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iPod Shuffle Released

USB2 is backwards compatible with USB 1.x

Having USB port makes sense - more PCs having USB than firewire.. Apple needed to get the most widely used connection from iPod <-> machine ; thus USB connectivity.

Supporting FW as well as USB would hike up the price. Apple needed to keep this as cheap as possible. Supporting FW alone would mean PC users spending more money on buying a FW card if required.

NatronB said:
Yea! Like me!

I'm a little confused, nothing from the keynote or Apple's website suggests to me that this guy is USB2 only. I think we'd all agree that moving a gigs worth of music over USB would be time consuming, but it's certainly possible.

Is there such thing as a Firewire->USB2 adapter?

What's the deal?

-Nate
Click to expand...
 
NatronB said:
Yea! Like me!

I'm a little confused, nothing from the keynote or Apple's website suggests to me that this guy is USB2 only. I think we'd all agree that moving a gigs worth of music over USB would be time consuming, but it's certainly possible.

Is there such thing as a Firewire->USB2 adapter?

What's the deal?

-Nate
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not saying it isn't possible, because it definitely is -- just that they're leaving out a (presumably significant) segment of the user base that would really, really much prefer to have a FireWire dock. The iPod started out as FireWire-only, we had grown to expect Apple accessories to have FireWire, so it will be a little strange to be made to feel "inferior" because you have only FireWire and not USB 2.0.

Not sure about the adapter. My guess is that one exists but isn't incredibly cheap.
 
Stella said:
Supporting FW as well as USB would hike up the price.
Click to expand...

As I said, making the iPod itself USB-only makes sense ... I'm just wondering about the lack of an optional (i.e., sold separately) FireWire dock which would presumably have no effect on the price of the actual iPod Shuffle. My guess is that it will become available eventually, but right now the uncertainty is kind of confusing.
 
dloomer said:
Yeah, I'm not saying it isn't possible, because it definitely is -- just that they're leaving out a (presumably significant) segment of the user base that would really, really much prefer to have a FireWire dock. The iPod started out as FireWire-only, we had grown to expect Apple accessories to have FireWire, so it will be a little strange to be made to feel "inferior" because you have only FireWire and not USB 2.0.

Not sure about the adapter. My guess is that one exists but isn't incredibly cheap.
Click to expand...


Ohhhh Ahhhhh, i spare 5 minutes to copy a gig of music over. Can u? LOLZ.
 
Dont' mind no display, like the size, battery life, and storage size, but I hope that someone writes a hack that will allow it to download and play *in order* songs from an iTunes playlist so if you want a specific structure for the day you can have it. For some of us who also listen to classical music (multi-movement works) the ability to keep those movements in order would be helpful--so Mozart doesn't get shuffled with Schwanter. (though that might be interesting)
 
kirk26 said:
Ohhhh Ahhhhh, i spare 5 minutes to copy a gig of music over. Can u? LOLZ.
Click to expand...

Hey if that's true, then I take it all back. But it seemed to me that it would take more than that over USB 1.0, which is famously slow as molasses.
 
Excellent. I called the local apple store, they said they don't know when it would be in store. I want to pick it up rather than order online. I guess it should be there by the weekend for sure.

cheers
 
finchna said:
I hope that someone writes a hack that will allow it to download and play *in order* songs from an iTunes playlist so if you want a specific structure for the day you can have it.
Click to expand...

It does this, doesn't it? Isn't that what the little shuffle/repeat/off switch in the back is for?
 
finchna said:
Dont' mind no display, like the size, battery life, and storage size, but I hope that someone writes a hack that will allow it to download and play *in order* songs from an iTunes playlist so if you want a specific structure for the day you can have it. For some of us who also listen to classical music (multi-movement works) the ability to keep those movements in order would be helpful--so Mozart doesn't get shuffled with Schwanter. (though that might be interesting)
Click to expand...

I got the impression that that is a feature already.
 
I think it's pretty neat and will get a lot more people even more then the already Apple/iPod fans into Apple for the under $100 - $99 price.

I already have a G4 20gb iPod but I may pick one of these iPod Shuffles up for the great price to use while running or in the gym and it's much smaller and much lighter and that really can make a big difference when your moving around a lot burning calories. Casually walking around fits the G4 iPod perfect but the iPod Shuffle is more than perfect for working out and it's a great price.

I just may have to pick one up at the local Apple store next week. :)
 
The Power of the iPod Brand!

I like that from the accesory options for the iPod Shuffle you can opt for a Mac mini and/or MS Office 2004!
 
I just talked a friend into ordering one.

"C'mon, you know you want one...perfect for the Gym, who needs to be fiddling with buttons when you're sweating up a storm?...You hate the gym music anyway...you'll be the first person there with one...you've wanted an iPod for so long...you don't need more than a hundred or so songs anyway...it's so small, so light, you'll hardly know it's there...c'mon..."

Damn. I should be a salesman for Apple. :D
 
iPod shuffle

dloomer said:
so it will be a little strange to be made to feel "inferior" because you have only FireWire and not USB 2.0.
Click to expand...

I completely agree.

With that said, I'm still thinking about buying one only because I was in the market for a 512mb flashdrive anyways. Am I to believe that I should be able to transfer files pretty easily between my Mac and a PC with iPod shuffle (ie: not needing any drivers)?

Oooh, and I should be able to upload songs from my digital camera onto iPod shuffle.... (too far?)

Thanks,

-N
 
Too me this is what the iPod mini "should" have been. Personally I still think the iPod Mini and the 20gb iPod are too close in price to make the mini worth while.
 
Well, I just ordered one... on the phone as the webstore was swamped.

$179 Canadian with student discount plus tax for the 1 Gig model.

And I bought a $30 adapter for it as I don't want it hanging off my computer all day when I just want to charge it.

Here's hoping it turns up soon. :)
 
I'm going to get an iPod shuffle just because it's a great USB flash drive! It dosn't cost much more than other brands, and I'd like to take a few songs to listen to (my favs) with me to places I don't want to take my iPod (Disney World, etc).

Thanks Apple!
 
Noticed many servers timing out as well, managed to get a cache on macintouch to check the keynote info, ordered my 1gb as soon as the uk store loaded.

2 weeks to delivery in teh uk which is a bit disapointing but I'm crossing my fingers it could be before.

Cannot wait to stick it into the front of my G5, but have visions of snapping it off, ooer ;-)

Would have liked a single line screen and maybe a remote but it's so small I don't think it should matter too much.

I love Apple.
 
Macmaniac said:
The AppleStore took a beating after the keynote, pages were timing out all over the place. The must have had thousands of people ordering!
Click to expand...

Well... once the Keynote let out ALL the computers at the Expo were on Apple's site and not to mention millions of others checking out the next Apple products. I was getting a live feed the entire Keynote and got up expecially early just to hear and see it! :)

Heh, not to mention it is extremely hard to even browse THIS forum. I have been trying all day and get in here and there. It's very busy! LOL... I just got this "The server is too busy at the moment. Please try again later."
 
I'm definitely going to get one! Probably the 1 GB one. I don't have a flash drive for files yet so I'll be buying two devices in one. :)
 
Oh my, I think I'm going to be buying one of these. The price was keeping me out of iPods. Also that I don't have a real need--I mean, I've gone 29 years without one, and I've survived OK. ;) So now it's just a fun thing to have rather than an unnecessary and high-priced thing to have. If that makes sense. Plus it can be used as a flash drive. Yo.

You know, what practically sold me (for some reason) was the picture of it inserted into a port. Happy. No docks and cords and messing around. Worried about the combination of a lanyard and wind, though. Methinks it'll stay pocketed, which isn't a good way to advertise, but people know iPod already. I think I'll go for 512, although I'm comforted by the $139 education price tag on 1 GB. Wish they'd give a discount on the 512. Meh.

But USB 2.0...I'm one of those "old fogies" with USB 1.0. My dad bought me a USB hub for Christmas, and it's 2.0. Sigh. But then I've been jonesing for a G5 since they came out, and by Steve, this year...even though it'll require a freaking loan. I don't even need that much power. It's just...sexy. And I'd sure as hell never need to worry about having enough space or RAM or whatever down the line. Ah, but I'm OT. G5s are another thread. ;) (Still grateful for the price drop on the 20"!)
 
Lugonn said:
I actually preferred the mockup iPod shuffle that was about the size of a USB connector.

Still at about the size of a pack of gum, it's plenty small.

But a 50% markup for a flash card is a bit high. . . . :eek:

Will pass on this one.

Anybody else note the 6-8% drop in Apple stock price today?
Click to expand...

What do you mean 50% markup? I tried finding anything 512MB at futureshop.ca, and a 512MB Kingston USB memory stick is 129$CAN (same as the 512MB iPod shuffle)!

So, the iPod shuffle is like getting a name brand of a USB stick, but you get the iPod as an added bonus (for the exact same price).

Yeah, sure, RCA does have small players with an LCD display. But at 129$CAN you only have 128MB in it...

As for the Apple stock.... it dropped 6-8% ?! :confused: :eek:
 
Catt said:
It would cost me £189.60 to fill an iPod shuffle with songs from iTMS. A radio costs me nothing to listen to.
Click to expand...

Oh, seriously? Are you trying to tell us you got no audio CDs? Nothing at all in iTunes?

Saying it would cost you extra to "fill it up" is as smart as saying the Mac mini costs as much as the iMac G5 because you "need" an expensive LCD display to go with it. :rolleyes:
 
io_burn said:
Thanks for sharing! I predict NO ONE will be able to keep these in stock that sells them
Click to expand...

Indeed. They were already having problems keeping any iPod mini in stock... I don't see how stores wil be able to fill the demand for both the iPod shuffle and the Mac mini! :eek:
 
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