touch last October, XtremeMac discontinued their microphones and Griffin and Belkin’s microphones would work well for the previous generation of iPods, but were questionable with the newest generations, especially the iPod Touch. Therefore, I was recommending the iPod Classic for music classrooms because you could put your curriculum CD collections on it and successfully attach a microphone to turn your iPod into a recording device, which in turn, made it a wonderful assessment tool. Once the application store debuted, the iPod Touch became more useful in the classroom because you could download musical instrument applications for your iPod Touch and turn it into an instrument for your students to use (your responsible students, that is). But, I still could not find an application for an iPod Touch microphone. I found ones for the iPhone, but not the iPod Touch. (If I am mistaken, please write me and let me know!)
The Apple’s In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic seems to be the solution that I have been looking for. The website states that this device will give you a better listening experience and will allow you to record via the microphone. If the microphone has as decent a sound as the XtremeMac Micromemo did, then the $79 price is a nice one. The con is that the microphone will only work with the newest iPod Touch (2nd generation) as well as the newest iPod Nano (4G) and the 120GB iPod Classic. Therefore, if you bought your iPod Touch before this month, you could be out of luck.
The In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic will be coming soon. I am anxious to see if this will be a good assessment tool for the music classroom.
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
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