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Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has introduced a new, tinier version of its iPod shuffle -- the lowest-end product in its popular music player line. Previous versions have been bare bones in terms of features and capacity, but their form factors have always been unmistakable Apple designs.
The latest shuffle is tricked out with a 4-gigabyte capacity that accommodates up to 1,000 songs. That's twice as large as previous generations of the shuffle, although this model is just half its size.
It's a mere 1.8 inches tall and only three-tenths of an inch thick -- smaller than a typical house key.
The price is still under US$100 -- $79, to be exact -- keeping it in the price range that Apple established when it introduced the shuffle in January 2005.
Other changes include user control via the earphone cord and a voice feature that announces songs in 14 different languages. Like earlier versions, the shuffle does not have a screen, so the voice feature is a welcome addition for many users, particularly given the increased song capacity.
Collecting Dust
Some of the new shuffle features are less welcome than others. Placing device controls in the headset -- which many people dislike and swap out -- has drawn criticism.
However, it was almost necessary to place controls in the headset because the shuffle has shrunk to such a small size, Rob Walch, host of Today in iPhone, told MacNewsWorld.
"We are talking about a device that most people keep in a pocket -- they don't clip to an armband, for instance. It is more convenient to be able to control it from the earbuds," he said.
In fact, Walch expressed amazement that Apple was able to deliver a 4-gigabyte product in such a tiny device. "Here I am sitting with my 16 gigabyte iPhone -- which is much bigger, of course -- and I'm wondering where the rest is."
Still, the shuffle's lack of an easy way to navigate songs does pose a problem for many users. "The only way to find a song you like would be to have well-organized playlists," said Walch.
No Rush to Shuffle
As intriguing as the design is, Walch has no plans to purchase the new shuffle. He already owns an earlier version, along with first- and fifth-gen iPods and an iPhone. He's using all of those devices, he said -- except the shuffle, "which is collecting dust on my desk."
In expressing resistance, Walch is hardly alone; many people who have already bought an iPod or iPhone are unlikely to spend money on a smaller, simpler product, even if it is more feature-rich.
Apple is likely targeting new customers -- children or teenagers -- as well as consumers who can afford to drop $79 to add to their music player collections. However, you won't find four iPods in most households, Walch acknowledged.
The shuffle would be ideal as a second device for working out or storing books, he suggested, which would skirt the problem of having 1,000 songs but no way to navigate them.
For consumers watching their spending, the shuffle may be a good fit, Charles King, principal of Pund-IT, told MacNewsWorld.
"We saw over Christmas that the products that do seem to be succeeding are the ones that both offer a cache and are priced reasonably," he said.
Having an iPod Shuffle would be akin to buying a Louis Vuitton wallet instead of shoulder bag, King remarked. "Consumers have the prestige of owning something stylish, but they don't have to go deeply into their pockets to pay for it. That can be tempting to people on a limited budget."
