I have lost my Apple iPod Shuffle, actually I lost the “charger” to the shuffle and so, I needed to replace it. My son, our resident Apple expert, told me about Apple’s “new” iPod Shuffle – how it has more gigabytes (about 4GB) and it’s smaller than a AA battery…lighter too. Ok-Ok, I was sold.
I have decided to buy Apple’s new iPod Nano (Henry has a birthday coming this April and really wants one) and Apple’s “new” iPod Shuffle for myself. I could not believe the size of the Shuffle! Even after seeing it on Apple’s “guided tour,” the Shuffle viewed in person is almost unbelievable. I was still not sure if the damn thing would play music as I was purchasing it. Damn it was tiny – it looked like a shiny stick of Trident gum!
Now, I do not know why Apple is calling their “new” iPod Shuffle a “new” design – maybe a “relocation” of design is a better description. The controls (volume, skip, VoiceOver) have been moved to the earphones (I guess we know now how they made the unit smaller.) Can they really consider this “innovative” if they just move the “buttons” to the earphones? Regarding the new “VoiceOver” feature, the unit tells you in a pleasant voice the name of the artist and song on your playlist – so what? I can usually hear about 1 to 2 seconds of a song (especially if I downloaded it to the iPod Shuffle myself) and know what the song is (I know you can too.) Hence, a VoiceOver telling me what the song is just wastes my time – especially if I have to press then hold a center button on the earphones to do so.
Another negative is, they done away with the rewind/fast-forward options on the new Apple iPod Shuffle. What??? Don’t they know that I (and people like you) have to hear Celine, Whitney, Mariah, and Patti hit that signature note about 16 times at a clip by rewinding that part over and over and over again?? Or that we may not want to hear the whole beginning chords of Marc Anthony’s songs and want to advance to the bridge and chord changes where he really starts to blow?? How could they do away with the rewind/fast-forward features??
I do have to say, however, that there is a new feature that I absolutely love – multi-playlists on Apple’s new iPod Shuffle. I can create and play a separate list for the gym (I call mine “gym beats”) and a separate playlist for when I’m on the PATH train (I call that one “travel tunes.”) I also have a playlist with songs that inspire me and that remind me of my special family (yes, I’m a corn-ball.) The old shuffle could not do that. This new one can, and boy do I really enjoy that. This feature alone (multi-playlists) makes up for the fact that I cannot rewind or fast-forward (ok, ok, I’ll get over it already.)
I would endorse this product, especially if you’re an athlete, gym-rat, or a runner. If you are than this is the player for you – Apple’s new iPod Shuffle. If you’re being active, then I guess you wouldn’t be rewinding or fast-forwarding anyway (alright, alright!)
.
I know what you mean about having to rewind to hear that signature note!!! Especially when I listen to Meatloaf ” I would do anything for Love” but Ipod I wont do that!! lol
ha! good one – iPod WON’t do that!