Apple Debuts Tiny, Talking 4GB iPod shuffle
Today Apple announced the newest addition to its iPod line, the third-generation iPod shuffle. The new player sports several major design changes from earlier shuffle models, including an industry first. The first thing you'll notice is that the control wheel has been removed from the face of the 3G shuffle. This allowed Apple to shrink the player even more, and at just 1.8" tall and 0.3" thick it's currently the world's smallest MP3 player. The wheel is replaced by an in-line controller located on the right earbud cord of the included headphones. The shuffle is compatible with other headphones, but will require an optional adapter for control.
Like the older models, the new shuffle doesn't have a display. However, this time Apple has added VoiceOver--the first vocal feedback system on an MP3 player. Press and hold the middle button of the controller, and the shuffle will say song and artist information out loud. VoiceOver is also used to switch between multiple playlists, and can tell users when the battery is low. It even speaks in 14 different languages, and will play nice with Italian opera and Swedish metal collections.
Other upgrades include 4GB of storage, twice that of the previous model, and beefier construction. The case is still made of anodized aluminum, but the belt clip is forged from stainless steel. A nice touch for a player that is so very tiny. Interested parties can preorder the new iPod shuffle now, or check out more info at the official site.
-- Jon Dale
CaptainVictory on March 12, 2009 at 12:14 PM
The talking feature sounds cool, but have they avoided the previous model's hypersensitivity to perspiration? It's a critical shortcoming given that so many people use Shuffles during workouts.
mndasher on March 12, 2009 at 12:27 PM
So this Shuffle only works with the ear buds. No controls except shuffle/or-no-shuffle if you hook it up to your AUX in your car. Weird. Plus some people don't like ear buds, so again no controls.
Matthias on March 12, 2009 at 12:31 PM
While I appreciate Apple's minimalistic sense of design, this product violates one of my key rules of use: "Never make the user triple click to do anything" (you have to triple click the headphone button to rewind)
My preference remains with the previous shuffle, no matter how cumbersome and unwieldy it might be.
FranticFlintstone on March 12, 2009 at 06:36 PM
I love the previous Shuffle. Never found that the controls had to be on the ear bud cord. I would've bought this new one, but having the controls on the ear bud cord was a massive blunder on Apple's part. I use my Shuffle in my car a lot, and plug it into other devices (like, recently at a hotel, in a clock radio that was IPod compatible). How can I do that with this one, if when you detach the ear buds you lose the controls???? Also, you're stuck with these ear buds, when you might wanna use different ear phones.
If they wanted the controls on the cord, they should've made a two-piece cord that detaches midway and lets you hook up other stuff there (like Sony did with my Discman that has alternate controls on the cord).
Sorry, Apple, you blew it on this one. You may have put more gigs in it, but you have severely limited the ways one can use the Shuffle. I'll pass.
FranticFlintstone on March 12, 2009 at 06:37 PM
Captain, I have not experienced any hypersensitivy to sweat with the previous Shuffle.....
Nancy Z. on May 03, 2009 at 05:07 AM
I was excited, when the new 4GB ipod shuffel, came up in my e-mail!
looked at it an ordered it that same day, Down loaded my music, took
it out to my bike, motorcycle, hooked it up the same way, I did the old shuffle, an guess what! It did not play, hooked up the old an that plays just fine, so its not the bike, its not the cord, or is it! I think I have to spend more money to make it work, in a car, or on a motorcycle. Then will I be able to contol, the ipod volume
once I plug it in, my old shuffle you still would have to adjust volume on the divice, to get max., volume.
Just check it out first, see if it fits your need befoe buying!
I DID'NT, I wanted it for more music on the bike, an wright now it does'nt work like that.
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