iPod Touch OS 3.0 Bluetooth Review
I recently upgraded my 2nd generation iPod Touch into OS 3.0. There are more than 100 new features in iPhone OS 3.0, but I was especially excited about the Bluetooth functionality. I used to connect my iPod Touch with Motorola S9 using SRS-200BD BT dongle, but the signal was too weak, that I had to keep my iPod Touch very close to the headset, which defeats the purpose of using Bluetooth connection. So, I hoped the internal Bluetooth module would function better.
You can activate Bluetooth in Settings>General>Bluetooth. You need to type in password for pairing, which is usually 0000. My Motorola S9 was recognized and paired without problem.
Once connected, when you play music, the sound is streamed into your Bluetooth headset. If you want to change sound output setting, click on the bottom of the iPod screen, then you will see a pop-up window with a list of sound output options.
The internal Bluetooth module of iPod Touch works very well. Bluetooth signal range is much better than SRS-200BD, and now I can keep my iPod Touch in my pocket and still get good signal. Also, when I turn on Motorola S9, it is immediately recognized by iPod Touch, and is ready to go, whereas with SRS-200BD, there is no guarantee it will connect at first try. Once I got choppy sound, and restarting my iPod Touch didn’t solve it. But when I removed S9 and re-paired it, the sound became normal again.
There are some issues with the internal Bluetooth. First, forward and backward control doesn’t work, while play/stop and volume control work. Also, mic doesn’t work on iPod Touch, because iPod Touch only supports A2DP for stereo audio, and does not support HFP(Hand-Free profile). So, if you want to record something, or use a voip app, you need to use apple earphone with mic. Another problem is that with Bluetooth function activated, the battery doesn’t last as long as before. In fact, now I have to recharge it very often. If you are a heavy user, you may need an external battery pack.
All in all, Bluetooth is a welcome addition to the already versatile iPod Touch. It makes such a huge difference to keep your iPod touch in your pocket while you are riding a bike. I have to agree with Sheldon character in Big Bang Theory when he said, “Everything is better with Bluetooth.”
