iPod and computer chess

[Sean Evans]

Hi, which iPod(s) are you recommending for computer chess and the ability to listen to the radio? I don't care about phone or Internet use.

Is there a list of computer chess programs that can play on iPods available?

Thanks,

Sean

[sje]

None of the iPods have a native FM radio receiver. However, there is an official add-on FM receiver for sale from Apple, and there are also ones available from third party vendors. Not all iPod models can use the all (or any) of the add-on receivers; my Apple FM add-on works with my iPod Nano but not the iPod Touch.

[Sean Evans]

Hi, I am wondering if another handheld might be better for my needs, what do you think ??

[rjgibert]

If you are not interested in the iPhone, you can get the iPod Touch. I have an iPhone, but the iPod Touch is essentially an iPhone without camera and cell phone functions.

By going with the iPod Touch you will be able to use most of the 25,000 applications available from the iTunes store. A lot of the apps are free. $1 is a typical price. $5 is already "getting pricey." The range and utility of these apps that are available is phenomenal.

With the Touch, besides music, you can download podcasts, which is kind of like talk radio. With an internet connection, you can do texting and listen to internet radio. You can also visit the NBC site and watch TV. And BTW, you can still use the Touch to make telephone calls using voip over a wifi connection.

You can also purchase TV shows and movies from iTunes.

I don't think you will regret it. The purchase of my iPhone is easily the best hardware purchase that I've made in my life. It has its faults, but the damn thing is ridiculously useful to the point that I now consider it a necessity.

The growth in the number of apps available to it has been explosive. That's 25,000 apps in just 1 year surpassing #2 windows mobile with about 20,000 apps almost like it was standing still. I believe this was made possible by the synergy between a number very good choices made by Apple.

Now if all that is not enough, consider also that you can actually use the thing to listen to music too!

[sje]

And BTW, you can still use the Touch to make telephone calls using voip over a wifi connection.

You'll need a microphone for this. The first generation Touch doesn't have one; I don't know about the current model.

Also note that the Touch doesn't have a camera which is kind of sad given the price.

[CThinker]

Hi, which iPod(s) are you recommending for computer chess and the ability to listen to the radio? I don't care about phone or Internet use.

Is there a list of computer chess programs that can play on iPods available?

Thanks,

Sean

If you are willing to go with Windows Mobile, most Windows Mobile phones have FM radio. And being Windows Mobile, you can run Pocket Scid, Pocket Fritz, CEBoard, Pocket GM, ThinkerBoard, etc.

Here are a few examples:

htc touch diamond
htc touch pro
e-ten glofish
samsung omnia i900

There are cheaper Chinese brands (like cect m88 or i9) but the processors are slower (200mhz).

[M ANSARI]

I have the HTP Touch Cruise and after fumbling around with it for some time, I now don't know how I managed my life so long withought it. I mean it does everything ... it is my mobile phone, my data bank, my GPS with street maps to any place I travel to on earth, my own private Chess GM who is ready to give me a spanking any time any place. My always ready camera and cam corder. I have only touched the capabilities of this "mobile phone" and recentely I bought 32 GB Micro SD card (yes they make them that big) to increase the capability. It has the great feature of encrypting data on SD drive in case you lose it. I recentely lost one for a couple of days and because I have my HTC connected via USB for synching and charging every day in the office, I was able to buy a new one and be up and running with a couple of hours like nothing happened and with no worries that my data or phone were compromised (I have a code lock on the phone as well).

I have seen the iPhone and I must say it looks a ton sharper and feels much better, but it is a little too heavy. I will probably still get one just to check it out ... maybe a gift to my gadget hating wife that I know I will end up with anyway .

[Cubeman]

Iv'e flirted with the ipod touch for chess.2 good apps so far are Chess Genius but costs money and Glaurung which is stronger and feature rich and free I have the original 1st gen Touch which does not have speaker, or external volume and has a bit slower processor.My daughter has the new 2nd gen and I have experimented with chess on it too.You can listen to your music at the same time and find that I play better listening to 50 cent than Mozart
I find that battery life is not very long playing chess or other apps and just use iPod for music with screen off.
I have been reading reviews about a new Toshiba PDA which has a 4.1 inch screen and a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor.This could be the new #1 for PDA chess.

[CThinker]

Iv'e flirted with the ipod touch for chess.2 good apps so far are Chess Genius but costs money and Glaurung which is stronger and feature rich and free I have the original 1st gen Touch which does not have speaker, or external volume and has a bit slower processor.My daughter has the new 2nd gen and I have experimented with chess on it too.You can listen to your music at the same time and find that I play better listening to 50 cent than Mozart
I find that battery life is not very long playing chess or other apps and just use iPod for music with screen off.
I have been reading reviews about a new Toshiba PDA which has a 4.1 inch screen and a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor.This could be the new #1 for PDA chess.

I'm really hoping that HTC, HP or Samsung would make a device that uses the OMAP 4 (dual-core, 1ghz). And like the Toshiba TG01, put 256MB of RAM on it and a 4-inch screen. That would be the ultimate hand-held chess machine.

[Tord Romstad]

And BTW, you can still use the Touch to make telephone calls using voip over a wifi connection.

You'll need a microphone for this. The first generation Touch doesn't have one; I don't know about the current model.

Also note that the Touch doesn't have a camera which is kind of sad given the price.

On the other hand, the 2nd generation iPod Touch has a faster CPU than the iPhone and the 1st generation iPod Touch, and is therefore a marginally stronger platform for chess programs.

Tord