iPod Shuffle

[Nitr0]

So, the iPod Shuffle is out. (http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000410026986)

But really, is it such a big deal after all?
This new amazing iPod has no screen people... Sure, 1 gig of storage space and with it acting as a thumbdrive is neat and all, it would get mighty tiresome to scroll through a few hundred songs over, and over, and over and over if I wanted to listen to one particular one.

I'll stick with my mini / photo

Thoughts?

[Matrixsjd]

well that's why you just put your fav songs on there, that way you won't have to shuffle through if you hit a song you don't like. I'd get the shuffle for jogging and such, times I don't need a screen and just wanna listen to music without having to carry my full sized ipod around. I think it was a smart move by apple, I predict this thing will sell well :)

[n3tfury]

it'll sell well because it's related to the ipod. this thing's a joke without a display.

[MartyMcPod]

It's really not that bad for it's intentions. Sometimes I have my iPod in my backpack all day, with the remote attached. I don't look at the iPod all day. I just put it on shuffle, and use the remote to turn it off and on. When I leave class, I start it up, etc.

The Shuffle essentially does exactly this. I still think it needs a screen, but the price is great for the storage space you get. They're definitely not for everyone though.

[UNI0N Jack]

yeah. but having one that has a shuffle OPTION would be better. honestly, sometimes i feel like the guys over at apple are laughing at us and saying "i how much crap these #######s will buy from us as long as we keep sticking an "i" in front of a word"

the ipod is great, but really, go get another mp3 player thats cheaper, has a screen, shuffle option, and is cheaper or the same price as the shuffle.

[baggss]

The lack of a screen could be a problem for some. I may get one and use it as a Flash Drive AND an MP3 player....

[canyonblue737]

can you imagine how many sales the iPod mini would lose if a smaller, shock proof 1 gig iPod with a LCD and touchwheel for $149? the target market for the shuffle, ie. 2nd ipods for the gym or 1st iPods for those unwilling or unable to pay more is brillant and spot on... AND DOESN'T HURT SALES OF OTHER IPOD MODELS WITH HIGHER MARGINS.

[Toxikated]

Originally posted by UNI0N Jack
yeah. but having one that has a shuffle OPTION would be better. honestly, sometimes i feel like the guys over at apple are laughing at us and saying "i how much crap these #######s will buy from us as long as we keep sticking an "i" in front of a word"

the ipod is great, but really, go get another mp3 player thats cheaper, has a screen, shuffle option, and is cheaper or the same price as the shuffle.

The shuffle is an option

[2_hotty]

I'm for sure getting one. It's perfect for working out. I baby my iPod so much, that working out with it makes me nervous. I really don't care about a screen. I have a Samsung Yeppe that has a great blue backlit display on it, and I hate the device, lol.

I almost bought a new USB thumb drive the other day because my 256mb just isn't big enough. The one I almost bought was 100 bucks for 1gig. For 50 bucks more this plays mp3's too.

[Matrixsjd]

Originally posted by UNI0N Jack
yeah. but having one that has a shuffle OPTION would be better. honestly, sometimes i feel like the guys over at apple are laughing at us and saying "i how much crap these #######s will buy from us as long as we keep sticking an "i" in front of a word"

the ipod is great, but really, go get another mp3 player thats cheaper, has a screen, shuffle option, and is cheaper or the same price as the shuffle.

Cheaper the $99???!!! seriously you're not going to find a 512mb player for under $99 :rolleyes: if you don't like the shuffle so be it, doesn't mean everyone is like you.

[baggss]

Originally posted by UNI0N Jack
yeah. but having one that has a shuffle OPTION would be better.

Were you to go actually READ the specs, you would find that shuffle IS an option. You can also have it play the songs in order...

[ham_man]

Do you need to enable anything or use any software to have it recognized as a hard drive? Just curious...

-Andrew

[baggss]

On the Mac side it should just show up as a drive, just like any other flash drive. I would think the PC side would do the same...

[ham_man]

I might get one of these afterall. I've been needed a new flash drive...

-Andrew

[MartyMcPod]

I have been looking for a couple hours for something better, with the same storage space, etc. I have yet to find one. If someone knows of one, please post it here.

I am quite surprised by the price. I have been wanting a flash player for a while, but they are all so expensive. 512 was my minimum, and they are all 150 or more. I can't believe Apple is offering something with the better price.

I'll wait till I can play with one, and then I'll probably buy one.

[Nitr0]

Well, I use my iPod mini for working out. In the good 8 months that I've been using it, I have found that nothing has happened to it even after countless bumps, nudges, falls etc.. I can also see what's playing, choose specific albums. It just seems nice.

I can't really imagine putting a bunch of songs and hitting next through everything until I find the song I want. Although as a cheap thumbdrive. This is pretty good.

[smorzander]

im getting one. i need a bigger flash drive and i would like a small mp3 player as well. when i get it my mini will be my "precious" and my shuffle will be my "whipping boy" used for workouts and stuff. like people do with the mini and regular ipod. the listen to their ipod in the car but use their mini to work out. im too poor to but an ipod so i guess i will buy the shuffle.

[sbono13]

Originally posted by MartyMcPod
I have been looking for a couple hours for something better, with the same storage space, etc. I have yet to find one. If someone knows of one, please post it here.

I am quite surprised by the price. I have been wanting a flash player for a while, but they are all so expensive. 512 was my minimum, and they are all 150 or more. I can't believe Apple is offering something with the better price.

I'll wait till I can play with one, and then I'll probably buy one.

The shuffle is cheap, but you can get a lot more features for just a little more $$. Here's a similarly sized player for $125

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00067KZA2/ref=wl_it_dp/102-2446213-1011326?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I1MU9L4JPV0716&v=glance&colid=38QFAZF9QC1HL

and another for $113
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00066EK3G/ref=wl_it_dp/102-2446213-1011326?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I2A04JS3IZFCS&v=glance&colid=38QFAZF9QC1HL

Both of these players have, in addition to the shuffle feature, an LCD screen, an FM tuner, and the ability to do voice recordings. Oh, and let's say you want to listen to the same song over and over... these players have something called a "repeat" mode!!

I know the creative player mounts in Mac itunes for song loading-- no idea about the sandisk. If you choose to use the creative software instead, you can create different playlists on the player (at least on PC).

IMO, unless you want AAC support, the shuffle is not an especially compelling choice. I would have loved for Apple to have included some sort of playlist support on the shuffle... they could have had a row of buttons (say 1-6) along one side of the shuffle and allowed you to use iTunes to manage 6 playlists that would be launched by the button presets. It would have been like a 6 disk CD changer in the palm of your hand!

[zapod]

Don't forget the 'Autofill' feature added to iTunes. Like a smart playlist, it'll pick stuff from your library to fill the Shuffle in a single click.

I'm hoping the feature works with my Gen 1 iPod, because I have 6gig of music now and only a 5gig iPod.

As to the core function of iPod Shuffle, isn't it just a big smart playlist that can, if set to, play all your favourite stuff?

[Icon of Sin]

Originally posted by Matrixsjd
well that's why you just put your fav songs on there, that way you won't have to shuffle through if you hit a song you don't like. I'd get the shuffle for jogging and such, times I don't need a screen and just wanna listen to music without having to carry my full sized ipod around. I think it was a smart move by apple, I predict this thing will sell well :)

OK seriously, how much of a pain is it to carry the "full size" ipod around with you, hardly any, it's already rather small and has many accessories to make it easy to carry when jogging or working out, plus you can create a playlist of 240 favorite songs and shuffle that if you want too. I think it's a waste of money for current ipod or mini owners. Plus is looks like the headphones and wired into the device and cannot be changed (at lease not without some wiring being done :))

[2_hotty]

The headphones are not wired into the device. Where did you get that idea from? This page clearly shows a headphone jack on top of the device: http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/specs.html

[Nitr0]

Wired into the device, heh.

[canyonblue737]

Originally posted by Nitr0
Well, I use my iPod mini for working out. In the good 8 months that I've been using it, I have found that nothing has happened to it even after countless bumps, nudges, falls etc.. I can also see what's playing, choose specific albums. It just seems nice.

I can't really imagine putting a bunch of songs and hitting next through everything until I find the song I want. Although as a cheap thumbdrive. This is pretty good.

well everyone has a different way of using an iPod but i know when i am at the gym or running there is no easy way (while bouncing around running etc.) for me to select songs one by one, so i always configure a workout playlist ahead of time which i either listen to in order or via shuffle. for me the iPod shuffle will allow me to do the exact same thing with a much, much smaller player which is lighter, more rugged, and 100% shock proof.

[[zerophase]]

the ads are actually really sinking in.. i like the idea... i think it being simple and light well.. works.