jhomayne said:
Yep there were loads on ebay the other day - They could only have come from one place - I think later in the day they started to limit to 10 per person.
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iPod Shuffle Released
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Yep there were loads on ebay the other day - They could only have come from one place - I think later in the day they started to limit to 10 per person.
Doctor Q, you offer some interesting suggestions. I'm not crazy about the notion of requiring multiple button presses, as that makes the UI even more opaque, although I suppose it could be acceptable. And I think that providing common storage for digital voice information across all songs that have, for example, the same artist or album, might require a much fancier file system than the shuffle seems to have (it looks like it just keeps order information for the song files) -- instead of just reading the ID tags, you'd have to essentially build in a mini-database, which might again be beyond what one can do for $99.
But, even presuming these objections can be overcome, I'm still not convinced that an audio interface would be useful. A visual display, even single line display, would let you search for songs while one is still playing -- with an audio UI, you would have to stop playing what you are listening to to navigate the UI, making it almost useless for navigation. In the end, all a voice UI would tell you is presumably what you'd find out after listening to 5 or 10 seconds of the song anyway, namely, what song it is.
And adding a visual display is also problematic. One issue I have yet to see raised is how such a display would be controlled. With the iPod scrollwheel, one can rapidly search through large amounts of information while a song is playing (e.g., look at the songs on other albums, set up on-the-go playlists, etc.). But this only works because the scrollwheel provides essentially another UI control, beyond the Play/Pause, FF/Rev, and separable from the volume control. The iPod shuffle doesn't have an equivalent extra control that could be used for scrolling through the display (and I am willing to bet that, apart from size limitations, scrollwheels just cost too much to put into a $99 player). All the buttons on the shuffle are active when a song is playing -- there simply would be no way the current shuffle could control a display, of whatever size, while a song is on. That's a real limit to the utility of a visual display.
(If anyone can pass along how players similar to the shuffle control their displays, I would certainly be interested.)
But, even presuming these objections can be overcome, I'm still not convinced that an audio interface would be useful. A visual display, even single line display, would let you search for songs while one is still playing -- with an audio UI, you would have to stop playing what you are listening to to navigate the UI, making it almost useless for navigation. In the end, all a voice UI would tell you is presumably what you'd find out after listening to 5 or 10 seconds of the song anyway, namely, what song it is.
And adding a visual display is also problematic. One issue I have yet to see raised is how such a display would be controlled. With the iPod scrollwheel, one can rapidly search through large amounts of information while a song is playing (e.g., look at the songs on other albums, set up on-the-go playlists, etc.). But this only works because the scrollwheel provides essentially another UI control, beyond the Play/Pause, FF/Rev, and separable from the volume control. The iPod shuffle doesn't have an equivalent extra control that could be used for scrolling through the display (and I am willing to bet that, apart from size limitations, scrollwheels just cost too much to put into a $99 player). All the buttons on the shuffle are active when a song is playing -- there simply would be no way the current shuffle could control a display, of whatever size, while a song is on. That's a real limit to the utility of a visual display.
(If anyone can pass along how players similar to the shuffle control their displays, I would certainly be interested.)
belt clip?
I don't know about anybody else, but the lanyard isn't going to cut it for me. I really don't want the thing hanging around my neck.
I've ordered the 1 gig model for 2 primary purposes:
1. Using in the gym. Ideally, the thing would have a cheap 12 cent belt clip that would slide on so I could just attach it to my waistband of my shorts. Sometimes my workout shorts don't have pockets and even when they do, I'd still rather have the thing cliped somewhere.
2. Using while cycling. (On the rails to trails ONLY, where I don't have to listen for cars, sirens, horns, etc.) In this case it will be in one of the three rear pockets that almost all cycling jerseys have. A clip isn't 100% necessary here, but it would be nice.
Apple's own accessories seem to only include the armband which I don't care for personally and also another lanyard variant. Here's hoping some third parties introduce something- but the profit might not be there to encourage them. It just isn't necessary or worth it to buy a 30 dollar case for this thing like you would for a 4g iPod. Literally, a 12 cent belt clip would have done it for me.
Also, so many people are failing to grasp the wide array of reasons and ways people listen to music. I've used my trusty Rio 500 for years in the two ways mentioned above and never even really used the screen. It was just something else to get broken if I dropped it or crashed. I go to the gym to work out, not to hunt around for music using a fancy clickwheel!
I don't know about anybody else, but the lanyard isn't going to cut it for me. I really don't want the thing hanging around my neck.
I've ordered the 1 gig model for 2 primary purposes:
1. Using in the gym. Ideally, the thing would have a cheap 12 cent belt clip that would slide on so I could just attach it to my waistband of my shorts. Sometimes my workout shorts don't have pockets and even when they do, I'd still rather have the thing cliped somewhere.
2. Using while cycling. (On the rails to trails ONLY, where I don't have to listen for cars, sirens, horns, etc.) In this case it will be in one of the three rear pockets that almost all cycling jerseys have. A clip isn't 100% necessary here, but it would be nice.
Apple's own accessories seem to only include the armband which I don't care for personally and also another lanyard variant. Here's hoping some third parties introduce something- but the profit might not be there to encourage them. It just isn't necessary or worth it to buy a 30 dollar case for this thing like you would for a 4g iPod. Literally, a 12 cent belt clip would have done it for me.
Also, so many people are failing to grasp the wide array of reasons and ways people listen to music. I've used my trusty Rio 500 for years in the two ways mentioned above and never even really used the screen. It was just something else to get broken if I dropped it or crashed. I go to the gym to work out, not to hunt around for music using a fancy clickwheel!
James Craner said:
There's no doubt this will affect iPod mini sales. For better or worse, has yet to be seen. I could see businesses buying these shuffles in bulk and giving them away to employees as gifts. Corporate purchases make up quite a large share of iPod pie.
RATS!
Just got back from one of our local Apple stores...They had just opened up a shipment but all were 512's...I asked about the 1 GB model and the clerk said sometime next week...Blasted! Why couldn't they ship some of both at the same time?
Oh well...I shall wait until next week
Just got back from one of our local Apple stores...They had just opened up a shipment but all were 512's...I asked about the 1 GB model and the clerk said sometime next week...Blasted! Why couldn't they ship some of both at the same time?
Oh well...I shall wait until next week
James Craner said:
The story has been updated. It appears now that they only sold 2,000 in the first 4 hours.
3Memos said:We dont have Apple retail stores in our country, so I am hoping my local mac reseller has them in stock now, or if Apple is withholding supplies exclusively for the Apple retail stores. I'm heading down to my local store now.
None to be found.
They said in a couple of weeks. 3Memos said:None to be found.
You guys will have yours in a couple of weeks, whereas I have to wait for it to be shipped to a friend's home in the US, wait until they send it to me in Mexico and then wait until I get it...
Sigh
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Max - There is a pretty comprehensive answer to your question in this review:
http://playlistmag.com/weblogs/todayatplaylist/2005/01/ipodshufffirst/index.php
max4320 said:
Max - There is a pretty comprehensive answer to your question in this review:
http://playlistmag.com/weblogs/todayatplaylist/2005/01/ipodshufffirst/index.php
shuffle en route
Mine is on its way already dispite their projected 2-3 week lag. Horray! On the down side, I arranged for my 20GB 4G to be sent back today for its crap battery (6hrs at best).
>Your order has been dispatched and will be delivered to your shipping address. Please keep this email as it contains your reference number XXX and delivery number. Should you have any queries please quote these reference numbers.
The expected delivery time for your order is 2 - 3 days.
Mine is on its way already dispite their projected 2-3 week lag. Horray! On the down side, I arranged for my 20GB 4G to be sent back today for its crap battery (6hrs at best).
>Your order has been dispatched and will be delivered to your shipping address. Please keep this email as it contains your reference number XXX and delivery number. Should you have any queries please quote these reference numbers.
The expected delivery time for your order is 2 - 3 days.
jung_offender said:
I just got shipment notification, too, after ordering a 512 right after last Tuesday's keynote... looks like this Tuesday will be gadget day...
max4320 said:
didn't read through all the posts so don't know if this has been linked yet, but playlist mag has info on this. there's an option for the ipod shuffle that will automatically convert higher bitrate files into 128 aac for the ipod shuffle while retaining the original file. exactly what you wanted!
http://playlistmag.com/weblogs/todayatplaylist/2005/01/ipodshufffirst/index.php
OOPS, i see that it's posted just a few posts above this...sorry for the extraneous post.
All I have to say is....
Who pissed in your corn flakes
Go buy what you want...the rest of will do the same, if you want a screen go buy an iPod or other player with a screen.
Quite frankly I find it comical that you would bother complaining about the lack of screen. Get real.
Furthermore I am sure even if it had a screen the likes of people like yourself would complain. You always do
Smile it can only make you feel better
Who pissed in your corn flakes
Go buy what you want...the rest of will do the same, if you want a screen go buy an iPod or other player with a screen.
Quite frankly I find it comical that you would bother complaining about the lack of screen. Get real.
Furthermore I am sure even if it had a screen the likes of people like yourself would complain. You always do
Smile it can only make you feel better
rogo said:
Some questions answered...
Picked up a 512 MB shuffle today at the Somerset Apple Store in Troy, MI. They only had 3 available, and no 1 GB until Sat. 1/22. I haven't used an iPod or iPod mini before, for various reasons.
Hopefully I can help and answer some questions people have, and share some of my initial thoughts.
Deefuzz, they do come with 2 white Apple stickers.
Doctor Q, the lanyard cap and USB cap are quite secure. You wouldn't have to worry about it flying off -- you have to give it a pretty solid pull.
rog, these should work with any USB port on a Mac or PC, according to the article referred to a few posts earlier, they are MS-DOS formatted, so they'll work on both systems, presumably Linux as well. If you wanted to import a new CD on a PC and then transfer it to a Mac, you could make storage space on the shuffle and store the files on there as well as putting the songs on the "iPod partition." Then you could listen to them on the way home and easily transfer them to your Mac without re-importing from CD.
There doesn't appear to be many options for Autofill -- only which playlist/library to fill from, whether to replace all songs, to choose songs randomly (as opposed to in order??), and to choose higher rated songs more often. My idea was to pre-make playlists for filling the shuffle. Say you wanted dance songs for working out, you could make a playlist with songs from that genre and then autofill from that playlist.
I don't have an iPod or iPod mini to compare to, but the sound quality and volume levels are fantastic. And you can certainly fast forward/reverse by holding down the skip buttons.
Maybe someone can answer this for me: since iPod shuffles have a true OFF position, and no internal clock or anything like that, would I be correct in assuming there is no power trickle like iPods and iPod minis?
Hope this helps answer a few questions. Any more, feel free to ask and I'll try my best to answer -- I haven't had too much time to play with it yet.
Picked up a 512 MB shuffle today at the Somerset Apple Store in Troy, MI. They only had 3 available, and no 1 GB until Sat. 1/22. I haven't used an iPod or iPod mini before, for various reasons.
Hopefully I can help and answer some questions people have, and share some of my initial thoughts.
Deefuzz, they do come with 2 white Apple stickers.
Doctor Q, the lanyard cap and USB cap are quite secure. You wouldn't have to worry about it flying off -- you have to give it a pretty solid pull.
rog, these should work with any USB port on a Mac or PC, according to the article referred to a few posts earlier, they are MS-DOS formatted, so they'll work on both systems, presumably Linux as well. If you wanted to import a new CD on a PC and then transfer it to a Mac, you could make storage space on the shuffle and store the files on there as well as putting the songs on the "iPod partition." Then you could listen to them on the way home and easily transfer them to your Mac without re-importing from CD.
There doesn't appear to be many options for Autofill -- only which playlist/library to fill from, whether to replace all songs, to choose songs randomly (as opposed to in order??), and to choose higher rated songs more often. My idea was to pre-make playlists for filling the shuffle. Say you wanted dance songs for working out, you could make a playlist with songs from that genre and then autofill from that playlist.
I don't have an iPod or iPod mini to compare to, but the sound quality and volume levels are fantastic. And you can certainly fast forward/reverse by holding down the skip buttons.
Maybe someone can answer this for me: since iPod shuffles have a true OFF position, and no internal clock or anything like that, would I be correct in assuming there is no power trickle like iPods and iPod minis?
Hope this helps answer a few questions. Any more, feel free to ask and I'll try my best to answer -- I haven't had too much time to play with it yet.
I went into a hifi store today and looked at the old iPods. I asked about the shuffle and the guy had no clue.... so I told him a bit about it.
His response was that it was far better to have ALL your music available to you... and that it's too hard to update what's on your player all the time.
I see his point, but if iTunes fills it randomly from a playlist then I'll be happy. My 4+5 star songs list is just under 1GB which is 13 hours (usually at 192kbps), and I want it for my train trip in and out.
I used to listen to my minidisc or tapes and fast forward to the next song if I didn't want to listen to a song - the iPod Shuffle allows for that so that's good enough for me. I think my main qualm is that I'd like to have 2 or 3 different playlists to choose from, each with a few hours of random music from those lists.
His response was that it was far better to have ALL your music available to you... and that it's too hard to update what's on your player all the time.
I see his point, but if iTunes fills it randomly from a playlist then I'll be happy. My 4+5 star songs list is just under 1GB which is 13 hours (usually at 192kbps), and I want it for my train trip in and out.
I used to listen to my minidisc or tapes and fast forward to the next song if I didn't want to listen to a song - the iPod Shuffle allows for that so that's good enough for me. I think my main qualm is that I'd like to have 2 or 3 different playlists to choose from, each with a few hours of random music from those lists.
I'm gonna do the shuffle......
I already own a 20 Gig iPod clickwheel model but I will pick up a iPod shuffle simply for reason that I can take it to the gym in the mornings instead of my iPod.
I like the fact that it's lighter and it hangs around your neck....it won't get in the way....and who the hell has time to scroll through a screen while working out? NOT ME. And I certainly won't be distracted anymore by thoughts of dropping my iPod on the floor, or risk it getting stolen (I've noticed many eyes on my iPod...hehee) The lightweight iPod shuffle around the neck is a perfect solution for me.
Since my daily workout is an hour, I will fill it with enough songs for that hour, give and take....create a playlist and import it into the iPod shuffle, if I like the playlist, I'll keep it for the next day, if not, I'll import a new one.
I think it's genius!
I already own a 20 Gig iPod clickwheel model but I will pick up a iPod shuffle simply for reason that I can take it to the gym in the mornings instead of my iPod.
I like the fact that it's lighter and it hangs around your neck....it won't get in the way....and who the hell has time to scroll through a screen while working out? NOT ME. And I certainly won't be distracted anymore by thoughts of dropping my iPod on the floor, or risk it getting stolen (I've noticed many eyes on my iPod...hehee) The lightweight iPod shuffle around the neck is a perfect solution for me.
Since my daily workout is an hour, I will fill it with enough songs for that hour, give and take....create a playlist and import it into the iPod shuffle, if I like the playlist, I'll keep it for the next day, if not, I'll import a new one.
I think it's genius!
restless~native said:
I, as well, will be getting an iPod shuffle for the same reasons. The only thing I encounter during running on the tread mill is the fact that sometimes, my hands will get in the way of the cords hanging down my chest. I usually put them under my shirt so the cords are out of the way. There must be a way to clip the shuffle to my waist my working the treadmill.
I'm debating whether or not I should buy my 1gig from the online store rather than waiting for it to appear in the Apple Store at Ala Moana. I really want another cool white bag from retail. What to do...