Hands On: iPod shuffle
TMO at MWSF - Hands On: iPod shuffle
by , 4:20 PM EST, January 11th, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- As Apple CEO Steve Jobs finished up his demonstration of the iPod shuffle and announced that "they are shipping from the factory today," he casually mentioned that he had heard they were a few at the Apple Store a few blocks away from the Moscone Center.
It came as little surprise to me to find that just minutes later the Apple Store three blocks away was packed with people, most of whom were in line to buy one (or ten) of the new iPod shuffles. Only the 512MB version was available and while they had ample stock while I waited in line for almost half an hour to purchase one--ample, at least, to not have to limit the quantity you could purchase--employees there, who had only learned of the device minutes ago themselves, expected to run out of shuffles quickly. San Francisco is apparently the only place in the country you can get them at the moment (the online Apple Store estimates shipment at one week for the 512MB model, and 1-2 weeks for the 1GB version).
The iPod shuffle box is about the size of a couple compact discs, and it's about easy as a CD to impulse buy more than you need, especially on the day that they're announced. Apple's typically minimalist iPod packaging is even more minimal with the shuffle: open the top, slide out the plastic holder that contains the iPod shuffle, lanyard, and headphones, and slip out the small square envelope that houses the documentation and install CD. iTunes 4.7.1 -- not yet available from Software Update at the time of this writing -- is needed in order for iTunes to see the shuffle (an iPod Updater 2005-01-11 that recognizes the shuffle is also included on the disc).
After you've plugged the shuffle in and named it, iTunes automatically fills it randomly with tracks using the new iTunes Autofill feature. You can specify whether you want it to replace all songs when it Autofills, chooses higher rated songs more often, and whether to choose songs randomly (as opposed to in the order of a playlist). Through the iPod shuffle's Preferences window you can control further options: whether to open iTunes automatically when the shuffle is plugged in, for example, or whether to use part of the iPod shuffle's capacity as a USB flash drive (you must specify how much, and doing so requires you to manually eject the iPod shuffle from the Finder each time you want to unplug it). You can also tell iTunes to automatically convert higher bit rate songs to 128 kbps AAC when it copies them to the iPod shuffle, enabling you to squeeze more songs onto the device.
First impressions of the device are pretty favorable. I have to say I was skeptical about the lack of a screen, but as Bryan Chaffin put it last night, "Apple wouldn't do it if it didn't make sense." At the end of the keynote, I started to "get" where the iPod shuffle fits in. It's ideally suited for people who already own a full-size iPod and already understand iTunes and basic iPod functionality. You won't be able to easily find that one new song you want to show your friend (unless you put it towards the top of the iPod shuffle's playlist), you won't be able to glance down and figure out what a song is or rate it to figure out later, and you can't scrub forward or backwards (not too great for audio books), but what you can do is affordably and take your favorite songs with you wherever you want and not have to worry about breaking the device. It's especially ideal for the gym.
Around your neck, the iPod shuffle is barely even noticeable. The front has five buttons with six basic controls: play/pause, skip forward one track, skip backwards one track, and volume up/down. On the back are two other buttons: a small one tells you the battery status through one LED (green you're good, orange you're low, red you're very low), another switch allows you to turn the device off, set it to continuous play, or set it to random.
Skipping around tracks is relatively fast, a bit faster than an ordinary iPod (especially when that iPod needs to spin up the hard disk to load more tracks to memory). If you turn the device off in the middle of a track and then turn it back on, it picks up exactly where it left off. The LED on the front of the only illuminates when you press a button (not while it's actually playing), provide visual as well as tactile feedback. There is no specific hold button on the iPod shuffle. Instead, to lock out the buttons you press and hold the play/pause button for a few seconds, after which the LED blinks orange a few times. Pressing any buttons while in hold mode cause the LED to blink orange. To remove the hold, you similarly press and hold the play/pause button.
With the iPod shuffle, Apple has taken the flash-based MP3 market and turned it upside down. There will surely be those who are turned away by the lack of a display, but other the iPod brand will likely be enough to convince everyone to at least take a look at the shuffle and decide for themselves whether Apple's approach meets their needs.
Observer Comments
The primary target of the iPod shuffle is for those potential flash player buyers. Such buyers are not music connoisseur. They are unlikely to have enough songs to fill up the iPod shuffle or not are very particular what songs they are listening to at any point in time. The fact that it can also use as a flash drive suits these guys well.
The finer preference and auto-fill features are targeted at existing iPod users who want a smaller iPod or my case, for my 6 years old son.
I was a potential iPod buyer but I thought they were too expensive. To fit my entire collection, I'd need at least the midrange model.
Enter the iPod shuffle. It's the right price. I won't even think of putting my whole collection on it, so I won't worry about that. I'll just have the Mac shove a bunch of random tunes on it every few days to keep me from getting bored. And your article said you can use it as a flash drive...I was going to buy one of those anyway. Now I can have an Apple flash drive that plays hours of music...here's my credit card baby! Nice job Apple.
Yes, the shuffle is aim at morons who have crappy bitrate songs of U2 they want to carry around with them.
But, for me, I like the fact that it is a USB memory card, as well as the player. Especially since I'm in the market for a flash drive in the $100-$150 range, and most 1g flash drive are around $100 and most 1g flash players aer considerably more, this is a rather nice setup.
QuoteMace wrote:
The finer preference and auto-fill features are targeted at existing iPod users who want a smaller iPod or my case, for my 6 years old son.
Wait..you're gonna get a $100-$150 piece of electronic equipment for you 6 year old? I'm surprised cuz I imagine 6 year olds loosing/breaking things, but I'm also amazed that he may know how to use iTunes (that kinda speaks volumes about OS X in general).
QuotesomeToast wrote:
Does it allow holding down the FF/RW buttons to do scrubbing?
Yes, if you hold down the FF/RW buttons it scan trhough the current song. A quick press and release skips to the next/previous song. Sounds like it plays several seconds and then skips a small segment instead of just speeding up the playback.
I got my hands on one at macWorld today (couldn't get it off the overhead pipe they had about 100 wrapped around, though
).
IMO, the best way to think of the shuffle is a cross between an iPod and a portable CD player. Once loaded, you basically have identical functionality to a portable CD player (without any extra CDs), but it's solid state. However, _unlike_ a portable CD player, you can load a large, customised CD, and it's a _lot_ smaller.
As a person who is in school for music production, I find the Shuffle extremely attractive as an exercising device. I felt, as a student that doesn't have Mummy and Daddy buying me expensive iPods and that is struggling through a budget crunch the Shuffle fits perfectly. Of course I use and own Macs, it's part of the business. It's nice to have a player finally available that will handle, what I believe is a sonically superior compression format that I can afford, and that still carries the Apple style with it. I think that saying this is aimed at "morons who have crappy bitrate songs of U2 they want to carry around with them." is a little misguided. Especially since the majority of ear buds, the Apple ones included, lack the diapgragm to create an optimum listening experience. It's a physics thing kids. And have you ever tried to run with studio cans on? Thank you Apple
Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:29 am Subject: They are going to sell these by the bucketfull
My Mother in Law saw it and said she is going to buy one right away. She already bought a Mini buy my father in Law stole it from her. I explained the whole shuffle/random concept and how you can have your music collection on your computer and set it so it randomly fills each time you connect it with a section of your collection and she got the idea right away. You know you like all the songs in your collection but you also are surprised each time as to what is going to come up so it doesn't get old.
I don't know about you guys but I almost always am selecting a playlist then playing it in shuffle mode on my regular iPod. I will a lot of times like to have my entire collection with me but for a short trip out and about this will be great. I will be buying one for sure.
Quotespxyu02 wrote:QuoteMace wrote:
The finer preference and auto-fill features are targeted at existing iPod users who want a smaller iPod or my case, for my 6 years old son.
Wait..you're gonna get a $100-$150 piece of electronic equipment for you 6 year old? I'm surprised cuz I imagine 6 year olds loosing/breaking things, but I'm also amazed that he may know how to use iTunes (that kinda speaks volumes about OS X in general).
There aren't a lot of moving parts on the Shuffle, so it shouldn't be a problem for any responsible 6 year old... especially one who already knows the difference between "losing" and "loosing."
-Ken P
Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:42 am Subject: no screen, no problem
On one point I agree with Apple: I bought my 1st gen iPod on day one and have almost always used it in shuffle mode.
The screen is most useful for me to see information about the song I'm listening to, but I almost never search out and play a particular song. I leave it on random and if I don't like the song that comes up I skip to the next song. I only have a 5 gig iPod to hold my 30 gigs + of music, so I've rigged iTunes to give me a random selection of songs every time I plug in. Apple apparently did some market research and discovered that I'm not the only one who uses my iPod this way. My question is, will 240 songs be enough to get me through a run or a commute?
I'll get one as a second iPod, particularly for running. I use a USB drive anyway to move small files around. But I don't think the iPod shuffle has the coolness of the origonal iPod or the iPod mini.
Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:46 am Subject: Re: no screen, no problem
Wed Jan 12, 2005 12:25 pm Subject: no screen, no problem
You're probably right. But I tend to skip a lot of songs. If a particular song doesn't grab me at the moment, I skip it. Sometimes I skip several in a row util I find one that fits my mood.
Jim
QuoteSmall White Car wrote:Quotejpfreeman wrote:
My question is, will 240 songs be enough to get me through a run or a commute?
God, I HOPE so!
Assuming 3 minutes per song, that's 12 HOURS of music. That's quite a run!
Quotejpfreeman wrote:
You're probably right. But I tend to skip a lot of songs. If a particular song doesn't grab me at the moment, I skip it. Sometimes I skip several in a row util I find one that fits my mood.
If you've skipped through all 240 songs, you might need to do some music shopping:-)
Want an iPod Shuffle? Get one for free at
http://www.FreeiPodShuffle.com/?r=13897142
Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:45 am Subject: Re: Sufficient Volume?
Quotepyxl8 wrote:Quotespxyu02 wrote:QuoteMace wrote:
The finer preference and auto-fill features are targeted at existing iPod users who want a smaller iPod or my case, for my 6 years old son.
Wait..you're gonna get a $100-$150 piece of electronic equipment for you 6 year old? I'm surprised cuz I imagine 6 year olds loosing/breaking things, but I'm also amazed that he may know how to use iTunes (that kinda speaks volumes about OS X in general).
There aren't a lot of moving parts on the Shuffle, so it shouldn't be a problem for any responsible 6 year old... especially one who already knows the difference between "losing" and "loosing."
-Ken P
I'm an engineer that can't spell, leave me alone!
I'm still very surprised at the 6-year old thing, but I guess that kids are smarter than we give them credit for.
Am I missing something...or does the iPod shuffle do nothing more than any other flash MP3 player on the market ?!!! Shuffle ?? huh ? Show me an MP3 player that DOESN'T have a shuffle function !! Most flash MP3 players come with FM radio and voice recorder built in...and take standard sized batteries...so why on earth would you buy an iPod shuffle instead of any of the other flash players already on the market ??? ...except because of tha Apple brand...or to use it with your current iTunes software ?
I just don't get it ! 
And no screen ????? that's a selling point ???? huh ?! Why is nobody pointing out that it's all been done before..and better ???? Clearly I'm missing something..can somebody please tell me what it is ?!!! thanks !
Does the iPod shuffle fit in an iBook if you have, lets say the Apple Pro Mouse attached at the other usb port? The PowerBook definitely has a problem with that: http://www.ipodlife.de//media/pools/1/tests/iPod_Shuffle/pod_shuffle_mit_rechner_149.jpg
On the Apple-page you can see the exact same picture but with an iBook instead of the PowerBook. And there seems to be a chance, that the second port can still be used even with the iPod attached to the first one: http://images.apple.com/de/ipodshuffle/images/indexibook20050111.jpg
But I really would like to know it from someone who has tested it. Anyone here?
Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:47 am Subject: Re: Fit in iBook?
QuoteWell, you may just have to use the track pad for the thirty seconds that it takes to update the 'Pod.Anonymous wrote:
Does the iPod shuffle fit in an iBook if you have, lets say the Apple Pro Mouse attached at the other usb port? The PowerBook definitely has a problem with that:
On the Apple-page you can see the exact same picture but with an iBook instead of the PowerBook. And there seems to be a chance, that the second port can still be used even with the iPod attached to the first one:
But I really would like to know it from someone who has tested it. Anyone here?
No need for arrogance or to insult people who would like an iPod shuffle, and call them non-connoisseurs. This is more a matter of taste and use rather than how well one knows their music.
I would call myself, and others who know me would call me a connoisseur in the music genres and musicians I enjoy, and I plan to purchase an iPod shuffle.
The reason has nothing to do with Amateurish music enjoyment or listening, and nothing to do with being a "connoisseur" or not. I simply find navegating through a regular iPod annoying, and distractive. I was hoping apple would come up with a simple solution, and they have. Over simplistic to some, maybe even to me, but again, it is a matter of how it suits people's uses, not about musical knoweldge.
Some of us wanted something without a screen.
Some of us have calendars and contacts in other devices more suited for that purpose, like a mobile-phone.
Some of us don't need or want to rate our music. Some of us don't need to read the song information, we know it already.
And about our music library size, it has nothing to do with that either. My music library would not fit in a regular iPod. That is where the autofill comes in handy. Day after day I load tons of CDs into my car, replacing them every few days. This is a solution to that, without bringing up music quality.
Remember, everyone is different. What is bad for you is not bad for everyone. Leave generalizations behind.
someone wants a player without a screen ? simple, just don't look at the screen ! I mean..just because there is a screen, it doesn't mean you have to look at it !
So...yes..I can understand all this stuff about, we don't need a screen, we always play our ipods in shuffle mode anyway....that's fine..but I still don't get it...because you can do the same thing with any other existing flash player on the market ! If that's what you wanted to do....why have you waited till now to suddenly conclude that this is so fantastic ?
So again....can someone please let me in on the secret as to why this is so fantastic ? What is it that makes it so different to any other flash player ? ...and, I don't really see lack of a screen as a "difference"...because, as I said, if you don't like looking at a screen..simply don't look at it ! So..what is it ? All I can come up with is...brand, price, compatibility with iTunes...am I right ?
Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:37 am Subject: Re: they may like it, but I still don't get it...
QuoteRight. Is a well recognized brand. Price competitive with even a USB flash drive. Compatible with the number one music download service. What else do you ask for? Still not satisfy?Anonymous wrote:
... All I can come up with is...brand, price, compatibility with iTunes...am I right ?
> "So again....can someone please let me in on the secret as to why this is so fantastic ? What is it that makes it so different to any other flash player ? ...and, I don't really see lack of a screen as a "difference"...because, as I said, if you don't like looking at a screen..simply don't look at it ! So..what is it ? All I can come up with is...brand, price, compatibility with iTunes...am I right ?"
For me, it'd be the following:
- Price. 512MB iPod Shuffle is $99, competing Rio Forge 512 is $199, iRiver N10 512MB is $249, Creative Muvo Micro is $129. iPod Shuffle anywhere from cheaper to WAY cheaper.
- Rechargeable Battery. Lots of competing players use throwaway AAAs. Gets pricey after awhile if you're a heavy user, and its not enviromentally-friendly.
- Great sound quality. iPods are known for this. Competing players vary.
- Extremely small, and looks good. Again, some competing players don't have this.
- iTunes & Mac compatibility. As above.
I don't think its any ONE thing... its more that the iPod Shuffle is an all-around kickass player thats good in just about every area.
Sorry if you still 'don't get it', but what 'I don't get' is why I'd buy anything else.
Thanks
yes, that's all I was asking for..I wasn't saying, just because I didn't get it, it meant there was something wrong..I was simply asking for the answer
As for price, I've seen much cheaper prices for that size flash than what you mention.
For me, builtin rechargeables are a negative. I much prefer to use AA rechargeables...you know you can pick them up anywhere (or non rechargeables at a pinch)..in case you get caught somewhere where you can't recharge via USB etc..
But yes...it seems, it does come down to those things I mentioned.... You also mentioned extremely small...hmmmmmm....there's heaps of other flash players smaller.. And sound quality....can't comment on that, never heard one yet !
Anyway...so thanks, you've answered the question
I see that it's nothing really new..it's just..price, compatibility, etc...
I think it's a pretty good marketing ploy...to get current iPod users to buy another iPod ! Non iPod owners don't need the compatibility...and. pricewise, yes, seems ok..but I think the differences are fairly minimal, if at all...and remember, with other flash players you get a screen, normal batteries, FM radio, voice recorder, equalizer...so, yes, I don't mind paying a little more if it comes to that
Horses for courses and each to their own, is what it comes down to basically !
Don't know what players you're looking at... I know the market pretty well and the competition isn't that good.
I think you're commenting that a particular competing player might be stronger than the iPod Shuffle in ONE area, but compare any other player as a total package, and its just no contest... iPod Shuffle just SMOKES 'em.
If you still have doubts oh well, just get out of the way of the stampede once they become available 
"but compare any other player as a total package, and its just no contest... iPod Shuffle just SMOKES 'em."
hmmm...I really don't see it that way...
To me, it's seeming more like...price and compatibility with iTunes is what it comes down to, ie, 2 particular features...if you want to look at it as a total package, then we'd have :-
lots of other flash players :- shuffle mode, screen, user changeable batteries, equalizer, fm radio, voice recorder, radio recorder, no need for software, A->B repeat mode....
other perhaps higher end models have :- direct mp3 encoding, expandable via memory card..
Then...the total package of the iPod Shuffle ? No screen, no user changeable battery, no radio, no voice recorder...CHEAP ! iTunes !
As stated before....it comes down to individual preference...the cheapness and compatibility with iTunes clearly being important to a lot of the people who are going to be buying these. For others, they may prefer a "more complete" package, with all the other features...
So, if it remains significantly cheaper than comparable memory size models, I can see lots of people buying it...if the price differential isn't so great, then I can see lots of current iPod owners buying it to supplement their current iPod.....great marketing !!! sell 'em 2 devices instead of 1 ...and non iPod owners going with more fully featured models..
Have to disagree with the poster above. The Shuffle appeals to me, period. Don't have an iPod (lots of my friends do), but this one is what I've been looking for. I've checked out other players, and no one of them has everything I want at anything like the price.
And using AAA batts sucks, btw.
Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:26 pm Subject: Re: a total package ? hmmmmm..
QuoteApple design philosophy is always to exclude those good-to-have but hardly ever used features. What left are features that are most used, and a simpler and easier to use device. If you are the type to like devices with as many features as possible than you would not like Apple minimalist approach. Hence it would be difficult for you to get it.Anonymous wrote:
... non iPod owners going with more fully featured models..
Sat Jan 15, 2005 10:29 am Subject: Re: A total package and a totally bogus argument
<quote>lots of other flash players :- shuffle mode, screen, user changeable batteries, equalizer, fm radio, voice recorder, radio recorder, no need for software, A->B repeat mode....</quote>
Kind of a straw man argument, considering that no player with the Shuffle's capacity in the Shuffle's price range has all of the above features, AND none of those players has iTunes-compatibility (a feature that actually matters, since iTunes has more tracks than any other online store and is easy to use).
But still, lets look at them anyway:
Shuffle? iPod Shuffle obviously has that.
Screen? For the way most people use their players, you don't need one. And it costs $ and eats up battery life.
User changeable (i.e. AAA) batteries? This is a minus, actually. Over the probable lifespan of your player, you'll use $100+ in disposable AAA batteries, and be creating some enviromentally-unfriendly waste.
Rechargable NiMH AAA's are a much better way to go, but you're still looking at an additional $30 for batts and a charger.
EQ? You set this in iTunes. Nearly nobody changes EQ on the fly. Didn't you know how you wanted the song to sound before you transferred it?
FM radio? Gyms are large buildings, so the reception inside stinks- this I can state from sad personal experience. And let's face it- FM radio is a vast, suck-tastic wasteland, unless you're into Top 25 pop. Maybe when XM comes to players I'll actually care.
voice recorder, radio recorder, no need for software, A->B repeat mode? Also known as cute features that no one uses.
Hate to say it, but when you look at the big picture and the things that actually matter, yes, the iPod Shuffle looks like it'll walk all over its competitors. Which is a bit sad to me, since Apple's competitors have been in the flash player market so much longer than Apple.
Let's put it this way... I've given competing players and personal FM radios a chance in the past, and they've let me down with things ranging from fragile controls (Rio) to useless indoors FM reception (Sony). Its time for me to get something quality, which would be 
.
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