The iPod touch proves for once and for all that Apple has all the marketing smarts we’ve long suspected it had.

At first glance, the latest top-of-the-line iPod boasts a design that is virtually identical to the much-hyped Apple iPhone (arriving in Australia this year), proving the old adage “when you’re onto a good thing, stick to it”.

But Apple hasn’t just jumped on the iPhone bandwagon. The iPod touch also incorporates a number of outstanding features which have quickly moved it to the top of many people’s wishlists. First and foremost, the touch has Wi-Fi built-in, and is the first iPod to have this feature.

You can surf the Web using the included Safari browser (though Wi-Fi connectivity is only 802.11b/g on the touch) and there’s also a a full version of the iTunes Music Store. This lets you buy songs when you’re out and about and load them straight onto your iPod.

I also love the YouTube application and the accelerometer, which moves the 3.5-inch widescreen from portrait to landscape, depending on what you’re viewing.

Click here to find offers on the iPod touch near you.

By Caroline Warnes