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Apple unveils new iPod Shuffle

Brad Sams   on 11 March 2009 - 12:56 · 61 comments & 10512 views

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Apple surprised many today by unveiling a redesigned iPod Shuffle. The new design gets a memory spec bump to 4GB for $80.00. The new design (seen below) has no screen but Apple did include a new VoiceOver feature.

VoiceOver allows "[w]ith 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 play lists, giving you a new way to navigate your music".

The new unit is on sale now in steel gray or charcoal colors and comes with the usual Apple accessories. Apple generally unveils new products on Tuesday but with this unveiling maybe Apple is trying to keep its followers on their toes.


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(1 reply) #1 digitalsoft on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:45
lovely! Though its still not good enough without a screen... only needs a small one, like them usb mp3 players do... cheap.
#1.1 Faisal Islam on 11 Mar 2009 - 18:00
i'm not blind!
(5 replies) #2 Beastage on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:46
Well, it is nice but I can get something like that for half the price already.

Is that a 3.5mm jack?
#2.1 Xero on 11 Mar 2009 - 15:09
Yes it is. Cutting the price in half isn't a viable option if they keep increasing the capacity. Although offering a smaller sized version for cheaper would be nice. Although their room for profit on this is probably not very high at the given price.

Looks nice though, damn it's small.
#2.2 +Kirkburn on 11 Mar 2009 - 16:32
Xero said,
Cutting the price in half isn't a viable option if they keep increasing the capacity.

I think you missed where he said "I can get something like that for half the price already".
#2.3 _BeanZ_ on 11 Mar 2009 - 22:46
Beastage said,
Is that a 3.5mm jack?

Yes, but you will need an adaptor to be able to use 3rd party headphones.
#2.4 epple on 12 Mar 2009 - 10:22
_BeanZ_ said,
Yes, but you will need an adaptor to be able to use 3rd party headphones.
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAAHA.
#2.5 offroadaaron on 15 Mar 2009 - 03:47
_BeanZ_ said,
Yes, but you will need an adaptor to be able to use 3rd party headphones.


LOL what a load of crap 3.5mm headphones jacks are 3.5mm headphones jacks why would you need an adapter. ROFL!
(1 reply) #3 AfroTrance on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:47
All I am picturing is a bunch of monkeys fighting with bones.
#3.1 +Napalm Frog on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:59
LOL! True, though very tiny monkeys.
(5 replies) #4 Adamb10 on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:49
The controls of the new iPod shuffle are located on the right earbud cord.


I dont like that. You're forced to use the crappy apple earbuds.
#4.1 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:55
Dont like that either. Means if your earbuds crap out, then you cannot play or listen to anything until you replace them. I wonder how much the ear buds costs...probably $30+
#4.2 xploit1030 on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:04
I'd much rather stick with my bose earbuds, thanks for not giving me that option.
#4.3 DARKFiB3R on 11 Mar 2009 - 17:32
Surly they'd put them on an extension cord, so you can use your own cans?
#4.4 Calum on 11 Mar 2009 - 19:39
You will have to buy an extension which Apple are going to release in order to use controls with your current headphones.

Apple are currently in talks with headphone manufacturers to create iPod shuffle compatible headphones.

I will link to a source for this when the story is covered
#4.5 +Smigit on 11 Mar 2009 - 22:41
Yeah no controls is a bit of a jip. All they needed is 4 or 5 small buttons on the side and everyone would be able to choose what headphones to use. I certainly would not buy or recommend this particular player given that, even if you can buy an external control to plug in extra headphones. I'm personally not nuts on having an extra weight between the headphones and the player and IMHO it defeats the point of making the player itself smaller and lighter.
#5 RangerLG on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:52
I do like the design better than the old shuffle, but there is other stuff out there with larger capacities for the same price.
(1 reply) #6 Digix on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:56
Nice it talks to you but I bet there's going to be people thinking you talk back to it to change the song or shake it or something since image shows no buttons
#6.1 Beastage on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:06
I'm pretty sure that is exactly what Apple aiming for with the slogan "small talk"
#7 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 13:59
I also dont like the voice over feature either. Its much faster to read and skim through your music selection with a screen than waiting for hte voice to announce what song is playing or you chose.
#8 xploit1030 on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:03
I wish instead of spending time developing a VoiceOver feature they would design a shuffle with a small screen that doesn't detract from the overall look and also doesn't drain the battery. Lack of screen is the primary reason I ditched my 1st gen shuffle.
#9 Tom W on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:17
Lets hope you can use any headphones with a button to control the music cause the Apple ones suck.
#10 jamesyfx on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:18
I did say 'Oo Shiny!' when I saw the clip on the new shuffle.

But... You know if anyone says that to a product it's not worth buying!
(9 replies) #11 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:22
Sandisk makes a MP3 player called the FUZE. It is a 2-8gb MP3 player with an SD card expansion slot for about $70. So you can expand the memory with a 32gb card and have a 32+gb mp3 player for $70. It also has a screen and plays great. Got one of my young nieces this at xmas since she is young and I didnt want to get her something overly expensive since she will break it. This also got great reviews.

So yea, $80 for the new shuffle...or $70 and you get lots more...u decide.

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-Video-...36781405&sr=8-1

Last edited by techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:29
#11.1 GreyWolfSC on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:26
Shh! You'll cause ripples in the RDF.
#11.2 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:30
GreyWolfSC said,
Shh! You'll cause ripples in the RDF.


Haha...i forgot to add how the FUZE plays video as well to.
#11.3 gonchuki on 11 Mar 2009 - 15:39
how's that 32gb player at $70?
are you getting *free* 32gb microSD cards anywhere? even 16gb cards go for at least $45

not to talk about losing support for AAC audio... more space, wasted by higher bitrate MP3 files.

Last edited by gonchuki on 11 Mar 2009 - 15:50
#11.4 GreyWolfSC on 11 Mar 2009 - 15:56
gonchuki said,
how's that 32gb player at $70?
are you getting *free* 32gb microSD cards anywhere? even 16gb cards go for at least $45

not to talk about losing support for AAC audio... more space, wasted by higher bitrate MP3 files.



Capacity:

2GB • 4GB • 8GB
Colors:

Black, Pink, Red, Blue & Silver
Expansion Slot:

microSD/SDHC
Battery:

24 hours music & 5 hours video playback
Headphone Jacks:

1
Speaker:

N/A
Radio:

FM tuner/40 presets
Recorder:

Built-in microphone
Music Subscriptions:

Rhapsody To Go, Napster, eMusic
Internet Radio:

N/A
Audio Books:

Audible, Overdrive
File Support:

MP3, OGG, FLAC, WMA, secure WMA, WAV, Audible, MPEG4


It's $99 for a 4GB one, only $10 more than the shuffle and it has a screen, a radio, a mic port, and expandable memory.

No loss unless you're addicted to iTMS really... Who uses AAC besides Apple and Nintendo?

EDIT: My bad... techbeck's Amazon link is for the 4GB for only $56, $24 cheaper than the Shuffle.
#11.5 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 16:18
gonchuki said,
how's that 32gb player at $70?
are you getting *free* 32gb microSD cards anywhere? even 16gb cards go for at least $45

not to talk about losing support for AAC audio... more space, wasted by higher bitrate MP3 files.


My bad...didnt ad the cost of the SD card. But the basic 4gb FUZE is cheaper that the new shuffle and you get much more features with it. I do like the SD slot since SD cards are cheap these days. So for very little $$$ more, you can have a MP3 player with a ton of storage that is still small.
#11.6 gonchuki on 11 Mar 2009 - 17:08
I still fail to see the size & weight advantage of the Fuze... you should be comparing it to the iPod Nano, and even then the Fuze is heavier and bigger, with a 0.1 inch smaller screen and no h264 video support.

a 16gb fuze half the price of a 16gb nano? yeah sure, but double as bulky and heavier, with lots of missing features... and as I mentioned before, needing higher bitrate files to achieve comparable quality in both audio and video. (and yes, I do a lot of video on my nano while commuting to work, and also use the TV out composite cable with nice 1.5mbit h264 files.)
#11.7 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 17:29
gonchuki said,
I still fail to see the size & weight advantage of the Fuze... you should be comparing it to the iPod Nano, and even then the Fuze is heavier and bigger, with a 0.1 inch smaller screen and no h264 video support.

a 16gb fuze half the price of a 16gb nano? yeah sure, but double as bulky and heavier, with lots of missing features... and as I mentioned before, needing higher bitrate files to achieve comparable quality in both audio and video. (and yes, I do a lot of video on my nano while commuting to work, and also use the TV out composite cable with nice 1.5mbit h264 files.)


Wasnt really comparing the size of the FUZE and the SHUFFLE. Just stated that the FUZE is a small MP3 player, cheaper, and has tons more features. Besides, the FUZE is not heavy at all. With options like the FUZE, why buy a shuffle?
#11.8 gonchuki on 11 Mar 2009 - 18:53
techbeck said,
gonchuki said,
I still fail to see the size & weight advantage of the Fuze... you should be comparing it to the iPod Nano, and even then the Fuze is heavier and bigger, with a 0.1 inch smaller screen and no h264 video support.

a 16gb fuze half the price of a 16gb nano? yeah sure, but double as bulky and heavier, with lots of missing features... and as I mentioned before, needing higher bitrate files to achieve comparable quality in both audio and video. (and yes, I do a lot of video on my nano while commuting to work, and also use the TV out composite cable with nice 1.5mbit h264 files.)


Wasnt really comparing the size of the FUZE and the SHUFFLE. Just stated that the FUZE is a small MP3 player, cheaper, and has tons more features. Besides, the FUZE is not heavy at all. With options like the FUZE, why buy a shuffle?


jogging maybe? being able to carry it anywhere without fear of scratching the screen? 60 grams/2.1 ounces is enough to be cumbersome for most of the uses the Shuffle (and Nano) have.
plus, I just seen the Fuze has a 220x176 screen, blurry video FTW seems this one defeats the "video" feature right on its tracks.

bah, I guess you get what you pay for...
#11.9 Minimoose on 12 Mar 2009 - 07:13
Not exactly because if you buy the shuffle you get ripped off.
(2 replies) #12 dhan on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:27
Looks like it doesn't really "talk". More like the PC or Mac talks every song and it records&plays it back on the shuffle. Huh.
#12.1 rm20010 on 11 Mar 2009 - 16:13
You're right... all it does is generate audio clips using OS X's text to speech engine if it's Leopard, or this custom VoiceOver voice for Tiger and Windows. Then it places the file beside the audio track and mixes it with the output when the user requests song information.

Doesn't seem too practical in my view...
#12.2 PureLegend on 11 Mar 2009 - 16:39
Why would the contents of the shuffle change once it's unplugged from the computer?
(1 reply) #13 undu on 11 Mar 2009 - 14:45
The voices sound too artificial and are definately not pleasant to hear. It's a good idea, but not implemented as it should.
(I also hate to depend on apple's headphones, and not being able to choose from the headphones I usually use)
#13.1 Mr. Andrews on 11 Mar 2009 - 15:02
Actually the voice Apple uses in OS X is quite good, they aimed to make it (and yes, they have said as much) better than the default voice in Vista. It isn't perfect, but I think for the sake of cost savings and size savings, it might be worth it.

I always look at the shuffle as a 'random' music player. Some people don't like that, but some people like having a radio-type thing in their pocket. Just a jumble of music, except they own the music so it's probably stuff they like. For that, there might not be a need for a screen.
#14 TheNGTV on 11 Mar 2009 - 15:39
VoiceOver my swearwords, you ****!

I thought this was a joke. I still think it is. Is this one ego driven or something? It totally threw away what made the iPod series decent players, now instead forcing the user to take an input route that compromises either speed or granularity of control...

Last edited by TheNGTV on 11 Mar 2009 - 15:46
(1 reply) #15 TonyLock on 11 Mar 2009 - 16:23
Lame!
But I wish they included the $80 headphones (real cost of manufacturing: $1), but in black.
#15.1 Calum on 11 Mar 2009 - 16:53
$80 :|

In England, they are £10.
(4 replies) #16 Calum on 11 Mar 2009 - 16:52
I think people are forgetting what the iPod shuffle is for. Apple wanted to create something different and a different way to listen to music, so they created a small music player for small music collections where it would shuffle your collection and random tracks which you didn't have much control over.

Therefore, there is no need for a screen, playlists or any other type of navigation. Having that would make it just like every other small music player on the market.
#16.1 RAID 0 on 11 Mar 2009 - 17:22
I understand where you're coming from, but there's other options besides this Shuffle... for less money... and more features.
#16.2 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 17:26
@Calum

With all the different options these days, Apple is pricing doesnt match the features. I mean, $80 for a 4gb Shuffle that only plays music? Thats WAY steep. The player is worth maybe 1/2 that and the other 1/2 you are paying for the Apple logo/name. Its ridiculous that they can price things like this and the consumers are so ignorant, they buy it.
#16.3 Airlink on 11 Mar 2009 - 17:36
techbeck said,
@Calum

With all the different options these days, Apple is pricing doesnt match the features. I mean, $80 for a 4gb Shuffle that only plays music? Thats WAY steep. The player is worth maybe 1/2 that and the other 1/2 you are paying for the Apple logo/name. Its ridiculous that they can price things like this and the consumers are so ignorant, they buy it.

Everything Apple makes is overpriced. Been that way since forever.
#16.4 Calum on 11 Mar 2009 - 19:42
RAID 0 said,
I understand where you're coming from, but there's other options besides this Shuffle... for less money... and more features.


techbeck said,
@Calum

With all the different options these days, Apple is pricing doesnt match the features. I mean, $80 for a 4gb Shuffle that only plays music? Thats WAY steep. The player is worth maybe 1/2 that and the other 1/2 you are paying for the Apple logo/name. Its ridiculous that they can price things like this and the consumers are so ignorant, they buy it.


I agree with both of you

I think the features of the iPod shuffle really don't match what else is on the market, for a cheaper price. Also, I myself cannot live without a screen on a music player

I just thought I'd point out to some people why Apple leave the shuffle so limited in features
#17 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 17:43
Hell, the Sandisk CLIP is cheaper and still better than the new Shuffle. Only $50 for a 4gb model. Has a screen, a clip, FM tuner, and several other features.

Apple's pricing is going to catch up with them sooner or later.
#18 Richardarkless on 11 Mar 2009 - 18:11
great so what happens when the earphones break?

We will have to buy an apple make, well thats if no one makes an alternative for them
#19 Sam Symons Live on 11 Mar 2009 - 18:15
Another thing is that it'll use a different iPod sync cable.
#20 Sir Ali on 11 Mar 2009 - 18:17
Buttons on the earbuds, no thanks.
#21 vetneufuse on 11 Mar 2009 - 18:31
So you have to buy apple earphones for this now? humm... so much for people who like what they have
#22 este on 11 Mar 2009 - 18:45
If they were going to do any sort of overhaul, why not make it small enough so its something with earbuds only, and a small device that can hide uptop somewhere, cutting back on the unecessary wire, something like a bluetooth piece.

Bad design imo.
#23 ACTIONpack on 11 Mar 2009 - 19:11
Apple design this product so that you will be spending $20 every 3 to 6 months replace the earplugs and you would have to get it from them. Because of the control design. No thanks and if you don't believe then just look at the first iphone. They design it so that you would have to buy there earplugs.
#24 ACTIONpack on 11 Mar 2009 - 19:35
The Voice Over feature is cool but what's the point change the voice if your using a OSX and PC? No surprise that the PC voice is older technology but yea Tiger is using that but mac user are not using Tiger that much anymore.
#25 gazebee2001 on 11 Mar 2009 - 19:53
The front of the shuffle looks completely boring. Only apple could get away with that...
(1 reply) #26 zer0day on 11 Mar 2009 - 20:09
#26.1 +techbeck on 11 Mar 2009 - 20:24
Yea, saw that. *shakes head in disapproval*
#27 Wayne0041 on 11 Mar 2009 - 21:40
#4 Above says that you have to use the iPod earbuds because the controls are on the earbud's cord. I'm not an audiophile however I enjoy my comfort. A way around the annoying iPod earbuds is to get a custom mold of your ear taken. I purchased "iPod attachments" at www.earsound.com. These are the most comfortable things I have ever put in my ear because of the custom mold. The earbuds snap onto a rubber piece on the mold. An unintended benefit is that I'm able to use one of the custom molds with my hands free device on my cell phone so I can listen to the boring conference calls in comfort.

Hope this helps.
#28 Binary on 11 Mar 2009 - 21:49
iPod Shuffle!

It's meant to shuffle! Thats it!

WTH are some people on about saying it needs a screen and more features!?
#29 Shiranui on 12 Mar 2009 - 00:13
What a POS.
#30 atari800 on 12 Mar 2009 - 02:11
Man..... If I lose lighters in the washing machine , changes are I would lose this in the washing machine as well.
Or maybe I will be lucky enough to find a few of these between cushions.
Or maybe look like a fool trying to light a cigarette and "best of Bread" starts playing
Or maybe look like a fool trying to plug in the ear buds into a BIC lighter

Meh...might be a cool "re-gift"
*not for me at this time

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