(rumor has it that they actually made a prototype of an even smaller unit, but somebody put it down, and well, they just can't FIND it anymore.. but don't worry, they're scanning the area with an electrom Microscope. :))

The Apple Ipod just got smaller again.

The computer company announced the release of the iPod Shuffle today. The device is about the size of a pack of chewing gum, and has two sizes. The half gig drive will retail for $99, the 1 gig version for $149. The item is so small that it does not even have a display screen.

Its pretty cool looking, but the fact that its on perpetual shuffle would probably annoy me.

LOL! Gotta love the footnotes on the iPod shuffle page!


Music capacity is based on 4 minutes per song and 128Kbps AAC encoding.
Do not eat iPod shuffle.
Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries (http://www.apple.com/batteries/) for more information.
Some computers require either the optional iPod shuffle Dock or a USB cable extender (sold separately).
LOL!!

Though I would probably hate the perpetual shuffle as well.

edit: Apparently, you can play the songs 'in order' as well. But I guess you can't play a single album... without much button pushing.

Finally an iPod I will consider buying.

$249, $299, $399 are all out of the price range I will pay for a gadget that I'm sure I won't near enough to make it worth my while. I've thrown $70 and $80 bucks on games that I have played once, but that is about the limit of my frivolous spending.

and the other big announcement is Steve Jobs went Dr Evil and announced..

(finger to mouth) I shall call it... "Mini Mac"

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/11/mac_mini_front_view.jpg

i have my 5 gb on perpetual shuffle, whats wrong with that.

and the other big announcement is Steve Jobs went Dr Evil and announced..

(finger to mouth) I shall call it... "Mini Mac"

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/11/mac_mini_front_view.jpg
I saw that too... very... wierd. Can't be very easy to upgrade ;). Though I believe it is for newbies.

I saw that too... very... wierd. Can't be very easy to upgrade ;). Though I believe it is for newbies.

aimed at the iMac and eMac market - those aren't upgradeable either. Actually, this thing essentially IS an eMac, in a small case without the monitor.

so yes, for newbies. Also, a good entry level machine for Windows users thinking of switching.

One thing though: All Apple products look as cool as HELL! I don't care what half of them do, i just want them adroning my study so I can look smug when people visit.

I think ill look to get a mini mac. Thats pretty sweet.

Do not eat iPod shuffle.



Do not taunt Ipod shuffle.

iPod shuffle! I waive my private parts in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.

They could have created a killer machine if the Mac Mini had a Video input card, and a larger hard drive. For the price, its probably still really good tho.

mini Mac has a number of target audiences. The thing is designed to work with existing PC monitors, keyboards and mice. You could set this up next to your PC and share components. The mini Mac also is being targeted as a possible set top device. If I didn't have a Mac, I would buy this.

IPODs seem very cool..


but i always hesistate to get one becuase peopel say the battery life dont last long and expensive to replace..

is this true for owners that have a IPOD

Well the battery life is 12 hours for full charge on my 4th Generation iPod. That's more than enough for me. As for expensive to replace, yeah, it isn't cheap, but it hasn't gone out on me yet.

IPODs seem very cool..


but i always hesistate to get one becuase peopel say the battery life dont last long and expensive to replace..

is this true for owners that have a IPODI'm pretty sure newer models have a better battery.

Its pretty cool looking, but the fact that its on perpetual shuffle would probably annoy me.

A friend of mine who watched the press conference said that their is a toggle to change from shuffle mode to playlist mode so that it can play songs in order.

Todd

The only thing about the MiniMac is that there are no ports for a keyboard and mouse, meaning you must use the USB, and there are only two USB ports period. Guess you are pretty much out of luck if you have assessories that can't use the one firewire port they also have.

I am surprised that so many are against the whole shuffle thing. Certainly it would be better to be able to pick songs on a whim too, but I would think most people with libraries of songs they like would enjoy using the shuffle function most of the time.

The only thing about the MiniMac is that there are no ports for a keyboard and mouse, meaning you must use the USB, and there are only two USB ports period. Guess you are pretty much out of luck if you have assessories that can't use the one firewire port they also have.

I am surprised that so many are against the whole shuffle thing. Certainly it would be better to be able to pick songs on a whim too, but I would think most people with libraries of songs they like would enjoy using the shuffle function most of the time.

You are aware that you can buy a USB splitter?

You are aware that you can buy a USB splitter?

Ah, I was not! That doesn't affect performance of things using the USB connection?

Ah, I was not! That doesn't affect performance of things using the USB connection?

Something like this http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/6191/6191514_ra.jpg is only 50 bucks, and im sure this is on the expensive side. I think USB doesnt lose speed until you are in the 100 device range, and actually thats USB 1......USB 2.0 can probably be split a lot more.

i think i'm going to have to pick up one of the ipod shuffle dealies. What an amazing price. Hell, that's pretty much what a discman costs.

one of these days i'm going to have to go back to the mac side... or at least get one as a second computer.

I just bought my girlfriend a 4 port usb hub for $6. Just plugs into the computer's usb port, then plug in the devices. No drivers or anything. Hell, even I have one and I already have 6 usb ports on my computer (now 9)... now I just need stuff to plug in :(

I might spring for an Ipod Shuffle, but I don't like how it doesn't have a screen on it. I know you can't read anything on those screens, but it would be nice to have.

I just bought a 1GB one for my 14 year old daughter. She's been bugging me for an iPod for ages but the cost ( 500 bucks in Australia ) was just too much for me to justify. She was happy enough to get the smaller size - and I was happier with the lower price.

This would solve the "iPod skips when I jog" problem, no?

This would solve the "iPod skips when I jog" problem, no?


It should i would think.