iPod Shuffle

[ccarella]

Anyone else think that the iPod Shuffle is great for listening to podcasts?

http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/

You don't have a display and thus can't easily choose which mp3 to play, so if life really "is random", why not load it up with your favorite podcasts.

[drew]

i think so... and if you don't want it random, just make a playlist before you move the files over. you could rename the files so that they play in whatever order you wanted.

for the price, and it also being an mp3/AAC player, why would anyone ever buy a jump drive again?

[Funtime Ben]

Could be argued it was built for podcasts. Perfect size for a couple days worth of podcasts. No screen to give the content of shows away. It's like the perfect podcast receiver... like Russian roulette for your ears.

I wonder when the iPod will come pre-installed with podcasts?

[cc_chapman]

... like Russian roulette for your ears.

Apple should totlaly use this as a tagline!!!

I'm geeking out over the iMac Mini though. That thing is just plain cool. I might have to get one for my kids since they've been bugging for a computer.

[The Skinny]

When I first saw the iPod shuffle, I wasn't quite sure about it - but then I thought to myself that's been said about a lot of the recent Mac products on the day of release and Apple can't keep them on the shelves. Now I'm really loving the idea of the shuffle - it's like the radio (random) but with only your own shows/music. How can that be bad.

I'm also really liking the Mac mini - now someone just has to figure out how to get a mini LCD panel that will attach to the top of it and it would be the perfect portable podcasting machine!

[Mark]

I tend to agree with what Dave W found; from his blog : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/podcasters/message/1250

And given that I just bought a 1gig Sandisk player for 119 which has a screen, fm radio, mic etc etc, I should be all set for awhile.

take care.

[Craig]

I think that, for all its faults, Apple will sell millions of them. Why? The tight integration with iTunes and the overall ease of use. Remember all the naysayers when the iPod mini came out? It was too expensive, didn't have as many features as its competitors, etc. Yet it sold like crazy and now Apple has twice the overall MP3 player market share (including flash players) than they did last year. (Which suprised even me.)

I think the biggest thing the iPod Shuffle is missing is a way to mark songs while they're playing so they show up in a special playlist in iTunes when you sync. That way you could get information on tracks that interest you without needing the screen.

Never overestimate the needs of the general consumer. I'll probably buy several as gifts for friends and family members.

Craig

[GunForHire]

Am I the only one who thinks the Shuffle is way overrated?

I mean come on, flash based MP3 players with a random function have been about for around 4 years (eg, the Creative MuVo1). Apple make out like this random function is some incredible thing - but it's only been about since the dawn of the CD :roll:

In fact, as Creative's CEO said today, even the cheapest of the cheap Chinese brand flash mp3 players come with a screen, FM radio and a random function. It annoys me that Apple could make any piece of crap and it'd sell like crazy, as long as it's name starts with "i" and it's white and rounded. And if you want a similar thing for your full size iPod? Make a Podcast playlist, stick it on random, and put it in your pocket. There, no screen to ruin what's coming on for you.