I am a student studying interactive media design at dundee university, also direct the family compan...
I am a student studying interactive media design at dundee university, also direct the family company which is a small recording studio, that is now begining to move into new media and creative services.
Member since:24.01.2005
Reviews:10
Members who trust:3
2005 is shaping up for Apple, with the introduction of the iPod Shuffle to the US and UK markets. Intended as a low price alternative to the iPod and iPod Mini (yes, it’s much smaller than the mini!), the Shuffle boasts a matched quality of audio but with miniscule size and weight - it's sure to be a winner!
The idea behind the iPod Shuffle was to create a secondary iPod device that was essentially a stripped down version of the standard iPod and iPod mini, by removing elements such as the screen and the infamous scroll wheel.
This secondary iPod was created not only to tempt low budget buyers into the Apple world but also to act as a smaller, more compact, sibling iPod; the music on which would only be a small and changeable selection of your collection. Apple turned 'not having a screen' into a feature - it can select and upload songs randomly, and play them randomly, or in a shuffled order - thus the name, the iPod Shuffle!
Now you may think that since Apple have stripped out the iPod's main features,
and for a much reduced price, the Shuffle would play music at a lower quality? You would be wrong; these babies do use smaller, cheaper, 'Flash' Memory chips as opposed to small hard drives, but still retain the crystal clear quality of the original iPod.
Battery Life with the Shuffle is fantastic. On a single charge (4 hours) they are supposed to last 12 hours; one source on the Internet claimed the battery life lasted for in excess of 15 hours playback! The weight and size of the Shuffle is also simply amazing. I could not believe that an item so small could last for so long, playing back excellent quality digital music (120+ songs at that!). It weighs a miniscule 22 grams – that’s less than a packet of crisps. The size is equally as awing – just 8.4mm thin – approximately the size of a packet of chewing gum!
Obviously a down side to the Shuffle is its memory capacity; 1GB for a very low price and 512MB for even lower! This when compared to the iPod and iPod Mini is small; the Mini holds 4GB, the iPod comes in 20/40GB and the iPod Photo comes in 40/60GB. However it must be noted that 1GB is a lot of memory, if you consider it is more than a CD can hold. These figures might mean nothing to some people so, Apple state on their promotional media that the iPod Shuffle 512MB can hold approximately 120 songs (at 4 minutes per song). However, as you know not all songs are that long, you often find that if you hand pick them (as opposed to using iTunes new ‘AutoFill’ feature), your 512 can hold up to 130-150 songs. The Shuffle 1GB is double the capacity of the 512MB; claimed to hold 240 songs, in reality holding up to around 250-260 if hand picked. Which, for the price, I’m sure you’ll agree is a positive point.
The way you use an iPod Shuffle is much the same as using an iPod; you download music from the Apple Music Store, or Import songs (rip) from a bought CD straight from your CD drive. The software that comes with every iPod is iTunes, an easy to use music management tool. This is the kit you would use to synchronize with the iPod, including the new AutoFill feature that stocks your Shuffle with random tracks from your collection. Extremely easy to use and set up.
The iPod connects to your PC or Mac via USB plug (built in – no cable), or through an optional ‘dock’. As always the range of optional accessories is excellent; USB charger (£19), Shuffle Dock (£19), Sport Case/Cover (£19), External Battery Pack – Extra 24 hours battery life (£19), Armband (£19) and a range of headphones. (Prices from the Apple Store). It’s always recommended to buy from a trusted retailer or Apple themselves; you often find that these items sell on the likes of eBay for far more than the cost price (Apple.com ship for free and have the lowest prices i've seen).
Overall, the Shuffle is a fantastic, low cost, very portable audio device that holds a sufficient number of tunes to keep you going for the 12 hours between charges. It's a particularly good buy for those not wanting to splash out the £180-250 for a larger capacity models or who don't hold such a large music collection. The iPod Shuffle 512MB is available for £69.00; and the 1GB for £99.01 – both from Apple.com with free delivery. They are new on the market just now (January) therefore a waiting time of 3-4 weeks is still in order – but well worth it.
It was never intended to better the iPod, but to aid it. And it does just that, with Apple’s trademark style and design we’re going to see record numbers of these sold!
*****
Some interesting Facts about the iPod Shuffle
Set it up for the day: the iPod Shuffle can be loaded with any particular playlist, depending on what mood you’re in! Or just drag and drop your favorites. Also, if you feel like mixing it up a bit, just flick the switch on the back of the iPod and shuffle mode will engage – mix on the go!
Plug and Play: Syncing is simple, with optional dock or direct USBconnect – it automatically charges you up while you wait! You can even put data files onto this drive – like a data stick or pen for file transfer.
*****
Thanks for reading my review, I welcome any comments you have!
Pictures of Apple iPod shuffle 1 GB
iPod Shuffle from Apple
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
The world's smallest digital music player, the 1GB iPod shuffle lets you wear up to 240 ... more
songs on your sleeve. Or your lapel. Or your belt. Clip on iPod shuffle and wear it as a badge of musical devotion. You know what they say about good things and sma...
Postage & Packaging: £4.39 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The world's smallest digital music player, the 1GB iPod shuffle lets you wear up to 240 ... more
songs on your sleeve. Or your lapel. Or your belt. Clip on iPod shuffle and wear it as a badge of musical devotion. You know what they say about good things and sma...
Postage & Packaging: £4.39 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Very strong and portable. Extremely good value for money. Disadvantages: Some may prefer a larger capacity. Other than that, no disadvantages at all.
Jan 27th, 2005
exceptional by (11%):
very helpful by (71%):
helpful by (17%):
