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MacChat: iPod shufflenow you’re talking!
THE iPod shuffle is simultaneously the most boring and most fascinating model in Apple’s iPod lineup.
Boring, because it has a limited capacity, no screen and cannot run games or applications like other iPods. Fascinating, because Apple continues to “think different” with each new model. And the latest iteration is not only music to your ears, but spoken words as well.
The first-generation iPod shuffle was made of white plastic and resembled a stick of gum. It had an optional cord for hanging around the neck, and a single big button for play/pause, with surrounding buttons for skipping and volume control. The second-generation shuffle was a dramatic departure, smaller and square-shaped and wrapped in anodised aluminium. A built-in clip enhanced its portability.
Now with the third-generation shuffle, Apple has completely re-engineered the device again.
The 3G iPod shuffle is similar in shape to the first generation, aluminium like the second generation, and ultra-small at 45.2mm high by 17.5mm wide by 7.8mm deep. It comes in silver and black, and its svelte profile means the controls have been moved to the earbuds, leaving it featureless except for the Apple logo on the clip, which it retains for easy attachment to your attire. Its 4GB capacity will hold up to 1000 songs.
But the silver bullet that should put paid to all other iPod shuffle pretenders is VoiceOver, the text-to-speech technology that’s now built in. As Apple says, the iPod shuffle is “the first music player that talks to you”.
Mac users will already be familiar with VoiceOver, which in OS X enables a Mac to read back any text in any application in a number of voices. And the new iPhone 3G S utilises some VoiceOver features, as well as speech recognition.
In the iPod shuffle, VoiceOver is a perfect substitute for a screen, and probably better than a screen for exercisers or other listeners on the go. It can read through playlists and song titles, and tell you the name of the song playing.
VoiceOver also now makes listening to podcasts on an iPod shuffle a viable option, as you can navigate through your podcast library with ease.
Apple’s quest to make music players ever smaller is a double-edged sword: while the ultra-compactness is nice, you find yourself asking how small is too small? For some it will be harder to hold and easier to lose.
Also, having the controls on the earbuds could annoy users who like the option of substituting their own higher-powered headphones.
Still, for sheer compactness, design and cutting-edge technology, the iPod shuffle leaves other screenless music players in the shade.
iPod shuffle, 4GB, $129, http://www.apple.com/au/ipodshuffle
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