iPod Shuffle

[_Bolt_]

Apple released two new iPod Shuffles with an even smaller design today. The updates were predicted at the very last minute this morning.

The new 4GB devices are priced at $79 and can hold up to 1000 songs. These new iPod Shuffles adopt a more vertical shape than the previous model, but are smaller overall. The previous generation iPod shuffles remain available for purchase.

Apple also added a new "VoiceOver" feature that allows the iPod shuffle to speak your song titles, artists and playlist names. All of the controls are located on the earphone cord.

"Imagine your music player talking to you, telling you your song titles, artists and playlist names," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPod and iPhone™ Product Marketing. "The amazingly small new iPod shuffle takes a revolutionary approach to how you listen to your music by talking to you, also making it the first iPod shuffle with playlists."

Using the VoiceOver feature, the new Shuffle allows you to pick and choose between different playlists. More details are available on Apple's iPod Shuffle section of their website. They also provide a Guided Tour video (direct QuickTime link) that walks through the new features.

Does anyone else this that this is a joke? I am a complete Apple fanboy. But they absolutely dropped the ball on this one. You can only use Apple headphones? Are they really that concerned with the opposing headphone companies? What if you lose the headphones? You have to buy a new $40 pair that most people dont even like? What about the people who use this for exercise? The Apple headphones always fall out.

Just my 2cents

[toef]

Originally Posted by _Bolt_

Does anyone else this that this is a joke? I am a complete Apple fanboy. But they absolutely dropped the ball on this one. You can only use Apple headphones? Are they really that concerned with the opposing headphone companies? What if you lose the headphones? You have to buy a new $40 pair that most people dont even like? What about the people who use this for exercise? The Apple headphones always fall out.

Just my 2cents

I didn't see the part about the headphones mentioned in the quoted article thingy, but even if I had, I don't think it's an issue.

Considering they're special headphones that have a microphone (presumably) and the volume controls, I see why it is the way it is.

If it can't use any other headphones at all, then sure, that might be a little dumb, but it sounds like they'll continue selling the older model of the shuffle as well, so it's not really a big deal. It's not like this new model looks amazing, and people will want it for it's shape. If you want the voice control, get this one. If you don't, get the older one.

[_Bolt_]

Originally Posted by toefer

I didn't see the part about the headphones mentioned in the quoted article thingy, but even if I had, I don't think it's an issue.

Considering they're special headphones that have a microphone (presumably) and the volume controls, I see why it is the way it is.

If it can't use any other headphones at all, then sure, that might be a little dumb, but it sounds like they'll continue selling the older model of the shuffle as well, so it's not really a big deal. It's not like this new model looks amazing, and people will want it for it's shape. If you want the voice control, get this one. If you don't, get the older one.

Well considering theres no buttons on the ipod itself, id say for the time being you cant use any other headphones

[toef]

Originally Posted by _Bolt_

Well considering theres no buttons on the ipod itself, id say for the time being you cant use any other headphones

Apple isn't the only company that makes headphones with a button to skip songs, or even the only one that makes headphones with a button and a mic.

I'm sure Apple did their homework on this, and found that people who tend to buy a shuffle (if people even buy them) like the idea of tucking it away somewhere and never having to touch it, because they can instead just use a button on their headphone wire to skip through songs.

If people can live without seeing the names of their songs, I think they can live without buttons on the actual iPod too.

[Sussudio]

IF the headphone thing is in fact true, that's a pretty terrible decision. what about people who like using sound canceling headphones (i.e. bose and what not) or just other headphones in general? no offense to apple, but their included set isn't really top notch. i'd think that would turn away a lot of people if this were true

UPDATE on the headphone issue (from CNET):

While ordering Apple's new iPod Shuffle online, a strange thing happened as I was checking out: Apple recommended some headphones to me that seemed incompatible with the Shuffle. The way I understand it, the latest third-generation iPod Shuffle has migrated all of its playback controls to a remote on the headphone cable, which means that replacement headphones will need to include a similar remote in order to function properly. Sure, you can probably get away with plugging any pair of headphones into the new Shuffle, but if you want control over volume, pause, and skip, you'll need something a little more specialized.

[fatediesel]

Yeah, I mentioned in the thread in the portable music section that I would like to buy these because I like to use my Shuffle when I do yardwork and it is only 1GB. However, I can't stand the Apple headphones and would never use their headphones. Thus, I will stick with my current Shuffle.

[Ferris]

I saw an article on this in the paper this morning.

I can see why Apple is doing this, but I just don't know how well it will sell. Personally, it wouldn't work for me.

[sonnyworld85]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

IF the headphone thing is in fact true, that's a pretty terrible decision. what about people who like using sound canceling headphones (i.e. bose and what not) or just other headphones in general? no offense to apple, but their included set isn't really top notch. i'd think that would turn away a lot of people if this were true

UPDATE on the headphone issue (from CNET):

Totally agree. The ear bud headphones that come with iPod's give very poor sound quality. I did notice on their website that they will be creating noise cancelling in-ear headphones. Kind of pricy though, $90 CDN. They should have kept the buttons on the shuffle for sure.