Smaller iPod shuffle?

[MacRumors]

An American Technology Research analyst claims that they have heard that Apple may be working on an even smaller form factor for the iPod shuffle as well as a introduction of a choice of colors.

The price points and storage capacity, however, are expected to remain at $99/$129 and 512MB/1GB in order to minimize overlap with their recently introduced iPod nano.

Apple recently added "black" option for the 5th Generation iPod, and previously offered iPod minis in a choice of 5 colors.

 

[iAFC]

A black iPod shuffle would be really nice! I'll buy it.

 

[savar]

Maybe this is the long-awaited ipod flea?

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/ipod-flea-p1.php

<snicker>

 

[Superdrive]

snip

An American Technology Research analyst claims that they have heard that Apple may be working on an even smaller form factor for the iPod shuffle as well as a reintroduction of a choice of colors.

snip

The shuffle had colors? Would this not be an introduction of colors to the Shuffle line? Anyways, I hope if we see anything besides black (which would be sweet on its own), that the colors are bright iMac style colors and not pastel Mini style colors.

 

[G5Unit]

Wouldn't 1gb(99$) and 2gb(150-200$) be better? It may overlap with the nano, but smaller form factor would bring the price up.

 

[Superdrive]

Maybe this is the long-awaited ipod flea?

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/ipod-flea-p1.php

<snicker>

Oh I hate windows media player. But the flea could easily be the Nano Rev B . By the way, those tic-tac colors could be introduced on any Apple product and I'd by it.

 

[Mechcozmo]

It is hard to improve on the Shuffle. When you do so well with only a few things available to do well, it will be interesting to see how they attempt to improve the Shuffle.

I like my 512MB Shuffle all the same. Rev. A and no problems, hoo ya!

 

[gammamonk]

This sounds pretty cool. There are lots of flash based mp3 players that are smaller than the shuffle at the same memory / price points.

Cut the size in half or more, and it's a necklace. I'm also all for colors.

 

[howard]

i've said it before...
but has soon as the shuffle gets a redesign theres a 99% chance I'll buy one immediately.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I don't know how much smaller I would want it. If it gets too small it would just be easier to loose.

 

[Lacero]

Well, I've always wanted a smaller iPod shuffle since my initial reaction to the first one was a little disappointed, especially with the height of it. The new shuffle hopefully 30% shorter, rounder, and more sweat-proof.

 

[xli_ne]

if it was the same size, but thinner, people will be breaking those things all the time.

 

[iDM]

I have had problems with my iPod Shuffle 1gig, although I think they are much more involved with software rather then harder. I don't think it shuffles well and I don't think the buttons are very response when pressing them. On another note the thing gets loud real loud, and the battery lasts FOREVER(although for some reason it doesn't seem to diminish if if you change songs, which makes sense for a HD based .mp3 player but nor for flashed based) and it is already so small that I have reached into my pockets and have not found it or could not distinguish it from my chap stick or other junk. I'd love to see them make it smaller although I honestly can say i do not want it to be any smaller or lighter, i like the form factor as it is, they do however need to add a proper hold button because how it is turned on now is well a joke and a hassle. I'm still hoping for a firmware upgrade that addresses the restart from the same song regardless of pausing or stopping half-way through another, faster responding buttons, and a more random shuffle rather then hearing the same 20 songs out of the 250 that i have on there!!!

 

[iAFC]

For $99 I don't know what's better: a Palm Z22 or an iPod shuffle. Advices?

 

[revjay]

Wouldn't 1gb(99$) and 2gb(150-200$) be better? It may overlap with the nano, but smaller form factor would bring the price up.

I would never want a shuffle any bigger than 1gb, unless there was some way to select between a few playlists.
2gb of music sounds great, but do you really want a 500 song playlists?
Sounds frustrating to me.

 

[Object-X]

Shuffle remote

Maybe they will give it remote control abilities and sell Front Row for the rest of us.

 

[QCassidy352]

I would never want a shuffle any bigger than 1gb, unless there was some way to select between a few playlists.
2gb of music sounds great, but do you really want a 500 song playlists?
Sounds frustrating to me.

I agree. I'm not actually going to listen to 500 songs; the ability to hold that many is only useful if I can select among them.

It would be great if they could make the shuffle a bit smaller; it would be nice if a shuffle didn't block the second usb port when plugged in to an ibook.

 

[nagromme]

Makes sense--there's certainly still room in the market for low-end, ultra-light, ultra-simple iPods. Not to mention the Shuffle is the one iPod that requires NO cords.

Some kind of price drop would make sense too, though, in keeping with the trend of falling cost per MB.

 

[DTphonehome]

Tiny

Hopefully it will fit in my nostril.

 

[drater]

I agree. I'm not actually going to listen to 500 songs; the ability to hold that many is only useful if I can select among them.

It would be great if they could make the shuffle a bit smaller; it would be nice if a shuffle didn't block the second usb port when plugged in to an ibook.

I like the idea of the shuffle, but a screen would be nice. I would only buy one to work out with, don't see much use in bringing a bigger (my 30gb ipod video) ipod to the gym, but chicks dig it so maybe if I brought both I would be a god there....j/k, but really, a 500 song ipod shuffle like product with a screen would be nice...as long as they kept the price range.

 

[Raid]

Imagine that an MP3 player you can swallow, or implant in your ears!

While small gadgets are 'sexy', tiny gadgets can get pretty impractical (fragile and hard to use). It seems if apple keeps this up, they are going to have to develop a new mini-jack standard for earphones... The nano is probably as thick as it is because the mini-jack port is only so small!

 

[DavidLeblond]

It would be great if they could make the shuffle a bit smaller; it would be nice if a shuffle didn't block the second usb port when plugged in to an ibook.

Amen! I hate having to unplug my mouse to plug in my shuffle.

 

[bigandy]

hmmm. maybe a little shorter, and that's it. in black or white. small price drop, to make it a little more competitive with usb stick drives (some of my friends said they'd buy it if it was a more competitive price).

sorted.

no other changes - there's no need to increase the capacity, it's pointless for a screenless player.

 

[Steamboatwillie]

I still think a brushed aluminum shuffle would be cool

 

[shamino]

Hopefully it will fit in my nostril.

How about lodged in your throat?