I'm not an Apple fan.

I have never been a fan of Steve Jobs or his advertising. His Mac-PC ads are so irritating that I really wish they would end up using the one I have in mind (where the Mac character is dressed as a bum holding a sign saying "Will work for a MacBook Air" due to the SSD version originally costing over $3,000.)

I had more hate towards Apple when they announced the iPhone, and like every other top of the line phone, it had to be put on a GSM network. In this case, AT&T. What about people like me who are on other carriers? Are they unable to enjoy the same features that AT&T owners are enjoying? Even more now since the iPhone 3G was released?

Thankfully back in September there was a chance. When the iPod touch was released I was interested in it and ended up purchasing one.

Despite my opinion of Macs, I was hooked. I even made the purchase for the 1.1 software upgrade to turn my iPod into a pseudo-PDA, even though I also had a Sprint smartphone.

But the iPhone 3G launch took the use of my iPod even further. After waiting all day for Apple to get their software up and running (I guess we can thank all the 3G activations for that) I witnessed first hand the 2.0 Software Update, and with it a little addition called the App Store. Now while I found some PDA style applications that I could easily use (the amazing MLB At-Bat comes to mind,) I also decided to try a few games out.

Wait a minute. My iPod"a GAMING CONSOLE? Could that be even possible?

Apparently so. Wanting to get right to the heart of the apps, I first downloaded Super Monkey Ball. To show off the features of the iPhone and iTouch, the game is controlled entirely with the accelerometer, and much to my surprise it worked out pretty well. Maybe a bit too good, because I found the control to be a little too sensitive. Hopefully an update will come soon that will allow the sensitivity to be adjusted. Once that is made, then it truly will be the iPod's killer app.

Bejeweled 2 was also on my purchase list. While I already played it on my previous Pocket PC, I really enjoyed playing it on my iPod, even though it was limited to only two gameplay modes: classic and timed. My main disappointment, however came in the soundtrack, which was butchered into pieces compared to the original score. Again, making an update should fix it.

But the game that really has taking over my time, and I have my GamerGeeks co-host to thank for telling me about it, is called Aurora Feint.

What might look like a simple puzzle game with a structure similar to Puzzle Quest actually has characters that can be leveled up and teamed up with others online.

Now I know I have a deep hatred of MMOs, and that will never change, but the way Aurora Feint plays, I might end up making it an exception to my steadfast rule. Imagine me an MMO gamer.

I have to admit, my opinion of Macs will never change, and even those I know and work with will never change that, but I am hooked on my iPod touch, and from what I've seen so far with the App Store, my opinion on Apple in generally might just lighten up a bit. Just don't expect me to convert full circle any time soon.

And yes, even though the price went down, that MacBook Air is still way too expensive.

Currently Playing: Aurora Feint (iPod Touch,) Geometry Wars 2 (X360)

Waiting For: Soul Calibur IV (X360 with Yoda,) Madden 09 20th Annivesary (X360)