new iPod Shuffle

[Wraith]

In a great feat of innovation, the new iPod Shuffle moves the controls onto the earbud cord. So if you don't use earbuds/headphones made for the new Shuffle (or until someone releases a Shuffle headphone adapter), you can't control anything other than turning it on, in either shuffle or non-shuffled mode.

The new Shuffle does offer 4GB of space, priced at $79 (the 2nd gen 2GB was $69), and they added a feature that speaks the name of the currently-playing song.

Apple Doubles iPod Shuffle's Capacity, Adds New Features (DailyTech)

http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/

Apple is the new Taco Bell.

[Suave Peanut]

I just don't understand the iPod Shuffle.

For less, you can get a SanDisk Clip, which has a navigable screen. (And also features shuffle mode!)

[Sandman]

I like to have all of my music collection with me, not just 4GB of it....and I've only got 14GB left on my 120GB classic.

[Hexxagonal]

I agree with Suave Peanut... the non-Apple competitors to the shuffle product are so much better. $80 with no screen or radio?!?

[total]

Originally Posted by Suave Peanut

I just don't understand the iPod Shuffle.

For less, you can get a SanDisk Clip, which has a navigable screen. (And also features shuffle mode!)

But Steve Jobs personally blows his load on each and every one. That alone makes the device worth every penny.

Srsly tho the shuffle is for a very specific market. About the only reason I could see getting one would be for working out. You don't really care what comes up in your playlist then as you've most likely tailored your music for that specific activity. Unless of course this version is larger in size, which it appears to be. In that case I don't get it.

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by total

But Steve Jobs personally blows his load on each and every one. That alone makes the device worth every penny.

That explains why he's lost so much weight.

[biosc1]

Originally Posted by Suave Peanut

I just don't understand the iPod Shuffle.

For less, you can get a SanDisk Clip, which has a navigable screen. (And also features shuffle mode!)

It's made for people like my girlfriend. Born and bred on iTunes. Lots of DRM'ed songs (from before my time ). She can plug her Shuffle into the computer, sync it and go to the gym with a tiny device clipped to her arm.

[total]

Originally Posted by Grifter

That explains why he's lost so much weight.

Poor guy needs to start eating more Thai.

[biosc1]

Okay, just read a more in-depth preview of this device.

There are no controls on the device itself. All control is done through a remote on the included headphones. Headphones that we all know to suck. This is unfortunate and pretty much a deal-breaker for anyone that has their own headphones that they love.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by biosc1

Okay, just read a more in-depth preview of this device.

There are no controls on the device itself. All control is done through a remote on the included headphones. Headphones that we all know to suck. This is unfortunate and pretty much a deal-breaker for anyone that has their own headphones that they love.

I can live with the standard iPod headphones....but I wouldn't want the controls on the headphones because my headphones are prone to some kind of destruction thus rendering the device useless before I can get a replacement which you know will be expensive.

[Sandman]

There is apparently an adapter for using 3rd party headphones that has the remote functions on it.....fuck that shit.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by Hexxagonal

I agree with Suave Peanut... the non-Apple competitors to the shuffle product are so much better. $80 with no screen or radio?!?

I have a big problem with these... no/limited Mac support.

[Matthias]

Originally Posted by total

But Steve Jobs personally blows his load on each and every one. That alone makes the device worth every penny.

Srsly tho the shuffle is for a very specific market. About the only reason I could see getting one would be for working out. You don't really care what comes up in your playlist then as you've most likely tailored your music for that specific activity. Unless of course this version is larger in size, which it appears to be. In that case I don't get it.

The new shuffle is actually smaller than its predecessor; though it's very slightly longer, it's thinner and narrower.

Either way, I don't understand why they don't just sell the bloody thing with the adapter and a set of standard apple headphones. It'd be as easy/easier for them to manufacture because they're already tooled for their standard headphones, and people who love 3rd party headphones would be happy, at least to a degree.

[boratika]

Man, I laughed when I saw this. It reminded me of this:

Only that has one too many.

Apple are really pretty bent on ending buttons, aren't they?

Originally Posted by Suave Peanut

I just don't understand the iPod Shuffle.

For less, you can get a SanDisk Clip, which has a navigable screen. (And also features shuffle mode!)

Oh man, the Clip is really the gem of the Sansa line. The thing that blew me away about them was just how good they sound. So much better than any other DAP I've heard. It's ridiculous. And that that honor would go to such a cheap player. The other good thing about them is that the firmware is ground-up and not a variant of the one the other Sansa's have, so it isn't riddled with usability-killing bugs.

One thing people seem to dislike about them is that they are really light and I guess they feel flimsy, but the way I saw it was they have a really low terminal speed when you drop them and so are really hard to break by dropping. Though they're probably pretty susceptible to crushing.

The main problem is the capacity. If they just had an microSD slot it wouldn't be an issue (or mostly wouldn't be) but I guess they don't want them competing with their more expensive players. Of course it would help if their "better" players were actually better. If they revise them with an SD slot I'll buy one in heartbeat.

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

I have a big problem with these... no/limited Mac support.

You have perhaps been misinformed. They work with macs, just not with iTunes. The afore mentioned clip is an MSC device, which means when you plug it into your computer it just comes up as a mounted drive, like a usb flash drive would. You just copy the files you want on to it and when you detach it, it compiles a database of everything on it.

While you can't use iTunes to put your music on it, there's plenty of other media players that you can use instead, that will handle that for you (and impr0t your library from iTunes.)

The only thing to note is to make sure if you ever connect it to a windows computer that it is set to MSC mode and not MTP. (which I'd recommend anyway to any windows user.)

Originally Posted by Matthias

Either way, I don't understand why they don't just sell the bloody thing with the adapter and a set of standard apple headphones. It'd be as easy/easier for them to manufacture because they're already tooled for their standard headphones, and people who love 3rd party headphones would be happy, at least to a degree.

This is where I cynically rub my thumb against my fore and middle finger. Come on, as a gamer you should be used to accessory gouging by now. Imagine how high the mark up on those things will be.

[Wilkz07]

didn't they just make the shuffle 'better' when they turned it into that little square thing with a dial?

get a zune.

[Sandman]

you know what this thing reminds me of? a lighter

I've thought of a use for this too....I could use it to keep my iTunes "recently added" playlist on it's own player.

[MagGnome]

I don't see the point of this new Shuffle. There's no clip, so where would I put the damn thing? It's almost too small to go into a pocket.

Really, this seems like something they released just because they could. It doesn't fill any market gap that I can think of.

[axion]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

I don't see the point of this new Shuffle. There's no clip, so where would I put the damn thing? It's almost too small to go into a pocket.

Really, this seems like something they released just because they could. It doesn't fill any market gap that I can think of.

Psst, there's a clip on the back.

[Whunpo]

Does anyone think that theres a point where a gadget becomes too small? I thought that the old shuffles were pushing it, but when you move controls off of the device I think you've crossed the line.
Not to mention 4GB for $79 is absolutely preposterous.