Review
“A successful and originative mix of research, personal stories, policy prescriptions, and an agenda for modify when it comes to persons who are caught in the merciless trap of predatory mortgage loans. These loans, characterized by exhorbitant interest rates and fees and grossly dishonest syndication are robbing intermediate citizens of the key American asset building tool, homeownership, and exposing a lot of of them to financial ruin. Editor Greg Squires has accumulated a stellar cast of national researchers and activists to probe the problem. The book is a must read for any individual mesmerized in understanding the dimensions of this crippling exercise and how to stop the predatory financial companies that rob honest, hard-working homeowners.”-Malcolm Bush President, the Woodstock Institute

The proverbial American dream of owning a home has become an all-too-real nightmare for a growing number of families. The most vulnerable segments of our society—including minorities, the elderly, and working families—are being victimized by financiers who lure them into commitments they cannot fulfill. Collectively known as predatory lending, these exercises include supplying higher interest rates than may be justified by the risk, high pre-payment penalties that lock families into exploitative loans, and monstrous balloon payments that many times result in default and the loss of the home. The net result may be disastrous: harm to one’s credit rating, bankruptcy, and even the loss of lifelong savings.

Why the Poor Pay More is an incisive exposure of these practices: how they have evolved, why they have become so prevalent in recent years, and how their negative effects may be quantified. It features in-depth analysis from prominent scholars, legal experts, and community leaders, who shed new light on the social, political, and economic aftermaths of predatory lending. Why the Poor Pay More is much more than an indictment of these insidious discriminatory practices. It is a call to arms for any person concerned in regards to how the financial-political system may be corrupted to serve the needs of the wealthy. Highlighting community initiatives already underway to combat predatory lending and an spacious listing of practical resources, Why the Poor Pay More outlines active roles that individuals, advocacy groups, financial and legal service providers, and policymakers may play in reversing this damaging trend.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2286709 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .11″ h x .64″ w x .95″ l, 1.17 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 248 pages

New Jersey Refinance Pic

New Jersey Refinance Picture

New Jersey Refinance Image

New Jersey Refinance Photo

From the Back Cover
Now modified — your guide to building long-term wealth through real estate

Want to be a successful real estate investor? Eric Tyson and Robert Griswold present their proven strategies, along with modified tips for effortlessly riding out downturns in the real estate market. From homes and apartment buildings to duplexes, mercantile properties, and real estate investment trusts (REITs), you’ll master each aspect of laying out capital in and financing properties, and see how to increase their value.

• Build a foundation for laying out capital success — get your finances in order, weigh your investment options, perceive the risks, and work with real estate pros

• You have to recompense to play — raise capital, finance your purchases, and secure the best mortgage terms

• Find and evaluate properties — choose the best locations, grasp leases, project a property’s cash flow, and determine how much to pay

• Master the negotiation routine — assemble beautiful offers, finish the buy agreement, conduct formal due diligence, and close the sale

• Manage your property — be a top-notch landlord (or hire help), get the insurance you need, recognise the tax angles, and determine when and how to sell

“Both beginner and experienced real estate investors will net profit from studying all the distinct features to consider when maximizing property profits.”
—Bob Bruss, Inman News, on Real Estate Investing For Dummies

“This is merely the best book on the topic.”
—Randall Bell, author, Home Owner’s Manual

Open the book and find:

• Tips for buying and bettering properties

• Proven methods for boosting a property’s return and value

• The probabilities of the market downturn

• Expanded coverage on foreclosures, short sales, and REOs

• The latest on buying fixer-uppers and flipping

• New details on buying hotel condos and timeshares

• Changes in the tax laws

• Finding properties online

About the Author
Eric Tyson is a nationally recognized personal finance counselor, bestselling author, and syndicated columnist. He is the author of a heap of bestselling For Dummies books on real estate, little business, personal finance, and investing.

Robert S. Griswold is a successful real estate capitalist and hands-on property manager with a huge portfolio of residential and mercantile rental properties.

Real Estate Investing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is totally revised and altered to help you win a victory over the challenges and and take vantage of the prospects in any real estate environment, including a down market. But Eric Tyson and Robert Griswold’s core message remains as applicable today as it did upon the firstborn publication of Real Estate Investing For Dummies — investing in real estate is time-tested vehicle to build wealth in the long term. Tyson and Griswold don’t tell you how to become a millionaire overnight. Instead, they offer proven, practical, and actionable counsel so that if you chose to invest in income-producing properties, you may do so wisely and confidently.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5654 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .90″ h x 7.46″ w x 9.16″ l, 1.31 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

Land Investments Picture

Land Investments Picture

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Land Investments Picture

134 of 142 people found the following review helpful.
A New Standard For Other Authors To Follow.
By Guy M. Blasi
Upon the completion of reading this book, I realize that the authors have set a new and comprehensive standard for real estate investors. Investment in Real Estate is an interesting and often frustrating process. Don’t let the title fool you, this is a SERIOUS book for serious real investors whether novice or veteran.

The authors obviously know their subject, which is highly diverse. You are guided around pitfalls, and problems. It’s almost like you have a wise sage holding your hand because the authors have “been there and done that”. I appreciated their candor and honesty throughout the book, but in particular their take on the “information guru’s” who sell their get-rich-quick real estate tapes and CD’s on the unsuspecting public.

All you other real estate authors take note. You have a new standard to shoot for. Five stars, easy.

81 of 86 people found the following review helpful.
Just what the doctor ordered
By Justin Smith
I have done some investing on my own but wanted to learn more about real estate. This book is awesome. It covers the basics and more complicated real estate investments. I now know what types of real estate I am going to pursue and how to analyze them. I read the entire book but I am sure I will keep coming back to it for the worksheets and checklists.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
Wish I had seen it first
By CJtravels
I am only mid-way through this book but it has already answered so many of my questions (that another book did not)! I am new to real estate investing but not new to real estate. This book is layed out (like the rest of the Dummies books) in a very easy to follow format. It points out items to definitely remember when considering transactions and also points out warnings.

Also, since they have no agenda other than to help you understand the process, they did not try to sell you anything (i.e.; get rich quick schemes). This Dummies book gives it to you straight — Why you should invest in real estate; How real estate investments stack up against other types of investments, such as stocks, etc.; The benefits of building your wealth by staying in for the long term; What cash flow to expect in the short term, including the possibility of negative cash flow.

See all 29 customer reviews…

From the Inside Flap
In recent years, China, India, and Brazil have received much attention, and rightfully so. They are amid the greatest and fastest-growing economies, encompassing a significant share of the world’s land coverage, 30 percent of the world’s population, and amounting to a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than twelve trillion dollars. While there are plenteous real estate investment prospects available in these and other emergent markets, understanding the dynamics of this necessary asset class is necessary if you intend on making prudent investments.

Focusing principally on private equity real estate investment in China, India, and Brazil, this dependable resource details an approach to mercantile real estate investment in emergent markets and illustrates various schemes and analytical methods essential to successful investment. Filled with in-depth perceptivenesses and expert advice, Emerging Market Real Estate Investment focuses on investment themes and schemes as well as the economic, legal, and institutional surroundings of each country.

Opening with two informative chapters that provide an overview of the fundamentals of mercantile and international real estate investment, this practical guide likewise includes in-depth country-specific chapters on China, India, and Brazil. These chapters contain:

• An examination of the economic, institutional, and political environs of each country

• A discussion of the main features of each real estate market, including real estate alien direct investment (FDI)

• A review of the major real estate markets and submarkets in each country

• An analysis of the four or five indispensable real estate spheres in each country: office, retail, residential, industrial, and hotel where applicable

• A discussion of real estate investment choices and strategies

Whether you’re an institutional or private investor, the capacity to achieve higher returns and portfolio diversification—while accessing a larger investment universe—is essential. Emerging Market Real Estate Investment will show you what it actually takes to make this take place and put you in a better position to excel when laying out capital in real estate abroad.

From the Back Cover
Praise for Emerging Market Real Estate Investment

“An indispensible tool for executing successful global real estate investment systems with a focus on the greatest and quickest growing emergent markets. This is the only book of it is kind. A must-have for severe investors.”
—Stephen M. Renna, President of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers

“David Lynn and Tim Wang combine their extensive industry experience in real estate exploration and scheme into an insider’s look at how the masters think regarding and act on international real estate opportunities. Reading this book is like having a preferent seat on the investment committee at a major global real estate investment firm.”
—Dr. David Funk, Director of the Cornell University Program in Real Estate

“For anybody taking into account investing or working in real estate in China, India, or Brazil, this is the definitive starting point. David Lynn and Tim Wang provide a timely and indepth introduction to each country’s economy and nascent real estate markets.”
—Dr. Peter Linneman, Principal of Linneman Associates and the Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, The Wharton School

“A compelling argument for laying out capital in real estate probabilities in China, India, and Brazil. This is the most comprehensive discussion of topics and investment schemes that real estate investors must consider when assessing emergent markets.”
—Robert M. White, Jr., CRE, Founder and President of Real Capital Analytics Inc.

“The best guide there is to real estate markets in the high economic growth countries of Brazil, India, and China. If you are a private equity capitalist contemplating emergent market real estate, read this book.”
—James Fetgatter, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE)

About the Author
DAVID J. LYNN, PhD, is an institutional real estate investor, strategist, and portfolio manager with extensive experience in national and international markets. Currently, he is Managing Director, Head of the Research and Investment Strategy Group, and Generalist Portfolio Manager at ING Clarion Partners. In this capacity, he directs the firm’s strategic and tactical investment conclusions with regards to investment portfolios. He is also a fellow member of the Investment and Operating Committees, where he makes conclusions on billions of dollars of new investments, portfolios, fund strategies, and dispositions. Lynn’s theoretical work has yielded new approaches and analytical proficiencies in the areas of active portfolio management, market forecasting, financial distress, and emergent markets. He has published widely on the subjects of real estate investment, development, economics, and land use. Lynn has written or coauthored over seventy articles, internal investment and scheme papers, and three major books, including Active Private Equity Real Estate Strategy. He writes a highly regarded column called “Capital Trends” in National Real Estate Investor magazine and is ofttimes cited in the media for his views on the economy and the real estate industry. Lynn earned his PhD in financial economics from the London School of Economics, where he also earned a master of science specializing in finance. He holds an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

TIM WANG, PhD, is Senior Vice-President and Senior Investment Strategist with the Research and Investment Strategy Group at ING Clarion Partners. Dr. Wang joined ING Clarion Partners in 2006 and has authored more than fifty internal and external real estate investment system and market exploration articles and book chapters. He is a usual speaker at industrial conferences. Tim holds an MBA from New York University and a PhD from the University of Georgia.

“This book is a comprehensive and perceptive overview of international real estate focusing on three of the BRICs: China, India and Brazil. I was enjoyably amazed to find utile market info and industry profiles for each of the countries that were very consistent with my initial hand experience. The book has a wealth of selective information for the real estate investment analyst and practitioner and will be very utile to those seeking guidance on what to suppose in emergent markets.”
—Joseph F. Azrack, Managing Partner, Real Estate, Apollo Global Management

“David Lynn has set the bar with respect to real estate investment in the most compelling emergent markets. Lynn provides a framework for thinking when it comes to highly dynamic markets characterized by youthful populations, extraordinary demand, capital inefficiency and, most importantly, aspiration. This book will shed light on institutional investors and enterprisers alike.  I look forward to another work by David Lynn addressing the frontier markets.”
—Gary R. Garrabrant, CEO & Co-Founder, Equity International

An informed look at investing in emergent market real estate

Focusing mainly on private equity real estate investment in China, India, and Brazil this authenti resource gives rise to a popular approach to mercantile real estate investment in emergent markets, and illustrates a lot of mutual schemes and analytical methods that may be imposed within this arena.

Filled with in-depth perceptivities and expert advice, Emerging Market Real Estate Investment focuses on wide investment themes and systems as well as economic and legal/institutional factors, rather than the minute details of local market analyses. Opening with two informative chapters that provide an overview of the fundamentals of mercantile and international real estate investment, this practical guide then moves on to the country-specific chapters of China, India, and Brazil.

• Outlines respective real estate investment choices and systems for emergent markets such as China, India, and Brazil
• Discusses the main features of each real estate market, including real estate alien direct investment (FDI)
• Analyzes assorted essential real estate spheres in each country: office, retail, residential, industrial, and hotel where applicable

Written with both institutional and private investors in mind, Emerging Market Real Estate Investment will put you in a better position to excel in emergent real estate markets.

Praise for Emerging Market Real Estate Investment:

“Emerging Market Real Estate Investment is written with a top down strategic orientation. It presents an magnificent overview for US institutional investors planning to invest in offshore real estate in popular and emergent markets and China, India and Brazil specifically. It covers all the key points my firm had to address before investing in China. I wish it had been available then.”
—Robert H. Zerbst, Former Chairman & CEO, CB Richard Ellis Investors

“This book does for international real estate what Samuelson’s primary Economics text did for economics students—it at long last provides a new discipline with it is introductory Bible. As cross-border real estate capital flows are on the rise, and investors more and more seek compelling risk-adjusted returns in emergent markets, this book couldn’t have come at a better time in the market cycle. It is rich in content and filled with practical insights”
—Kenneth A. Munkacy, Senior Managing Director, GID International Group/GID Investment Advisers, LLC

“With American real estate in the doldrums, more investors will be looking abroad. David and Tim’s analysis of global real estate investment, focalized on three of the world’s most dynamic economies, provides peculiarly elaborated psychological result of perception learning and reasoning concerning what real estate markets are in truth like in China, India, and Brazil. It is necessary reading for investors giving careful consideration to those markets.”
—Anthony Downs, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution

“David Lynn and Tim Wang have written the ‘must read’ book for all real estate investors in emergent Brazil, China and India. They comprehensively cover the landscape of issues—economic, policy, legal, markets, sectors, entry, exit and strategies. Of noted value is their sanguine assessment of the risks and prospects of substitute systems in each country. The primary outlay for all will have to be their book.”
—Dr. Raymond G Torto, CRE, Global Chief Economist, CB Richard Ellis

“Emerging Market Real Estate Investment is a powerful tool for those engaged in alien investment generally, as well as in China, India and Brazil in particular. It combines a wide frequent view of competitory system with local detail on costs and legal aspects. The book is an intellectual and practical guide to alien real estate investment.”
—Bowen H. McCoy, CRE, Formerly Partner and Managing Director, Morgan Stanley

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #114057 in Books
• Published on: 2010-10-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .98 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 236 pages

Foreign Investments Photo

Foreign Investments Picture

Foreign Investments Pic

Foreign Investments Photo

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Strong Overview of Specific Strategies
By Real Estate Student
I am currently a student at one of the top real estate programs in the US and read this book to gain insight into emerging market strategy.

The first chapters present general guidance on real estate investment, and essentially “create the case” for investment in the asset class versus bonds and stocks. The subsequent chapters delve into the macro and micro economic factors effecting each of the examined nations: India, China, and Brazil. Each country’s macro economy is discussed, and then the authors drill down to characteristics of specific tier 1, 2, and 3 cities. After evaluating economies, the authors present succinct risk reward analyses of various strategies in each country. The only factor that I felt was missing was a direct commentary on risk premium for US institutional capital going abroad. General risks were addressed so readers can draw their own conclusions, but it would have been nice to see what trends the experts observe.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
review of emerging market real estate investment
By py
this book was written in a very easy to read format and style. For example: the book uses many tables to list out factors, drivers, etc. People who have no real estate investment background can learn the topic by reading this book, especially its “Fundamentals of Real Estate Investment” chapter. It is suitable reading materials for MBA classes in real estate investment.

Comparing India, China, and Russia markets in a consistent format: overview of the market environment, investment strategies, etc. helps readers to develop a quick grasp of these markets. I’m wondering whether the book will have a sequel to include Korea in the comparison and the rapid changes in the real estate market of the other three countries

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Wealth of Information for Analyzing Investment Opportunities
By Individual Investor
As mature western economies experience economic woes with greater frequency, it makes for a compelling case to search for opportunities where growth is occurring. It will undoubtedly be led by maiden resource rich developing nations. While equity is one way to participate in that growth, some of the greatest wealth will be made by those who own real estate in those regions. Most printed texts on the subject focus on arguing the case for investing in the emerging countries, but they lack details on how to analyze properties. I found “Emerging Market Real Estate Investment” a useful step by step guide on how to approach real estate abroad. It focuses on the critical components in evaluating opportunities and gives the defining factors behind “location, location, and location”. Those who are serious about investing in foreign real estate should find a wealth of information in this comprehensive guide.

MJ. Chang.

See all 3 customer reviews…

Amazon.com
Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe provides all the tools you need to handle your finances in one place. The new Insights feature allows you to get a glimpse at your finances without even launching Money.

Money Plus Deluxe home page.

Spending Insights alert you when you’ve reached or are nearing your spending limits.

Cash Flow Insights show what’s flowing in and out of your accounts.

Bills Insights alert you if bills are overdue or due soon.

Taking Money’s award-winning features to a whole new level.
Microsoft Money Plus still provides all the tools you need to handle your finances in one place. But it also gives you a quick glance–without launching Money–at the financial data you need to keep you on top of your finances like never before.

Money’s key features are still here:

• Manage your cash your way, from the big picture down to the details.
• Forecast cash flow and stay on top of per month spending.
• Tackle tax time with ease, from finding deductions to estimating taxes.
• Improve your investment system with aid from the experts at MSN Money.
• Help protect and improve your credit, and reduce your debt.

Plus, there’s so much that’s new–Insights!
With Insights, get a desktop glimpse at the data you need most, without launching money.

Spending Insights–Alerts you when you’ve reached or are nearing your spending limits.

Cash Flow Insights–See what’s flowing in and out of your accounts.

Bills Insights–Alerts you if bills are overdue or due soon.

Plus, take delight in even more new and bettered features:

Link to statements, checks, or images from a transaction. Quickly add links to images and other files to keep essential records and selective information handy, organized, and up-to-date.

Background banking helps assure your account info is up-to-date.

Which version is right for you?
DELUXE

Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe mechanically consolidates your online accounts in one place. Stay on top of credit and debt while keeping each and everyday finances simple.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2021 in Software
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: KEA-00003
• Released on: 2007-08-27
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Platforms: Windows XP, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition
• Format: CD-ROM
• Dimensions: .30 pounds

Features

• All your finances in one place
• Improve your financial picture
• Understand your spending
• Get a desktop glimpse at the data you need most
• Improve your investment scheme with support from the experts at MSN Money

Ms Money 2005 Some Of The Investments You Selected Pic

Ms Money 2005 Some Of The Investments You Selected Image

Ms Money 2005 Some Of The Investments You Selected Pic

Ms Money 2005 Some Of The Investments You Selected Photo

131 of 135 people found the following review helpful.
Switched fromQuicken 2007 to Money 2008 NO PROBLEMS
By Dubbie
I tried upgrading from Quicken 2007 to Quicken 2008 and was unable to do so without errors that caused my new installation to give an error message, remove new changes, and stop the installation.

I called Quicken tech support and the guy in India (while nice) could only help me do the same things I’d already done and that did not work. After 2 tries, he said, “I don’t have any other ways to help you. Try calling Microsoft and see if they can help you. Here’s their 800 number . . . Goodbye!” He hung up on me.

I decided to download Money 2008 for their trial period. Money installed immediately and completely! It transferred my Quicken data accurately and fully. (I have used Quicken for at least 16 years and this was a “big” change for me.)

I ended-up purchasing Money – on-line – from Microsoft and making my full change to their financial software, within a week from trying Money 2008. I was VERY HAPPY with the way Money worked, its interface, and its various options. It was easy to change from Quicken!!

MOST OF ALL, I liked being able to get tech support from Money’s email help. My actual experience was to have an email within 4 hours, that included a name and phone number if I needed more help. (I had a small problem inputing my serial number because I had my system set to a larger than normal sized font. Money would not allow the necessary information for each spaced section. Their tech support wrote back to me with the help (answer) I needed – I had to reset the system font size to normal (which they told me how to easily do. My serial number information was immediately accepted with no problem. Now, I am the happy owner of Money 2008 and no longer an Intuit/Quicken user.

I must say, my only disliked feature of Money 2008 is it wants to send each electronic check I write for paying bills – individually, instead of allowing me to write all my checks and then send them at the same time.

I will take this problem – happily – since I now have updated financial software that is not “buggie” and with no tech support that actually helps me.

I am going to be a Money user from now on. I highly recommend Money 2008.

114 of 126 people found the following review helpful.
Same Bugs, same features, only buy if you have to
By Paul Beerkens
I gave been using Money 2005 for a while and have not upgraded until now because nothing seems to have changed in the newer versions. A few weeks ago I got a message saying that on-line services were no longer supported for my version and I had to buy a new version to get it working again.

I did this and installed the new version. I was not able to tell that I had upgraded because I could not see any new features. I had to go to help about to check it this was really the new version running becuase everything else looks the same. The only new feature from my “three versions behind” version is that there are a couple of graphs that can be displayed outside money but I am not sure how much that will be used.

I was hoping that some of the bugs that have been in the system had been fixed but they have not. The one I dislike most is that it gets completely confused when you short sell stocks. When you close a short position it will add that as a cost next to your other expenses for the full purchase amount and it gets completely confused about your current position when downloading statements from your broker.

For me it was worth upgrading because now my automatic downloads from my bank is working again but there is really no other reason to buy this.

64 of 70 people found the following review helpful.
Frequest crashes
By anselor
I’ve using Microsoft Money 2004 since it came out; and before that, I used Money 98. Money 2004 recently started warning me that Microsoft will no longer be updating its online synchronization capabilities so I downloaded the trial version of Money Plus Deluxe to try it out.

Money Plus supports automated downloading of bills for banks that, over the last few years, have stopped working with Money 2004. It seems to offer the same basic features as 2004, and I haven’t noticed any features that make this a better product. The interface has been tweaked slightly here and there. The one thing I liked is it clearly displays the bank’s balance next to the locally calculated balance for each account. Other than that, it seems to just be a change in the colors and icons.

This biggest change to me is that, unlike Money 2004, Money Plus rarely matches downloaded transactions correctly with existing hand-entered transactions, previously downloaded transactions, or pending bills in the Bills Summary screen. What this means is each time it performs an automated update with the bank, random entries are doubled and random bills are incorrectly matched to completely unrelated transactions. To correct this you have to unmatch transactions and change what they’re matched to. This wouldn’t be too bad, except each time you unmatch or change how a transaction is matched, Money will stop responding. If i check the Task Manager, it’ll show that Money is using 100% of the CPU time. I tried leaving Money running for a few hours when this happens to see if it will start responding again, but it never comes back. What this means is each time I sit down to update my accounts, I have to kill Money with the Task Manager 2 or 3 times for each transaction it matched incorrectly. I’ll often have to kill and restart Money 20+ times in a single session. While this has been excellent for helping me remember my password, it’s been less than helpful in assisting me in paying my bills and balancing my accounts.

I liked Money 2004 but, since they’re not supporting that version anymore and this new version doesn’t actually work, Microsoft is forcing us to switch to Quicken this year.

See all 103 customer reviews…

From Library Journal
“Zeros” are financial instruments that are purchased at a deep discount (e.g., $250), remunerate no interest, and remunerate off (in this example, after with regards to 12 years) at par, $1000. Merrill Lynch opened the gates in mid-1982 with zero treasury bonds, followed by zero CDs, zero municipals, zero corporates, zero mutual funds, etc. Nichols explains the mechanics of zeros and outlines the vantages and disfavors of the dissimilar manifestations. He claims they are suitable to all distinct features of an investor’s portfolio, but taxes on zeros kept outside IRAs/Keoghs are “exceedingly” perplexed and have a “thousand qualifications,” because the phantom interest they compensate is taxed each year by the IRS. Nichols leaves out not one thing in this comprehensive treatment of a comparatively new phenomenon. Recommended for all business collections. Alex Wenner, M.L.S., Bloomington, Ind.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7774055 in Books
• Published on: 1986-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 200 pages

Coupon Cdnn Investments Picture

Coupon Cdnn Investments Pic

Coupon Cdnn Investments Photo

Coupon Cdnn Investments Pic

From the Back Cover
Use annuities to build your own pension

Will annuities work for you? Get the nitty-gritty on these financial tools

Are you a baby boomer who’s with regards to to retire? Are you concerned when it comes to your financial future? Relax. This plain-English guide will walk you through the ins and outs of using annuities to fund your retirement years. Find out what annuities are, whether they’re the right financial vehicle for you, and which of the numerous choices might have your name on it.

Discover how to:

• Make sense of annuities

• Weigh all the masters and cons

• Figure out how much cash to commit

• Create an income you can’t outlive

• Avoid mutual annuity pitfalls

About the Author
Kerry Pechter is the senior editor of Annuity Market News. As a reporter who writes with regards to annuities and the annuity industry full-time and as a former merchandising writer who specialized in annuities at The Vanguard Group, he brings both an outsider’s and an insider’s perspective to the writing of this book.
A financial journalist for some years, Kerry has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and a lot of other national and territorial publications. His former books include two career guides, A Big Splash in a Small Pond: How to Get a Job in a Small Company (Fireside) and An Engineer’s Guide to Lifelong Employability (IEEE). He is a graduate of Kenyon College.

Why look into annuities? If you’re a Baby Boomer with little or no pension and most of your cash in low-interest savings accounts, an annuity may be the key to a secure and comfortable retirement. How may you find out whether an annuity is right for you? Read Annuities For Dummies, 3rd Edition.

This exclusively revised and updated, plain-English guide is packed with the latest data on choosing the best annuity for your retirement needs. You’ll find out precisely what annuities are, whether they’re the right financial vehicle for you, and which of the numerous annuity choices might have your name on it. You’ll learn the ins and outs of using annuities to fund your retirement years, figure out whether to stress investments with insurance or insurance with investments, and find out how the right combining of annuities may support you squeeze more income out of your savings that any other financial tool. Discover how to:

• Identify the main types of annuities
• Weigh the masters and cons of annuities for yourself
• Minimize the complexity and cost of your annuity investment
• Figure out how much cash to commit
• Avoid mutual annuity pitfalls
• Create an income you can’t outlive

The time to start out securing your financial future is now. Annuities For Dummies, 3rd Edition, gives you knowledge, insider tips, and expert counsel you need to make your cash do it is best for you.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17085 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 9.30″ h x .80″ w x 7.40″ l, 1.20 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 364 pages

Annuities Investments Photo

Annuities Investments Pic

Annuities Investments Pic

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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful.
Helping Make Sense of Annuities
By T. L. Jones
Annuities For Dummies by Kerry Pechter is a very readable guide to annuities that makes sense of a very complicated insurance product (and what insurance products are NOT complicated?) Pechter guides the reader through a brief history of annuities to a broad view of how they work, and on to specific facts about the various kinds of annuities available. The only slight criticism is that his presentation is a bit overly favorable toward annuities, bolstered by selective statistical examples, like the one on p. 21. Hypothetical retiree “Smith” was over-invested in bonds and cash, which do not provide protection against inflation. That is partly why hypothetical retiree “Jones” with his annuity and stocks did better. Was it the annuity or the stocks that made the difference? The logic behind the example is undoubtedly that without an annuity, Smith would want very secure investments, hence, bonds and cash. All in all, the book will help any reader make better choices regarding annuities. And it’s a fun read!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful.
A first-rate and understandable overview of a very complex subject
By John L. Olsen
“Annuities For Dummies”, by Kerry Pechter, is a wonderful book! Annuities can be wickedly complicated (and are often far more complicated than they ought to be), but Pechter’s explanation is uniformly clear and understandable. That, alone, would make his book unusually valuable. But it’s also accurate and fair, which makes it darned near unique among writings about insurance products by financial journalists.

I’m an annuity expert (co-author of “The Annuity Advisor” and author of numerous articles, in various journals, about annuities), and I found this book informative. (I wish I’d made certain points as clearly as Kerry does). I’ve recommended it to insurance agents and consumers and will continue to do so.

- John L. Olsen, CLU, ChFC, AEP

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
Real good overview of all kinds of annuities
By JYoder
I’ve read a number of books on retirement planning, and this one covers the annuities angle really well. If you are considering annuities this is a must read. There are a lot of various annuities, and you need to understand the pros and cons of all of them before making a decision. I will say that I am a little more skeptical on the variable annuities than the author, and I would like a little more info on the longevity annuities.

If you are considering adding an annuities to part of your retirement planning (and most people probably should) you really need to read this book so you have an idea what your planner is talking about when discussing this topic. This book helps you understand the risk, terminology, and profit incentives a sales rep has for the various annuities.

Here is a list of some of the books I have read in preparing for retirement, and a one-liner, and ranking for each. I will order them in the order I would read them:

1. The AARP Retirement Survival Guide: How to Make Smart Financial Decisions in Good Times and Bad (Julie Jason)
Rank: 5/5
Summary:Real good overview and introduction to the many considerations for retirement.

2. Buckets of Money: How to Retire in Comfort and Safety (Raymond Lucia)
Rank: 4/5
Summary: Interesting concept on planning for retirement. Although I’m not sure I will use the plan Raymond lays out here, I think the general concept is a real good idea on how to think about tapping your assets as you plan for retirement.

3. Annuities For Dummies (Kerry Pechter)
Rank: 4.5/5
Summary: Great details on the highly complex subject of annuities, a critical tool for your retirement planning to alleviate longevity and market risk.

If you read the books above, I don’t think there is a need for reading the books listed below since either they don’t have the depth, or have already been covered in sufficient detail in the books above.

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Retirement Planning (Various Aurthors)
Rank: 3.5/5
Summary: I think this book tries to cover a little to much, and as a result has topics that I don’t think are appropriate for the retirement planning. Since the book attempts to cover so many topics, it really doesn’t give real good details on any one topic. I think of this book, more as an executive summary for the various topics it covers.

Can I Retire? How Much Money You Need to Retire and How to Manage Your Retirement Savings, Explained in 100 Pages or Less (Mike Piper)
Rank: 2.5/5
Summary: What do you expect for 100 pages? Although the author does seem to stay on-topic in this book, its just to broad to really give you any actionable information. Perhaps a decent book if you are just wading into the whole concept of retirement and don’t want to put alot of thought into details(IE the big picture). This book does not answer the question it poses in the title.

Hope this helps
James

See all 12 customer reviews…

The world’s most popular portable gaming device is even more fun. Now available in black and white, iPod touch includes iOS 5 with over 200 new features, like iMessage, Notification Center, and Twitter integration. Send free, limitless text messages over Wi-Fi with iMessage. Record HD video and make FaceTime calls. Visit the App Store to choose from over 500,000 apps. iPod touch likewise features iCloud, which stores your music, photos, apps, and moreÑand wirelessly pushes them to all your devices.

On the front of iPod touch is a built-in camera perfective for making FaceTime video calls.

The world’s most frequent portable gaming device is even more fun. Now available in black and white, iPod touch includes iOS 5 with over 200 new features, like iMessage, Notification Center, and Twitter integration. Send free, unlimited text messages over Wi-Fi with iMessage. Record HD video and make FaceTime calls. Visit the App Store to choose from over 500,000 apps. iPod touch also features iCloud, which stores your music, photos, apps, and more and wirelessly pushes them to all your devices.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10 in Network Media Player
• Size: 8 GB
• Color: White
• Brand: Apple
• Model: MD057LL/A
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 4.37″ h x 2.32″ w x .28″ l, .22 pounds
• Display size: 3.5

Features

• iPod touch has one-year fixed warranty.
• iPod touch supports for AAC, Protected AAC (iTunes Store) and other audio formats, H.264, MPEG-4, and Motion JPEG video codecs in M4V, MP4, MOV, and AVI formats.
• iPod touch plays up to 40 hours of audio playback or 7 hours of video playback on a single charge.
• iPod touch has 8 GB capacity for with regards to 2,000 songs, 10,000 photos, or 10 hours of video.
• iPod touch has a 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display with 960-by-640-pixel solution (326 pixels per inch).

Q Investments Image

Q Investments Pic

Q Investments Pic

Q Investments Photo

1416 of 1466 people found the following review helpful.
Senior Citizen Review of Ipod Touch
By Sanjosemom
I purchased my Ipod Touch 8G in January, 2011 just for fun and to see what all the fuss was about. I use a laptop and have wireless connectivity in my home. But I don’t store music on an Ipod and don’t have “smart” cell phone. After using the Ipod Touch for a few months, all I can say is “WOW”.

This device is like carrying a small computer in your pocket. I can connect to the internet wirelessly at home and anywhere I can find a public connection–library, cafe, etc. I check my email (read and compose), facebook, Meetups, Ravelry, take pictures and movies, and with the Skype App, can video call my kids. I have become hooked on the Angry Birds game, which is fun to do while waiting anywhere. I have also downloaded audio books from my library to take with me when I travel. I knit and have any pattern I am working on loaded on my Touch so I don’t worry about losing it. All this in a 2×4 inch little device I can carry with me everywhere.

I considered getting a smart phone instead, but Verizon’s additional mandatory monthly cost of $30/month turned me off. It would be nice to have internet access where ever I am, but I don’t need it and don’t want to pay $360/year for it. I like the fact that the Ipod Touch does not require any additional monthly costs.

I compared my Touch to my friends Ipad. It appears that my Touch does most everything the Ipad does, but the Touch is so much smaller.

My son has a Droid, which does what my Touch does plus it is his cell phone. But games wear his battery down quickly. I don’t have to worry about that since my phone is separate from my Touch.

If I needed to be connected to the internet at all times and have a cell phone too, I would probably stick with a smart phone and pay the extra $30/month. But if you want a very versatile tool in a small package to carry with you, I highly recommend the Ipod Touch.

So much fun!

5426 of 5704 people found the following review helpful.
The Lines Between iPod Touch and iPhone Have Started to Blur
By Scott Showalter
Having had a chance to spend a little time with a review model gives me a chance to share the experience with you a bit early (before my own arrives). I’ll take you hands-on with the new model, plus I’ll share from my past two years of iPod touch ownership altogether, especially for those who haven’t yet owned (or been owned by) one of these mobile gems.

I’ve also hidden a treasure trove of info on how you can legitimately download tons of quality apps for free. First though, let’s quickly cover what’s new.

+ Faster 1GHz A4 Processor – to keep up with the high demands of multitasking
+ Ultra high resolution “Retina display” – packs a 960 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch
+ 15% larger battery – 3.44 Whr/930 mAh plays 7 hrs of video & 40 hrs of audio
+ Rear-facing camera – supports 960 x 720 sized photos (0.6 megapixels), plus 720p HD videos
+ Front-facing VGA-quality camera – VGA-quality is a resolution of 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
+ 3-Axis Gyroscope – allows for higher precision and more motion gestures
+ Wireless N – Connect faster and go farther than ever, with this WiFi device (requires a router with 802.11n)
+ Built in microphone – but Apple reverted back to using the remote- and mic-less earphones
+ Game Center – Apple’s own social gaming platform
+ Sleep/Power Button – it’s been moved to the right, but not improved beyond that
+ Thinner, lighter than ever
* Note – Memory remains at the same 256MB despite several unconfirmed sources touting 512MB. There’s also no vibrate module.

Unlike last year’s iPod touch update, this one’s a complete overhaul to the entire line. Last year, the new models didn’t change in appearance. On the inside, faster processors and double-memory were added to the 32GB & 64GB models, but the 8GB got left out. Not this time. Buying the new 8GB iPod touch indeed gets you all the new goodies. You’ll also pay thirty bucks more than before, so consider buying the 32GB model instead. You’ll get 400% of the storage capacity for only 23% more coin!

===== Background =====

I’m a mobile app developer who’s created a few apps and games for the iPhone, iPod Touch and now iPad. I was initially drawn to the iPod touch because of the popularity and capabilities of its mobile Web browsing–I was primarily a Web developer at the time and no other device could surf the Web so well. After I got one, I was hooked. I racked up over a hundred bucks in app purchases within the first month, and before long, I found myself learning how do develop native apps for the device.

Indeed, if you have never had an iPod touch before, you’re in for a real treat. Of course, if you have, then you know first hand: it’s is worth its weight in gold–no, in platinum. And now, with the latest generation, it may even be worth its weight rare gem stones! I digress.

===== Out With the Old =====

The iPod touch is frequently called an iPhone without the phone. However, until now there have been several other features also missing in the iPod touch besides the phone: a camera, GPS, magnetometer (compass), and some newer amenities from the iPhone 4: front-facing camera, high resolution “Retina display” as it has been dubbed, and the powerful 1GHz A4 processor–indeed a necessity to keep up with multitasking.

That all changes, now. The 4th gen iPod touch brings with it some new features and amenities, some of which have been anticipated by iPod touch fans and developers alike, including myself, for several generations of the device. From a developer’s perspective, the more hardware features we can get our hands on, the better and more innovative apps we can create, and the more users that can download, use and enjoy them.

===== In With the New =====

The striking new design of the latest iPod touch is definitely a looker. Apple has made it even thinner (and I thought it was already too thin before) complete with a beautiful chrome back. While the super thin design is certainly attractive, I’ve found it slightly difficult to keep it well-gripped in your hands. The usual chrome back looks great too, but it’s scratch-insistent. Yes, it’s incredibly easy to scratch it all up, even after the first few days. For these two reasons, definitely get yourself a silicone skin (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042GVG5G?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8) alongside your new touch!

For ages, the feature topping everyone’s wishlist for the iPod touch has been a camera. Check! It handles HD video too–bonus! Granted, its not the 5 megapixel camera that the iPhone 4 sports, but again, the new iPod touch is thinner than ever, making it a miracle that we even got a camera in the first place, let alone two! Yes, Apple went the extra mile so we could make video calls with our iPhone toting friends, via their FaceTime app. Brilliant! So, having not had any camera on the iPod touch before, and now having TWO cameras on it, we can’t really complain can we? Nah.

I’ll have details on the quality both cameras later, but what excites me even moreso is the new much-higher resolution screen–dubbed “Retina display”. You may not think much of it if you haven’t used an iPhone or iPod touch before, nor have an older model nearby to compare it to, but for those that have and/or do, the difference is clear! (pun intended)

Where this really comes in handy is in browsing the Web and reading non-mobile-formatted PDF e-books. Now, I can see things so much clearer at the default zoom level (which shows the full width of a Web page or document). My vision isn’t spectacular by any means, I just don’t mind seeing things smaller on the screen. It allows me to see more content without having to scroll. Indeed, the Retina display was the #1 feature I never knew I wanted (until I saw it in the iPhone 4 that is).

Other newness includes: 15% larger battery, HD video recording and editing, built-in mic, wireless-n for nearly double the WiFi connection speed and distance, Game Center: Apple’s new social gaming platform (which seems to be Apple’s attempt to kill-off third party social gaming platforms like OpenFeint and Plus+), 3-axis gyroscope sensor, which complements the existing accelerometer sensor, both of which handle the rotating, swinging and other motion gestures of the device (previously, rotation were roughly calculated from accelerometer data), and new placement of the sleep/power button on the right (but still as difficult as ever to press).

Features still missing include: 512MB of memory, vibration, 5 MP quality camera + flash (iPhone apps now support using LED flash as a flashlight, like Android does), magnetometer (compass), and the GPS. I’d happily trade the thinness of the latest iPod touch to have the GPS. WiFi based location is often inaccurate, and the GPS doesn’t need a WiFi or cellular connection, it just needs to see the satellites in the sky.

===== iOS vs Android =====

So far, Apple has cornered the market of multitouch mobile devices that aren’t phones, but things are slowly changing. Currently, the two hottest mobile and smartphone operating systems out there right now are Apple’s iOS (formerly: iPhone OS) and Google’s Android. Of course, iOS is popular because it runs on not only the iPhone, but also on the iPod touch and now on the ipad as well. Plus, it has garnered support from scores of app developers who’ve gotten behind Apple’s slew of high-demand devices.

The iPod touch has really made iOS what it is today. It does a lot of what the iPhone does, without a contract, or carrier exclusivity, as is the case with the iPhone and the iPad (WiFi+3G models). So if it weren’t for the iPod touch, a lot of the market share Apple now has in the industry would have been stifled by their carrier exclusivity. I think Apple will see the light soon, but that’s another discussion.

Enter Android. Google has held a different stance on their mobile OS. It isn’t tied to a select few devices, and it’s open source, so it can be further developed by manufacturers who use it. Indeed, several mobile device manufacturers have now latched onto Android as a foundation for numerous devices. Wireless carriers that have been unable to carry the iPhone have also taken a liking to it. Now, tons of Android devices have been released, and there’s no end in sight. Manufacturers have also seen the iPad’s potential and now they want a piece of that pie, too. So, expect to see a lot more Android tablets and media-centric non-phone devices soon. The competition is heating up.

But not everything with Android, nor with iOS, is perfect. I own an EVO 4G, one of the most popular Android devices currently available. I’ve also used an iPod touch almost every day for nearly two years, so I’m pretty qualified to share my experience with each platform. Both certainly have their share of unique offerings, and neither of them are without flaws. For this reason, and because of the increasing competition between the two, I plan to dispel some of their key differences for you at various points in this review.

===== So What Can the iPod Touch Actually Do? =====

Well, what can’t it do?

The iPod touch is like a magical little box, only it’s flat. While it cannot cook your breakfast, yet (I’m sure someone is already working on that), it can indeed do some pretty extraordinary things. It’s an amazing catch-all device that can provide hours of entertainment, give you the power of the Web in your hand, and it can even replicate the functionality of countless one-off products. Developers have been creating apps that take advantage of special hardware of the iPod touch to emulate some other product for less, and sometimes even for free.

Even expensive products have seen cheap iOS based clone apps. For just 99 cents, you can snag a special alarm clock app that monitors your sleep cycle and wakes you up when you’re in an ideal state of wakefulness. I spent 350 bucks on an aXbo
(http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014RDSSY?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8) a few years ago, who’s functionality is easily replicated by several “sleep phase” alarm clock apps in the app store. When you do the math there, you see that it’s easily a no brainer: buy yourself an iPod touch now!

I’ve listed more apps like this in the comments!

Plus, with the support of such a strong community of app and game developers, there’s never a drought of fresh new apps and games. There’s always something to do with the iPod touch, and I guarantee you’ll never be bored with it. I honestly cannot say the same thing about Android, though I also tote my EVO 4G around with me. I do admit that the EVO’s mobile hotspot comes in incredibly handy for providing the iPod touch with a WiFi connection while I’m on the go).

Now, with the proper resources, you can legitimately download thousands of high quality apps for free. I do it all the time and it is perfectly legal. See, Apple allows developers to temporarily put their apps on sale (and even drop the price to free). Usually they do this to get you to write some rave reviews for their apps. The secret to success is having the resources to help you spot these special app sales–so you know when and where to get them during their sometimes extremely-limited-time promotions.

In hopes of making this the most helpful review on Amazon for the iPod touch, here’s how to obtain these special promotional-sale apps:

There are several resources you can use, both on the Web and on the iPod touch itself. I prefer to use the app called BargainBin that lists all apps that recently went on sale or dropped to free. It also supports watch lists with push notifications, and can alert you whenever an app you’re interested in goes on sale. It’s a phenomenal little gem, and it has gotten me a ton of apps and saved me a fortune! It also has a companion website that lists the same apps (Google: App Advice). There’s also a website called AppShopper (Google it) that lists apps with recent price drops and new apps as well, and you can filter just the free products or just the sale products. The two sites don’t always list the same apps. Sometimes one will miss something that the other will catch, so it’s good to keep track of them both. Check them daily if possible. Several apps are duds, but you’ll come across some really great ones from time to time. They’ll all add up!

===== Web Browsing =====

Alongside spending lots of money on all those wonderful apps in the App Store, Web browsing is one of the most popular uses for the iPod touch. Browsing the Web with mobile Safari was my original attraction to the device. The experience hasn’t changed too drastically in the past two years (since the days of iOS 2), and while it’s still very powerful, there are some definite flaws. And no, I’m not talking about Flash. Just minor usability issues I’d like to see overcome, but first let’s look at the positives.

Mobile Safari has a smart approach to zooming in on content. Double-tap on a paragraph of text or an image to cinch that content right up to the edges of the screen. The downside: some sites aren’t mobile-friendly, so zooming in on a really wide block of text can leave you with tiny text. You can zoom further manually, by using the “unpinch” multi-touch gesture, but because the browser doesn’t have an option to reflow the text to the screen width, you have to scroll left and right, as well as up and down, just to read the text. Android’s browser doesn’t feature smart zoom, but it does reflow the text to fit the screen when zoomed in. It’s a nice feature, and Apple should add it as a preference for Safari.

Browser history can also vanish after a few days, and browser windows get overwritten by links from other pages sometimes (usually when I’ve hit the maximum of eight windows). Also yet to be seen is support for doing common things like searching for text on a page, or bookmarking a link by tapping and holding. That would be invaluable for adding bookmarklets–bookmark based scripts that help overcome browser shortcomings.

Flash is also a great debate, one I won’t get into. I will just say that all is not as it seems with the Flash-support-touting Android platform. Flash does work, but it is buggy because Flash doesn’t play well with touch interfaces. Flash based video players don’t work right, and I even run Android 2.2, which is supposed to have the “full Flash experience”. It doesn’t, trust me. So you’re not missing much by not having Flash on the iPod touch!

Indeed, we can just hope and pray that Web developers and Flash-fiends see the light and start replacing Flash content with technologies like HTML5′s canvas element, which is poised to take on a lot of Flash’s most popular abilities.

===== Media =====

Despite all the incredible things the iPod touch can do, audio and video are still one of the iPod touch’s greatest strengths. And with the incredible resolution of the new iPod touch’s retina display, to say that videos now appear much sharper, more vivid and highly-defined is definitely an understatement. Yes, videos were great before, but now they frickin’ rock!

Just make sure your videos are at least 960 x 640. If you’ve owned an older iPod touch and used video conversion software to scale down your media to fit the old 320 x 480 screen resolution, definitely change your conversion settings, or look for a software update to support the new higher-resolution display.

For those interested in watching live TV on the go (over WiFi), Sling Media’s SlingPlayer app, paired with one of their Slingbox devices is a phenomenal and freeing experience, especially considering your alternate choices for watching live TV on the go are pretty much nil up to this point.

On top of that, Netflix’s recently released iPod touch version of their media streaming app has also been a much-welcomed addition to my ever-growing collection of apps. Netflix videos stream quickly, and even moving the play position back and forth in the timeline, the movie starts playing very quickly without much time rebuffering the video.

===== Photos =====

The latest iPod touch is also a game-changer for photography and video recording on an iPod touch. It’s not mind-blowing by any means, but we went from having no camera right to having two cameras on the device. I probably would not be so thrilled with just a new back camera. I merely would have sighed, mumbling “finally” under my my breath (unless it were 5 megapixels). But despite the less-than-one megapixel quality of the rear-facing camera, I was taken aback by the rather decent quality, especially in low-light environments. Check the comments for links to sample photos!

Between that and the ability to connect with other iPhone and iPod touch toting friends via Apple’s FaceTime app, yes… it’s a game changer. Granted, I have been wanting front facing cameras on mobile devices ever since mobile devices started having cameras period. I got the first of such devices when my EVO 4G arrived in June, but as they say: the more the merrier. Friends, welcome to the future we’ve been dreaming of. Video killed the audio call!

The quality of my test calls were pretty good. Of course, it was over WiFi, but it proves the cameras are decent. You can switch from using the front camera to using the rear camera, too, in case something was going on in front of you that you wanted to share. Just tap the “camera swap” button in the bottom right corner of the screen. FaceTime also rotates along with the iPod when flipped on its side, nice.

HD video recording is the other half of the aforementioned game-changing equation. I didn’t expect to see ANY video recording, considering the original iPhone camera was originally just a camera. But it’s here, complete with HD quality (yes, the quality is indeed desirable), plus basic video editing support, as well as support for Apple’s brilliant “iMovie” app: an advanced video editing studio right on your iPod touch. It’s just five bucks on the App Store.

===== E-Reading =====

The iPad has been making waves in the genre of media reading for several months now, but that hasn’t exactly been the same story for any generation of the iPod touch so far. Granted, it’s not exactly marketed as an eReader like its iPad counterpart, but there are some really great apps out there for media reading on it, so there’s no reason not to use it to read digital media. The obstacle to doing that, for me at least, has been the limited screen resolution, and so that may all potentially start to change, now that Apple has brought the Retina display to the iPod touch.

The 163 pixels per inch screens of past iPod touches were still pretty great, just not ideal for tiny text. For comparison, LCD monitors typically only have 96 pixels per inch, and CRT monitors only have 72 pixels per inch. TV’s are even worse than that. What this means for you is that the iPod touch display has always been sharper than your own computer monitor.

However, despite being able to display content at a higher quality, I still found that in a lot of eBooks, especially PDFs that weren’t mobile-formatted, the text was just not clear enough to be readable when zoomed out. However, zooming in meant having to constantly scroll side-to-side while reading. The app “Good Reader” helped ease that pain by doing the left-right & vertical scrolling for you with just a tap of the screen, as well as offering an additional view that re-flows the text to fit on the screen at a large enough size.

However, with the Retina display, all text and content in the aforementioned “zoomed out” state now appears extremely clear. That is a wonderful thing, so long as you don’t mind reading tiny text.

Could you still benefit from having an iPad too? Perhaps. After all, it does have unique qualities that set it apart from the iPod touch, as my in depth iPad review portrays (http://www.amazon.com/review/R16U71KO7POLA2?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8). But unless you specifically see the need for one of those unique qualities, then no, you probably don’t need both.

===== Gaming =====

If you’re like me, you probably don’t have time for games. Regardless, it may still be high-time to let the kid within you roam free from time to time, as I do. The iPod touch has made it possible. In fact, it is so easy, there’s no excuse not to enjoy yourself. My favorite games are the racing games and, when I have a bit more time, strategy games.

With the iPhone and iPod Touch having taken on a clear role as a gaming console that has been as revolutionary for mobile gaming as the Wii was for living-room gaming, it goes without saying that the iPod touch is, and will continue to be, one of the best platforms for gaming. It’s simple, convenient, and pretty much instant. Whenever you have a few moments of free time, wherever you’re, just turn it on, find your game, and bam! You’re gaming. Simple as that.

===== Productivity =====

Productivity carries numerous definitions. Usually its “getting something done” though some people tend to believe that it’s the ability to focus without being distracted, which I see as one of the iPod touch’s strengths, at least for me, primarily because the screen is small enough to force you to focus on the task at hand.

In the context of software though, Apple’s own suite of productivity apps for the office, collectively called “iWork”, has been further refined for the iPhone and iPod touch. Because of the aforementioned “focus factor” of the iPod touch, I have found myself to be surprisingly productive when working on documents with it. There are three apps in all: Pages allows you to work on word processing documents. Numbers allows you to work on spreadsheets. Keynote lets you work on presentations and slideshows (including PowerPoint files).

So far, I’ve found these apps to be highly useful when I have work to do, but don’t feel like being at the computer to do it. Another great app for that is “iTeleport” which let’s me at my computer remotely, when iWork won’t work (meaning I’m not working on office documents). Log Me In Ignition is another similar app that is slightly easier to set up, but a bit slower than iTeleport, when you’re just working over the same WiFi connection as the remote computer.

Furthermore, there’s a whole category of iPod touch apps in the App Store specifically dedicated to productivity. Some of my favorite productivity apps include: Bento (info management), Things (project management), iTeleport (remote computing), and GoodReader (best PDF reader around). Search for them in the App Store.

===== Email, IM and Social Networking =====

The iPod touch has been, and continues to be an exceptional communication-machine. Whether it’s reading or composing email, keeping in touch via instant messenger, or managing your life via social networks, you’ve got plenty of options here.

Instant messaging is easy with platforms such as AIM, Yahoo, Gtalk, MSN, Skype and apps that handle multiple platforms: IM+, Fring, Nimbuzz, BeejiveIM and Fuse Messenger. Finally, multitasking means you can truly remain connected to your IM platforms of choice, instead of relying on apps to keep you signed remotely, then push new-message notifications to your device. This is a much welcome addition to the new iPod touch.

As well, there are plenty of apps to help you browse and update your status on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Within the iOS development community, Twitter apps have often been a laughing stock, simply because there are so many out there on the App Store. They’re almost as rampant as “fart” apps. So to say you’ve got countless options as far as social networking apps are concerned is probably a pretty accurate statement.

For email, you need not look any further than Apple’s native “Mail” app. Even if you’re using Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or Apple’s own MobileMe, setup is a snap. It even supports Microsoft Exchange, often useful for corporate email setups. As well, any other email accounts that support POP3 or IMAP connection types will work with the Mail app too. Plus, new to the iPod touch with iOS 4 is the option to use a unified inbox–handy for those already used to that behavior on Mac OS X.

===== Downloading Apps and Games =====

Downloading apps on your iPod touch couldn’t be easier. Once you set up your iTunes account with a credit card, all you need to do is find the app you want, tap the download button (usually it says the price rather than “download”, which then changes to “buy” after you tap it), then tap again to confirm. Voila, you just bought an app. Behind the scenes, Apple then charges your card the amount of the app plus tax, while you’re already off enjoying your new purchase. This ease of access is a blessing and a curse, because you can easily empty your wallet if you’re not carefully considering each purchase.

All apps in the App Store range in price from Free and 99 cents on up, always incrementing in whole dollar amounts (1.99, 2.99, 3.99, etc). The maximum price for an app is set to $999.99, of which there are only eight currently priced so outrageously. And don’t even think of toying with them. Apple does not allow refunds on apps you have purchased–all sales are final!

Contrast that with Android’s more complex Android Market, and you’ll find several more steps, especially for paid apps. For one, there’re no fixed pricing tiers, and secondly, they allow multiple currency pricing, which only confuses its users. The good developers do keep their pricing similar to iOS apps, with the 99 cent base plus $1 increments, but I often see apps priced at ¥0.55 or 0.79 or $1 or £2.95 …it’s quite disorienting and unstructured. They have also set their price cap at $200, so you can’t accidentally run up a $1000 charge on just one app–you’ll need at least 5 apps for that.

Meanwhile, to actually buy an app on Android, you must tap the BUY button, confirm that you want to buy the app, then get redirected to a Google Checkout link, where you must setup your Google Checkout account or choose an existing payment method if you already have an account set up. Once you confirm the purchase yet again, THEN you can finally download the app.

Google also makes selling apps a bit more complicated for developers than Apple, but I won’t get into that. I’m just stressing how absolutely simple Apple makes the app buying and selling process. Contrary to Apple however, Google does allow users to “return” purchased Android apps within 24 hours for a full refund. That’s nice.

===== Technical Specifications =====

Since Amazon’s product descriptions tend to be lacking, I like to include all the technical jargon geeks have come to expect when researching new gadgets. Feel free to breeze on through!

In the box
+ iPod touch
+ Earphones
+ Dock Connector to USB Cable (for sync and charging)
+ Quick Start guide

Size and weight
+ Height: 4.4 inches (111.0 mm)
+ Width: 2.3 inches (58.9 mm)
+ Depth: 0.28 inch (7.2 mm)
+ Weight: 3.56 ounces (101 grams)

Capacity
+ 8GB, 32GB or 64GB flash drive/SSD

Wireless
+ 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
+ Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
+ Maps-location based service
+ Nike + iPod support built in

Display
+ Multi-Touch display
+ 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen
+ 960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 pixels per inch

Cameras, photos, and video
+ Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still photos (960 x 720) with back camera
+ VGA-quality photos and video up to 30 frames per second with the front camera
+ Tap to control exposure for video or stills
+ Photo and video geo tagging over Wi-Fi

TV and video
+ H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
+ MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
+ Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
+ Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cables sold separately)

Audio
+ Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+ Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
+ User-configurable maximum volume limit with parental lock
+ Earbud headphones included in box

Earphones
+ Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+ Impedance: 32 ohms

Input and output
+ 30-pin dock connector
+ 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
+ Built-in speaker
+ Microphone
+ External buttons and controls

Sensors
+ Three-axis gyro
+ Accelerometer
+ Ambient light sensor (for proximity detection)

Battery, power and playback time
+ Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
+ USB sync cable is also used for charging
+ Fast charge in about 2 hours (80% capacity)
+ Full charge in about 4 hours.
+ Music playback time: Up to 40 hours when fully charged
+ Video playback time: Up to 7 hours when fully charged

System requirements
+ USB 2.0
+ iTunes 10 or later
+ Mac: Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
+ PC: Windows 7, Vista, or XP (SP3 or later)

===== Praise =====

+ Apple continues its trend of creating the best multi-touch experience around. Android doesn’t even come close.
+ The Retina Display – Phenomenal! Kudos for bringing it to the iPod touch as well as the iPhone. Now try it with IPS technology Apple!
+ Wireless-N, finally! – Faster and farther-reaching WiFi connections (if your router supports 802.11n)
+ High performance 1GHz A4 processor – provides all the power of the iPhone 4, a win for gaming and multitasking.
+ Multitasks like a dream with iOS 4 and the powerful processor, despite the same 256MB of memory as the third generation touch.
+ Rear camera – It’s not the 5 megapixel iPhone 4 camera, but I definitely can’t complain here. It shoots great photos, especially in low-light without flash, plus it can do HD video.
+ Front facing camera – What a pleasant surprise! Now it just needs to work with Skype.

===== Dissappointments =====

+ No GPS – IP based location just doesn’t cut it at times. GPS has no subscription fee or contract to use. GPS chips are costly, but tons of high cost GPS apps are in the App Store now to offset that cost for Apple.
+ 256MB memory – iFixit has confirmed this disappointing flaw, putting to rest all the rumors of 512MB still littering several reviews.
+ Still no 120GB model – Useful for higher res videos that look great on the Retina display.
+ No USB 3.0 or wireless sync – Sync’ing can be slow or inconvenient over the cable.
+ Thinner design – I was hoping for a more squared design, like the iPhone 4, as it is easier to grip, handle and press the power button.
+ Power button – Yes, it hasn’t changed much. It’s been moved to the right side on this model, but it’s still the tiny, hard-to-press button it’s has always been, and if you take lots of screenshots like I do (by pressing power+home simultaneously) half the time you end up closing your app because the power button didn’t work right.

===== The Bottom Line =====

It is absolutely clear: Apple has definitely blurred the lines between iPhone and iPod touch with its 4th generation of both devices. Since it has no contract or carrier exclusivity, this phenomenal device will continue to shine its light in the otherwise dark voids of the smartphone market where the iPhone cannot go, even without the phone. That’s just smart!

Given all my tips, I think you’ll find the iPod touch to be an extraordinarily useful, possibly even highly addictive device, with a price tag that is well worth it, especially the 32GB model. With all the things that the iPod touch can do, it will undoubtedly enhance your life and change the way you interact with the Web. It might even make a gamer out of you if it hasn’t already, it sure did for me!

I hope you’ve found my hands-on review helpful. I do actively participate in any discussions via the comments, so feel free to drop me a line, or ask me any questions as well.

317 of 342 people found the following review helpful.
This thing rocks!
By MDTenoso
*This review is from someone who never owned any Apple products before, married, healthcare professional, blackberry and palm TX owner (yeah I know, belongs in a museum), I was looking for a handheld internet browser by wifi, no monthly fees for 2 years, with camera, video, and apps that i can use for my work, and put in my pocket and it led me to this device. This is therefore a completely un-technical, layman’s review.

1. Delivery time: I was supposed to receive this September 10-14 with the regular shipping, but I got it today, maybe because I ordered it as soon as Steve Jobs finished presenting, so this deserves more than 5 stars!

2. Dimensions/looks: I actually prefer the “handling” of the bigger and heavier 3rd gen that I borrowed, its all smudge now without any cover, but boy! this is the most beautiful handheld device that I ever held, 4 stars for being smaller and lighter and smudgy.

3. Display: The retina display is amazing! Like reading from a glossy magazine, and yes you cannot see the pixels! 5 stars!

4. Wifi: Sync with ATT wifi – no problem, wifi in gym – no problem, monthly fees – no problem! 5 stars!

5. Internet Browsing: Hard to type in the addresses initially, but pages loads super fast (the longest was within thress-onethousand – all news channels), surfed the web with no problems,make pages bigger or smaller… this gets 5 stars as well.

6. Speed (Processor): this thing is super fast, web pages load within 3 seconds, downloading apps within 30 secs, youtube in a flash, the email attachment that opened in 1 minute in my computer took only 10 seconds! 5 stars indeed!

7. Camera: very grainy, will not use it for any important event, only for quick-I-need-a-camera moments, it will not replace my dSLR, but since it wasnt there in the previous gen, and I only use my dSLR and nothing else, this camera is still a bonus it gets 4 stars.

8. Apps for work/”work”: I already downloaded 4 very useful apps for work for free! plus 5 other free games for me and my 3 year old kid, the fact that I can now have apps without an iphone/ipad is great, the fact that its free is sweet! 5 stars!

8. Video: 720p HD! And I bought a Vado HD that does nothing else! Quality is up to par! 5 stars!

Overall, I have a device that surfs the net very very fast, manages my email, has a camera, great HD videocam, great free apps for work, that looks beautiful, and is great to look at, that I got 1 week early, what more can I ask for?!!! Worth every penny and deserves 5 stars!

And it stores and plays music too?! And has facetime?! And maps?! I feel like I paid for a Toyota and got a Lexus!

Will buy another one for my kid so she doesnt have to borrow mine!

See all 3364 customer reviews…

The world’s most popular portable gaming device is even more fun. Now available in black and white, iPod touch includes iOS 5 with over 200 new features, like iMessage, Notification Center, and Twitter integration. Send free, unlimited text messages over Wi-Fi with iMessage. Record HD video and make FaceTime calls. Visit the App Store to choose from over 500,000 apps. iPod touch likewise features iCloud, which stores your music, photos, apps, and moreÑand wirelessly pushes them to all your devices.

On the front of iPod touch is a built-in camera perfective for making FaceTime video calls.

The world’s most frequent portable gaming device is even more fun. Now available in black and white, iPod touch includes iOS 5 with over 200 new features, like iMessage, Notification Center, and Twitter integration. Send free, unlimited text messages over Wi-Fi with iMessage. Record HD video and make FaceTime calls. Visit the App Store to choose from over 500,000 apps. iPod touch also features iCloud, which stores your music, photos, apps, and moreÑand wirelessly pushes them to all your devices.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7 in Network Media Player
• Size: 8 GB
• Color: Black
• Brand: Apple
• Model: MC540LL/A
• Released on: 2012-04-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 4.40″ h x 2.30″ w x .28″ l, .22 pounds
• CPU: PowerPC G4 2.1 GHz
• Memory: 2000000MB SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 60GB
• Processors: 1
• Display size: 3.5

Features

• It has 8 GB capacity for regarding 2,000 songs, 10,000 photos, or 10 hours of video
• It has up to 40 hours of audio playback or 7 hours of video playback on a single charge
• Support for AAC, Protected AAC (iTunes Store) and other audio formats, H.264, MPEG-4
• It has one-year fixed warranty
• iPod touch has 8 GB capacity for with regards to 2,000 songs, 10,000 photos, or 10 hours of video.

B L Investments Inc Pic

B L Investments Inc Pic

B L Investments Inc Picture

B L Investments Inc Photo

1416 of 1466 people found the following review helpful.
Senior Citizen Review of Ipod Touch
By Sanjosemom
I purchased my Ipod Touch 8G in January, 2011 just for fun and to see what all the fuss was about. I use a laptop and have wireless connectivity in my home. But I don’t store music on an Ipod and don’t have “smart” cell phone. After using the Ipod Touch for a few months, all I can say is “WOW”.

This device is like carrying a small computer in your pocket. I can connect to the internet wirelessly at home and anywhere I can find a public connection–library, cafe, etc. I check my email (read and compose), facebook, Meetups, Ravelry, take pictures and movies, and with the Skype App, can video call my kids. I have become hooked on the Angry Birds game, which is fun to do while waiting anywhere. I have also downloaded audio books from my library to take with me when I travel. I knit and have any pattern I am working on loaded on my Touch so I don’t worry about losing it. All this in a 2×4 inch little device I can carry with me everywhere.

I considered getting a smart phone instead, but Verizon’s additional mandatory monthly cost of $30/month turned me off. It would be nice to have internet access where ever I am, but I don’t need it and don’t want to pay $360/year for it. I like the fact that the Ipod Touch does not require any additional monthly costs.

I compared my Touch to my friends Ipad. It appears that my Touch does most everything the Ipad does, but the Touch is so much smaller.

My son has a Droid, which does what my Touch does plus it is his cell phone. But games wear his battery down quickly. I don’t have to worry about that since my phone is separate from my Touch.

If I needed to be connected to the internet at all times and have a cell phone too, I would probably stick with a smart phone and pay the extra $30/month. But if you want a very versatile tool in a small package to carry with you, I highly recommend the Ipod Touch.

So much fun!

5426 of 5704 people found the following review helpful.
The Lines Between iPod Touch and iPhone Have Started to Blur
By Scott Showalter
Having had a chance to spend a little time with a review model gives me a chance to share the experience with you a bit early (before my own arrives). I’ll take you hands-on with the new model, plus I’ll share from my past two years of iPod touch ownership altogether, especially for those who haven’t yet owned (or been owned by) one of these mobile gems.

I’ve also hidden a treasure trove of info on how you can legitimately download tons of quality apps for free. First though, let’s quickly cover what’s new.

+ Faster 1GHz A4 Processor – to keep up with the high demands of multitasking
+ Ultra high resolution “Retina display” – packs a 960 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch
+ 15% larger battery – 3.44 Whr/930 mAh plays 7 hrs of video & 40 hrs of audio
+ Rear-facing camera – supports 960 x 720 sized photos (0.6 megapixels), plus 720p HD videos
+ Front-facing VGA-quality camera – VGA-quality is a resolution of 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
+ 3-Axis Gyroscope – allows for higher precision and more motion gestures
+ Wireless N – Connect faster and go farther than ever, with this WiFi device (requires a router with 802.11n)
+ Built in microphone – but Apple reverted back to using the remote- and mic-less earphones
+ Game Center – Apple’s own social gaming platform
+ Sleep/Power Button – it’s been moved to the right, but not improved beyond that
+ Thinner, lighter than ever
* Note – Memory remains at the same 256MB despite several unconfirmed sources touting 512MB. There’s also no vibrate module.

Unlike last year’s iPod touch update, this one’s a complete overhaul to the entire line. Last year, the new models didn’t change in appearance. On the inside, faster processors and double-memory were added to the 32GB & 64GB models, but the 8GB got left out. Not this time. Buying the new 8GB iPod touch indeed gets you all the new goodies. You’ll also pay thirty bucks more than before, so consider buying the 32GB model instead. You’ll get 400% of the storage capacity for only 23% more coin!

===== Background =====

I’m a mobile app developer who’s created a few apps and games for the iPhone, iPod Touch and now iPad. I was initially drawn to the iPod touch because of the popularity and capabilities of its mobile Web browsing–I was primarily a Web developer at the time and no other device could surf the Web so well. After I got one, I was hooked. I racked up over a hundred bucks in app purchases within the first month, and before long, I found myself learning how do develop native apps for the device.

Indeed, if you have never had an iPod touch before, you’re in for a real treat. Of course, if you have, then you know first hand: it’s is worth its weight in gold–no, in platinum. And now, with the latest generation, it may even be worth its weight rare gem stones! I digress.

===== Out With the Old =====

The iPod touch is frequently called an iPhone without the phone. However, until now there have been several other features also missing in the iPod touch besides the phone: a camera, GPS, magnetometer (compass), and some newer amenities from the iPhone 4: front-facing camera, high resolution “Retina display” as it has been dubbed, and the powerful 1GHz A4 processor–indeed a necessity to keep up with multitasking.

That all changes, now. The 4th gen iPod touch brings with it some new features and amenities, some of which have been anticipated by iPod touch fans and developers alike, including myself, for several generations of the device. From a developer’s perspective, the more hardware features we can get our hands on, the better and more innovative apps we can create, and the more users that can download, use and enjoy them.

===== In With the New =====

The striking new design of the latest iPod touch is definitely a looker. Apple has made it even thinner (and I thought it was already too thin before) complete with a beautiful chrome back. While the super thin design is certainly attractive, I’ve found it slightly difficult to keep it well-gripped in your hands. The usual chrome back looks great too, but it’s scratch-insistent. Yes, it’s incredibly easy to scratch it all up, even after the first few days. For these two reasons, definitely get yourself a silicone skin (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042GVG5G?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8) alongside your new touch!

For ages, the feature topping everyone’s wishlist for the iPod touch has been a camera. Check! It handles HD video too–bonus! Granted, its not the 5 megapixel camera that the iPhone 4 sports, but again, the new iPod touch is thinner than ever, making it a miracle that we even got a camera in the first place, let alone two! Yes, Apple went the extra mile so we could make video calls with our iPhone toting friends, via their FaceTime app. Brilliant! So, having not had any camera on the iPod touch before, and now having TWO cameras on it, we can’t really complain can we? Nah.

I’ll have details on the quality both cameras later, but what excites me even moreso is the new much-higher resolution screen–dubbed “Retina display”. You may not think much of it if you haven’t used an iPhone or iPod touch before, nor have an older model nearby to compare it to, but for those that have and/or do, the difference is clear! (pun intended)

Where this really comes in handy is in browsing the Web and reading non-mobile-formatted PDF e-books. Now, I can see things so much clearer at the default zoom level (which shows the full width of a Web page or document). My vision isn’t spectacular by any means, I just don’t mind seeing things smaller on the screen. It allows me to see more content without having to scroll. Indeed, the Retina display was the #1 feature I never knew I wanted (until I saw it in the iPhone 4 that is).

Other newness includes: 15% larger battery, HD video recording and editing, built-in mic, wireless-n for nearly double the WiFi connection speed and distance, Game Center: Apple’s new social gaming platform (which seems to be Apple’s attempt to kill-off third party social gaming platforms like OpenFeint and Plus+), 3-axis gyroscope sensor, which complements the existing accelerometer sensor, both of which handle the rotating, swinging and other motion gestures of the device (previously, rotation were roughly calculated from accelerometer data), and new placement of the sleep/power button on the right (but still as difficult as ever to press).

Features still missing include: 512MB of memory, vibration, 5 MP quality camera + flash (iPhone apps now support using LED flash as a flashlight, like Android does), magnetometer (compass), and the GPS. I’d happily trade the thinness of the latest iPod touch to have the GPS. WiFi based location is often inaccurate, and the GPS doesn’t need a WiFi or cellular connection, it just needs to see the satellites in the sky.

===== iOS vs Android =====

So far, Apple has cornered the market of multitouch mobile devices that aren’t phones, but things are slowly changing. Currently, the two hottest mobile and smartphone operating systems out there right now are Apple’s iOS (formerly: iPhone OS) and Google’s Android. Of course, iOS is popular because it runs on not only the iPhone, but also on the iPod touch and now on the ipad as well. Plus, it has garnered support from scores of app developers who’ve gotten behind Apple’s slew of high-demand devices.

The iPod touch has really made iOS what it is today. It does a lot of what the iPhone does, without a contract, or carrier exclusivity, as is the case with the iPhone and the iPad (WiFi+3G models). So if it weren’t for the iPod touch, a lot of the market share Apple now has in the industry would have been stifled by their carrier exclusivity. I think Apple will see the light soon, but that’s another discussion.

Enter Android. Google has held a different stance on their mobile OS. It isn’t tied to a select few devices, and it’s open source, so it can be further developed by manufacturers who use it. Indeed, several mobile device manufacturers have now latched onto Android as a foundation for numerous devices. Wireless carriers that have been unable to carry the iPhone have also taken a liking to it. Now, tons of Android devices have been released, and there’s no end in sight. Manufacturers have also seen the iPad’s potential and now they want a piece of that pie, too. So, expect to see a lot more Android tablets and media-centric non-phone devices soon. The competition is heating up.

But not everything with Android, nor with iOS, is perfect. I own an EVO 4G, one of the most popular Android devices currently available. I’ve also used an iPod touch almost every day for nearly two years, so I’m pretty qualified to share my experience with each platform. Both certainly have their share of unique offerings, and neither of them are without flaws. For this reason, and because of the increasing competition between the two, I plan to dispel some of their key differences for you at various points in this review.

===== So What Can the iPod Touch Actually Do? =====

Well, what can’t it do?

The iPod touch is like a magical little box, only it’s flat. While it cannot cook your breakfast, yet (I’m sure someone is already working on that), it can indeed do some pretty extraordinary things. It’s an amazing catch-all device that can provide hours of entertainment, give you the power of the Web in your hand, and it can even replicate the functionality of countless one-off products. Developers have been creating apps that take advantage of special hardware of the iPod touch to emulate some other product for less, and sometimes even for free.

Even expensive products have seen cheap iOS based clone apps. For just 99 cents, you can snag a special alarm clock app that monitors your sleep cycle and wakes you up when you’re in an ideal state of wakefulness. I spent 350 bucks on an aXbo
(http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014RDSSY?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8) a few years ago, who’s functionality is easily replicated by several “sleep phase” alarm clock apps in the app store. When you do the math there, you see that it’s easily a no brainer: buy yourself an iPod touch now!

I’ve listed more apps like this in the comments!

Plus, with the support of such a strong community of app and game developers, there’s never a drought of fresh new apps and games. There’s always something to do with the iPod touch, and I guarantee you’ll never be bored with it. I honestly cannot say the same thing about Android, though I also tote my EVO 4G around with me. I do admit that the EVO’s mobile hotspot comes in incredibly handy for providing the iPod touch with a WiFi connection while I’m on the go).

Now, with the proper resources, you can legitimately download thousands of high quality apps for free. I do it all the time and it is perfectly legal. See, Apple allows developers to temporarily put their apps on sale (and even drop the price to free). Usually they do this to get you to write some rave reviews for their apps. The secret to success is having the resources to help you spot these special app sales–so you know when and where to get them during their sometimes extremely-limited-time promotions.

In hopes of making this the most helpful review on Amazon for the iPod touch, here’s how to obtain these special promotional-sale apps:

There are several resources you can use, both on the Web and on the iPod touch itself. I prefer to use the app called BargainBin that lists all apps that recently went on sale or dropped to free. It also supports watch lists with push notifications, and can alert you whenever an app you’re interested in goes on sale. It’s a phenomenal little gem, and it has gotten me a ton of apps and saved me a fortune! It also has a companion website that lists the same apps (Google: App Advice). There’s also a website called AppShopper (Google it) that lists apps with recent price drops and new apps as well, and you can filter just the free products or just the sale products. The two sites don’t always list the same apps. Sometimes one will miss something that the other will catch, so it’s good to keep track of them both. Check them daily if possible. Several apps are duds, but you’ll come across some really great ones from time to time. They’ll all add up!

===== Web Browsing =====

Alongside spending lots of money on all those wonderful apps in the App Store, Web browsing is one of the most popular uses for the iPod touch. Browsing the Web with mobile Safari was my original attraction to the device. The experience hasn’t changed too drastically in the past two years (since the days of iOS 2), and while it’s still very powerful, there are some definite flaws. And no, I’m not talking about Flash. Just minor usability issues I’d like to see overcome, but first let’s look at the positives.

Mobile Safari has a smart approach to zooming in on content. Double-tap on a paragraph of text or an image to cinch that content right up to the edges of the screen. The downside: some sites aren’t mobile-friendly, so zooming in on a really wide block of text can leave you with tiny text. You can zoom further manually, by using the “unpinch” multi-touch gesture, but because the browser doesn’t have an option to reflow the text to the screen width, you have to scroll left and right, as well as up and down, just to read the text. Android’s browser doesn’t feature smart zoom, but it does reflow the text to fit the screen when zoomed in. It’s a nice feature, and Apple should add it as a preference for Safari.

Browser history can also vanish after a few days, and browser windows get overwritten by links from other pages sometimes (usually when I’ve hit the maximum of eight windows). Also yet to be seen is support for doing common things like searching for text on a page, or bookmarking a link by tapping and holding. That would be invaluable for adding bookmarklets–bookmark based scripts that help overcome browser shortcomings.

Flash is also a great debate, one I won’t get into. I will just say that all is not as it seems with the Flash-support-touting Android platform. Flash does work, but it is buggy because Flash doesn’t play well with touch interfaces. Flash based video players don’t work right, and I even run Android 2.2, which is supposed to have the “full Flash experience”. It doesn’t, trust me. So you’re not missing much by not having Flash on the iPod touch!

Indeed, we can just hope and pray that Web developers and Flash-fiends see the light and start replacing Flash content with technologies like HTML5′s canvas element, which is poised to take on a lot of Flash’s most popular abilities.

===== Media =====

Despite all the incredible things the iPod touch can do, audio and video are still one of the iPod touch’s greatest strengths. And with the incredible resolution of the new iPod touch’s retina display, to say that videos now appear much sharper, more vivid and highly-defined is definitely an understatement. Yes, videos were great before, but now they frickin’ rock!

Just make sure your videos are at least 960 x 640. If you’ve owned an older iPod touch and used video conversion software to scale down your media to fit the old 320 x 480 screen resolution, definitely change your conversion settings, or look for a software update to support the new higher-resolution display.

For those interested in watching live TV on the go (over WiFi), Sling Media’s SlingPlayer app, paired with one of their Slingbox devices is a phenomenal and freeing experience, especially considering your alternate choices for watching live TV on the go are pretty much nil up to this point.

On top of that, Netflix’s recently released iPod touch version of their media streaming app has also been a much-welcomed addition to my ever-growing collection of apps. Netflix videos stream quickly, and even moving the play position back and forth in the timeline, the movie starts playing very quickly without much time rebuffering the video.

===== Photos =====

The latest iPod touch is also a game-changer for photography and video recording on an iPod touch. It’s not mind-blowing by any means, but we went from having no camera right to having two cameras on the device. I probably would not be so thrilled with just a new back camera. I merely would have sighed, mumbling “finally” under my my breath (unless it were 5 megapixels). But despite the less-than-one megapixel quality of the rear-facing camera, I was taken aback by the rather decent quality, especially in low-light environments. Check the comments for links to sample photos!

Between that and the ability to connect with other iPhone and iPod touch toting friends via Apple’s FaceTime app, yes… it’s a game changer. Granted, I have been wanting front facing cameras on mobile devices ever since mobile devices started having cameras period. I got the first of such devices when my EVO 4G arrived in June, but as they say: the more the merrier. Friends, welcome to the future we’ve been dreaming of. Video killed the audio call!

The quality of my test calls were pretty good. Of course, it was over WiFi, but it proves the cameras are decent. You can switch from using the front camera to using the rear camera, too, in case something was going on in front of you that you wanted to share. Just tap the “camera swap” button in the bottom right corner of the screen. FaceTime also rotates along with the iPod when flipped on its side, nice.

HD video recording is the other half of the aforementioned game-changing equation. I didn’t expect to see ANY video recording, considering the original iPhone camera was originally just a camera. But it’s here, complete with HD quality (yes, the quality is indeed desirable), plus basic video editing support, as well as support for Apple’s brilliant “iMovie” app: an advanced video editing studio right on your iPod touch. It’s just five bucks on the App Store.

===== E-Reading =====

The iPad has been making waves in the genre of media reading for several months now, but that hasn’t exactly been the same story for any generation of the iPod touch so far. Granted, it’s not exactly marketed as an eReader like its iPad counterpart, but there are some really great apps out there for media reading on it, so there’s no reason not to use it to read digital media. The obstacle to doing that, for me at least, has been the limited screen resolution, and so that may all potentially start to change, now that Apple has brought the Retina display to the iPod touch.

The 163 pixels per inch screens of past iPod touches were still pretty great, just not ideal for tiny text. For comparison, LCD monitors typically only have 96 pixels per inch, and CRT monitors only have 72 pixels per inch. TV’s are even worse than that. What this means for you is that the iPod touch display has always been sharper than your own computer monitor.

However, despite being able to display content at a higher quality, I still found that in a lot of eBooks, especially PDFs that weren’t mobile-formatted, the text was just not clear enough to be readable when zoomed out. However, zooming in meant having to constantly scroll side-to-side while reading. The app “Good Reader” helped ease that pain by doing the left-right & vertical scrolling for you with just a tap of the screen, as well as offering an additional view that re-flows the text to fit on the screen at a large enough size.

However, with the Retina display, all text and content in the aforementioned “zoomed out” state now appears extremely clear. That is a wonderful thing, so long as you don’t mind reading tiny text.

Could you still benefit from having an iPad too? Perhaps. After all, it does have unique qualities that set it apart from the iPod touch, as my in depth iPad review portrays (http://www.amazon.com/review/R16U71KO7POLA2?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8). But unless you specifically see the need for one of those unique qualities, then no, you probably don’t need both.

===== Gaming =====

If you’re like me, you probably don’t have time for games. Regardless, it may still be high-time to let the kid within you roam free from time to time, as I do. The iPod touch has made it possible. In fact, it is so easy, there’s no excuse not to enjoy yourself. My favorite games are the racing games and, when I have a bit more time, strategy games.

With the iPhone and iPod Touch having taken on a clear role as a gaming console that has been as revolutionary for mobile gaming as the Wii was for living-room gaming, it goes without saying that the iPod touch is, and will continue to be, one of the best platforms for gaming. It’s simple, convenient, and pretty much instant. Whenever you have a few moments of free time, wherever you’re, just turn it on, find your game, and bam! You’re gaming. Simple as that.

===== Productivity =====

Productivity carries numerous definitions. Usually its “getting something done” though some people tend to believe that it’s the ability to focus without being distracted, which I see as one of the iPod touch’s strengths, at least for me, primarily because the screen is small enough to force you to focus on the task at hand.

In the context of software though, Apple’s own suite of productivity apps for the office, collectively called “iWork”, has been further refined for the iPhone and iPod touch. Because of the aforementioned “focus factor” of the iPod touch, I have found myself to be surprisingly productive when working on documents with it. There are three apps in all: Pages allows you to work on word processing documents. Numbers allows you to work on spreadsheets. Keynote lets you work on presentations and slideshows (including PowerPoint files).

So far, I’ve found these apps to be highly useful when I have work to do, but don’t feel like being at the computer to do it. Another great app for that is “iTeleport” which let’s me at my computer remotely, when iWork won’t work (meaning I’m not working on office documents). Log Me In Ignition is another similar app that is slightly easier to set up, but a bit slower than iTeleport, when you’re just working over the same WiFi connection as the remote computer.

Furthermore, there’s a whole category of iPod touch apps in the App Store specifically dedicated to productivity. Some of my favorite productivity apps include: Bento (info management), Things (project management), iTeleport (remote computing), and GoodReader (best PDF reader around). Search for them in the App Store.

===== Email, IM and Social Networking =====

The iPod touch has been, and continues to be an exceptional communication-machine. Whether it’s reading or composing email, keeping in touch via instant messenger, or managing your life via social networks, you’ve got plenty of options here.

Instant messaging is easy with platforms such as AIM, Yahoo, Gtalk, MSN, Skype and apps that handle multiple platforms: IM+, Fring, Nimbuzz, BeejiveIM and Fuse Messenger. Finally, multitasking means you can truly remain connected to your IM platforms of choice, instead of relying on apps to keep you signed remotely, then push new-message notifications to your device. This is a much welcome addition to the new iPod touch.

As well, there are plenty of apps to help you browse and update your status on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Within the iOS development community, Twitter apps have often been a laughing stock, simply because there are so many out there on the App Store. They’re almost as rampant as “fart” apps. So to say you’ve got countless options as far as social networking apps are concerned is probably a pretty accurate statement.

For email, you need not look any further than Apple’s native “Mail” app. Even if you’re using Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or Apple’s own MobileMe, setup is a snap. It even supports Microsoft Exchange, often useful for corporate email setups. As well, any other email accounts that support POP3 or IMAP connection types will work with the Mail app too. Plus, new to the iPod touch with iOS 4 is the option to use a unified inbox–handy for those already used to that behavior on Mac OS X.

===== Downloading Apps and Games =====

Downloading apps on your iPod touch couldn’t be easier. Once you set up your iTunes account with a credit card, all you need to do is find the app you want, tap the download button (usually it says the price rather than “download”, which then changes to “buy” after you tap it), then tap again to confirm. Voila, you just bought an app. Behind the scenes, Apple then charges your card the amount of the app plus tax, while you’re already off enjoying your new purchase. This ease of access is a blessing and a curse, because you can easily empty your wallet if you’re not carefully considering each purchase.

All apps in the App Store range in price from Free and 99 cents on up, always incrementing in whole dollar amounts (1.99, 2.99, 3.99, etc). The maximum price for an app is set to $999.99, of which there are only eight currently priced so outrageously. And don’t even think of toying with them. Apple does not allow refunds on apps you have purchased–all sales are final!

Contrast that with Android’s more complex Android Market, and you’ll find several more steps, especially for paid apps. For one, there’re no fixed pricing tiers, and secondly, they allow multiple currency pricing, which only confuses its users. The good developers do keep their pricing similar to iOS apps, with the 99 cent base plus $1 increments, but I often see apps priced at ¥0.55 or 0.79 or $1 or £2.95 …it’s quite disorienting and unstructured. They have also set their price cap at $200, so you can’t accidentally run up a $1000 charge on just one app–you’ll need at least 5 apps for that.

Meanwhile, to actually buy an app on Android, you must tap the BUY button, confirm that you want to buy the app, then get redirected to a Google Checkout link, where you must setup your Google Checkout account or choose an existing payment method if you already have an account set up. Once you confirm the purchase yet again, THEN you can finally download the app.

Google also makes selling apps a bit more complicated for developers than Apple, but I won’t get into that. I’m just stressing how absolutely simple Apple makes the app buying and selling process. Contrary to Apple however, Google does allow users to “return” purchased Android apps within 24 hours for a full refund. That’s nice.

===== Technical Specifications =====

Since Amazon’s product descriptions tend to be lacking, I like to include all the technical jargon geeks have come to expect when researching new gadgets. Feel free to breeze on through!

In the box
+ iPod touch
+ Earphones
+ Dock Connector to USB Cable (for sync and charging)
+ Quick Start guide

Size and weight
+ Height: 4.4 inches (111.0 mm)
+ Width: 2.3 inches (58.9 mm)
+ Depth: 0.28 inch (7.2 mm)
+ Weight: 3.56 ounces (101 grams)

Capacity
+ 8GB, 32GB or 64GB flash drive/SSD

Wireless
+ 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
+ Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
+ Maps-location based service
+ Nike + iPod support built in

Display
+ Multi-Touch display
+ 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen
+ 960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 pixels per inch

Cameras, photos, and video
+ Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still photos (960 x 720) with back camera
+ VGA-quality photos and video up to 30 frames per second with the front camera
+ Tap to control exposure for video or stills
+ Photo and video geo tagging over Wi-Fi

TV and video
+ H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
+ MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
+ Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
+ Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cables sold separately)

Audio
+ Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+ Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
+ User-configurable maximum volume limit with parental lock
+ Earbud headphones included in box

Earphones
+ Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+ Impedance: 32 ohms

Input and output
+ 30-pin dock connector
+ 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
+ Built-in speaker
+ Microphone
+ External buttons and controls

Sensors
+ Three-axis gyro
+ Accelerometer
+ Ambient light sensor (for proximity detection)

Battery, power and playback time
+ Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
+ USB sync cable is also used for charging
+ Fast charge in about 2 hours (80% capacity)
+ Full charge in about 4 hours.
+ Music playback time: Up to 40 hours when fully charged
+ Video playback time: Up to 7 hours when fully charged

System requirements
+ USB 2.0
+ iTunes 10 or later
+ Mac: Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
+ PC: Windows 7, Vista, or XP (SP3 or later)

===== Praise =====

+ Apple continues its trend of creating the best multi-touch experience around. Android doesn’t even come close.
+ The Retina Display – Phenomenal! Kudos for bringing it to the iPod touch as well as the iPhone. Now try it with IPS technology Apple!
+ Wireless-N, finally! – Faster and farther-reaching WiFi connections (if your router supports 802.11n)
+ High performance 1GHz A4 processor – provides all the power of the iPhone 4, a win for gaming and multitasking.
+ Multitasks like a dream with iOS 4 and the powerful processor, despite the same 256MB of memory as the third generation touch.
+ Rear camera – It’s not the 5 megapixel iPhone 4 camera, but I definitely can’t complain here. It shoots great photos, especially in low-light without flash, plus it can do HD video.
+ Front facing camera – What a pleasant surprise! Now it just needs to work with Skype.

===== Dissappointments =====

+ No GPS – IP based location just doesn’t cut it at times. GPS has no subscription fee or contract to use. GPS chips are costly, but tons of high cost GPS apps are in the App Store now to offset that cost for Apple.
+ 256MB memory – iFixit has confirmed this disappointing flaw, putting to rest all the rumors of 512MB still littering several reviews.
+ Still no 120GB model – Useful for higher res videos that look great on the Retina display.
+ No USB 3.0 or wireless sync – Sync’ing can be slow or inconvenient over the cable.
+ Thinner design – I was hoping for a more squared design, like the iPhone 4, as it is easier to grip, handle and press the power button.
+ Power button – Yes, it hasn’t changed much. It’s been moved to the right side on this model, but it’s still the tiny, hard-to-press button it’s has always been, and if you take lots of screenshots like I do (by pressing power+home simultaneously) half the time you end up closing your app because the power button didn’t work right.

===== The Bottom Line =====

It is absolutely clear: Apple has definitely blurred the lines between iPhone and iPod touch with its 4th generation of both devices. Since it has no contract or carrier exclusivity, this phenomenal device will continue to shine its light in the otherwise dark voids of the smartphone market where the iPhone cannot go, even without the phone. That’s just smart!

Given all my tips, I think you’ll find the iPod touch to be an extraordinarily useful, possibly even highly addictive device, with a price tag that is well worth it, especially the 32GB model. With all the things that the iPod touch can do, it will undoubtedly enhance your life and change the way you interact with the Web. It might even make a gamer out of you if it hasn’t already, it sure did for me!

I hope you’ve found my hands-on review helpful. I do actively participate in any discussions via the comments, so feel free to drop me a line, or ask me any questions as well.

317 of 342 people found the following review helpful.
This thing rocks!
By MDTenoso
*This review is from someone who never owned any Apple products before, married, healthcare professional, blackberry and palm TX owner (yeah I know, belongs in a museum), I was looking for a handheld internet browser by wifi, no monthly fees for 2 years, with camera, video, and apps that i can use for my work, and put in my pocket and it led me to this device. This is therefore a completely un-technical, layman’s review.

1. Delivery time: I was supposed to receive this September 10-14 with the regular shipping, but I got it today, maybe because I ordered it as soon as Steve Jobs finished presenting, so this deserves more than 5 stars!

2. Dimensions/looks: I actually prefer the “handling” of the bigger and heavier 3rd gen that I borrowed, its all smudge now without any cover, but boy! this is the most beautiful handheld device that I ever held, 4 stars for being smaller and lighter and smudgy.

3. Display: The retina display is amazing! Like reading from a glossy magazine, and yes you cannot see the pixels! 5 stars!

4. Wifi: Sync with ATT wifi – no problem, wifi in gym – no problem, monthly fees – no problem! 5 stars!

5. Internet Browsing: Hard to type in the addresses initially, but pages loads super fast (the longest was within thress-onethousand – all news channels), surfed the web with no problems,make pages bigger or smaller… this gets 5 stars as well.

6. Speed (Processor): this thing is super fast, web pages load within 3 seconds, downloading apps within 30 secs, youtube in a flash, the email attachment that opened in 1 minute in my computer took only 10 seconds! 5 stars indeed!

7. Camera: very grainy, will not use it for any important event, only for quick-I-need-a-camera moments, it will not replace my dSLR, but since it wasnt there in the previous gen, and I only use my dSLR and nothing else, this camera is still a bonus it gets 4 stars.

8. Apps for work/”work”: I already downloaded 4 very useful apps for work for free! plus 5 other free games for me and my 3 year old kid, the fact that I can now have apps without an iphone/ipad is great, the fact that its free is sweet! 5 stars!

8. Video: 720p HD! And I bought a Vado HD that does nothing else! Quality is up to par! 5 stars!

Overall, I have a device that surfs the net very very fast, manages my email, has a camera, great HD videocam, great free apps for work, that looks beautiful, and is great to look at, that I got 1 week early, what more can I ask for?!!! Worth every penny and deserves 5 stars!

And it stores and plays music too?! And has facetime?! And maps?! I feel like I paid for a Toyota and got a Lexus!

Will buy another one for my kid so she doesnt have to borrow mine!

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Product Details

• Binding: Unknown Binding

Grand Rapid Mortgage Refinance Specialist Picture

Grand Rapid Mortgage Refinance Specialist Photo

Grand Rapid Mortgage Refinance Specialist Image

Grand Rapid Mortgage Refinance Specialist Pic

About the Author
See necessary note #3.

If you’re mesmerized in real estate investing, you may have noticed detect the lack of coverage it gets in mainstream financial media, while stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are systematically touted as the safest and most profitable ways to invest. According to real estate guru Ken McElroy, that’s because financial publications, tv and radio programs make the bulk of their cash from advertizing remunerated for by the very companies who provide such mainstream financial services. On the other hand, real estate investment is something you may do on your own–without a huge amount of cash up front! Picking up where left off in the bestselling The ABC’s of Real Estate Investing, McElroy reveals the next necessary lessons and info that no severe capitalist may afford to miss. Building on the foundation of real estate investment 101, McElroy tells readers:

• How to think–and operate–like a real estate mogul
• “The Top Ten Real Estate Markets to Watch”
• How to tell apart and close expert deals
• Why multifamily housing is the best real estate investment out there
• How to surround yourself with a team that will help maximize your cash
• How to keep away from paying thousands in taxes by structuring property sales wisely
• Important projections with regards to the future of real estate investment
• And more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36463 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 9.00″ h x .50″ w x 6.00″ l, .49 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Cash Refinance Photo

Cash Refinance Picture

Cash Refinance Pic

Cash Refinance Photo

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
Pretty Decent Intro To Apartment Complex Investing
By Kelly Lynch
I came across this book at Barnes & Nobles and since it was under the Rich Dad banner I gave it a shot. I liked the section of dispelling the myths of investing in multifamily units, i.e. “you gotta start small”, and “you need the Midas Touch”.
The author discusses several projects that he has worked on and breaks down the process into several key steps.
Truthfully, it’s not a “be all, end all” book for apartment investing, but I liked the fact that he explained his methodlogy in a simple, easy to digest fashion.
I invest heavily in single family residences and tri/quad-plexes, since the rental market is hot(smokin’ like Texas BBQ) and sellers are deeding me houses at a rate of 5 per week. Apartment buying in this market AND for the forseeable future is going to be the next big thing.
You need to seriously educate yourself about this subject.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Nothing “Advanced” about it. A Complete Waste of Time
By C. Burt
I have never written a book review before but after paying for and reading this I am so disappointed that I am going to. The vast majority of the book is consumed by the author trying to justify why investing in real estate is a good investment. Why would one buy and “Advanced Guide to Real Estate” if one didn’t already think it was a good investment? I think he’s just trying to fill up pages so that the book appears to have relevant content. What little advice exists is vague like “do your homework” and “talk with a broker to get the market cap rate.” When talking about how to identify a good market he points out his “successful” investment in Las Vegas purchased immediately before the crash. The only interesting part of the book, his analysis of what he thinks are going to be the top ten real estate markets is from 2008 and obviously quite outdated.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Advanced Guide…
By Trevor J. Flannigan
The book of the week was The Advanced Guide to Real Estate Investing by Ken McElroy. I think I may have a slight obsession toward real estate books because no matter how many times I read them, I never get bored and I always pick up another tip or remind myself of one I may have forgotten. And… McElroy is one of my favorite authors on the subject. He gives it to the readers straight and concise. I appreciate a person that doesn’t need to add a lot of fluff to their writings.

This week’s book was, like last week’s post, a sequel book. The first book the correlates to this book is The ABC’s to Real Estate Investing. I reviewed it last July… let’s look at the bulk of that post before we get started on this one:

“I know that after reading this book I could make six figures in the business of real estate investing in 5 years or less. The first step is exactly that: Making a goal for yourself. Tell yourself that you want to make more than $100,000 annually in 5 years in multi-unit real estate investing. The goal you set for yourself has to measurable- “over $100,000″, Time based- “5 years”, and specific- “multi-unit real estate investing.”

And now that you have your goal, it is time to hit the ground running. You will need to find a team because great things are seldom done alone. You will want a lawyer, accountant, engineer, etc. People that you can turn to and ask questions when they arise during your research. Another great thing about having a team to help you with your real estate dreams is you have people to keep you accountable. If you have ever worked out.. weight-lifting, running, or biking. You know it is so much easier to succeed when you have a partner to help you through.

You will then have to go out and find your ideal real estate. McElroy line-items just about everything you will need to look for when you are researching. This can be a fun time. Once you find the right property for you, this book will tell you how to find the “right” asking price. In the book there are detailed guides to writing your letter of intent to your buyer and how to go through the final process of acquiring your property.

After you have your property you will need to decide if you are going to be the property manager- the person that handles the landlord duties- or are you going to outsource that job to property management company. I recommend outsourcing for any property over 8 units. Let someone else handle the rent checks, leaks, broken appliances, flooding, evictions, background checks, criminal checks and the list goes on. Outsourcing this job will allow you to work on researching other properties or continuing career goals. Property management companies will charge between 8% and 14% depending on the number of units and the company. However, remember that like all things, you get what you pay for.

As you venture into this new world of Real Estate Investing you may start small with a duplex or a small apartment complex. If you follow the guidelines laid out in this book you will have a steady cash flow to reinvest in new larger properties. The goal that I previously outlined in this review is not far-fetched. If you are motivated, put the excuses aside, believe in yourself, and really go for it you can reach this goal. In the current economy you have a goldmine of opportunity. Go do some research and put yourself out there. Interest rates are low and everybody is selling. It’s a buyer’s market, so take advantage!”

You can see how much the original book got me psyched up. This one got me pretty excited too. I know that when I start to lose a little bit of fire, I can read a Rich Dad series book and get myself refocused and back on track mentally. And trust me, it’s needed sometimes. When you start to think big and do big things, you will have everyone tell you that you shouldn’t try and you need people around you to encourage you… even if some of those people are authors with words inside a book.

In the Advanced Guide, McElroy is thinking even bigger. He writes about multi-family investing on a very large scale. The buildings talked about in this book range from 100-400 units. That is very large, especially if you haven’t done any real estate investing yet. However, I think that large apartment complexes are the right way to go after you get your feet wet. When you have large apartment complexes you will most likely purchase the place with an on-site management company. This is a huge perk because it allows very close management of the property. If you have a ton of duplexes you don’t have the luxury of on-site management, meaning bad tenants (heaven forbid you end up with very many) can get away with more bad things.

Additionally, the purchasing power you can muster when you buy a large apartment complex can be staggering. Investors are more likely to invest one big lump sum instead of the same amount invested over 50 different duplexes at different times. Besides the amount of time you would be consuming to get 50 different meeting times with managers to show them due diligence on each property. You would have to somehow find the time to do due diligence on 50 difference duplexes. It just makes more sense in terms of efficiency to consolidate your efforts into one sure-fire investment.

I do think that if you are planning to do a big project like the ones outlined in this book that you need to first start small. This is what I call getting your feet wet. Go ahead and save a sizable amount of money for a down-payment. Depending on where you live anywhere from $5-15k will work. Then find some nice duplexes or fourplexes, do your due diligence on each property and work with your team to determine whether it is a good investment and then go for it. The most difficult thing for people during all of this is taking the “risk.” Well, if all the numbers work out and your team feels good about it. The “risk” is probably much more minimal than you think. I encourage you all to get your feet wet and go for it… You will be taking one big step toward financial freedom and the ability to live the lifestyle you desire.

I think this book was a great sequel and I encourage you to pick it up and give it a read if you have the courage to give it a try. Again, McElroy is a great author and I have loved every book I have read by him and I think you will feel the same. As always, if you have any questions on the book don’t hesitate to ask. I would be more than happy to help anyone that wants it.

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