A couple days back, Apple released the 3rd generation iPod Shuffle which is smaller and lighter than its predecessors and considered as the world’s smallest music player. Aside from the smaller dimensions and lighter weight, Apple has also doubled its storage capacity to 4 GB and got rid of its device control buttons, moving them to the headset cord.
CUPERTINO, California—March 11, 2009—Apple® today introduced the all-new iPod® shuffle, the world’s smallest music player at nearly half of the size of the previous model, and the first music player that talks to you. The revolutionary new VoiceOver feature enables iPod shuffle to speak your song titles, artists and playlist names. The third generation iPod shuffle is significantly smaller than a AA battery, holds up to 1,000 songs and is easier to use with all of the controls conveniently located on the earphone cord. With the press of a button, you can play, pause, adjust volume, switch playlists and hear the name of the song and artist. iPod shuffle features a gorgeous new aluminum design with a built-in stainless steel clip that makes it ultra-wearable.
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The third generation 4GB iPod shuffle is also the first music player in the world that talks made possible by a new feature called VoiceOver. With a press of a button, the iPod shuffle will tell you the title or artist of the song you’re listening to, without interrupting the song. VoiceOver also announces names of playlists so you can switch to a different playlist while you’re driving or jogging without having to take your eyes off the road. VoiceOver also supports multiple languages.
VoiceOver supports the following languages:
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Czech
- Dutch
- French
- German
- Greek
- Italian
- Japanese
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Swedish
Apple’s third generation 4GB iPod shuffle comes in two colors, silver and black and is now available for $79 at Apple Stores, Apple’s retail stores and Apple authorized resellers. Btw, the 4GB iPod shuffle requires iTunes 8.1 which is the latest version of iTunes.
So what do you think about Apple’s newest 4GB iPod shuffle? For those of you own an iPod shuffle, do you like the new design? Or do you prefer to have the controls back in the device than in the headset cord?
[via Engadget]
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September 7th, 2009 at 7:06 PM
When I delete old episodes from the podcasts on my new 4th Gen Ipod, they STAY on the playlist. I cannot get to my new podcasts, and have to listen to the old ones over and over. I click the button on the headphones to advance to another podcast, and get another old podcast over and over. It never lets me listen to the new podcasts.
Please advise. I have had 1st and 2nd gen ipods and never had this problem.
June 9th, 2009 at 11:22 PM
it looks cool…to hassle transferring songs on it.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:20 PM
@elmot – I know. If you do decide to buy one or if someone gives you one as a gift, make sure you have some sort of carrying case or chain tied to it so it won’t get lost. :D
March 21st, 2009 at 11:18 PM
hahaha! great marketing strat, but i would like to focus more on the negative side of it, being very much prone to be listed on the lost section.
big money on the bank…
elmots last blog post..Be Careful With What You Tweet
March 15th, 2009 at 6:40 PM
@elmot – Hehe..yeah, the size does make it easy to lose or misplace. Interesting point. I guess both is a win-win situation for Apple. People buy it coz its small and easy to carry around and then when they lose it, they’ll just have to buy a new one. :D
March 15th, 2009 at 6:39 PM
i agree with the reviews of friend here. this new version will surely be the most displaced gadget of the year. is its size intentional for it to be easily displaced or lost for you to buy a new one? just a thought.
though i like the controls being on the cord.
elmots last blog post..Comic Strip Friday
March 15th, 2009 at 4:15 PM
@Ade – You nailed that one man.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:12 AM
Great design, bad usability choices.
Ades last blog post..Piano on Fire: Aloha, Eraserheads
March 15th, 2009 at 12:50 AM
@VulxN – Haha..good point. The 4GB iPod shuffle should include a strap that you can put around your neck or even the wrist so it won’t get lost. The clip is not enough. :D
March 15th, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Soon to be . .. the most misplaced gadget of the year . . due to it’s
size.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:40 PM
@The Photoblogger – Me too, although I bought my wife an iPod Nano recently because she liked it. Hehe
File transfer can be cumbersome but once you get the hang of it, its not that bad. The iPod shuffle is really small and they designed it basically for people to use it while jogging or in the gym so they won’t have to carry much weight while exercising. Its also nice for people who commute daily to school or work and would like to listen to some songs, audio books or podcasts as they travel. :)
March 13th, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I was never really a fan of iPod.. it’s quite expensive and the file transferring is too complicated for me and this time, iPod made it’s shuffle too small… yep, if I may say, there’s such a thing as too small..
Anyway, if they have a way of making file transfer easier then maybe I would easily accept this iPod.
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