I'm thinking about getting an iPod Touch, but I hate iTunes and that it autoloads at startup. I could handle doing some initial set up with it, but I'd prefer to be able to uninstall it and keep using the touch. As long as I have a WiFi connection, is it possible for me to download games directly to the Touch and bypass iTunes altogether?
Yup, there is an app store on the touch that you can download apps directly to your device without having to go through itunes. However using itunes is nice because it backs-up your apps and saved data, so if you ever need to restore or get a new device in the future etc... you can just easily restore from back-up. Also, some apps are quite large and will take longer to install on the device than if you did it on your comp through itunes. But to answer your question. Yes.
It took me a while to make peace with iTunes. Now we get along famously. It keeps all my media (well most media) organized neatly. No more haphazard folders of mp3s strewn about anymore. I wish it did a better job categorizing (and even subcategorizing) my iDevice apps. They are all just thrown into a pile called 'Mobile Applications.' Thanks be to the apple for ubiquitous search bars.
You may want to think about how you pay for your apps (unless you're only downloading free apps). Credit card? Or through some way that requires you to be on your computer to increase your iTunes balance? I'm not sure if you can enter Gift Card codes in the iTunes app on your device (Downloads tab, Redeem button), you might need iTunes on your computer for that.
I wouldn't mind it if it didn't install QuickTime into the System Tray. It bloats the system and there's no good reason for it. I can keep it from launching at start up, but every time I run QuickTime or iTunes it re-inserts itself for the next startup. It behaves like malware. So rather than sending the file to the Touch and running the installer there, it handles the installation on the computer and just copies the files and changes some configuration? That's something to consider. I imagine I'd be doing more free than paid, and needing the extra step to do paid apps would prevent impulse buying to some degree.
Yes you can, there is no big problem with that. However, like another guy said, iTunes backs up your purchases which is good, and I generally find it better to browse apps on the iTunes store on the computer. As for download time, It may take a bit longer, however the whole proccess of downloading and syncing usually takes longer than downloading it straight from the iPhone's app store.
Ha. I remember when I had a windows machine and I only wanted QuickTime. My complaints were very much the same, only the exact opposite. As for the unstoppable launch at startup, I don't remember having that problem at all. Are you sure you haven't missed something in the preferences?
I remember it involved hacking the registry. Not something I'm terribly eager to do, since invariably something goes very wrong with it.
You'll want iTunes in all honesty, for both occasional backups and firmware updates. Having said that though, I RARELY hook my iPhone up to a computer. And I've never used iTunes to buy or download anything, well I've used the iTunes app on my phone, but yeah . If I had to count I bet I've only connected my iPhone to a computer a handful of times since buying it in august, and never for purchases.
