Apple Unleashes New Talking 4 Gig Shuffles

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/' target='_blank'>http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The new iPod shuffle is jaw-droppingly small. It's half the size of the previous generation. Yet there's room for so much more. With 4GB of storage, it now holds up to 1,000 songs,1 and lets you enjoy multiple playlists, too. Introducing VoiceOver,2 the feature that gives iPod shuffle a voice. With the press of a button, it tells you what song is playing and who's performing it. It can even tell you the names of your playlists, giving you a new way to navigate your music."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1236776316.usr18053.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Okay, first of all that thing looks smaller than the battery holder on the Sennheiser noise cancelling headphones (like the PXC 250's).&nbsp; Secondly, the voice feature, if it works as advertised, is undeniably cool.&nbsp; I also like that they've taken all the buttons off the device itself.&nbsp; Everything is built into the headphones, which makes more sense to me.&nbsp; A lot of people are going to balk at the idea of using only Apple's buds, but that's the tradeoff for a device this small and slick.</p><p>I've already ordered one and should have it somewhere around the 18th for review.&nbsp; Keep your eyes peeled here for the full skinny (pun intended) once I get my hands on it.</p><p>Anyone else getting one?</p>

[Joe Johaneman]

I just can't get over the fact you have to use the Apple earbuds. I hate earbuds. Guess I won't be getting the new shuffle, no matter how small and light. I need the ability to use other earphones.

[doogald]

I'm sure that it won't be long before somebody manufactures an cabel adapter for other headphones that includes the buttons necessary for remote control with Shuffles, Nanos and Touches (if they do not already exist.)

I have really no interest in a Shuffle.

[Phronetix]

I just can't get over the fact you have to use the Apple earbuds. I hate earbuds. Guess I won't be getting the new shuffle, no matter how small and light. I need the ability to use other earphones.

Exactly. I completely agree this is a curious oversight.

Although, I did just pick up the Apple in ear headphones and love the fit. The sound is as good, as far as I can tell, to my V-modas.

[Joe Johaneman]

Exactly. I completely agree this is a curious oversight.

Although, I did just pick up the Apple in ear headphones and love the fit. The sound is as good, as far as I can tell, to my V-modas.

I'm going to have to give them a look/listen. I keep looking at them online. I'll be in the Apple Store in Allentown this weekend, so I'll take a closer look.

[Vincent Ferrari]

I love my Vibe Duos, so I don't think the Shuffle will be anywhere near a "primary" device for me in any sense, but I did want to review it.

Worst case is I give it away here if I don't like it :p

[Joe Johaneman]

I love my Vibe Duos, so I don't think the Shuffle will be anywhere near a "primary" device for me in any sense, but I did want to review it.

Worst case is I give it away here if I don't like it :p

True 'dat. My shuffle has one purpose: I use it while I'm cleaning. It's perfect for that. Fits in my pocket, has no screen to accidently break if I slam it up against something hard accidently, etc. I don't need 4 gigs for that. I'll be happy with 1 gig (and even that is probably overkill.) I'm currently using a 1st gen 512mb shuffle, but it's starting to die. The battery doesn't hold a charge as well as it used to. Apple is still selling the last generation of shuffles, so I'll probably just pick up one of them.

[doogald]

Controls for new Shuffle (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3458)

Double-click and hold for fast forward; triple-click and hold for rewind; click and hold until tone for Playlist menu. Am I the only one who thinks that this is ridiculous?

In other news, iTunes 8.1 is apparently out very shortly, and will add the ability to autofill any iPod, not just a Shuffle. That's good news for my 8 GB Nano! I have all sorts of complicated smart playlists going to do this now.

[jdmichal]

I've always thought that, sans iPod Touch, Apple control schemes have been the worst I've ever seen. Even the much lauded wheel is a disaster from an ergonomics view. As compared to a traditional directional pad that it replaced:

Finger must travel more to achieve the same effect. Finger must move in a constant circle instead of simply hold down a button.
Accuracy is often sketchy at best... Oh how many times I'd sat on my Nano spending a few seconds trying to move one entry, while it kept moving down two and up two. Instead of just hitting down once.


I'm glad to see they're continuing the tradition. This couldn't have two buttons why?

[Jason Dunn]

I'm all for MP3 players breaking into new ground, and thought the original Shuffle was pretty damn brilliant - a screen isn't as mandatory as everyone thinks it is for some scenarios like working out in a gym - but this new Shuffle missed the mark in a few ways.

First, the fact that you have to use Apple's headphones in order to control the device in any way at all is a big problem. From a quality standpoint, the $3 headphones that Apple includes can't measure up - ever - to the quality of stand-alone headphones that cost $99+. And even if they're "not bad" as far as headphones go, not everyone's ears can fit them - my wife for instance couldn't use the headphones on her Shuffle because her ear canals are quite small. We always have to buy her extra-small headphones. By moving the controls onto the headphones, Apple is shutting out 100% of people who:

a) Want better quality headphones
b) Can't fit/don't like the included headphones

The idea of investing money in a great set of headphones is that you can use them over and over again with all sorts of device - and Apple decides to break this concept? Yeah, I know third party companies are doubtless salivating over re-releasing new versions of their headphones with Shuffle controls on them, but there's zero benefit to the consumer.

I never heard anyone complain that the Shuffle was too big, so I'd have preferred to see them keep the size but add a screen (the SanDisk Sansa Clip manages this very nicely), or increase the battery life, etc. This seems to be a case of making something smaller because they can, not because it really benefits the consumer.

I think the voice-over idea is kind of neat, but the implementation sounds just as bad as text to speech systems from a decade ago. The PC version sounds especially awful. Apple tends to implement technologies when they've matured and deliver real value to consumers, so this is especially surprising that they'd deliver something so incredibly lame.

OK, I've basically written an advance review of this product, so I guess I'd better post this over on DHT. :D

[Jason Dunn]

Even the much lauded wheel is a disaster from an ergonomics view.

Heh. I have to agree...yes, people who have had iPods for a while adapt to it and learn how to control it properly (for the most part) but it requires very fine motor skills to rotate such a small amount to move one item up/down. The iPod is so popular that most people don't seem to remember how it felt to use one for the first time. The Zune Pad, which combines the single-item click of a d-pad and the sweeps of a wheel, is a far superior navigation method.

[doogald]

Funny, though I don't use them (I carry them as spares), Apple earbuds fit my ears like they were designed for 'em. I imagine that I have very Jobs-ian ears. ;) Then again, I can step into a 40 Regular suit off the rack and all that they need to do is hem the pants and sleeves; I am Mr. Normal.

You know what would have been cool? If they included a Bluetooth radio and allowed you to pair to a Nike+ Watch Remote (http://store.apple.com/us/product/TU016ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3NA&mco=MzE1MDI5NQ). I actually use one of those when I run, and it's great.

[jdmichal]

Oh, I also consider it cheating to claim you made something "smaller" when all you really did was split it in half. All the yummy parts in one spot, the controlly parts in another.

[doogald]

Oh, I also consider it cheating to claim you made something "smaller" when all you really did was split it in half. All the yummy parts in one spot, the controlly parts in another.

The yummy spots + the controlly parts are still < Shuffle Gen 2.