Help - Ipod Touch Clone Recommendation

[wdo...@yahoo.com]

Hi - I want something "like" and ipod touch, however the touch does
not do what I need (at least I don't think so). Can anyone recommend
something for these few criteria:

I think the Ipod already has these:

-size of an Ipod Touch so that I can always carry it (no larger)
-wifi
-browser like the touch where you can zoom/expand

Here are the Ipod dealbreakers (correct me if I'm wrong):

-need to be able to use device as USB mass storage to easily transfer
files to//from device
-need to be able to "save as" when browsing (save web pages, or any
other file that you typically save from a browser; pdf, mp3, video,
entire Linux distro, whatever).

This last one is not a necessity, but I would like a torrent client.

I spent a whole evening trying to figure out if jailbreak will do what
I want, but (like most research on the net) you can spend a waste a
whole evening and be no further ahead.

Thanks

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per wdo...@yahoo.com:

>Here are the Ipod dealbreakers (correct me if I'm wrong):
>
>-need to be able to use device as USB mass storage to easily transfer
>files to//from device

I gave up on that one awhile ago. There are, however,
applications that allow you to save stuff to the iTouch and
retrieve it from same. The catch is that the app has tb running
on the PC you plug the iTouch in to.

DiskAid is the app I use. (probably sb "have" instead of "use"
bc I haven't really used it yet.... key fob flash drives being so
cheap and easy....

>-need to be able to "save as" when browsing (save web pages, or any
>other file that you typically save from a browser; pdf, mp3, video,
>entire Linux distro, whatever).

Haven't looked into the "other" scenarios yet, but the "Atomic
Web" browser - besides having features one would have expected in
Safari in the first place - has the ability to save web pages to
the device. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have an option to
auto-drill down through links though.

Biggest PITA's/puzzlers for me are:

- As you observe: why the thing can't act as a flash drive.
It's such obvious functionality and seems to be a downgrade
from the earlier iPods.

- Related to above: the file system. It's too arcane.
One app stores pictures here and another app stores
pictures there... and they can't see each other's pics.

- Lack of a microphone - although there are add-ons available.

- Unlike others, I'm frustrated by the small size: iTouch is
too small and iPad is too large. I lust after a device
that is as large as it can be and still fit into the pocket
on cargo pants.

All that having been said, I *think* I've successfully migrated
from a PalmPilot/iPod Classic to a single iTouch device with
no major loss of data/functionality. Some of the iTouch native
apps are pretty lame (Calendar, Safari for instance); but the
plethora of third-party apps redeems it.
--
PeteCresswell