New iPod!!!

[Jim Dye]

It's the iPod Shuffle! (Not to be confused with the Icky Shuffle)

Early specs (from macnn mwsf feed.)

- iPod shuffle features new iTunes with auto-fill that will automatically select songs for iPod shuffle. Can also be used at flash storage device. 256MB usually cost $149. iPod shuffle in two versions: 512MB ($99) and 1GB ($149). Neon green box. Now shipping. Apple offers four accessories: Dock, Battery extender (20hours of battery life), Car adapter--each $29. Due in next four weeks. [10:56 PT]

- Apple introduces iPod Shuffle..flash based player. Smaller than most packs of game. Weighs the same as 4 quarters (less than 1 ounce). Volume/Up dow. Simple LED to provide feedback. No display. Either shuffle or album-based playback. USB 2 transfer connector under connector at the bottom. 12-hour rechargeable battery. Mac/PC compatible. Ships with a laynard that connects directly to bottom connector for easy carrying. [10:52 PT]

Edited January 11, 2005 by Jim Dye

[WD45]

Not to be confused with:

[BFrank]

Yaaawwwwwwwwwnn .... -_-

[Christiern]

I watched Steve Jobs's presentation (keynote address), this looks like a cool item. Millions of high-priced iPods have been sold so far, I can just imagine how the shuffle will go.

The new Mac is also interesting, especially the idea that it was designed for people who have a PC and are lusting after a better machine. I understand that it will accept input from PC peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.) so the $499 price is good. There is a large segment of PC users out there who have been looking to get away from Windows.

[Stefan Wood]

Yawn now but man is Apple going to make good this year!

[neveronfriday]

The new apple IPod Shuffle sounds like the thing for me (although I'd buy an IRiver MP3 player or whatever instead).

I can't for the life of me imagine why the entire population needs to have 20 GByte of music along. There might be cases where that comes in handy, but mostly it's total overkill and just the "Honda Gives More Head" school of thought.

Make that "mine is bigger than yours", if you like.

I think the idea of a small portable device which can hold a couple of albums which are then easily uploaded/exchanged via USB or whatever is a grand idea. I walk to work every day (15-minute walk or so), i often take the train or subway, and i regularly go on longer bicycle tours and need some good tunes along. But I DO NOT need a thousand albums or 10.000 songs along. Thank you. I have a hard time remembering what I have in my CD-collection or on my PC (170 GByte worth of music).

I'll get one of these small thingies next chance I get.

BTW: Does anyone have a small device that holds something like 512 MB and can recommend it? Sound quality is a priority (I guess the headphones play a major role here) ... I don't give a hoot about the menu system or functions. Play, Stop, Jump and Play next folder/album is all I need. I don't even care if it shows me a title.

Cheers!

Edited January 12, 2005 by deus62

[Brad]

Sounds too small to me. I actually like the covenience of having the ability to have 10 000 songs. I've uploaded 2000 so far.

[Brandon Burke]

Sounds too small to me. I actually like the covenience of having the ability to have 10 000 songs. I've uploaded 2000 so far.

I have a 15GB model, one of the smaller sizes, and still don't get around to hearing half of the stuff that's on there.

[rockefeller center]

Random is the New Order

Welcome to a life less orderly. As official soundtrack to the random revolution, the iPod Shuffle Songs setting takes you on a unique journey through your music collection — you never know what’s around the next tune. Meet your new ride. More roadster than Rolls, iPod shuffle rejects routine by serving up your favorite songs in a different order every time.

Those marketing people are so sweet.

Edited January 12, 2005 by rockefeller center

[Brandon Burke]

Random is the New Order

Welcome to a life less orderly. As official soundtrack to the random revolution, the iPod Shuffle Songs setting takes you on a unique journey through your music collection — you never know what’s around the next tune. Meet your new ride. More roadster than Rolls, iPod shuffle rejects routine by serving up your favorite songs in a different order every time.

Those marketing people are so sweet.

Yeah, no shit. Especially since older iPods like mine have a "shuffle" setting anyway.

Edited January 12, 2005 by Brandon Burke

[BFrank]

My Archos is a 20GB and it's full.

Sure, I don't listen to ALL of the music on there, but it's like collecting CDs/records. It's nice to have a ton of tunes at your fingertips when you're in the mood for something specific.

[Jim Alfredson]

$150 for 1gig? I'm there. I can load it up with Joe and I's favorite "driving to and fro the gig" music and rock out for days!

B-)

[Eric]

Yawn now but man is Apple going to make good this year!

they just reported Q4 on Weds

revenues up 74%

profits up nearly 500%

revenue from iPods = 75% of Mac revenues, which shows the huge contribution of iPod to the business (I had always wondered about this - sure, it is cool, but does it move the needle - damn straight it does) (it was only 20% a year ago)

Street consensus on EPS = $0.49, they came it at $0.70

amazing set of numbers ...

[John L]

The new apple IPod Shuffle sounds like the thing for me (although I'd buy an IRiver MP3 player or whatever instead).

I can't for the life of me imagine why the entire population needs to have 20 GByte of music along. There might be cases where that comes in handy, but mostly it's total overkill and just the "Honda Gives More Head" school of thought.

Make that "mine is bigger than yours", if you like.

I think the idea of a small portable device which can hold a couple of albums which are then easily uploaded/exchanged via USB or whatever is a grand idea. I walk to work every day (15-minute walk or so), i often take the train or subway, and i regularly go on longer bicycle tours and need some good tunes along. But I DO NOT need a thousand albums or 10.000 songs along. Thank you. I have a hard time remembering what I have in my CD-collection or on my PC (170 GByte worth of music).

I'll get one of these small thingies next chance I get.

BTW: Does anyone have a small device that holds something like 512 MB and can recommend it? Sound quality is a priority (I guess the headphones play a major role here) ... I don't give a hoot about the menu system or functions. Play, Stop, Jump and Play next folder/album is all I need. I don't even care if it shows me a title.

Cheers!

There are lots of portable devices on the market that hold less music in MP3 format. They are also convenient in being extremely small. You can stick one in your shirt pocket like a ballpoint pen. You might check Consumer Reports or some of the hi fi magazines on line for reviews.

I understand where you are coming from. As I am away from home and my CD collection most of the time, I run my stereo through my iPod. Therefore, even 40 GB is inadquate to always have available everything that I want to hear whenever I want to hear it. When I am on the go, however, I would actually prefer to have something cheaper and smaller.

From my point of view, the optimal setup would be both a larger iPod-type device that holds more music than 40 GB and a small cheap portable device that can suck a few GBs of music off of the iPod very quickly. When this format essentially replaces CDs, I imagine that this type of setup will become common.

[Soulstation1]

usa today had an article about the shuffle, it's only $99

the only drawback is that it doen't have a preview screen so you don't know what song is playing.

holds 240 songs

ss1

[Leeway]

mostly it's total overkill and just the "Honda Gives More Head" school of thought

I knew Honda made some nice cars, but now I know why they are so popular

[neveronfriday]

mostly it's total overkill and just the "Honda Gives More Head" school of thought

I knew Honda made some nice cars, but now I know why they are so popular

That slogan comes from an old ad for their bikes!

[Brandon Burke]

the only drawback is that it doen't have a preview screen so you don't know what song is playing.

That's ridiculous.

Edited January 14, 2005 by Brandon Burke

[bertrand]

On his show Wednesday, Dave Letterman brought out some tiny thing he called the 'iPod micro'. It fits between your thumb and forefinger, and holds 1 song.

Bertrand.

[.:.impossible]

[Soul Stream]

I LOVE my ipod. have a 15G and have my eyes alread on the 40G since I'm always having to delete and add stuff which is a pain.

However, I use it mostly like a jam box around the house. Music to go to bed by or if I go to the pool or a rehearsal (then it's REAL handy). But until they get it conjoined to the car somehow besides tuning it into some radio frequency that's always drifting and crowded, it won't go beyond my front door much.

I mostly just use the itunes on the computer since now I'm too lazy to get a CD out!

[Eric]

the only drawback is that it doen't have a preview screen so you don't know what song is playing.

That's ridiculous.

I thought about this before I bought one. Do other flash players show you the song title? I plan to use my primarily on the plane (and when I run) and load maybe 10-15 albums that I love and just let it play random. But I am kind of a minimalist and the thought of being able to have tunes without carting CDs or a walkman around is what ultimately sold me.

Edit: To answer my own question, yes, all the other flash players out there seem to have that nagging screen thing I suspect Brandon's POV of will not be that uncommon. Apple has marketing to do on this one to bust the paradigm ...

Edited January 15, 2005 by Eric

[couw]

from the iPod site:

...

2. Do not eat iPod shuffle.

...

neat.

[mgraham333]

The most amazing thing to me about the iPod Shuffle is the price. $99 for 512Mb and $149 for 1 Gig. That should really shake up the rest of the market....unless others try to justify their higher prices by pointing to the playlist and screen issues.

The thing that has me a little perturbed is their availabilty....or lack thereof. See: Apple: Four-week wait for iPod Shuffle over at CNN.

These shortages are either due to incompetence (hard to believe) or they are artificial. By delaying shipments the buzz factor rises to a fever pitch and sales go through the roof. Customers are inconvenienced but it's good for the shareholders. The funny thing is that if Microsoft behaved in that manner, all the Gates bashers would be screaming and burning Bill in effigy. Apple does it and people can't stop raving....

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Here's a question for you in the know: that audiophile guy's thesis linked in the iPod thread defaults to a sample rate of "AAC 224kbit/sec". So just how many minutes of music will this iShuffle hold at that rate?