Comments on: Apple shrinks its iPod Shuffle

The new model is smaller than a AA battery yet holds up to 1,000 songs. A new VoiceOver feature can recite song titles, artists, and playlist names.

[1eye1]

Next up for Apple is the '09 nano revision. They got it so small that it looks like an RFID chip that is imbedded under the skin at the base of the skull. The sound quality is amazing, no need for headphones, people won't even know that you are listenning to music. The less in material in your head, the better it sounds. The only problem that they have is that they are having trouble displaying the apple logo. As of right now, it causes a small but permanent rash on the forehead in the shape of an apple.

[pjcamp]

New! 50% more loseable!

[zato_3]

This story was posted at 6:05 Pacific and at 8:15 there's already 30 ugly comments from Microsoft's finest basement-dwelling PC gamer creeps and Microsoft employees.

[U. Tripps]

Please. Any critic of an Apple product is automatically an MS stooge? Ridiculous. I'm tempted to accuse you of slathering, slavish devotion, but I won't. That's exactly the sort of attack you're making, and it is completely baseless.

[U. Tripps]

I understand that they need to maintain novelty by changing the design, but why make something that looks less interesting than the previous generation? The white buttons in a circle on a colorful brushed aluminum rectangle looked good. Likewise, the more square, wafer style nano was better looking than the subsequent return to the typical form.

Apple, have you taken the creative designers away from the iPod line?

[Donniebrasco]

I'll stick with my 4GB Sansa Clip that is about the size of a matchbook, has a screen to navigate through the song library, works with my Sennheiser earbuds, doesn't require software to put music on and cost me $40 bucks 9 months ago.

[ikramerica--2008]

Does it have a plugin to work with iTunes? If so, I'm there.

[Astrodude0]

Another gimmick by Apple... why don't they just add an LED screen or something.

[Yieeman]

I am guessing that this is not Nike + compatible. Would have been nice if the best MP3 player for runners would have incorporated that.

[tipoo_]

In Soviet Apple, Shuffle plays you!


Don't want to use iTunes? Want to use your own ear buds? Lost your Apple ear buds?

Well TOO BAD!

[BOTNET]

not to be a walking commerial, but I shall keep my SONY MP3 player

1. no need for iTunes (oh boy I don't like iTunes so much) nor any other software
2. no need for any charging cables
3. has LCD screen
4. has FM radio
5. lasts 16 hours on a one charge


http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665522560

[sciontcya]

Yeah, that's beautiful!
And FM radio? No freakin' way!
I can see why they've sold 9 of them...

[Draxon]

Umm I run my ipod just fine without itunes (I use winamp just fine), wow that thing is ugly and would be a pain in the ass on a long run. pulling it out of your pocket every time you need to change a song., and good luck reading tat screen while in motion anyways.

but hey i'm sure it will do just as good as the nomad did.

[jscott418]

It looks like a gimmck to me. Can't remember when I needed to here someone tell me what song or playlist is on my iPod. Not to mention I hate those Apple ear phones. Now your stuck with them?
Another way to get you to conform to Apple's way. I think Apple is becoming more anoying all the time.

[cdlenfert]

As far as I can see there is no way to go back to a previous track or the beginning of a current track. My bluetooth headset controls are the same way. Double click the play button and you can skip forward, but sometimes you want to listen to the same song again! I think this takes two small steps forward and 2 bigger steps back.

[sciontcya]

Dimwits, trolls, whatever.
It's 4GB for $79.
Last Shuffle was 1GB for $49.
Hmmm, yeah more expensive.
I would hope this site would attract a more intelligent crowd - apparently not.

[Draxon]

It may be important to note for people who are unable to do any research for themselves the 1 GB $49 dollar version is still available.

[lufthansa7478]

The big problem on the new shuffle is, that you can't use other headphones. Too bad that there isn't any speech recognition.

[Tim_Liao]

I cannot think of anything that would be more annoying than this and will be Apple's biggest failure since that Apple Cube thing. Why in the world would you need to know the song that is already playing at that time. If you were the one who loaded your own music, it is more than likely you already know what the name of that songs is. The only thing that could have made this useful on a Shuffle would have been if the voice could tell you what the next song was going to be since on a Shuffle there is no screen to see that type of information. Also the voice is just annoying as hell. How many of us who has GPS, has long turned off the voice function. There is actually one other functional thing they could have done with the voice feature that would have been very very useful. If I pressed that button, if it could tell me the time of day, then I would actually consider it but to tell me information I already know is a waste of time.

[Faztang]

Only a moron would buy a shuffle! This thing is a joke, they still refuse to put a damn screen on it, and now the only controls are on Apple headphones? I know the article says you can buy an adapter to use headphones without playback controls., but the key word here is "buy".
So no screen, crappy battery life, no radio, no voice recorder, and no subscription music service. So it's main feature is that it is small and that it can tell you by voice what song is playing. Price $79.
OK so I just went on Amazon.com and they have the 4gb Sansa Clip for $50. With the clip you get:
A SCREEN, ability to use headphones of your choice without adapters, 5 hour longer battery life, FM radio, built in mic, ability to use subscription music service, oh and yeah, it's really really tiny and comes with a built in clip. Stop drinking the Kool Aid people, the iphone touch is cool, but there are better mp3 players out there when compared to the rest of the apple line. Check out Sansa, Creative, Microsoft, Archos, and others. Just take five minutes to research other brands like you do for every other product you buy and you will be pleasantly surprised what you can find out there.

[Draxon]

I hate renting music. I have enough money to own a small light iPod for when I go jogging and a real (sec gen nano) ipod complete with screen when I want more features. I like the weight and size of them, I would never use a screen on my shuffle even if it had one. I have no use for FM tuner or voice recording.

You did say 5 hour battery life on that sand disk click.. wow that's great way better than the 10 hour battery life on the shuffle!

I have done lots of research I am a tech, but I'm at tech at work when I get home I just want my gadgets to do what they are supposed to do well, I'm sick gadgets that try to do everything and fail at them all. That sandisk clip sounds like one of thoe $49 printer/scanner/fax machine/usb hub/toaster/insert useless add on ability here. Just because you are cheap and have time to waste doesn't mean people who have money and whose time is worth more than saving $20 buy buying a piece of crap. Doesn't mean I'm a moron.

Maybe you need totake a look at your life

[Shaun822]

I'm reminded of a Mad TV skit a couple years ago when Apple introduced the Nano for the first time and to quote the skit, "And, now introducing the Apple iPod: Really, Really, F***ing Small. Crap I lost it where did it go? Nobody move your feet!"

[mp44]

Seeing this comment makes me remember this spoof done about 2 years ago: The iFlea.

See--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvPj22jANDw

[zhakidd532]

The last one was perfect. I see no reason to make it smaller...just keep it that size and try and up the the memory and battery life...

[sciontcya]

All you marketing geniuses...I bet Steve needs your resumes NOW!
Look at poor Apple - they're barely hanging on...

[Bowen88]

This is so small, kind of reminds me of this parody Mactini.

If you haven't seen it go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw80nMPv1Wc

Had to bookmark this and send it to friend when I first saw this, it made me laugh so hard.

[afakirani]

So no dedicated controls on the device unless you buy an external adapter. I'm sure that adapter will ruin the form factor of the Shuffle. I don't get it. Why didn't they just add place the controls directly on the player allowing any proprietary ear/head phones to work without the need for an adapter?