Scosche tapSTICK adds hard buttons, purpose to new iPod shuffle
By Darren Murph 
posted June 6th 2009 2:42PM
posted June 6th 2009 2:42PM
Scosche Announces the tapSTICK –protective case with controls for iPod shuffle (Gen 3)
tapSTICK is a "Made for iPod" product
Oxnard, CA – June 05, 2009 – Scosche Industries (www.scosche.com), an award-winning innovator of mobile electronics and iPod accessories, announces its new tapSTICK high impact polycarbonate case, which ads full control for the iPod shuffle (Gen 3). The "Made for iPod" tapSTICK allows shuffle users to control play, pause, adjust volume, skip tracks and navigate playlists using the shuffle's VoiceOver feature. The tapSTICK will be available in both white and black and ships with a 3 foot long audio cable ($14.99 value) for connecting it to most stereo systems.
"We knew many shuffle users, especially those who use the shuffle to workout, would want to use their own earphones and would need a convenient way to control their music," said Kas Alves, Executive Vice President of Scosche Industries. "We also figured many of the same users would want a case to protect their new iPod from drops so we designed the tapSTICK to both offer protection and restore full functionality."
The tapSTICK is priced at $29.99 and will be available at retail locations around the world this summer. For additional information and to pre-order the tapSTICK now please visit www.scosche.com.
About Scosche Industries
Scosche Industries, founded in 1980 by Roger and Scotia Alves, is a leading manufacturer of high quality car audio installation accessories and products. Scosche's diverse product line includes mobile electronic accessories, iPod integration, iPod accessories, and universal navigation products. The publisher of the Auto Sound Encyclopedia, Scosche Industries manufactures and markets four distinct lines of product. These brands include Scosche®, REALM®, EFX®, and Accumat® . With a dealer network of over 2,000, numerous O.E.M. products, and 58 patents, Scosche Industries is a proven leader in the automotive aftermarket and home accessory business. For more information visit our website at www.scosche.com
It took a lot longer then i though for something like this to come out for the shuffle
your comment has no meaning to the rest to the us. :)
So let me get this straight: I buy a 4gb shuffle for $80 and then spend another $30 to get buttons?
the solution would be to stick it to Apple by boycotting the shuffle altogether
You know Apples messed up an Ipod when someone has to come along and clean up their mistakes by adding BUTTONS to the thing...
you are sooooooooooo right!
it's worth the five minutes it takes to post on engadget to agree with that statement. the new shuffle should have had a volume rocker like the touch and a button similar to the touch's sleep button for play and pause.
Think of the shuffle as a prototype for a much more polished buttonless mp3 player.
Rome wasn't built in a day after all.
Rome wasn't built in a day, that's true, but they probably put roofs (rooves?) on the houses before they moved in, amiright?
I had a Koss DVD player that had the important buttons (eject, menu, play, ff, rw, etc) on the remote only. The remote was flimsy and broke, and I would've had to send away for another one just to use my DVD player. Needless to say the thing is in the trash now, and all because a few buttons couldn't have been slapped on the console.
Now having earbuds with the buttons isntead of the iPod isn't quite as annoying since they are physically tethered making it more difficult to lose, but it's the same basic idea people have been annoyed about since this crap happened with VCRs. Come on, Apple.
Only one path is arguably (but not always) better than buttons, and that's touchscreen.
And...yeah, you know the rest.
This model fails.
this obsession with removing buttons can only lead to one logical end.
apple introduces revolutionary new laptop with no keyboard
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary
OMG that was priceless!
What's the point? if you're sticking something like this over it, just buy a normal Mp3 player for a LOT less.
and it still doesnt have a screen
I see no point in this, just get a refurb last gen shuffle. yeah not as much space, but really? The company does at least sell an add-on for any headphones that doesnt look like crap (http://scosche.com/products/sfID1/210/sfID2/343/productID/1726) its the same price and isnt as crappy looking.
Well, no point for a screenless 8gb...
Well, maybe you like the remote functionality, you just want to have buttons on the main unit too. Also, the voice prompts are pretty nice. I'd still do without that, given that you're talking like $150 for this shuffle and the add-on buttons.
or you could get a proper MP3 player (keys included) for that money
comma is not a replacement for "and". and even if it was, it just reads as lazy and stupid. so why do it?
It's a common practice for newspapers with limited space.
But I agree... on a website or blog... it's not needed.
me , you both.
you do realize that a comma can be used for a continuation of thought. So, the comma there would be acceptable...
they could have written the title with creative use of hyphens, slashes, colons or semicolons... but I guess maybe those would look weird? The could have the same (apparently desired) disjointed flow and it would allow them to avoid grammar/syntax errors...
Schoche_tapSTICK.add((hardbuttons&&purpose),iPod_shuffle);
The comma is fine. There is such a thing as style.
It's better than a boring old http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/06/scosche-tapstick-adds-hard-buttons-purpose-to-new-ipod-shuffle
ryan:
It's also customary to begin a sentence with a capital letter.
not using capitals for sentence starts doesn't make comprehension of the subject matter any more difficult. furthermore it is redundant after the period that it follows. and Thirdly it allows me to Emphasize my Points if i need to, fancy eh?
Pointless accessory is pointless.
Apple engineers have "been working very hard" to remove those buttons, and these guys go and put it back?
Fanboy rage!
I think you mean:
Botched MP3 design is botched.
@chispito
Why yes. Yes I do.
I don't see why everyone hates on the new shuffle. It's a baby step forward onto something. Truly revolutionary.
Sorry, I meant to say "something truly revolutionary."
My iPod touch registered a double space as the end of a sentence.
To what? Mind controlled iPods?
How is it revolutionary? It plays back voices that were generated on the computer when it was synced? That may be new to audio players, but that's not at all "revolutionary".
Apple fanboy confirmed.
You all point out his fandom, and yet fail to point out the irony that he's talking about how revolutionary Apple is... and is then forced to correct his first post because his revolutionary iPod Touch tried to think for him?
He wins at irony.
about time
what are you talking about
Reply fail.
Hmm for $120 you could get yourself a nice DAP or a cheap PMP. Or you could get a screenless 4gb iPod Shuffle with buttons.
i've seen the 4g 8gb nano for 130 on sale. it's like they say, the cheap comes out expensive.
For the $30 you could just buy a sanza clip with buttons and a screen. I know where my money's going.
I can't wait for an accessory that does the exact same thing but actually costs the same as the iPod itself, or more.
Someone put this and the shuffle on FailBlog.org please.
It beats the purpose of going button-less on the shuffle. Just get a previous-gen shuffle.
This accessory is not fail, it is probably a lifesaver for anyone who for some reason or another, didn't realize how craptacular the Shuffle design is now, and can't return it.
eh
Great idea for the new device, but I still think the last-gen Shuffle was and is the best tiny MP3 player ever made, particularly since it can play DRM'd iTunes songs for those who don't want to PAY the extortion fee to "upgrade" to the 256kbps DRM-free versions.
Not speaking for myself though, I don't mess with lossy music.