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Apple Releases Smaller 4GB iPod Shuffle in Black and Silver
- Thread starter MacRumors
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The 2nd generation originally only came out in silver, then the other colors came out later. The same thing will happen here. It's marketing, get some people in early, then give them new color options to stir a second wave of buyers, some originally buyers may even buy a second or replacement...
The Apple in-ear headphones with remote works with the Shuffle, so you can get decent speakers for the Shuffle right now if you want to.
I'll bet there is a new version of iTunes about to launch and it uses the built-in speech synthesis on the host PC to generate audio tags that get synced across to the Shuffle. I don't think the Shuffle itself is doing text to speech.
I'm not convinced by this new Shuffle. It's got form, but I think it may lack function. Like many others in this thread, I use aftermarket headphones (the Apple earphones fall out when running) so this device would be useless for me. I'll stick with my 2nd gen for now.
Shall I start the flame wars about the price in the UK?
£59?! That's $81.62 USD!!! And you have to add sales tax onto the USD price of $79, which makes it... oh, more than $81...
£59?! That's $81.62 USD!!! And you have to add sales tax onto the USD price of $79, which makes it... oh, more than $81...
Meh, I still prefer the last shuffle incarnation, the click wheel on the front was great and gave it some personality.
Aha! Yes that would explain it as well as being a clever way to keep processing power requirements down for the device itself. Still, people will be able to tell just by listening to your Shuffle whether you are a Mac or PC user!
I guess I won't be upgrading my shuffle any time soon... I would prefer not to be stuck with the least comfortable, least reliable set of headphones that I have ever used. For those of us who value our listening experience and the ability to choose we will surely not be buying this shuffle.
I think you're forgetting about R&D costs. Flash drives have been invented and perfected years ago. As you may have noticed they haven't changed at all in the last 5-6 years - other then obviously getting larger in capacity. All that changes these days with them is the case design...
Alternatively you can think of it this way... Why does a BMW cost 5x more then a Ford when it gets you from point A to point B just as well. RIP-OFF!!?!!!11!!
Apple's PR Page said:Introducing the new iPod Yocto...
...impossibly small. Seriously.
Apple's getting worse at hiding things on their website...
Lame.
Another proprietary USB cable = fail.
Can't control iPod shuffle without crApple headphones = fail.
Voice Over is not new, it's already on the iPod nano = marketing BS fail.
£59 in the UK = bag of hurt pricing fail.
The Onion had inside information on this one
Another proprietary USB cable = fail.
Can't control iPod shuffle without crApple headphones = fail.
Voice Over is not new, it's already on the iPod nano = marketing BS fail.
£59 in the UK = bag of hurt pricing fail.
The Onion had inside information on this one
Taking the buttons off isn't a bad design choice. I like it. You can shove the shuffle in your backback, pocket, etc. and control from a more convenient place.
The bonehead move was not making the controller a separate dongle. In fact, I think it would have been a better move for Apple to just include a dongle and no headphones, kinda like the Mac mini w/ no kb or mouse. Everyone has a set of headphone lying around by now.
Not impressed
Sorry, but isn't this a step back?? More memory, fantastic... but now you are locked in to having Apple's crappy white headphones... also, what use is Voice Over when you are listening to the song (surely most of us recognize the song anyway)
I like the use of voice over for playlists... but it would get incredibly annoying if you actually wanted to navigate 1000 songs on a shuffle... In addition, you can't repeat songs (unless I'm mistaken?).
Sorry, but isn't this a step back?? More memory, fantastic... but now you are locked in to having Apple's crappy white headphones... also, what use is Voice Over when you are listening to the song (surely most of us recognize the song anyway)
I like the use of voice over for playlists... but it would get incredibly annoying if you actually wanted to navigate 1000 songs on a shuffle... In addition, you can't repeat songs (unless I'm mistaken?).
I suspect a large percentage of Shuffle users use them for exercising and have to use special earphones that clip on to the ear (or have a bar across the top).
Not sure wtf is up with Apple this year. 1st disappointing iMac updates, now a puzzling Shuffle upgrade.
I think they use that point to great effect in the guided tour to gently diss Windows for having crappier sounding TTS. Just another "this is why Macs are better" kind of thing.
seems to be some confusion as to why apple took all control from the device and put it on headphones...
i know the shuffle isnt just used for working out, BUT,
running, biking, anything involving moving....it is nearly impossible to easily change songs, change volumes etc. on the device. Yes, its possible, but its not easy. Having the functions on the cord will make it alot easier to just raise your hand and feel for the right place to change song...etc..
and i think its clear apple is marketing this to people who: exercise, are busy on the go and cant play around with the actual device (leave it in their pocket or purse). this is not geared for someone at home reading a book with the actual device in their hand..
i know the shuffle isnt just used for working out, BUT,
running, biking, anything involving moving....it is nearly impossible to easily change songs, change volumes etc. on the device. Yes, its possible, but its not easy. Having the functions on the cord will make it alot easier to just raise your hand and feel for the right place to change song...etc..
and i think its clear apple is marketing this to people who: exercise, are busy on the go and cant play around with the actual device (leave it in their pocket or purse). this is not geared for someone at home reading a book with the actual device in their hand..
Only if your kids have ears the size of our current President! Otherwise they will not fit. They fit like garbage in most peoples ears anyway. Just another way for Apple to sell you an upgrade or an adapter to use other headphones. What a serious shame - I hope Apple can remove their head from their backside and stop thinking everyone is concerned about size at the expense of functionality. Voice over the song? Really? My Sirius S100 has that feature and after 3-minutes of that in my ear I turned it off - it was terrible!
D
Why? I use a third party-set of headphones (Sennheiser) for my iPhone and control the iPod just fine. I can click, double click, triple click all work fine. Why couldn't you do that with the new shuffle?
Headphones? Whatever!
Hi, I like to use my expensive headphones when listening to my music. However, I use those expensive headphones, when jacked into my Touch, or my stereo, or my computer. The shuffle has a purpose, and I can tell you, when riding my bike with my helmet on, I don't use my expensive headphones. The apple ones, with the remote built in to stop me fumbling will work peachy. Don't get me wrong, you should be able to have choice right down to ice-cream with meat, but I have a feeling, these will sell well. They will meet the life style requirements of many more than those that are displeased with the lack of choice.
Hi, I like to use my expensive headphones when listening to my music. However, I use those expensive headphones, when jacked into my Touch, or my stereo, or my computer. The shuffle has a purpose, and I can tell you, when riding my bike with my helmet on, I don't use my expensive headphones. The apple ones, with the remote built in to stop me fumbling will work peachy. Don't get me wrong, you should be able to have choice right down to ice-cream with meat, but I have a feeling, these will sell well. They will meet the life style requirements of many more than those that are displeased with the lack of choice.
Personally, I feel it is stupid to include the controls on the headphone cord. Obviously, that seriously reduces the ability to use third party headphones. I cannot use the stock headphones at all. They just do not stay in my ears enough to sound good. It also makes it difficult if one wants to hook the shuffle up to a car or home stereo via the headphone jack. Maybe they will come out with an adapter cord, but that's just another cord to keep track of and it probably will add more weight to the headphone cord. The previous design was really great. It's like Apple just redesigns some products simply for the sake of redesigning them. There really wasn't a reason to change the existing shuffle design. All they needed to do was add the extra storage and voice over capability and it would have been great. The controls were pretty much ideal on the existing shuffle.
iPod nano are THE iPods for running since they support Nike+, as does the iPod touch. I agree, though, that requiring the Apple headphones seriously restricts the friendliness of the device. It would've been nice for an adapter cable, at least.