Tiny size, good sound and sumptuous style come at a high cost, both in terms of value and in terms of having to live with some restrictions. If the shuffle's caché isn't all-important, there are better choices out there.Read full review
Looks like the perfect player for my motorsickle, aside from teh fact I cant use my sennheiser's with it :(
I had the V2 shuffle for this specific use too and it was great, no need for a screen when you cant look at it anyway.
All apple had to do was make a 2 part cable like the sennheisers come with, and put the controls on the short part! I guess they wouldnt sell as many pairs of phones then though.
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore ffrankmccaffery.Show DetailsHide Details
One of the few concessions apple allowed users with its previous mp3 players was the ability to change the abysmal supplied earphones with a pair of their own. Users could then at least make them tolerable to listen to.
The great thing about the first 2 generations of shuffle was that they were designed for sport. While out running a screen is totally unneeded and the minimal weight and simplicity of design is ideal. In my view this was a design classic with Apple looking at the uses the device would be put too and breaking with convention by taking out the screen as this wasn't needed. The shuffle would always be a poor "primary" ipod.
The third gen seems to have totally forgotten what people will be using this ipod for. The extra weight on the headphone will make it useless for sport and the inability to plug in sport specific headphones a total disaster for this purpose.
My issue is simple. Did anyone really see the 2nd generation shuffle and think: I just wish it was SMALLER?!
Making what is in essense a metallic memory key isn't exactly awe inspiring and the choice of proprietary inline controls is scandalous (I understand they will be incorporated into the rest of the iPod/iPhone lines before too long).
Simple answer is buy a Sansa Clip. Problem is not enough people even know it exists...
I agree Gordon, they really had no reason to make the previous shuffle smaller or remove the controls. The new control scheme is anti-competitive (by locking you into proprietary headphones) and simply counter intuitive. If you need a sheet to tell you how to use the basic functions of your player you are doing something wrong. The Sansa clip is easier to use, higher quality, cheaper and comes with the added convenience of a screen. I find it sad that people will buy this without knowing what else is out there...
Well said Gordon. Why on earth would you need it to be this small? Is it so we can swallow it in case the police start searching people for illegal MP3s?
Personally I only need it to fit comfortably in a pocket. What I also need is some proper controls. I'd be happy to use Apple's own earphones except for one thing - I actually like music, and therefore want to be able to hear it properly. That means I want to use Sennheiser, Shure, Sony - anything except Apple 'phones.
The funniest part of the issue of earphone controls and authentication, is going back and reading the responses from Apple fans on here and other forums. At first it was simply a false rumour spread by Apple-haters. Then it was possibly true, but not a problem for consumers (sure, why would we want any choice in how we use the devices we've paid for?). Diehard fanboys will still insist that the design is part of Apple's ongoing quest to make our lives better and happier, and has nothing to with restricting usage or making Apple more money... Well those fans may criticise TR and other sites for sensationalism but personally I wish they'd kick up even more of a fuss. This kind of restriction (whether it be Apple's earphone controls or Sony's proprietary fittings) can only be bad for the consumer.
You can probably guess I won't be buying one...
Nice player but the default earphones and the very expensive apple ear buds have a major, major design flaw that anybody who use this at the gym will know about if they are working hard and perspiring - the moisture gets into the cable remote control and sends the device mad! Reported to apple and its all over their forums but no word from apple yet as to when they are going to sort this issue that makes the player useless for gym/exercise useless. if you have the same problem please report it to Apple to help get some action - at the moment very frustrated with this.
@MrGodfrey - Apple's biggest concern needs to be that is doesn't 'do-a-Sony' and eventually topple itself with all this proprietary technology. After all, Apple's standing is now what Sony's was in the 80s...
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