Ahahahahahah. WOW. Between the confusion of 2GB Shuffles, Chundles's engraving suggestions and Snowy_River's picture, this thread has officially made my day.
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2G iPod Shuffle In Stores On Friday
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I wonder if the Shuffle will ever have more than 2 gigabytes. It's form factor seems to limit it, not because there'll never 2 gigabyte storage that small (there will), but because you can't select songs. I wonder how useful a 10 gig Shuffle would be. (Maybe it would be useful... since I don't listen to music on "shuffle" very often, it doesn't appeal to me, so maybe I'm missing something.)
But on the other hand, what can Apple do? They won't be able to make it much smaller (still needs controls and headphone jack).
That leaves them with the only option being to make it cheaper.
Feature-wise, I guess wireless syncing, as it gets smaller the dock is going to be smaller and smaller (the current version looks flimsy, like it wouldn't stand up or something.) But there's not much you can do with something with no screen.
They have to do one (or more) of the following:
What do you guys think?
But on the other hand, what can Apple do? They won't be able to make it much smaller (still needs controls and headphone jack).
That leaves them with the only option being to make it cheaper.
Feature-wise, I guess wireless syncing, as it gets smaller the dock is going to be smaller and smaller (the current version looks flimsy, like it wouldn't stand up or something.) But there's not much you can do with something with no screen.
They have to do one (or more) of the following:
- More storage
- Smaller
- Less expensive
What do you guys think?
I bet the next revision of the shuffle will be 2GB - and will remain the same form factor (if this proves popular). There currently are FLASH chips in 2GB capacity that would fit right into the new shuffle. The catch is the price... Market value on smaller 2GB chips is about 5X the price of 1GB chips right now. In other words, Apple could release a 2GB version of the G2 Shuffle, it would just cost about another $100 and there probably isn't sufficeint production yield of 2GB chips yet. But in it's new/current form, the small size and ~240 song capacity for about $80 makes it a real winner.
I think "1" gig is more than enough.
This iPod is meant to play a set of songs like a playlist. It is not meant for you to keep your entire library of songs.
That's why it is called an iPod Shuffle
...
This iPod is meant to play a set of songs like a playlist. It is not meant for you to keep your entire library of songs.
That's why it is called an iPod Shuffle
...
Oups, you're right, my mistake. I meant to say abbreviation, not acronym. Thanks.
I think that they will limit the capacity to the amount of songs ( + - a few) that can be played on a single charge.
This post answers my question. So it would be reasonable that one year from now a 3G shuffle could be 2 gigglebytes (reduces confusion
)I would bet the Shuffle form factor would stay the same and the Nano, same thing. It is the 5G iPod which I think might see a form factor revision "next". I would think the 2G/3G Shuffle software could be upgraded fairly easily to have a doubletap change playlists as well.
Rocketman
people always want more.
but do the math... 240 songs... average time per song 3 minutes
240 x 3 = 720 minutes / 60 = 12 hours current shuffle battery time
next year we might see a 2GB shuffle with 24 hour battery time
This post answers my question. So it would be reasonable that one year from now a 3G shuffle could be 2 gigglebytes (reduces confusion
Rocketman
So, 3G = 2GB? OK, Got it!
The only reason I could see for having the Shuffle larger then 1GB would be for people like me who have higher bit rates and still want a fair number of songs on it. I sample at MP3 320Kb with VBR on high. With my 60GB (no, friends, that is not the 60th generation iPod, but rather 60 gigabytes), I have lots of room for my large files.
Good point... I hadn't considered the battery time. By this time next year, the memory chips will definitely be a lot cheaper so 2G (or more) will be easily do-able in something as small as the Shuffle for a decent price. Hopefully the battery life can be improved as well. Not much use being able to store 36 hours of music and not being able to listen to it.
Oh, great, now we've got someone referring to '2G' as 2 gigabytes. The confusion is just going to grow!!!
Then definitely steer cleer of the 60GB iPod.
Seriously, wanting a correlation between total song time and single-session battery life is a bit off IMO.
Everybody WANTS it....but reality says otherwise.
Agreed!!! I'd say, the max battery life required is the number of waking hours in a day. Of course, that assumes you listen for the entire day including, eating, showers, bathroom time...
I'd tend to think that 12 hours is enough with a recharge at night. Oooooooooh but what about people who travel or backpack for a long trip without a charging opportunity. Maybe they need more charge time? Does anyone listen to headphones while hiking? I'd want to keep a listen out for bears (Stephen Colbert has set me straight as to the danger of bears!).
The battery life point is a good one. I hadn't thought of that (battery life has never affected me since I charge up whenever I get home). They could increase the battery life for the next revisions. So battery life and storage.
And I guess increased storage could be used as a USB key. I'd like to see them get rid of the dock and go back to the Shuffle plugging right into your USB port. (I think this used to be the case? Never owned a Shuffle.) So useful for file storage. In that case, basically any size Shuffle could be useful.
And I guess increased storage could be used as a USB key. I'd like to see them get rid of the dock and go back to the Shuffle plugging right into your USB port. (I think this used to be the case? Never owned a Shuffle.) So useful for file storage. In that case, basically any size Shuffle could be useful.
maybe a 3rd party company will design a cable/adaptor/thing that you can conveniently carry with the shuffle to use as a flash drive without the need of the dock
out of the box the 2gen shuffle capabilities as a flash drive are almost useless IMO
They do have extra power packs for the various iPods. While they aren't out for the new Shuffle yet, I have little doubt that they will be coming. Also, I wouldn't be too surprised to find that it wasn't too difficult to rig something up on your own, if you're at least a little bit tech savvy.
The 2gen form factor does not lend itself to a direction connection via USB due to the shape of it. The 1gen shuffle had problems with this too which prompted the 1gen dock. I recall that the 1gen could not fit into the USB ports on the eMac.
And for that matter, it looks to me that the 2gen shuffle is so thin that it could not accommodate the USB connector anyway.
Yes, a non-dock cable for the 2gen shuffle to USB would be the ticket. Heck, this is what Apple should have included with it instead of the itty-bitty docklet.
I agree - I'd want the shuffle for it's thumb drive ability in addition to music player. And for that reason, a 2GB size would be very nice indeed!
Does anyone listen to headphones while hiking? I'd want to keep a listen out for bears (Stephen Colbert has set me straight as to the danger of bears!).
4 years ago I hiked the Camino de Santiago, an old pilgrimage route that goes across Spain (850 km)
I had a diskman at the time and used for about 5 minutes during the walk.
I found that it ruined the whole experience.
sometimes the best music is absolute silence