The Apple iPod Shuffle
posted January 11th 2005 2:11PM
Guess that explains the shuffle banner! So we also got you hooked up on the new iPod Shuffle, too: their new flash based player, as we just found out, will come in 512MB and 1GB sizes (for $99 and $149, respectively), and can act as a USB 2.0 mass-storage device by taking off the cap on the bottom. (Hasn't Apple learned anything about flash drives with caps?) It will have have no display as you can see (we're on the fence about this), but it is interfaced with simple play/pause, volume up/down, track foward/back buttons, and a slider on the rear that engages the player and plays songs in order or shuffled. In that little 3.3 x 0.33 x 0.98-inch package you've also got a USB-rechargeable 12-hour battery. The whole thing weighs 0.78 ounces, and is shipping now, yo. Not too shabby for a flash player!
Thanks, guys. Well make sure not to do that.
I never would look at the screen jogging, I'm too busy gasping for air. Apple obvoiusly did thier research.
ipod shuffle is for chimpanzees with money that scares them.
No, Sebhelyesfarku, you put the album onto your playlist and switch the iPod shuffle to Play in Order mode, which plays the songs in order you set.
You can score a Lexar Jump Drive Sport 1Gb and its optional bolt-on MP3 player for less. Lexar's 512Mb LDP-600 is a flash HDD, and it takes 1Gb SD/MMC cards as well, for $150 and a nice LCD, plus FM radio and xmitter.
People buying this aren't weighing its merits based on logic.
-C
p.s. I have the Rave MP from Wal*Mart, and I'm surprised at how good it really is. Handles my 1Gb MMC card just fine.
Looks like one of those pregnancy test strips... if once you've pee'd on it and the light goes green, does it mean its the end of highschool for sweet sally?
Hey Apple,
If you're listening. Why don't you offer an option to buy these puppies without the earphones and knock off $25. Most folks already have them and I know price point competitiveness is so important with flash players.
Just a thought......RB
Hey #37, you may not look at a screen while jogging, but many other people do. This player is too simple for my tastes.
"you put the album onto your playlist and switch the iPod shuffle to Play in Order mode, which plays the songs in order you set."
... and, like the guy said, if he wants to listen to the 19th album (say, the 184th song on that playlist) he has to hit the fast-forward button 184 times.
Either you didn't understand the question or I don't understand your answer - without a scroll wheel, you have to press the button to go to the next track - so you have to press the button X number of times to get to track X.
People buying this aren't weighing its merits based on logic.
Is it logical for people to react passionately towards the introduction of a flash player? Apple has already won the war ... I mean, this is probably going to be a national news blurb. Yikes.
Anyway, $150 is basically an impulse purchase, isn't it? Why waste time mulling over 'is this the right flash player for me?' You take it jogging ... unless it flat-out sucks, how can it be a stupid purchase?
I know the online store has started taking orders already, but does anyone know when/if the compusas/best buys will see these on its shelves? Hopefully pretty soon, I'd rather hold it in my hand before shelling out 100 bones on a pack of gum.
This is an iPod accessory. Apple doesn't actually believe someone will buy a shuffling MP3 player as their primary player. But they do know you iPodders are IN-SANE. And you WILL buy this -- for workouts and trips to the beach and skiing. Smart, smart move. PS, the Mac mini is also an iPod accessory.
This will be a perfect replacement for the MP3 Lyra player I have now. Which I paid $100 for for only 128mb. It has a screen, but I don't recally ever actually using it. I only use the small player at the gym, where I don't really care which song I happen to be listening to. Wish it would have come out before I wasted my money on the piece of junk from RCA.
I just ordered three, unfortunately they will ship in a week or two. So much for having a market for them :-)
first time poster, long time reader. i think they could have at LEAST SPLURGED on a pair of "square-number-8" style LCD's to indicate track number. that being said, youngins, back in my day, the only way i could switch between favorite songs on casettes was by fast-forwarding and guaging the thickness of the spool, so i guess i can't whine, but this ain't no tape deck so it needs an LCD of some kind. So before getting all uppity about this thing just because of the brand name, here are two mp3 players that do everything the Shuffle does, AND have complete, descriptive LCD's, AND cost LESS: the "iLO" http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3202212&cat=96469&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3983%3A96469 and the Creative MuVo with FM tuner. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3132182&cat=96469&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3983%3A96469&xsell=3202212
yes, they're available at friggin' wal-mart, a far cry from the smug black-turtle-necked Apple Store, but these look like decent mp3 players.
p.s. i WILL buy a mini-mac though.
Awesome and yet simple and typically Apple. Perfect!
Some tech heads might shun this, but this is going to be a huge seller. Face it, iTunes is a great program and this is a cheap way to bring along 120-240 songs on the go. Apple is on a roll.
Soon companies will give these away for Free! as promotional gifts. They could print their logo on the front side. Apple will sell hundreds of milliions of these.
I remember hearing some of the same comments when the mini came like and look how it turned out. I think it's a great product that will sell plenty. I already plan on picking one up for my 8 year old so I don't have to listen to Hilary Duff anymore in the car!
Yeah, it'll sell like hotcakes. But does anyone else think it looks like a pregnancy test or a tampon?
Apple did a great job on the iPod shuffle. They did not intend for it to be someone's primary music player, but instead a clean, simple, and convenient device. I already own an iPod and think that it would be nice to just plug this little thing in and get 1GB of random music for a run, workout, or some studying. An iPod is great for long trips, FM transmitting in the car, or for storing tons of music and audiobooks. The iPod shuffle is perfect for quick and simple music listening. I'll get one.
well, the sheep have spoken.
$150 isn't an impulse buy to me, and probably not to a lot of people. i just don't bring down $150 an hour like i used to when i ruled the internet world. for those that shop based on technical merits, this will fall by the wayside.
iTunes being a compelling feature for sheep, of course.
that's one ugly son of a bitch.
Chris, I'm sorry you are so poor. For some of us, it's easy to spend $100 or $150 on a new toy just for fun. Obviously you've either got kids or are a kid, but not everyone. This costs a good bit less than it cost to integrate my iPod into my car, so why not buy one just for fun? Screw it...
wow...the hatin'! so...apple just captured the flash market too. face it, windows drones. you can't own this market. now sit down and be quiet.
Sheep my ass. People who appreciate the design and functionality of Apple products shouldn't be described as sheep. I know you might think that the iPod shuffle lacks functionality because it has no screen, but I feel that the simplicity of the device is an important function itself. If you don't want something that you can grab and listen to without fumbling around with playlists or settings then don't get this device.
Sheep my ass. People who appreciate the design and functionality of Apple products shouldn't be described as sheep. I know you might think that the iPod shuffle lacks functionality because it has no screen, but I feel that the simplicity of the device is an important function itself. If you don't want something that you can grab and listen to without fumbling around with playlists or settings then don't get this device.
Does anyone know if you can use the shuffle with the I dog?