The lack of volume buttons are really becoming a problem...

Get ready to be flamed. If my experience is any guide, the fanboys aren't going to like this thread.

As I use this primarily for video/web surfing, having a volume button doesn't matter to me, because when I'm using this I'm looking at it. Even when I listen to music, I'm normally listening while surfing the web. So no problems here. I can understand your point, but I gotta believe that Apple saw this being used more as I do, and less like a regular Ipod. I would assume they thought that with the IPhone, if you're on a call, it's important to be able to quickly adjust volume without having to tap into different screens.

I can understand your point, but I gotta believe that Apple saw this being used more as I do, and less like a regular Ipod.

I seriously doubt that. iPod is a media player, not a communications device. If Apple saw most people using it like you do, they wouldn't have positioned it as an iPod.

That's the problem. If the touch interface doesn't lock when the screen goes blank, it's likely to get erroneous input. That's one of the main drawbacks of the touch screen. It requires you to look at it in order to function correctly.

You just have the user double click on the home button first like you do now.

I haven't bought a Touch yet (waiting for stores to get them), but I can see how not having a volume adjustment can be a pain. In fact I'm sort of concerned about it. For now the only solution I can think of is to use a volume control wheel on the headphones. There are headphone extensions which come with a volume switch, but of course this means you have to purchase another accessory and have a long headphone cable...but at least you can adjust the volume without using the touchscreen.

I seriously doubt that. iPod is a media player, not a communications device. If Apple saw most people using it like you do, they wouldn't have positioned it as an iPod.

What I'm saying is that they probably didn't envision that most would use this as they do regular Ipod's, i.e. on the go, walking, running, etc. While people certainly can do that with this, it seems that if you would buy this primarily for it's wide screen and Wi-Fi, and not primarily to listen to music with. Therefore, since you're watching the screen normally, having physical volume buttons shouldn't be a big deal. And it isn't, for me at least.

What I'm saying is that they probably didn't envision that most would use this as they do regular Ipod's, i.e. on the go, walking, running, etc. While people certainly can do that with this, it seems that if you would buy this primarily for it's wide screen and Wi-Fi, and not primarily to listen to music with. Therefore, since you're watching the screen normally, having physical volume buttons shouldn't be a big deal. And it isn't, for me at least.

Ultimately, the issue here is that Apple didn't design iPod Touch as either a communications device OR an iPod. They made it iPhone Jr. so that people could get a taste and then begin to covet the big dog of the line. If they'd put even a marginal amount of thought into designing Touch as a true PMP it would have had the features necessary to make it a great companion to iPhone and a great "on the go" device. The fact that it doesn't satisfy the usual iPod criteria has less to do with Apple choosing to go in that direction than it does with Apple simply trying to get everyone to buy their new iPhone... even people who don't want a phone built into it.

What I'm saying is that they probably didn't envision that most would use this as they do regular Ipod's, i.e. on the go, walking, running, etc. While people certainly can do that with this, it seems that if you would buy this primarily for it's wide screen and Wi-Fi, and not primarily to listen to music with. .

But that contradicts the features of the device. If they envisioned this to be more of a video/internet communicator than a traditional "iPod" then why is it so crippled in those departments also?

Video: Sure a hard drive would make it slower but would anyone really complain about a slightly slower interface in trade for 80-160GB of storage and twice the battery capacity?

Internet Communicator: Full-sized browser with no flash means you are still missing out on a large chunk of content out there. And again, a drive would make it so this "internet device" could actually download files. But instead they decided to eliminate disk-mode entirely?

I'm not trying to argue with you and I'm glad it is exactly what you wanted. But it is very possible that you may be the one in the minority and the majority of people seeing the "iPod" name will want to use it as an iPod. The truth of the matter is that this couldve been everything but they chose for it not to. And that's a shame because while the software complaints can be addressed, the missing hardware is only solved with another $400.

Video: Sure a hard drive would make it slower but would anyone really complain about a slightly slower interface in trade for 80-160GB of storage and twice the battery capacity?
To be fair, I'm confident the device would've had to fatten up considerably to be able to put in a hard drive AND even get the battery life to be the same as it is now. I for one, would complain if the device was more sluggish, as its speed is one of the most important aspects of the interface to me.

I do think it would've been nice to come out with both a flash-based and hard drive-based touch, but that was probably unrealistic in this time frame. That would've made it a tougher decision for me, probably would've still chosen the flash model because I do like the quieter, slimmer, more reliable flash.

Internet Communicator: Full-sized browser with no flash means you are still missing out on a large chunk of content out there. And again, a drive would make it so this "internet device" could actually download files. But instead they decided to eliminate disk-mode entirely?
Even without the hard drive, it would be nice to be able to download files from Safari. I hope they change this.

Yes I agree. Actually I sent Apple an email detailing an enhancement request. What Apple should do is to develop a "Broad Guesture" for the touchscreen so that you can make guestures on the screen without following any on screen interface element. For instance, if you wipe the finger from top to bottom, you lower the volume, if you wipe your finger from bottom to top, you raise the volume. If you double tap anywhere on the screen, you skip to next trace. Single tap, pause, etc., etc.. All without having to look at the screen and with the screen off.

Hehe, this is so obvious, I can't believe more people haven't thought of it, i.e. people at Apple. I actually sent the EXACT same thing to Steve Jobs (steve@mac.com) himself. Here's a quote from my email:

So on to my suggestion.

Include gesture controls on the Touch. You still dont get (non-audio) feedback, but at least you can reach into your pocket and adjust the volume. Once switched to gesture mode (more on this later) the following controls would become functional:

Tap and drag from anywhere on the screens surface, in any direction =
volume adjust: towards the top of the Touch -> volume up, towards the home button -> volume down

Tap and release = play/pause

Double Tap = advance track

Thats it.

This is how I envisage it functioning (though of course, you should user test, like any good UI development would ;)):

State: Screen off
Double Tap Home Button -> gesture mode
Double Tap Home again to de-activate

State: Screen on / on any screen
Either: copy the states as above, with a visual cue to show the user theyre in gesture mode (dim the screen / overlay a gesture guide?)
OR: keep the current on screen mini-controls popping up (as on current Touch)

That's can't be right. The new OS has a menu item for radio, just like the 5.5 did. I suspect that they've disabled it on purpose so that they can sell everyone a new design sometime later this year.

The Griffin radio remote works just fine on the Touch. I've been using it for the past couple days.

I've never missed them personally, as I've never owned an iPod with dedicated volume controls.

It's a bit puzzling why they were omitted on the Touch though other than to minimize costs.

I predict 32GB 1.5 gen touch this spring with hard buttons and speaker for yacking it up with the Youtube vids.