Apple's 2G iPod Shuffle unboxed and in the buff

While Apple's second-generation iPod Shuffle was unveiled quite some time ago, shipments just recently started flooding out of Cupertino's (or China's) doors to eager early adopters. Even more recently, Apple announced retail availability to the enthrallment of those who'd rather brave mall traffic than take advantage of free shipping. Nevertheless, *nathan has hooked us up with an early peek at what 2G Shuffle owners can expect when unboxing their precious little DAP, so be sure to hit the read link to see the shiny, silver device in all of its minuscule glory.

[Via Nick Starr]

[Mike @ Nov 1st 2006 1:31PM]

That seems like a lot of unnecessary packaging for something so small.

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 1:34PM]

Not that unnecessary. After all, they can't make the box the same size as the iPod, for several reasons:

1) The enclosed literature/manual/etc needs to be big enough to read, and
2) If the box got any smaller than that, shoplifting would be a big problem.

[Tyler @ Nov 1st 2006 1:38PM]

it stinks that the 2G shuffle comes with the old headphones...

[Korpil @ Nov 1st 2006 1:58PM]

I'd say so! Seems Apple thinks 2.0 Shuffle buyers arent "music quality" minded enough to warrant the newer headphones!

[Dan Bolling @ Nov 1st 2006 1:39PM]

Here's my unboxing. A lot more pics and comments too.

http://www.bollingfamily.com/dan/shuffle2/

Enjoy!

[stiletto @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:32PM]

Any idea if it has the same amplifier as the 1G Shuffle that is supposed to be higher quality then the other iPods?

[George @ Nov 1st 2006 1:45PM]

Lol, I swear I read "In the butt" as part of the new title.

Gotta check out those artistic stuff right now.

[Michael @ Nov 1st 2006 1:57PM]

OMG my water just broke.

[dave @ Nov 1st 2006 1:59PM]

Why did they introduce new headphones if the shuffle (shipping months late) includes the old headphones? I've got a couple on preorder that I may cancel until they ship with the new headphones.

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 2:14PM]

Why did they ship this thing with the old headphones? So that 6 months down the line, when this thing's battery mysteriously fails, you'll buy a new one with brand-new headphones included. :P

And I say this as neither an Apple fanboy or hater, but as someone relatively biased towards Apple (if there were a spectrum from 1-10, with 1 being pro-PC and 10 being pro-Apple, I'd consider myself about a 7). The sad truth of the matter is that Apple designs its iPods to fail, and it's a pretty manipulative/shady business practice.

Imagine if laptop computers conked out beyond resuscitation after 6 months to a year. What an outrage that would cause! (Sony battery fiascos notwithstanding)

[soopergooman @ Nov 1st 2006 2:11PM]

IT's like a Sandisk ProDuo card with an interface attached to it. Meh. I hope I find one in the street because Drunk + This = LOST!

[Felicity @ Nov 1st 2006 2:11PM]

I just got mine and this is a perfect 'Apple O'. Sorry to know that these are the old headphones but this is a tech/ID/packaging marvel and a prime example of why Apple has groupies.

[Dels @ Nov 1st 2006 2:11PM]

The new headphones aren't that much better, folks. If you care at all about music, you should immediately go out and buy yourself a decent pair of true in-ear/canal phones. They don't have to be $500 Shure's, just something around $30-40. You won't regret it, I promise.

[Lee Gibson @ Nov 1st 2006 2:20PM]

"The sad truth of the matter is that Apple designs its iPods to fail, and it's a pretty manipulative/shady business practice."

What are you talking about? Seriously, that's a silly assertion.

[tennis guy @ Nov 1st 2006 2:23PM]

.
I just bought a 2G 2 Gig Nano. Personally I think it's worth an extra 75 bucks to have a display, EQ settings, more memory; and the Nano is plenty small enough.
.
.

[Michael @ Nov 1st 2006 2:24PM]

Am I the first one to realize they already have a new software version for the new shuffle, 1.01, "Bug fixes". Pretty sad that those of us that got it today also already have to update before they officially release it in the stores.

[jimmy @ Nov 1st 2006 2:28PM]

It's not a silly assertion. Why would they make it difficult to replace the battery if it was not designed to fail?

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 2:33PM]

Thank you.

And in case anyone doesn't believe the "Apple designs iPods to fail" theory: just ask the millions of users out there who are now on iPod 2, 3, or 4 after having the first several die of battery failure after less than a year's time.

There are plenty of articles and documentation on this subject, and I'll be the first to admit that I'm too lazy to go rummaging around and linking all of them here. But regardless, the fact remains: Apple is running a razor-and-blades business model with its iPod line, and it's not cool.

To put it another way: do you think Apple's stock shot through the roof based on sales of one-iPod-per-person-per-generation? Now who's being naive? :P

[Mark D. @ Nov 1st 2006 5:54PM]

Well my iPod hasn't conked out due to battery failure, and I hardly think they purposefully made the battery hard to replace. My RCA Lyra has a non-replaceable battery too, just like dozens upon dozens of other mp3 players, this isn't an 'Apple-only' thing, lots of companies do it (and it too in a LiIon battery, well past it's '2 year' life.) They designed it with form over function in many areas, this isn't new to Apple designs and it's hardly new to media players. If you consider how often battery doors would break on CD players and walkmans the idea of an enclosed battery seems more practical. Though ideally a locking separable back would work, unless they implement it like the remotes shipped with their computers, Apple probably won't change this design element (of course the Nano 2G would be a perfect candidate.)

[JM @ Nov 1st 2006 2:46PM]

Well, even if the headphones are crap, I'd appreciate to get the "new and fresh" crap rather than the "old" crap. I'm sure the production costs are exactly the same.

I guess this is a way to get rid of their old stock on their economy iPod line. We'll probably see the new headphones included just after the christmas stock.

That being said, if you have any problems with your headphones within the warranty period you can call AppleCare and they'll send you a brand new set without sending in your old ones. Depending on your conscience, you can still get a new set later on.

[gogogurugo @ Nov 1st 2006 2:47PM]

hypocritical recycle sticker on the box there while the landfills keep on fillin up with useless ipods. nice steve, nice.

[BrettB @ Nov 1st 2006 2:51PM]

I'm not sure if it's "designed to fail," that may be a little harsh. No machine will last forever. It's just a fact. Yes, if your iPod dies after less than a year, you got a bum one (My 4th gen 40Gig HP branded iPod died after about 8 months, I was lucky that HP was giving a year long warranty). But most won't fail after a year. My 1st Gen Shuffle is going strong after a little over a year and daily use and abuse. No sign of the battery dying, no software problems. I'd be surprised to have any problems for a while. I'm much more likely to upgrade just for style. I would like to see apple warranty the iPods for a full year, but a certain amount of failures is to be expected. If they were truly failing at a level that was unacceptible, people wouldn't be buying them.

[tkn0spdr @ Nov 1st 2006 2:53PM]

Uhm, I still get about 5 to 6 hours of battery life from my 2nd gen 10GB iPod. What do you guys do to yours?

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 3:00PM]

You got lucky, then.

[NeoteriX @ Nov 1st 2006 2:58PM]

Unboxings here and there yet the most important part has not yet been commented on: HOW IS THE SOUND QUALITY?

[Ari @ Nov 1st 2006 3:42PM]

Sound quality is as good as the 1st Gen Shuffle... I just listend to the same tracks on both, alternately.

[tim @ Nov 1st 2006 3:19PM]

I'm not sure why anyone would want an mp3 player without a screen.

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 3:22PM]

"I'm not sure why anyone would want an mp3 player without a screen."

For workout/running purposes. When you're working out or running/jogging outside, generally speaking, you don't want a bulky, overly involved DAP to deal with. The iPod Shuffle is the perfect workout music player.

[Richard @ Nov 1st 2006 3:25PM]

Why do I need a screen? I (and perhaps I am in the minority of DAP owners here) only use it to walk to the bank or local grocery store, 45 minutes maximum. I put my shuffle in my pocket and forget about it. I don't load music I don't like.

[isayisay @ Nov 1st 2006 7:35PM]

For the gym. I have a newer iPod that I use generally (and another one from 2002 that still works fine, btw), but I'll be getting one of these to clip to my workout clothes. MUCH better than carrying a full iPod in my pocket while on the treadmill.

[crunkmaster @ Nov 1st 2006 3:29PM]

Where the hell are you people coming up with this crap from? If your iPod fails for any reason in its first year, it's automatically covered under the standard warranty. They're not "designed to fail." If the battery wears out (as they do, of course), your iPod is not worthless. You can get a new battery from Apple for $59 or elsewhere for less. Comparatively cheap compared to the costs of conventional batteries plus the form factor savings.

Also remember these are very tiny little things, and in many cases have small moving parts. Things do go wrong. None of my five iPods have had a single issue, and are each still going strong. The main reason to get a new one is new features, form factors, and increased battery life. That doesn't mean your old one is no longer any good.

[PEZ @ Nov 1st 2006 3:33PM]

Exactly how much can you unbox something the size of a pack of matches, and it still be interesting after the first 10 seconds?

Put in naked chicks.

I've spoken.

[Dan @ Nov 1st 2006 4:43PM]

"hypocritical recycle sticker on the box there while the landfills keep on fillin up with useless ipods. nice steve, nice."

Apple encourages people to recycle their useless iPods (when buying a new one). You get 10% off your new iPod if you give them your old dead one.

[dextro @ Nov 1st 2006 4:46PM]

btw in europe every piece of electronics is obligated to have a 2 year warranty by law so I don't think apple would be making much money if iPods failled within that time frame...

[Ed T @ Nov 1st 2006 6:22PM]

The battery-failure stuff is overplayed. In my 1st-gen iPod, the battery lasted four years. I replaced it last March for $30, and the new one runs over 14 hours on a charge.

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 8:09PM]

I don't think anyone's claiming that Apple is alone in designing intentionally-brief-lived electronics. I mean hell, Sony's based its entire consumer electronics business model around that concept (and also its film & television development model around it...oh, snap!).

That doesn't let Apple off the hook, though. The fact that so many iPods crash 'n burn as quickly and as frequently as they do is alarming. It may not happen to every iPod, or even the majority of iPods. But it happens to enough iPods to surpass any natural statistical expectation.

[crescentdavid @ Nov 1st 2006 10:38PM]

I love the guy who says he has 5 iPods. Gee. How many toasters do you have, 4? Seriously, for a few shekels more, the Nano makes much, much more sense. But hey, I'm sure there's a market for yet another dumbed down cheap mp3/aac player. Whoop.

[keith waddington @ Nov 1st 2006 11:32PM]

its just an mp3 player.

why do these people have to rant about their imagined version of Apple's recycle policies, secret business practices that design ipods to break and other such nonsense? I guess its the 21st century version of mythology, but its a poor substitute.

These things are popular because they are good. Those who feel the need to hate so much and in such an irrational way should do it privately rather than expose themselves here. It's rather embarrassing.

waddo
http://www.waddo.net/

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:42AM]

It's got nothing to do with hate. I love my iPod, and I love the concept of the iPod as a whole. What I'm expressing isn't hate, but rather, frustration. I've lost 2 iPods to inexplicable and sudden battery failures, and as they say, "once bitten, twice shy." (Or, in my case, "twice bitten, twice shy).

[keith waddington @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:53AM]

Mmm

my wife has a first generation ipod. the battery was getting weak after all these years. she took it back to the shop. 59 dollars later the ipod was ready to rock and roll.

now what exactly is the problem here? you can even order DIY kits to replace the battery if 59 US seems too much.

[Matt Nicholson @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:12AM]

Just to let everyone know, it looks like the retail packaging is different from the shipped packaging in that retail is in plastic packaging rather than the "jewel case" that one comes in. Same shape, size, etc, but not a reuseable case, this one is designed to hang on peghooks. I just got them in today at best buy, but they are hard street dated for FRIDAY

[Ryan @ Nov 2nd 2006 1:25AM]

Man! It's obvious from this box design that Microsoft totally ripped off Apple when the designed the color scheme for the 360.


I am, by the way, being totally sarcastic.

[William Li @ Nov 4th 2006 1:34AM]

here is my unboxing and videos

http://blog.williamli.org/2006/11/04/ipod-shuffle-2nd-gen/

[Shirochan @ Nov 7th 2006 9:15AM]

To add an opinion to the claim that Apple somehow builds 'planned obsolesence' into its iPods: nah. It's definitely a product with flaws, but I wouldn't call them deliberate. When the Mini's first came out here in Japan, I went through 3 of them in the first year before I got the one I still have now. Battery problem, missing a line of pixels on the screen, headphone socket problem. Each time, it was still under the year's warranty. And each time, they took a look at it, and within minutes, swapped it out for a new one, fresh in the box, and handed it over to me. They must have lost money on me on that one, but their service made sure I was well taken care of. No company would plan a product to break easily AND have a top-notch service policy. Makes no sense: they would just constantly be replacing them at their own cost.

[Limm @ Nov 8th 2006 11:44AM]

Beautiful, I want one!

[Vas @ Nov 7th 2006 10:17AM]

Nice size, wish it had the same features like the new Sony NWS700 series.

[KimT @ Aug 7th 2008 3:05AM]

Not sure about iPods being designed to fail. My 2nd generation shuffle died after about 10 months - even though I treated it with kid gloves... I didn't arrange the warranty in time to get it replaced...

But my 1st generation shuffle is still going strong - and it's at least a year older! It's handled knocks, drops, splashes, sweat and varied temperatures. I also prefer the way it charges without needing a dock.

So nevermind about the 2nd gen shuffle.