Apple 1 GB iPod Shuffle MP3 Player $149.99 pre-order!

[Analog]

Amazon

Features:

* 1 GB model holds up to 240 songs; supports MP3, MP3 VBR, AAC, Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store, M4A, M4B, M4P), and WAV
* Up to 12 hours of battery life, with approximately 4 hour charge time
* USB 1.1 and 2.0 compatibility through integrated USB connector
* Compatible with Mac OS X v10.2.8 or later (Mac OS X 10.3.4 or later recommended for use with low-power USB ports) and Windows 2000 with SP 4 or Windows XP Home or Professional with SP 2
* Earbud headphones, lanyard, and USB cap included

Get $10 off thru e-mail for survey, ordering from apple

 

[MetalMat]

Kind of overpriced for 1gb no?

 

[BlueWeasel]

Actually, it seems like a hot deal to me, considering a similar 512mb iRiver MP3 player is currently $170 at Newegg.

[Edit] Nevermind...I didn't realize this is apparently a hard drive based model. I thought this was a flash drive, but the battery life is much, much lower than my iRiver flash player.

 

[mchammer187]

$10 cheaper on 1GB model from apple store if you go thru education discount

no discount on 512 MB models

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Actually, it seems like a hot deal to me, considering a similar 512mb iRiver MP3 player is currently $170 at Newegg.

[Edit] Nevermind...I didn't realize this is apparently a hard drive based model. I thought this was a flash drive, but the battery life is much, much lower than my iRiver flash player.

You sure it is hardrive based? It would not be bad if it were memory, but this would be a huge ripoff if it was harddrive based.

 

[GoldenAzn]

To bad they didn't put a little lcd on it so that you can figure out what song your playing.

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
[Edit] Nevermind...I didn't realize this is apparently a hard drive based model. I thought this was a flash drive, but the battery life is much, much lower than my iRiver flash player.

The iShuffle is a flash based player. It's overpriced because it doesn't even have an ID3 LCD. Or a simple segment/icon LCD to display mode and track # or playlist # like even most of the cheapest MP3 players have.

I wouldn't buy one, but I can understand why someone who just needs the cheapest thing possible ($99 512MB iShuffle) to listen to their purchased iTunes away from the computer would buy one. iTunes locks the buyer into a single brand of player, unless you burn and re-rip the music (lossy/degraded after recompression, meh).

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Actually, it seems like a hot deal to me, considering a similar 512mb iRiver MP3 player is currently $170 at Newegg.

[Edit] Nevermind...I didn't realize this is apparently a hard drive based model. I thought this was a flash drive, but the battery life is much, much lower than my iRiver flash player.

You sure it is hardrive based? It would not be bad if it were memory, but this would be a huge ripoff if it was harddrive based.

Honestly, I don't know. The size makes it look like a flash player, but then I saw the battery life. Maybe it is a flash player, but I didn't know they made flash players with rechargable batteries. My iRiver 128mb player runs for weeks off a single AA battery.

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: pxc

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
[Edit] Nevermind...I didn't realize this is apparently a hard drive based model. I thought this was a flash drive, but the battery life is much, much lower than my iRiver flash player.

The iShuffle is a flash based player. It's overpriced because it doesn't even have an ID3 LCD. Or a simple segment/icon LCD to display mode and track # or playlist # like even most of the cheapest MP3 players have.

I wouldn't buy one, but I can understand why someone who just needs the cheapest thing possible ($99 512MB iShuffle) to listen to their purchased iTunes away from the computer would buy one. iTunes locks the buyer into a single brand of player, unless you burn and re-rip the music (lossy/degraded after recompression, meh).

Yeah I dont like the whole no screen thing

 

[metalmania]

Creative Muvo2 4GB @ $150 is much better than this.

 

[maximo]

er on the newpaper i read today, it stated 99 bucks for this flash mp3 player. I would not get this even though its made by apple. Its just not worth it.

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: pxc

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
[Edit] Nevermind...I didn't realize this is apparently a hard drive based model. I thought this was a flash drive, but the battery life is much, much lower than my iRiver flash player.

The iShuffle is a flash based player. It's overpriced because it doesn't even have an ID3 LCD. Or a simple segment/icon LCD to display mode and track # or playlist # like even most of the cheapest MP3 players have.

I wouldn't buy one, but I can understand why someone who just needs the cheapest thing possible ($99 512MB iShuffle) to listen to their purchased iTunes away from the computer would buy one. iTunes locks the buyer into a single brand of player, unless you burn and re-rip the music (lossy/degraded after recompression, meh).

the thing is this thing is 2 or 3 x thinner than any other comparable player

if you want one of comparable size and storage you are looking at spending 200+ at least if you want a model with a screen and it will still be 2 to 3x as big in terms of volume

this thing is 8 mm thick 1/3 of an inch

there is no player at this size (volume) can hold this much 512 and 1 GB at this price $99 and $139

17.4 Cubic Cm = volume of this thing

http://www.iriveramerica.com/p...ultra/n10/n10-105.aspx

that is rougly 18 Cubic Cm however it costs $250 for a 512 MB model

http://www.iriveramerica.com/p...ltra/100/ifp_190t.aspx

64 Cubic Cm (4x the size) at the same cost as the 1 GB model but is ( 1/4th the storage as well) and has a screen

http://www.iriveramerica.com/p...ultra/700/ifp_799.aspx

74 Cubic cm (almost 5x the size) 249.99 (almost 2x the price) 1GB (same storage)



http://us.creative.com/product...echnicalSpecifications
this is probably what you guys want though
1.7x the size (28 Cubic Cm)
1.4x the cost ($199)
same storage
has a screen

it is all a tradeoff

but i like having the ishuffle as an option

 

[royaldank]

Strange device. I personally like to select what music I'm listening to.

 

[Solema]

This is exactly the type of device I'd be interested in. I just like to put my music on and put it on shuffle and could care less what song comes up. I don't need the LCD to tell me what song it is, I will know what it is when I hear it. This looks like it'd be a nice workout companion.

 

[IlllI]

no lcd screen = i wont get one.

 

[Jombo]

i like the 512 version. that i could live w/out the lcd, but a gig of music w/ no lcd to navigate? that's a bit tougher for me. i hope this promotes flash based players getting even cheaper, so i could eventually pick on up for around $50 or so..

sucky there is no edu disco for the 512 version..

 

[harryd]

Originally posted by: Solema
This is exactly the type of device I'd be interested in. I just like to put my music on and put it on shuffle and could care less what song comes up. I don't need the LCD to tell me what song it is, I will know what it is when I hear it. This looks like it'd be a nice workout companion.

That is exactly how I listen to my songs. Load selected songs, put it in random and forget it. I wouldn't mind lack of screen either. I think it can also be used as data transfer device like a thumb drive. I probably get a Gig one for myself. I know you can get cheaper/bulkier models or if you wait long enough, copycats release similar models cheaper. But it feels like supporting Apple' creativity once in a while. BTW what do you guys think about Mac Mini? That thing looks cute, may not be bad for $500.

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: metalmania
Creative Muvo2 4GB @ $150 is much better than this.

I agree, except those doing jogging or other higher impact sports will probably want a flash based player. Yes this thing is small but mainly because there is no lcd, which is ok for some, but for most it is a deal killer.

 

[weezerdude]

I see the Ipod Shuffle more like a USB memory stick first than a MP3 player. You can store any data files and folders besides MP3s (believe the file format is FAT; correct me if im wrong). I would use the Ipod Shuffle to store all my school documents and projects as well as a lil' MP3 player.

A standard USB 1 GIG Memory range from 75 USD to 100 USD. 50 bucks more for a IPOD style MP3 Flash player is allright. I don't need all the nice and nifty features, I got an IPOD Mini already.

 

[kamranziadar]

thanx

 

[metalmania]

Originally posted by: modedepe

Originally posted by: metalmania
Creative Muvo2 4GB @ $150 is much better than this.

I agree, except those doing jogging or other higher impact sports will probably want a flash based player. Yes this thing is small but mainly because there is no lcd, which is ok for some, but for most it is a deal killer.

Well if this 1GB version is $100, then it's definitely a steal. Creative Muvo2 uses Microdrive which is good enough for jogging and other excercises.

 

[Aagiants]

i just heard on CNN that these were supposed to sell at 99$... Just wait

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: Aagiants
i just heard on CNN that these were supposed to sell at 99$... Just wait

$99 for 512 MB model 149 for 1 GB

 

[RaiderJ]

The big downside for me is that you probably need iTunes in order to upload music to it. A better option to me is the Creative TX - uses AAA battery, has an LCD, it's a mass storage device (so you can use it as a flash drive), and you can get it with FM. Granted it costs a bit more, but to avoid using iTunes it's a bonus for me.

 

[ragazzo]

doesn't look nice imho