The iPod Touch is a media player from Apple that combines the music playing features of an iPod with a large touchscreen, internet access, and the ability to run applications in the same way as an iPhone. It's often thought of as "an iPhone, without the phone".

The iPod Touch was introduced in September 2007, with a second generation launched in September 2008, and a further updating of the range in September 2009.http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9772000-1.html>

The second generation iPod Touch had a slimmer design than the original, closer to that of the iPhone 3G, with external volume controls on the side of the device, and a built-in speaker.http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/09/09/live-apples-lets-rock-event/#more-40600 Live: Apple's Let's Rock Event]

The latest versions of the iPod Touch range, include an 8GB model with recommended retail price of $199, and 32GB and 64GB models at $299 and $399 respectively. New features included with this update include Bluetooth, and the two higher end models come with new earphones that have a built-in mic and remote control facility. These features allow those models to have voice recording and enable control of some basic features of the device through speech commands, such as the ability to say "Play artist Bob Dylan" to start playing tracks by that artist.

If you are looking to buy an iPod Touch cheaply, buying a refurbished one can be a good option. Read on to learn more about refurbished products, and how to buy a refurbished iPod Touch, and save yourself money on regular Apple prices.

People are sometimes worried about buying refurbished technology because they don’t understand exactly what “refurbished” means. A "refurbished product" can be an item that was sold to a customer who opened the box and returned it without ever using it, or an item that had minor cosmetic damage, or it can be an item that has been rebuilt by the manufacturing company to repair some problem.

It can also mean an older version of a product that was overstocked, and is still in its original packing, without ever having been sold..

About a fifth of consumer electronics products sold in the US are returned, and only about 5 percent of those actually had any serious problem. More than two-thirds of electronics returned to retailers work perfectly, were simply not what the customer had expected.http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/08/refurbished-e-1.html

Products that have been returned to the manufacturer whether with minor cosmetic problems or more serious technical issues are then restored fully to as-new working condition. They are re-inspected and repacked before being offered for sale at much less than regular retail price. Usually these refurbished products will be fully backed by warranty and will be exactly the same in looks and features to brand new products. Therefore they are often an excellent way to get an as-new product for a bargain price.

Refurbished products can usually be bought from three main sources. The first source is to get them direct from the manufacturer, in this case Apple. The second option is to look online in variety of internet retailers that often carry refurbished products. The last major option is to look for the product in so-called “buyout retailers that specialize in overstocked and refurbished items.

A good place to look for a refurbished iPod Touch is directly from Apple’s website. In the US, look for the Special Deals section of Apple’s website at www.store.apple.com, and browse around for the particular products that interest you. Remember, these offers come and go, so you may not find what you want first time, but should be prepared to go back to the site a few times to see what new deals have become available.

Outside of the US, you can easily find the local Apple site using Google or another search engine. Look around the site you discover the relevant sections, which may well have the same name as their US counterparts..

Once you have found the product you want, carefully check the product specifications to make sure that it is the model you expect with the features and specifications you need. To get the very best bargains, you should also be prepared to consider a different model than you first picked, to take advantage of the best deals that are available.

Before buying anything, make sure to check all warranty and return policy information. Ensure that you are getting a good deal, and in the event there is anything wrong when your refurbished iPod Touch arrives, you can get a refund or a replacement. Usually Apple offers very good warranties, and will probably offer a full one year warranty for a refurbished product, which will give you excellent peace of mind in case of any unexpected problems.

Online shopping is convenient and using the retailers mentioned below you have a good chance of finding excellent deals without even leaving home. Large online stores like eBay and Amazon frequenly sell refurbished items including all types of iPod and other Apple products. There are also some smaller companies who often carry refurbished electronics, including Overstock.com.

One thing to note is that these sites usually ship to US addresses only, and won’t normally ship to either PO boxes or overseas US military addresses such as APO/FPO addresses.

Just as when purchasing a refurbished product from Apple itself, carefully check exactly what model you're getting, and that you are getting everything you need. For a returned and refurbished product from some suppliers may sometimes come without the usual instruction manual. Also check the warranty detail and the returns policy. While these sites will likely be less generous in their terms than Apple, you should still have something like a 30 day period where you can get a replacement or a refund if you have a problem with your purchase.

Before making any online purchase, always do your homework, check the agreement materials and make sure you're getting the best deal.

You might also be able to find refurbished iPods at large, buyout retailers. These retailers often buy the overstock from large companies for very low prices, and in turn sell it to the publix at low cost. Many carry many kinds of refurbished electronics, including TVs, computers, media players and video game systems.

Some retailers that could be worth a look include refurbdepot.com, warehousedeals.com and the outlet stores of Crutchfield and Target.

As always before finalising any purchase make sure to check all the product details and specifications, and look over the warranties and return policies.