Apple announces cheaper, more colorful iPod shuffle, new Special Edition
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:50PM
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:50PM
Well, it wasn't high on the rumor list, but it looks like Apple didn't forget about the humble iPod shuffle amidst all its other iPod news, with it taking the opportunity to both lower the price and add a much needed dash of color to the lineup. Now starting at just $59 for a 2GB model and $79 for a 4GB, the shuffle is also available in your choice of pink, green, or blue in addition the usual silver or black, as well as in a new, all stainless steel 4GB Special Edition for a premium price of $99 (which also just so happens to be an Apple Store exclusive). Not much else new, as you might expect, but Apple is also promising that more iPod shuffle-friendly headphones will soon be available, in case that's the one thing that's been keeping you and the voice apart all this time.
Nah...I'd rather get the Sandisk Sansa instead.....
Garbage.
A different type of silver is a "special edition" and $10 more? Really apple?
Math fail.
It's 20$ more.
Seriously? This comment gets a "highest ranked" rating? Hardly insightful, interesting, humourous or anything to that effect.
Still not a good device
Disagree. When it was first introduced the iPod Shuffle was an excellent little product but as time has gone on it has become worse because, as perversely as this sounds, they keep increasing its capacity. Initially the lack of a screen wasn't a problem because the device didn't hold much but as time has gone on this has become increasingly necessary (heck, it now has as much capacity as the iPod Mini did and that needed a screen). Further, the controls on the new model absolutely suck.
Honestly, I think Apple has lost the plot on this product line.
Yeah, in this iPod category, the new Sansa Clip with micro-SDHC card, excellent SQ, and screen is clearly superior in every way.
Buttons? Buttons??? WHERE BUTTONS?
ANGRY!
A phone without buttons, ok it can work.. (and it did)
An so an iPod can.
But an iPod without screen?? ehh.. no :)
Still over price, other mp3 offer far more feature for far less. And size no longer matter. I hate use a mp3 without a screen.
Can somebody please get this man/woman (*delete as applicable*) an English class?
"[This product is] [s]till [overpriced because] other mp3 [players] offer far more feature[s] for far less. [S]ize no longer matter[s]. I hate [using an] mp3 [player] without a screen."
They could had add a screen led screen for show what or text it play, but they didn't.
That's what the Nano is for. I bought the shuffle (2nd Gen) because I specifically didn't want to pay more for a screen. I could care less about seeing what is playing. I just rate my favorite songs 5 stars and load up only those songs on my shuffle.
At least the 3rd gen has that voice over feature in those rare instances my friends ask me for the name of the song thats playing in my car.
It's not paying more for a screen if Apple's competitors are actually charging less and including a screen. Take Sansa Clip+ for example, since lots of people have mentioned that in the comments. 8gb for $69. That's $10 less for twice the memory. With a screen. (And a FM tuner, voice recorder, and microSDHC slot)
This new nano look a lot like a lighter.
Sansa Clip beats this easily.
The saddest announcement is that the last shuffle with buttons looks like it is not available in the store any more (other than whatever refurbished units are around for the next little while). I was hoping that some buttons might make a comeback.
Despite being a mac nerd, if I needed to buy a tiny mp3 player these days, I think the sansa clip+ might be the winner :-(
I don't understand how anyone could pay $60 for a 2gb screenless player that only works with shitty stock headphones.
The shuffle at least used to make sense for working out, but I think it's become by far the most pointless device in apples lineup.
The second generation shuffle is great. They should bring it back, but add a screen to it.
I bought the Sansa Clip Plus for my brother last week and it beats the Shuffle in every way. Plays OGG and FLAC too.
What is with everyone and the goddamn screen? Buy a Nano. If you want a cheap player in a size comparable to the shuffle, go buy the Sandisk Sansa. It won't be as stylish or anything, but it is what you people want for cheap.
From the very beginning, the shuffle was meant to be without a screen and it should stay that way.
In some respects I agree with you - the first generation Shuffle with 512MB did not need a screen. But these things now have the same capacity as the iPod Mini did when it first launched and that certainly needed a screen. Apple advertises that the Shuffle can now hold up to 1,000 songs - how the hell are you supposed to find a track that you want to listen to now?
I am utterly convinced that Apple should have either kept the memory capacity low and simply cut the price to match or added a screen. Frankly, if they did decide to add a screen then killing the entire product line off and introducing a low capacity Nano would probably be the best idea. At the moment the Shuffle is a very confused product that isn't really any good at anything much because it is hamstrung by its design changes.
Special edition for that plain color?
Common...
I dunno.... stainless steel is pretty sexy in its natural color...
WTF with the $99 4GB? Not even a price drop? I have to wonder if people really buy these shuffles (I returned mine), especially at those prices.
I hope the world realizes that Apple already overprices everything, but if you look closer, you can see that Apple at least tries to improve on prices (as opposed to Sony). Lets take shuffles in general. When the Shuffle 2nd Gen came out, it used to be 1GB for 75$. I'd say they've gotten significantly better.
Still, don't be surprised to see a 99$ price tag for the top-tiered shuffle product made from "stainless steel". After all, it's what I'd expect to see from Apple.
In the end, I think a 59$ MSRP for a 2GB shuffle is reasonable price for an Apple product. They really have no reason to make a price drop, all they have done so far is add new colors to their line of shuffles.
No - from reports it sounds like these things don't sell well anymore and I can quite understand why. Frankly, the 3G should have been killed off in favour of the old 2G design that sold much better.
@Kelmon: I know, I was expecting Apple to re-use the 2G shell with the current shuffle's innards (voice over, Apple lossless support, etc), and then brag "Due to the high demand from out customers, we're bringing buttons back" followed with loud cheers.... LOL.
I'll stick to my Sandisk Sansa. It works just as well and it has a built in FM tuner, so I can listen to baseball and football games when I am in the store or taking a walk.
Or you could get the Sansa Clip, which for a cheaper price you get
* More Memory
* Radio Tuner
* Microphone
* A Damn Screen
* Some Damn Buttons
Seems like a no brainer.