“Simplicity on a stick. That’s Apple’s iPod shuffle, introduced in January by Steve Jobs & Co. to grab the last bit of the digital-music player market that the company doesn’t already own. The size of a pack of chewing gum, measuring 3.3 inches by .98 inches by .33 inches and weighing less than an ounce, the elegant and distinctively Apple-white iPod shuffle
is hard not to immediately take a liking to,” Cliff Edwards writes for BusinessWeek.
“Setup is a snap. An installation CD includes iTunes version-4.7 software that works on both PCs and Macs, with a built-in link to the Apple Music Store for purchasing music downloads. With the music collection already residing on your PC or Mac, encoded in MP3, WAV, AAC, and Audible digital formats, you set the software to automatically choose songs to download or can opt to pick your own playlist. The automatic-download feature, called Autofill, randomly chooses songs from your collection,” Edwards writes.
“The Shuffle’s biggest drawback, in my view: its lack of an LCD screen… if you have a big music collection, it’s often nice to be reminded of what group is singing a particular song, or how long it lasts. And if you’re hankering to hear a certain song quickly, you’re out of luck trying to find it fast,” edwards writes. “For the newbie, the shuffle is a cool, cost-attuned way to step into the digital-music world. And for athletes looking to break up the tedium of long runs, this device is for you. For anyone else, I’d recommend taking a look at other players, or stepping up to Apple’s iPod mini
line, which starts at $199 for 4 gigabytes. That’s triple the space for only $50 more — and it lets you take most, if not all, of your music collection everywhere, along with offering rudimentary games and calendaring. Otherwise, the iPod shuffle
makes a nice addition to the iPod line.”
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Fortune: ‘amazingly small and light iPod shuffle’ has power to change our daily lives – March 25, 2005
Goldman Sachs raises Apple estimates, expects sale of 1.8 million iPod shuffles this quarter – March 17, 2005
Associated Press: Apple’s iPod shuffle is ‘the best portable music player for the money’ – January 30, 2005
First time iPod buyers who go for iPod shuffle won’t fully appreciate the magic of iPod – January 26, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times: iPod shuffle’s biggest advantage is it works with Apple’s iTunes – January 25, 2005
Washington Post: Apple’s new iPod shuffle is ‘the iPod for the rest of us’ – January 25, 2005
Associated Press: Apple’s iPod shuffle’s ‘ease of use is unrivaled’ – January 24, 2005
PC Magazine review gives Apple’s iPod shuffle 4 out of 5 stars – January 21, 2005
USA Today: Apple’s iPod shuffle should ‘send shivers through’ competitors – January 20, 2005
Apple’s iPod shuffle causes stampedes of customers, sells out as quickly as they appear in stores – January 19, 2005
Tech columnist Wendland: ‘Apple’s new iPod Shuffle to be the next must-have product’ – January 18, 2005
Walt Mossberg tests Apple’s new iPod shuffle and concludes that ‘the iPod juggernaut will roll on’ – January 12, 2005
Analyst: Mac Mini and iPod Shuffle are big winners for Apple – January 11, 2005
Apple introduces iPod shuffle, first iPod under US$100 – January 11, 2005
Looks like a reasonably balanced review … now if it had a screen and a radio and … it would cost a whole lot more …
MW is put as in should I put “First Post!” in this post … I guess I did ..
that’s a late review ….
6 family members, 6 iPods. = 100% covered!!
I wish it had a small LCD screen.
That way I could complain about how small it was and how it killed the battery
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It’s refreshing to see a mainstream review that gives the consumer a better idea of what can be put on the iPod.
Saying that you’re “tied at the hip” to iTMS is just ludicrous. I’ve got over 30GB of music from my personal collection without the assistance of iTMS.
But, he doesn’t really hit on the fact that you can NOT shuffle if you want. You can play playlists in order or albums if you prefer.
The AppleStore is down!
Now its up!!!!!
Delivery of Tiger by April 29!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
free shipping!!!!!!!!!!!
Yahoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I just peed my pants!
Hmmmmm….so that´s not new?
Darn, I wet myself for no reason at all.
“That’s triple the space for only $50 more…”
Let’s see; Mini = Shuffle = 1 Gig, 4 Gigs. Since when does 1×3=4? Maybe he couldn’t spell quadruple. Pretty scary coming from BusinessWeek.
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Let’s try that again. Copy/Paste malfunction:
“That’s triple the space for only $50 more…”
Let’s see; Shuffle = 1 Gig, Mini = 4 Gigs. Since when does 1×3=4? Maybe he couldn’t spell quadruple. Pretty scary coming from BusinessWeek.
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Why does everyone clamor over the shuffle not having an lcd screen? I have a 10gig 2g iPod and the only time I use it is to switch between playlists (the shuffle can only have 1 playlist, I believe) or when I’ve got it playing in my car and my son and daughter want to hear a particular song. Usually, my iPod is playing from 1 of 3 playlists that I let play random and if I don’t want to hear that song I advance it. I LOVE the shuffle and might get myself one soon.
My only drawback with the shuffle is I’m affraid I’m going to lose that little cap!
I managed to lose my end cap to my 1 gb Shuffle in the first week – and was disappointed to find no ‘official’ way to get a replacement.
When will Apple step forward on this issue?
“When will Apple step forward on this issue?”
when hell freezes over or when Belkin brings out one for $19.95
trskrap, jim S… ive got an idea. If you loose your end cap, take the laynard cap. Chop off the strap and hey presto! another end cap. Then you can go buy another laynard online if u need to.
I have been looking everywhere for something like this!