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Hands-on with the 2G iPod shuffle
Great god of portable audio, this new 2G shuffle is freaking unbelievably small. Like, seriously, it's kind of weirding us out -- it's like they chopped a regular shuffle in half, then skinned off some thickness, then added a clip. Oh, we also got a look at its evolutionary new iPod earphones -- remember the failed canalphones? These new ones are kind of halfway in between those and the classic iPod phones. Click on, this is a $79 work of consumer tech art, even if it won't play most file formats we're actually interested in.
iPod shuffle now "world's smallest MP3 player"
Damn, looks like even the humble iPod shuffle is getting a bump today. After having sold 10 million of the first-gen shuffles, the new model is now reportedly the size of the iPod radio remote, comes in just a 1GB capacity, and sports a shiny new aluminum body with a clip for easy wearability. Steve's calling it the "world's smallest MP3 player" and hey, who are we to argue? It's available for preorder today and expected to ship with its itty bitty dock and ear buds sometime in October, for the bargain basement price of only $79.
On improving the iPod's aging UI and experience
The iPod is the 800-pound gorilla of the DAP industry - there's no doubt about it (well, almost). In its 4+ years of existence, the player has quickly won owner's hearts because of its ease of use and seamless iTunes management experience, amongst other reasons. I personally have owned one of every generation of iPod since the original 5 GB model with the *gasp* mechanical scroll wheel, before all this fancy touch wheel stuff you young whipper-snappers are spoiled with today.In all this time, however, the iPod's famously simple UI has more or less remained that way - staggeringly basic. While I personally am no fan of devices that add features and options simply for the sake of claiming 'it has more', I'm starting to think that there are a few areas that the iPod's UI and experience are in serious need of an update. Music (and video) collections are getting larger, people are interacting with their devices and the libraries on their computers through increasingly new (and truly useful) ways, and I think the iPod needs to catch up with the times.
LG intros Shuffle-esque UP3 Sharp and Flat DAPs
They say that you shouldn't fix what's not broken, which is probably why we see so many MP3 players on the market taking "design cues" from the iPod family, and now LG has introduced two more models that bear a striking resemblance to Apple's flash-based Shuffle (except for the color, obviously, although the original UP3 did indeed come in white). Both the UP3 Sharp and UP3 Flat pack either 512MB or 1GB of storage into that familiar looking package, with each unit supporting MP3, WMA, OGG, and ASF file formats. The differences here lie in the devices' displays (or lack thereof) and their battery life: the OLED-equipped Sharp (pictured above) gets two less hours of juice than the screen-less, 10-hour-rated Flat (pictured after the break). Expect to see both models in stores before the end of the month, but probably only in Korea. Read- UP3 SharpRead- UP3 Flat[Via The MP3 Players]
Exploding Shuffle
Kids, take care of your iPods. They entertain you, keep you company, and act as a status symbol (even though you deny it). And, if one day your shuffle decides to go belly up, lay it to rest peacefully by sending it to the big iPod recycling plant in the sky. What you should by no means do is attempt to repair said shuffle by stabbing it with a large metal knife, lest you end up like this foolish fellow who hit a capacitor and had the iPod explode in his face.In all seriousness though, whenever you are planning to open up any kind of electronic device, think first, and think twice. I've been bit more than a few times by capacitors that I hadn't properly discharged, especially when repairing cameras. Via our sassy sister, Engadget.
iPod Shuffle wins battle with knife-wielding owner
Not that we should really have to remind you of such things, but trying to fix your own gadgets by bludgeoning them with a knife is not only ineffective, it can also result in you swearing and screaming in pain after the capacitor you impaled blows up in your face.[Thanks, Dave Z.]
Apple promises to investigate "iPod City"
Even though the veracity of that Daily Mail story about supposed substandard working conditions in several Chinese iPod factories is still up in the air, the Apple PR machine has already begun rolling out something of a damage control campaign, issuing a statement that reemphasizes the company's commitment to internationally-recognized manufacturing codes of conduct. Citing protocols outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the International Labor Organization, Apple stressed its own supplier code of conduct's commitment to safe workplaces, environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes, and most importantly to the issue at hand, ensuring that workers are treated with respect and dignity. Instead of flat out denying the Mail's claims, however, Apple seems to be adopting a more contrite approach, claiming that it is "currently investigating the allegations regarding working conditions" in the Hon Hai-owned plant. We're happy to see that Apple has taken notice of this story and is concerned with the folks who are vital in bringing their products to market, but the real test is whether we'll ever actually hear anything else about these factories once the company has completed the promised investigation. [Via iLounge]
The radJupiter cigarette lighter iPod dock
If you've been looking for a redundant iPod accessory that likely won't fit into 9 out of 10 cigarette lighters, this new radJupiter nano dock from Radius should fit the bill nicely. The little unit comes in white and black, and also has a shuffle version with a USB port instead of dock connector. Along with charging your iPod, the radJupiter contains an FM transmitter to get tunes to your stereo, and houses a stereo mini jack to get audio from other devices. You can get your rad on for about $50, but we're pretty sure that the rad-ness will be Japan only for the time being.
Apple, Portal Player parting ways
Portal Player, the long time supplier of media chips for the iPod, has been told that Apple will be going with another vendor for mid and high end, flash-based players (the shuffle and nano, presumably). This is bad news for Portal Player, as the iPod has accounted for 90% of their revenue, EETimes reports.There's no word on who has won the newly available contract, but analyst Craig Berger of Webbush Morgan Securities listed Samsung, SigmaTel, Actions, or LSI Logic as possibilities, in that order. Sorry to hear it, PortalPlayer. I'll miss your smiling logo.[Via MacNN]
Keepin' it real fake: Apple strikes back
After enduring an onslaught of bogus iPods for years, Apple has apparently finally had enough of the knockoffs and is calling in the big guns. Is the company siccing its battery of attack lawyers on the shady manufacturers? No, this time Apple is unleashing a more fearsome force: the company is warning retailers to stay away from the clones, and has provided them with a cheat sheet to help them identify counterfeits. Somehow, we suspect that most dealers already know the difference between real and fake iPods (here's a hint: the real ones don't arrive mysteriously at your back door in an unmarked box), and that this is really Apple's way of sending them a not-so-subtle message: if you want to sell the real ones, stop selling the fakes. Of course, retailers probably see higher margins from the fakes, so they might be torn, but we're betting that even a hint of the wrath of Steve will be enough to get most of them to shut that back door forever.
Altoids case from an iPod Shuffle
Apple should pursue some sort of co-branding opportunities with the Altoid company. There was the Altoid Nano dock, the Altoids Shuffle case, the Altoids external battery, and the Altoids USB charger. Now we have an iPod Shuffle that has been converted into an Altoids case. The full instructions are here, if you happen to have a spare Shuffle and too many Altoids on your hands.[via Make]
Confusing the people: Rumors vs. News
There have been rumors of the iPod shuffle's impending doom for some time now, with prolific soothsayers predicting the emergence of a 1GB nano-like device to take its place. The rumors are so frequent, it seems, that even local news stations are picking up on the "story," relaying the speculation as infallible will-eventually-be fact.That sloppy reporting leads to conversations like the one I had at dinner tonight, with my dining partner insisting that, yes, Apple is discontinuing the shuffle and replacing it with a 1GB nano. The unbridled confidence in his statement led me to call up a colleague, confirming that I didn't in fact miss a whole product shift in the 15 minutes between leaving my desk and arriving at the restaurant. "Well," said my friend, "that's what they said on the news tonight."Hmph. Rumor sites speculating on future products is one thing, but TV news stations? I know the iPod is The "It" Thing and everyone's looking forward to seeing what Apple has in the pipeline, but since when do credible "news" organizations indulge in rumor? Isn't reporting on possible iPod updates just like headlining with "Is Britney pregnant? Check out this photo!"? It makes the news nothing more than a tabloid. And the confusion amongst viewers only complicates the situation, threatening Apple -- perceptually and financially.What do you think? Is the iPod so hot that TV news stations need to discuss rumors? Or are they just looking for a cheap way to spur interest?
Build your own Shuffle transmitter
Here is yet another do it yourself project that I won't be doing any time soon, but don't let that stop you. Raymond built himself an FM transmitter for his Shuffle using an old IBM mouse. He has nicknamed the contraption the iMouse.The range is about 500 feet, which isn't too shabby. Best of all he has posted instructions for folks who own soldering irons out there to build there own.[via Make]
Daring Fireball on Dell's Ditty
Last week Dell released the DJ Ditty, a $99 512 MB shuffle competitor with a screen and FM tuner. Hot on its heels, John Gruber of Daring Fireball fame has put together a great commentary that is part research, part speculation, and a whole lot of humor, poking fun at a device he doesn't think Dell is even proud of. Check it out, and have yet another nerdy laugh at the expense of Dell's products.
How random is random: The equation
Brad, at our sister site The Digital Music Weblog, has linked to an article that looks at, mathematically, exactly how iTunes' shuffle function creates a random lists of tunes vs. the "Party Shuffle" function. According to the article's author, Brian E. Hansen, "The shuffle algorithm chooses songs 'without replacement.' In other words, much like going through a shuffled deck of cards, you will hear each song only once until you have heard them all... or until you have stopped the player or selected a different playlist. iTunes Party Shuffle is a different matter. Its algorithm selects songs 'with replacement,' meaning the entire deck of cards is reshuffled after each song is played." He then goes on to demonstrate just how the "play higher rated songs more often" option works. Folks, this is taking geek cred to a whole new level. My thanks to Mr. Hansen for reminding me that I should have paid attention in math class.[Via The Digital Music Weblog]
iPod Family revisited
Last month I wrote about the iPod Family, a Flickr album set up by photographer (and huge iPod fan, apparently) pinkbelt. Taking Mac fanaticism to a whole new level, she sets up little domestic scenarios with her iPods, snaps away and posts the results. This time, young iPod shuffle approaches a certain developmental milestone. She writes, "1st-G Daddy-Pod instructs Li'l Shuffy on proper potty manners and offers him words of encouragement."Cute pictures, actually. I'd like to personally thank pinkbelt for making my collection of Apple hats, shirts, bumper stickers, posters, busted computers, etc. seem downright tame.
Flickr Find: iPod shuffle gum holder
We've been doing it all wrong! For months we've all been trying to squeeze our iPod shuffles into gum packs and Altoid tins. Turns out, we've been missing the real action.Store the gum inside the shuffle instead!* Mmmm... shufflemint!ImNotGaryColeman's Flickr set demonstrates the possibilities.* Warning: Replacing the innards of your iPod shuffle with chewing gum, no matter how tasty, will definitely void your warranty, so don't come crying to us if you find yourself in a...ummm... sticky situation.
iFill and iPod Shuffle: Perfect companions
A couple of days ago I mentioned Griffin Technology's iFill. I've been playing with it since and I've got to say it seems to have been made specifically with the iPod Shuffle in mind. I like to listen to WOXY, but I use my iPod almost exclusively in the car. Now I can do both. I have a 1GB Shuffle, and I've told iFill to use 512MB for music. Before I go to bed, I plug in the iPod, launch iFill, select WOXY and start recording. By the next morning, I've got my favorite radio station ready to carry around with me all day, all cozy on my Shuffle. I love it.I got some great suggestions from you folks on alternative apps and methods for getting internet radio onto my iPod, but iFill makes it so easy for only nineteen bucks, I think I'll just register this one.
Better iPod Shuffling through Smartlists
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who complain about the weather and those who do something about it. That first group recently figured out that the iPod's shuffle function isn't all that random. It just doesn't seem to shuffle enough, and who wants to listen to three David Hasselhoff tracks in a row?AJ Schuster, the man behind Maximum Aardvark, did something about it. He has created his own shuffle process that is comprised of 5 special smart lists that not only make his listening time more random, but also ensure that he doesn't need to endure any tracks that aren't very good.
