iPod Shuffle: The reality check
Apple's iPod Shuffle received a refresh today that was long overdue. But as much as I love the way Apple is innovating with its iPod Touch and iPod Nano, I think it may need a reality check on this buttonless $80 paperclip it's calling the new Shuffle.
I'll be sure to keep an open mind when it comes time for a review, but for the moment, let's cut through Apple's reality-distortion field a little. Here are five criticisms I have about the new iPod Shuffle.
Has Apple crossed the line with the new Shuffle?
1. No buttons? Sure there are buttons on the headphone cable, but on the actual device--the part that you would hand to somebody and say, "That's my MP3 player"--has zero buttons. $80, 4GB, no buttons. I know Apple isn't a fan of buttons, but that's just ballsy.
2. Replacing headphones gets more complicated. With the Shuffle's controls on the headphone cable, you can't just buy any off-the-shelf headphones to use with the Shuffle (see point #1). Existing third-party headphones and adapters made for the iPhone won't include volume control (remember that whole Apple in-ear headphone debacle). At the moment, if you lose or break those earbuds included with the shuffle, you're going to need to shell out $30 for Apple's own earbuds. In fact, Apple isn't even selling its old-style earbuds anymore (not online, at least).
3. Easier to lose. I'm all for small gadgets, but not a month goes by that I don't get an e-mail about someone accidentally running their iPod Shuffle through the washing machine. Now that the Shuffle is the size of a few toothpicks, how are you supposed to keep it from falling into your seat cushions? I'm sure the same complaints were rolled out the last time the Shuffle got shrunk, but if they were justified then, they sure are justified now. Can you imagine going to lost and found and trying to describe your featureless, buttonless MP3 player? Forget it.
4. Voice isn't a new feature. Hey Apple, remember last year when you included spoken menus on the iPod Nano? Then why are you calling the Shuffle the first MP3 player that talks to you? Also, technically there have been a few MP3 players for the vision impaired that have already pulled this off. I'm glad to see the feature, especially if it can read me the song titles from my Too Short albums in a robot voice, but it seems odd Apple would claim that the Shuffle is the first MP3 player with voice cues.
5. Tiny clicker. I wasn't a big fan of the previous iPod Shuffle, but I did like that big, ergonomic, you-can't-miss-it play button on the front. Now, users need to control playback using a tic-tac-size concave button dangling from their ear? It just doesn't seem as intuitive.
Criticisms aside, there are some things I'm excited to see come to the Shuffle, like the fact you can now use playlists and hear artist and title information. Still, this feels like a product that didn't need to happen. The $80, 4GB configuration is a little overkill, too (a cheaper 2GB version would be fine for most users).
Enough of my ranting. What do you guys think?
Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs.
Donald Bell is an electronic musician, a veteran record store employee, and a fearless hardware hacker. He's also CNET's Senior Editor for MP3 and digital audio.
Jasmine France is CNET's resident digital audio doyenne, writing and editing product reviews, crave blogs, and feature stories on all things MP3. And if you need advice on headphones, she's your girl.
1. Never actually used it!? Seriously!? Writes a review without using it? Thats ballsy. And for the no buttons thing... Regardless of the no buttons, I've been waiting for headset button support... I hate reaching for my shuffle while I'm running.
2. They already make headphones that can be used with the shuffle...
3. Easier to lose!? are you kidding me... what's the point of everyone screaming SMALLER SMALLER... if only then they complain, make it bigger or I'll lose it?
4. At least you didn't point out the lack of a screen like everyone else. But really, you could have left out the first 5 of 8 paragraphs and had a decent "I've never used it before but at glance this is what I think." article
Inability to use my choice of 3rd party headphones was an instant deal-breaker for me. I find that my ears are physiologically incompatible with Apple's earbuds. Very uncomfortable.
2. It's easy to find 3rd-party iPhone/Touch/Nano compatible earbuds with the clicker remote, but not with volume control, which is critical for the Shuffle since there's no other way to turn down the volume.
3. Yes. Easy to lose. Small is good. Once it becomes a choking hazard, though, maybe we've gone too far.
4. The Shuffle never had a screen. It makes sense that they wouldn't add one.
You have no idea what you are talking about and I feel more stupid for reading your pointless ramble.
That's why Donald writes for Cnet and you don't.
Go get a reality check
...or draws a paycheck from them. No other explanation.
I'm just speechless... we have to buy special headset designed for MP3 pleayer? Come on. Enough is enough with Apple's creepy connectors. Why they cannot do things the standard way?
selling more doesn't mean this is a good product. There are much better options in this mp3 category. An extension to the cord or any kind of adaptor will defeat the whole propose of this kind of mp3 player, plain and simple, now you have to get accessories for an additional cost?
A big market for this products is runners because of the size and form factor, but also most serious runners have their own running earphones. That was just a bad idea. And the proof will come soon, next iPod shuffle WILL have buttons back, natural selection will get rid of this piece of crap and evolution will continue :)
I like the design and the controls location but I'm a fan of the ears buds.
As for point 3, it seems moot. If losing an MP3 player was such an issue for most people than they probably wouldn't opt for this device. It's form factor is its appeal. Without it, there is nothing that distinguishes this MP3 player from the others out there.
Lastly, though the Shuffle has always been a screen less MP3 player, the inclusion of a nice crisp OLED might be a nice touch. I can't imagine the practicality of the "voice" feature especially if it has to read through every single playlist before getting to the one I want.
Anyway, that's just my opinion.
but i disagree with you 110% on #3. the whole point of a shuffle is for it to be simple and small. if you want a player that you can't lose, get that giant one that they sell at walgreens. and you can pick up a giant universal remote and subscribe to life alert while you are at it.
I think Donald had 4 points initially, but you can't only have four reasons, its always top5 or top10, you gotta have five at least, so he trows in #3.
/sarcasm
Lulz
Okay back to reality, I was kind of thinking the same thing.
1. The lack of buttons. Granted they'll be on the headphones; however, Apple provides terrible headphones. I never bother taking them out of the wrapper. I primarily use my shuffle to workout, and Apple's headphones would constantly pop out.
2. I've already lost 3 of these suckers because it's so small and easy to forget about. Granted this isn't Apple's fault, it's my fault for negligence, but can you imagine how many of these will get lost or in the washer? Once again, not Apple's fault, but as a consumer I can't see myself switching from my 2GB shuffle. Most people I know who've purchased one uses it to workout, their mobile devices or solid state music players provide a more robust solution.
One thing that is appealing though is the voice feature due to the lack of display. As I stated in the aforementioned, I use the device primarily to workout, so I already know the songs I put on the shuffle. Not a ding at Apple.
Now, with the VoiceOver technology, iPod connection kits (which range in cost from $300 - $2,000, depending on the auto manufacturer) may be unnecessary. Aux input devices can still have their volume and muting controlled by the car. All that's needed is a way to select the song you want. What's needed is a Mini-8 to Mini-8 AUX cable that has the same VoiceOver controls built into it as the new iPod shuffle headphones do. With this cable, we'd be able to hear the VoiceOver Song/Playlist selections over the car's stereo, and we could make our selections without taking our eyes off of the road. I am ashamed to say that with my iPhone plugged into my Aux input, I have taken my eyes off of the road to advance or change my song selection/playlist. But with that indented adapter, you can make changes by feeling the indentation on the cable.
Can you use your influence to pass this recommendation/wishlist to those best enabled to turn it into a product quickly? If so, I can order the new iPod and cable for my car, and retire the CD changer. Thanks!
This world is full of technology but Apple only permits you to use theirs if you do go the Apple route. When will the brain dead lemmings of the world realize that any mp3 besides the ones Apple offers can be used on ANY device (phones, computers, etc.)?
You can't even use your home's speaker's with this!!!
I see a big failure coming up with this, but I just know that it'll sell somehow.
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by tcr071
March 11, 2009 2:55 PM PDT
- How is this not anti-competitive? Can only use Apple head phones with the product or BUY an Apple adapter? Ummm...?
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by Shaun822
March 11, 2009 8:59 PM PDT
- Any company can make an adapter like when Belkin made the iPhone adapter. It is a design to curb using other headphones but it isn't legally anti-competetive because they skirted it just enough.
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by dragontsd
March 12, 2009 6:51 AM PDT
- man, you guys really need to chill out with the earphones thing... The release was not about the adaptor that will let you use other headphones, it's about the player, for god sake. Apple wouldnt be apple if they thought like microsoft, and thank god too, we dont need another staunchy building full of nerds who only care what code a box spits out. I'm not an apple freak, i just appreciate product design, and it seems that Jobs does too. The dude is twenty thousand times richer that you will ever even dream of being because of it...I think his way of thinking has passed the test.
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by make_or_break
March 12, 2009 7:21 AM PDT
- dragontsd: I'm glad you're comfortable with how Apple does things, but let's get one thing straight...not everyone sees that everything they've done is nuts-on perfection. I doubt you live in a vacuum; you should be well aware that the headphone market is a pretty big place from a revenue generation standpoint. Moving away from standards only complicates things. People have already invested good money into perfectly fine cans; now Apple comes along and wants to change that usage model. Apple's track record on supplying great-sounding buds hasn't been all that good; plenty have sough audio solace with third-party products. Hell, Apple themselves sell alternative headsets. Consumers have a right to be upset.
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by BOTNET
March 13, 2009 6:28 PM PDT
- remember when apple replaced their own cable by switching the charging port and all of us who invested into iPod car charger have to spend more money to replace it with iPhone 3G charger? That is BS
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Showing 1 of 4 pages (93 Comments)If Microsoft releases some software that only runs on Microsoft keyboards there would have been three dozen lawsuits before it even hit the store shelves.