Product Announcement-- IPod Shuffle

[Carps]

http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/


Im thinking about picking up the 99$, 512 Mb version. Looks slick. Clearly not as powerful as the other IPods, but the size of the thing is a real turn on. I'll post a review if I purchase it.


Thoughts?

[Green]

I'd consider it if it had a display for song info, etc. Without it, 1GB of music seems a little difficult to navigate.

[Ziggler]

Looks awesome but no screen at all...? Where's the logic in that.. I mean if it holds more than even 20 songs I think it's an absolute must.

[Carps]

Well the idea is that it takes 1 G or 512 mb of music at random off your computer. You get a random selection. It plays random songs. It's supposed to be a "surprise". If you don't want that surprise, you can organize it via playlists on your computer.

I mean honestly its the size of a pack of trident gum!

[Carps]

Looks awesome but no screen at all...? Where's the logic in that.. I mean if it holds more than even 20 songs I think it's an absolute must.


I guess, hence the product title, "The Shuffler"

[Tom the First]

I'd rather save up for an iPod.

[DarthEvilDude]

i might get that, since it'll be easier to convince the parents.

i'd have to go for the gig, since 512 dosent cut it.

fuck, i realize that if i get the complete U2, its gonna take up the whole fucking thing. shit.

[AcquiredTarget]

Music capacity is based on 4 minutes per song and 128Kbps AAC encoding.
Do not eat iPod shuffle.
Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries (http://www.apple.com/batteries/) for more information.
Some computers require either the optional iPod shuffle Dock or a USB cable extender (sold separately) Step 2 makes me laugh

[gk128]

What a flop. You can get the new 1GB Creative flash memory MP3 player with a screen and total control over what you are going to listen to for the same $99.

Creative > Apple

[MusicFan]

What a flop. You can get the new 1GB Creative flash memory MP3 player with a screen and total control over what you are going to listen to for the same $99.

Creative > AppleApple does have the edge on the brand name.

[DarthEvilDude]

Apple has the whole cool factor going on.

[Larry]

http://images.apple.com/ipodshuffle/images/indexneckc20050111.jpg
"iPod shuffle weighs as little as a car key and makes a tuneful fashion statement. Just throw the included lanyard around your neck and take a walk. Or run. Or ride."

Yeah, because when I think "fashion statement," immediately Apple comes to mind.

Honestly, I'd just pocket the $100 and save up another $300 and get the new 40 gig model. It's not as small as a pack of gum, but it has a screen at least. And since iPods now have a "Shuffle Songs" feature, it makes this "Shuffler" obsolete all together.

Apple has the whole cool factor going on.
Why not be cool on your own, and use an iPod just as a way to listen to music?

[DarthEvilDude]

http://images.apple.com/ipodshuffle/images/indexneckc20050111.jpg
"iPod shuffle weighs as little as a car key and makes a tuneful fashion statement. Just throw the included lanyard around your neck and take a walk. Or run. Or ride."

Yeah, because when I think "fashion statement," immediately Apple comes to mind.

Honestly, I'd just pocket the $100 and save up another $300 and get the new 40 gig model. It's not as small as a pack of gum, but it has a screen at least. And since iPods now have a "Shuffle Songs" feature, it makes this "Shuffler" obsolete all together.


Why not be cool on your own, and use an iPod just as a way to listen to music?

i do, its the thing that when someone says MP3 Player, you think iPod. i already use iTunes now, so if i buy an mp3 player, i have to go for the iPod so i can put the songs i bought on it. its kind of a bitch, but i like apple.

and yeah, a screen is nice, but a low price is nicer. i can use that extra money to fill it up.

[Octocamo]

i have to go for the iPod so i can put the songs i bought on it.

*Cough*It's called burning a CD and ripping it to MP3.*Cough*

[DarthEvilDude]

*Cough*It's called burning a CD and ripping it to MP3.*Cough*

i'm tired of doing that. and i already have my mind set on an iPod.

[Larry]

i do, its the thing that when someone says MP3 Player, you think iPod.
They do have a cool factor, I'm just saying that some people rely totally on an MP3 player to make them look cool, which is pretty rediculous. I myself have an iPod, but none of my friends know I have one. That's because I don't want jealousy or envy or anything else rediculous going on. It's just a music player, it's not a big deal. I don't know why owning an iPod automatically makes you cool nowadays. You used to have to develop a reputation on your own.

I dunno, I'm probably just being insane. iPods do indeed rule though.

[Octocamo]

i'm tired of doing that. and i already have my mind set on an iPod.
It takes 10 minutes Max to burn/rip a CD. And probably, what, 30 seconds to transfer some songs to an MP3 player?

[Larry]

It takes 10 minutes Max to burn/rip a CD. And probably, what, 30 seconds to transfer some songs to an MP3 player?
Well, as a counter, it took around half an hour to add my entire music library to the iPod, which is pretty damn fast. And pretty damn convenient too. I guess I'd recommend anyone without an MP3 player to get one if they have the cash to do so. It doesn't have to be an iPod, just an MP3 player in general. A flash player, a micro-harddrive one, a harddrive one, anything. They're all a lot more convenient than the standard "rip to computer, burn to cd" routine.

[Emptythought]

Am i the only one who thinks this is a crap design? why couldnt they have a little screen like the iriver's

[Octocamo]

Well, as a counter, it took around half an hour to add my entire music library to the iPod, which is pretty damn fast. And pretty damn convenient too. I guess I'd recommend anyone without an MP3 player to get one if they have the cash to do so. It doesn't have to be an iPod, just an MP3 player in general. A flash player, a micro-harddrive one, a harddrive one, anything. They're all a lot more convenient than the standard "rip to computer, burn to cd" routine.
I was saying to Darth, That he didn't have to buy an Ipod to put his Itunes bought music onto it. He can use any MP3 player if he burns a CD and rips it to MP3. Therefore, he can put his Itunes purchased songs on to any brand MP3 player.

That's what my brother does, and I know, they're damn fast. I'm stuck carrying around my 6 year old Sony Walkman.

[Emptythought]

Also note that that method wastes CD-R's fast...

[Octocamo]

Also note that that method wastes CD-R's fast...
Well, How much Itunes music do you really buy? Those are the only ones you need to burn. Hell, You can fit almost 20-30 songs on a CD. CD-R's are pretty cheap now because of MP3 players. http://allgames.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Emptythought]

*looks at $15 50 pack*

O...k....... i guess i see what your saying, on both fronts. seeing as how i dont buy 97% of my music... even when i had an ipod

[DarthEvilDude]

Well, How much Itunes music do you really buy? Those are the only ones you need to burn. Hell, You can fit almost 20-30 songs on a CD. CD-R's are pretty cheap now because of MP3 players. http://allgames.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

well, here's what i have to do right now.

i dont have an mp3 player, and all i have is a shitty cd player.

i dont have a cd burner either.

my mom's boyfriend's computer has one. i think its either 48x or 52x

for some reason, my firewall makes it so nobody can detect me on the network, and i can see anyone else. i have to deal with the hassle of my network to put whatever songs i want on another computer.

then i use itunes to pick what songs i want in a playlist on the other computer, so i can burn it on a CD. cd burn takes less than 90 secs, then i delete the playlist, re-enable my firewall, etc.

time taken, 5-20 minutes.

thats why i want an iPod, so i dont have to do that for every fucking piece of music i have on here.

and here in CA, fucking everybody has an iPod and i sorta want to fit in, but not that much. i just want something smaller than the fucking CD player, and iPods are simply cool.

and i like how the Shuffle has the lanyard thing.

[Novacat]

So, how is this thing any different from every other small flash based MP3 player exept for the fact that Apple made it?

[Carps]

So, how is this thing any different from every other small flash based MP3 player exept for the fact that Apple made it?


Well, it is more music for cheaper. [Avg price for 256 Mb is 149$ and the Ipod Shuffler is offering 512 for 99$]. The design is very slick. It also works as a portable USB Drive.

[Novacat]

Well, it is more music for cheaper. [Avg price for 256 Mb is 149$ and the Ipod Shuffler is offering 512 for 99$].

Wrong. I've seen 512's for about 120, and these had screens.

[Larry]

Wrong. I've seen 512's for about 120, and these had screens.
I actually have seen this as well. They were shitty, but they exist.

[DarthEvilDude]

the thing about Apple is that what they make works great. except for Larry's first 2 iPods... but defective products exist, and you manage.

i'm getting some money for grades, and that will be going in my Shuffle fund.hopefully i'll get 15-20 for an A, and 7-10 for a b, and nothing taken away for the fucking spanish grade. i'm gonna see if i can get a job from some people in my family, so i can stop depending on my parents. being your parents bitch to survive sucks.

[Carps]

Wrong. I've seen 512's for about 120, and these had screens.


Okay I do not deny that 512's exist for 120, but 1 GB for 150 and 512 for 99 is a better deal. Perhaps there is an MP3 player that matches the Shuffler in price, perhaps there is even one that has a better deal.

But again my post said that it cost less than the "average" MP3 player. That it does.

[Emptythought]

Wrong. I've seen 512's for about 120, and these had screens. Ill back you up on this, my local kroger outlet has 512mb iRiver's with little backlit screens... for $119.

And those aren't "total crap"

My friend has had his 128 since it came out like 5 years ago, still works great.

[Octocamo]

My brother got a Muvo Slim or whatever that's 256mb. It has a display screen (lights up I think too), has AM/FM Radio, and allows recording of the radio (and transfer recordings back to your PC) and a voice recorder. It cost $110.

[alexsan]

yay! Now apple can scam money from the poor!

[Oomba]

iPods are like Kleenex, Puffs are better but the majority buys Kleenex, for now apparent reason at all.

[Larry]

iPods are like Kleenex, Puffs are better but the majority buys Kleenex, for now apparent reason at all.
There is an apparent reason. Quite blindingly apparent actually. The reason anyone buys a "worse" product over one that's "better" is because of advertising. You can see this with products, or with people, or anything involving a choice on your part.

Two examples. If iPod runs commercials everyday on different channels showing people dancing around and having fun, it's in-grained in the consumer's mind when he/she thinks to him/herself "I need an MP3 player." Your brain goes "iPOD! Srsly I saw a commercial about them" and you go "oh, word, thanks."

Second example. If there's a really, really good looking girl, and an ugly girl, you'll more than likely pick the hot girl over the ugly one. But, perhaps the hot girl has a weird pussy or some horrible STD. The ugly girl has a spotfree pussy that is the very definition of cleanliness. You go "who gives a fuck, look at that bitch's face! She's bangin nigguh!"

See?

[Octocamo]

If there's a really, really good looking girl, and an ugly girl, you'll more than likely pick the hot girl over the ugly one. But, perhaps the hot girl has a weird pussy or some horrible STD. The ugly girl has a spotfree pussy that is the very definition of cleanliness. You go "who gives a fuck, look at that bitch's face! She's bangin nigguh!"

You can get Paper Bags (MP3 Cases/Covers). http://allgames.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

[alexsan]

You can get Paper Bags (MP3 Cases/Covers). http://allgames.com/images/icons/icon14.gif
lol. iSkin doesn't keep those evil stds away

[Carps]

http://reviews.cnet.com/Apple_iPod_Shuffle_512MB/4505-6490_7-31256885-2.html?tag=top

CNet's Thoughts on the Shuffle...

[Lord Moon]

the thing about Apple is that what they make works great. except for Larry's first 2 iPods... but defective products exist, and you manage.

And heaven forbid you keep/use your iPod long enough that the battery completly dies (3-4 year life span or less depending on use). You void the warranty replacing it yourself (the cheaper way) or you pay an arm & a leg sending it back to Apple to replace it, not to mention their repair costs if there is a problem with it(even under warranty).

No I'm not impressed with the Shuffle. The Mini is a money scam (get $50 more & get the 20GIG iPod), the Shuffle is just a waste.

But that's just my opinion.

Don't get me wrong, I like the iPod, but the Mini & Shuffle are just a waste to me.

[Carps]

From CNet.com

Let the Apple backlash begin
Apparently emboldened by modern-day warrior and Creative CEO Sim Wong Hoo saying the iPod Shuffle was "worse than the cheapest Chinese player," Dell's Kevin Rollins is calling the Shuffle a "fad," and says the Mac Mini falls well short of revolution. Meanwhile, European consumers are complaining that the Mac Mini is priced much higher across the pond, and the student who runs the Mac-loving site Think Secret is begging for help fighting Apple's lawsuit against him. Ah, the high price of popularity.

[DarthEvilDude]

well, my parents just ordered me the 1 gig iPod Shuffle.

sweet.

its gonna take 3-4 weeks to get here though.

[gk128]

Well if you are a casual music listener then you'll enjoy it.

If you want any control you'll hate it. Even though you can play without Shuffling you can't skip past a track.

[DarthEvilDude]

Well if you are a casual music listener then you'll enjoy it.

If you want any control you'll hate it. Even though you can play without Shuffling you can't skip past a track.

thats pretty much how i'm thinking of it. Its really a more personal iPod. You cant say 'hey dude, listen to this song' and then pick the song and have them listen to it.

i would be getting this in April, but since my CD player broke, and i dont feel like buying another one just to replace in 2 months, my parents agreed to get it now and just not give me anything good for my birthday.

[Carps]

DR. MAC
Little shuffle lives up to iPod family name
By BOB LEVITUS
For The Chronicle

The new iPod shuffle: tiny, inexpensive and ever so cool.

It's no secret that I think the iPod is a life-changing device and that anyone and everyone who cares about music even a little bit should experience the joy of iPod-ness. But until this year, the least expensive model cost $250, making an iPod more a luxury than a necessity.

Now there's iPod shuffle. Smaller and lighter than a pack of gum, the new littlest iPod sounds as good as or better than other iPods.

And its simple controls make it as easy to use as other iPods.

I love the handy neck lanyard, which I think is brilliant.

iTunes 4.7 includes a great new feature designed just for iPod shuffle. It's called Autofill, and it loads your iPod shuffle with songs selected at random from your iTunes music library or any playlist.

Or, if you rate songs in iTune, you can choose to include higher-rated songs more often.

For a variety of reasons, the shuffle has no display. But I didn't miss it. I have over 3,000 songs in my iTunes Library, and I use shuffle mode on both my Mac and my iPod most of the time.

The iPod shuffle is available with 512 megabytes (roughly 120 songs) or 1 gigabyte (roughly 240 songs) of storage and connects to your Mac (or PC) via powered USB port (i.e., not the one on your keyboard).

That brings us to my only minor quibble: Because the USB connector sticks out of the end of the iPod shuffle, I couldn't plug it into some of our Macs. I discovered I needed an optional iPod shuffle Dock ($29) or a USB extender cable ($10). Other than that, I found nothing to criticize.

If you've never owned an iPod, there's never been a better time to join the fun. But the iPod shuffle is so tiny, inexpensive and fun that many iPod owners are using them as second iPods, to use anyplace a full-sized iPod might be cumbersome.

The bottom line is that the iPod shuffle is the best $99 digital audio player I've ever used. It would be hard not to love it.

Bob LeVitus is a leading authority on Mac OS and the author of 47 computer books including Mac OS X Panther For Dummies and GarageBand For Dummies and the founder of Doctor Mac Direct (www.doctormacdirect.com). E-mail your comments to: doc@doctormacdirect.com.

[Dualist]

They'll put an LCD screen on that sucker soon. They need one, but I don't like the idea of random songs being played.

Becuase maybe your not in the mood for a song that you have downloaded.

[gk128]

Like I said. The mini is for the casual user.

[Carps]

I give it one year from its release before a screen is added.

[gk128]

I give it one year from its release before a screen is added.

I doubt they'd add a screen. The Shuffle doesn't need one because of the way it's set up.

If they add a screen then people would want to change tracks at will.

I give it a year before they release a new flash based player.

[Carps]

I doubt they'd add a screen. The Shuffle doesn't need one because of the way it's set up.

If they add a screen then people would want to change tracks at will.

I give it a year before they release a new flash based player.


A screen could just tell what song you are listening to. Right now it's so random I don't even know what song is playing till the Chrous hits.