2GB and 4GB iPod shuffles on deck?
posted May 27th 2005 1:22PM
The source is DigiTimes, a Taiwanese tech newspaper that often has its own special relationship with reality (that
means they aren't always so reliable), but there's a report that Samsung and Toshiba are ramping up production of their
8Gbit NAND flash chops because Apple is planning to bust out a 2GB version of the
iPod
shuffle in June, with a 4GB version to follow in August. Not totally crazy, since flash memory is getting cheaper
by the minute and they're going to have to up the capacity sooner or later, but it does seem a little early for Apple
to be introducing new shuffles (they've only been kicking around for four and a half months). Oh, and a 4GB iPod
shuffle would almost definitely have to be priced higher than a
4GB
iPod mini, something it seems like Steve Jobs would be very loathe to do.
[Via TUAW]
(sarcasm)Yeah, Digitimes has a great track record on Apple rumors.(/sarcasm)
I know Apple will be able to get a good deal on flash memory, but how low can the cost be?
I would never pay more than $150 for a screenless music player, actually probably not even more than $100.
The lowest rate i've seen for 4gb flash media seems to be about $270.
Or maybe this will be for a new smaller mini. That would make sense.
Who would want a 4gb ipod shuffle, or any music player that you cannot play a playlist or a certain artist. I rarely play my 10GB ipod on random through my entire music collection. How stupid would this be!
Why not just use these chips to make a smaller, longer battery life iPod mini?
why not go buy a larger capacity player for half the price dont buy the hype
I use my 1G Shuffle every day. Personally I would love for my 795.1MB of 128kb/s music (215 songs) double in bitrate and quantity. I would also like my 195.5MB of storage for files increase to at least 1G.
I do want more memory (3G would be perfect), I don't need a screen (I only put songs on it that I like) and would like it in a brushed titanium case... 3G iPod Shuffle TI
Matt2 clearly hasn't realized that the Shuffle is about the cheapest there is for the capacity.
I'd need a screen because, while I'd only put music on it that I liked, I'd want the music to fit the occasion. I've been wanting a flash-based iPod with a screen and with the current iPod/Mini controls (the best user interface, bar none) for a long time now.
loathe is a verb. loath is the adjectival form.
#7 Funny you should say that, when I had opened the paper earllier this morning and saw that there were Creative players on sale at a Gig for $109.
But to get the best capacity to price ratio, you have to go up to the HDD players that are larger. A 1 Gig shuffle runs $149/Gig, a 60 Gig iPod photo runs $7.48/Gig
I love ignorance! Guess what people, just because you don't do something a certain way doesn't mean no one else does. I ALWAYS played my 15GB ipod on shuffle, and now I play the ipod shuffle on shuffle. Get a flashplayer with a screen if you need one soo bad, but the shuffle works for many people just like it works for me.
.....flash chops?
I think they could put the 2GB in the shuffle and the 4GB in the mini...
4gig without a screen seems unlikely to me
can someone clear this up for me? they are ramping up production of 8 gigabit chips (1 GB), which means they are making 2GB and 4GB shuffles? i dont follow...
And a screen please.
#11 How is your opinion any less "ignorant" than everybody elses? Sure some people like screens and some don't but that doesn't mean that either one is more ignorant than the other. Even if you do play your iPod on shuffle that doesn't mean you don't want to be able to see the track title...
1 gb ipod suffle
$149.00
1gb Creative Labs Micro
$118.00
wih screen and doesnt have to play random
http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?refer=nextag&id=1003365264
There certainly are flash players with screens and more features, at a lower price than the iShuffle. Not as much as "half the price" but still a better deal. Though the controls of that Creative N200 look abisimal at best. And since the screen is only one line, good luck making use of it to choose music.
As for HD-players being cheaper, that's common knowledge. Doesn't mean that they are better for everyone. If a HD was OK for me, I would just get an iPod and be done with it. Unforunately, since a HD can't withstand being josteled around, it would start breaking on me after the first buffer ran out. Flash is still king when it comes to user environments that are less-than docile.
Matt2, your uninformed. the shuffle can also play in order.
shipping at comp-u-plus is $15, and the description says its the 512MB version. it also looks like they don't like to return things (if it really is the 512MB version)
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1929.html
Number 16. Nice little unit, but if you check the "More Info & Product Specifications" you will see that it reads: "CAPACITY- 512MB (FORMATTED CAPACITY MAY VARY)"
I like the line in option tho
Matt2, your uninformed. the shuffle can also play in order.
shipping at comp-u-plus is $15, and the description says its the 512MB version. it also looks like they don't like to return things (if it really is the 512MB version)
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1929.html
why not go buy a larger capacity player for half the price dont buy the hyp
---
Speaking of hype.. i see someone has bought into Sony's "64kbs sounds great from here" line of BS
"MuVo Micro comes in fun, vibrant colors and each color comes with either 256MB, 512MB or 1GB of flash memory "
what? read below that. it says CAPACITY - 512MB.
The only thing i hate about the shuffle is that there is no screen and it would be super hard to find a specfic song with 4gig of space.
It probably can't compete against the Shuffle in terms of battery life, but a good Windows Mobile smartphone with a 1 GB SD/miniSD card can play mp3, wma, ogg, aac, divx, wmv, mp4, etc....
Oh yeah, it also does the phone, camera, email, internet, and gps navigation thing :)
And if you're thinking "too expensive", the MPx200 goes for less than $200 USD brand new.
Just FYI.
I have a Creative MuVo slim, exact same controls as the micro, and the only 1up it has on the iPod is that it can skip through songs, well its got voice/FM recording but i never use it, and i cant even get into settings without the player locking up and making me take out the battery to reset it, poor reliability, i still like it tho, fits in my front pocket :) just saying a screen isnt all its hyped up to be, just like an iPod, but if you like music that much u shouldnt need a screen to tell you what song it is
From all that I've seen, I'm impressed with ipods, and may buy one at some point, but I don't really understand the Shuffle. Personally, I would never buy an MP3 player capable of holding hundreds of songs that doesn't have a screen. I figure it's selling well because it's cheap, small, and carries the ipod brand name, because I've never heard of another product whose lack of features was a selling point.
#23 you are a retard, atrac3 64b/r does work better than 128b/r mp3 all you see is numbers, and not the quality and thats why you dont know shit.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE MISSING THE POINT!!!
i dont get this...they are saying that the 4gb ipod shuffle is goin to be more expensive than the 4gb mini WHICH HAS MORE OPTIONS AND A SCREEN??
hmmmmm...how does that make sense?
#17 you are also retarded. since you don't know why, here's why. i believe #11 was talking about comments like #3. do you even know what ignorance means?
AH! too many numbers... booo!
Why cant we just stick with CD players, but quality than anything cept a good 'ol record player
i dont get this...they are saying that the 4gb ipod shuffle is goin to be more expensive than the 4gb mini WHICH HAS MORE OPTIONS AND A SCREEN??
hmmmmm...how does that make sense?
--
you're off you're rocker if you think Apple is going to simultaneously offer a 4gig with a screen and a 4 gig without...
why?
because the whole point of the mini is that.. with just a little music, you shouldn't have to worry about 'searching' alot.. you just leave it on a playlist..
I'd rather see the price come down than the size go up..
ooooh 4 gigs blind.. great idea..
Apple offering iPods starting at $49 I mean.. that's just ridiculous.. :D
#31
"Oh, and a 4GB iPod shuffle would almost definitely have to be priced higher than a 4GB iPod mini, something it seems like Steve Jobs would be very loathe to do."
i dont see the logic in this either mike but hey if people are silly enough to buy it then i pitty
the fool.
ahahh 4 gb with no screen? ahahah
c'mon steveeeee
Hey, I think when they said flash memory, peopel think Shuffle.
But it's too early..way too early. when has Apple ever brought out a new new line when the new line was just released in January?
I'm betting that this 2GB flash memory will be in the apple/Motorola phone that's been hiding for months now..Afterall Motorola said Apple would be the one to say when it would come out. and a flash memory would be better in cell phone then a hard drive.
Jsut go look at all the apple rumors that where up the last couple of months from this one to the Apple PDA...didn't anyone think that it MAY be the ROKR that Motorola still cant show anyone thanks to Apple wanting to wait til lthey are ready...
Well this news tells me that the ROKR is ready..
Damn this would be sweet. I knew it was just a matter of time. I love my 1GB shuffle to death, but sometimes I want to transfer large files (e.g. Star Wars III) to my TV PC or whatever and then 1GB is just a little bit too small.
4GB would absolutely rule. I'd pay $300 for that.
You Shuffle haters haven't understood the important parts of the device.
1. It's small
2. It's light
3. You can wear it (with the arm band) while playing any sport, i personally wear it during pick up basketball. You just can't do that with the mini (it's too fragile).