Solid New Features + More Affordable

Solid New Features + More Affordable, September 9, 2008

By	Stephen Hall "books911" (USA) - See all my reviews

The iPod Touch debuted only one year ago, and this is the first update. I was excited to pick up the new iPod Touch at the Apple Store because I had never owned a first generation, though I do own iPhones.

I want to concentrate primarily on the new features:

First, physical volume buttons are now placed on the side of the iPod Touch as they are on the iPhone. This is very convenient. It allows you to adjust the volume of your music, without having to pull the entire device out of your pocket and activate the screen. A time saver.

Second, many people requested a built-in speaker for the iPod Touch like is available on the iPhone. Apple listened. However, there is one important point to make on this! The iPod Touch is incredibly small, and Apple is forced to put an incredibly small speaker. The speaker in the iPod Touch sounds worst than the speaker in the iPhone. I have compared it side by side, and it's fairly significant, and the iPhone speaker isn't that great to begin with. However, in a quiet room, the speaker is still useful for previewing a song you might want to buy, or for playing games. However, still, if you want great sound, you need to connect your headphones.

Genius - This new feature is really surprisingly good. When you're listening to a song you enjoy, select the genius option. It will create a playlist for you, with songs that go together nicely with the one you started with. It helps you rediscover great music from your collection with a playlist suited to the mood you're in. I didn't think it would do a good job compiling this list, but it has been quite impressive.

Applications - It's great to have the ability to buy (or get some free) applications right on the iPod Touch. Furthermore, with the software update this new iPod Touch comes with, the Application installation process is so much smoother than it had been even on my iPhone. It now works how you want it to, seamlessly. I like having a weather application that includes doppler radar images, and that is free. I also have several games on it. There is a great variety of applications available from hundreds of third-parties right on the iPod itself, so you are certain to find something that interests you. I really like the new release of Spore, for the iPod Touch and iPhone. Apple is really pushing the games and quietly suggest they are challenging Nintendo and Sony. They are innovative and interesting games, but I think they have a ways to go, to challenge those game makers.

Nike + is now built in too, so if you have the shoes and the puck, the iPod Touch is ready to receive the data from it. Battery life is improved to 36 hours audio and 6 hours video according to Apple. I find the audio number fairly accurate if you don't light up the display much, but the video number is a slight bit harder to achieve.

Of course, the new ipod Touch does look and feel even better than the first generation, from my small experiences with the previous one. I also think it feels cooler than my iPhones, but obviously your interpretation may very. I like the metal back on the iPod Touch. It looks classy, though it is prone to scratches.

One of my favorite features continues to be, when in my home on Wi-Fi, to reach down for the Touch, use Safari web browser and look something up. It's great.

Overall, it was a solid update for the iPod Touch. I wish the speaker could be better on it, but I believe that is due to the physical restrictions of the small device. I could have knocked it to four stars for that, but I think most people realize a built in speaker isn't the way you want to listen to most audio on an iPod to begin with. I'm impressed by the second generation iPod Touch, and I think with the third party applications getting better and becoming more popular, more people will consider the Touch.

Apple iPod Touch

Updated iPod Touch Delivers Nice New Features

Updated iPod Touch Delivers Nice New Features, September 9, 2008

By	Stephen Hall "books911" (USA) - See all my reviews

The iPod Touch debuted only one year ago, and this is the first update. I was excited to pick up the new iPod Touch at the Apple Store because I had never owned a first generation, though I do own iPhones.

I want to concentrate primarily on the new features:

First, physical volume buttons are now placed on the side of the iPod Touch as they are on the iPhone. This is very convenient. It allows you to adjust the volume of your music, without having to pull the entire device out of your pocket and activate the screen. A time saver.

Second, many people requested a built-in speaker for the iPod Touch like is available on the iPhone. Apple listened. However, there is one important point to make on this! The iPod Touch is incredibly small, and Apple is forced to put an incredibly small speaker. The speaker in the iPod Touch sounds worst than the speaker in the iPhone. I have compared it side by side, and it's fairly significant, and the iPhone speaker isn't that great to begin with. However, in a quiet room, the speaker is still useful for previewing a song you might want to buy, or for playing games. However, still, if you want great sound, you need to connect your headphones.

Genius - This new feature is really surprisingly good. When you're listening to a song you enjoy, select the genius option. It will create a playlist for you, with songs that go together nicely with the one you started with. It helps you rediscover great music from your collection with a playlist suited to the mood you're in. I didn't think it would do a good job compiling this list, but it has been quite impressive.

Applications - It's great to have the ability to buy (or get some free) applications right on the iPod Touch. Furthermore, with the software update this new iPod Touch comes with, the Application installation process is so much smoother than it had been even on my iPhone. It now works how you want it to, seamlessly. I like having a weather application that includes doppler radar images, and that is free. I also have several games on it. There is a great variety of applications available from hundreds of third-parties right on the iPod itself, so you are certain to find something that interests you. I really like the new release of Spore, for the iPod Touch and iPhone. Apple is really pushing the games and quietly suggest they are challenging Nintendo and Sony. They are innovative and interesting games, but I think they have a ways to go, to challenge those game makers.

Nike + is now built in too, so if you have the shoes and the puck, the iPod Touch is ready to receive the data from it. Battery life is improved to 36 hours audio and 6 hours video according to Apple. I find the audio number fairly accurate if you don't light up the display much, but the video number is a slight bit harder to achieve.

Of course, the new ipod Touch does look and feel even better than the first generation, from my small experiences with the previous one. I also think it feels cooler than my iPhones, but obviously your interpretation may very. I like the metal back on the iPod Touch. It looks classy, though it is prone to scratches.

One of my favorite features continues to be, when in my home on Wi-Fi, to reach down for the Touch, use Safari web browser and look something up. It's great.

Overall, it was a solid update for the iPod Touch. I wish the speaker could be better on it, but I believe that is due to the physical restrictions of the small device. I could have knocked it to four stars for that, but I think most people realize a built in speaker isn't the way you want to listen to most audio on an iPod to begin with. I'm impressed by the second generation iPod Touch, and I think with the third party applications getting better and becoming more popular, more people will consider the Touch.

Apple iPod Touch

Best iPod value

Best iPod value, May 27, 2008

By	E. Smith (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews

I have a regular 40GB iPod, but only about 10GB of songs, and only really listen to about 2GB of them on a regular basis. The regular iPod is therefore a waste for me, uses more batteries, is heavier/bigger, and generally overkill.

I wanted something for my runs, and my old shuffle (which I didn't really like) broke, so I thought I would try this new one as my wife has one and likes it.

This design is superior, the built in clip negates any need for an armband like the old design needed, and it is so small and light you don't even know it is there.

The battery life on it is fantastic - I use it for my walks to and from work each morning, on my runs, and at night when I play poker - and it still lasts about three days for me on a single charge.

I don't use the headphones that come with it, so I don't know if they are any good, and there are some odd volume issues with the unit when you first start it up (that might be a settings issue that I'm not aware of - it starts off very low) - but otherwise perfect.

If you don't like listening to the same music over and over, don't care about video, don't care about seeing the song details - then the iPod Shuffle is all you need - and it is inexpensive too - get one.

Apple iPod Shuffle

The 2GB Shuffle - Finally a Larger Starter MP3 Player from Apple!!!

The 2GB Shuffle - Finally a Larger Starter MP3 Player from Apple!!!, February 24, 2008

By	Mark "Technology, Music and Movies" (East Coast) - See all my reviews

Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB Silver (2nd Generation)

Apple's iPod Shuffle finally has a higher-capacity big brother. This compact MP3 player was always great for active users who enjoy working out, running or music listening on the go. The new 2GB model offers consumers an Apple version of capacity the competition has been offering for a year. Great as a gift, extra player, or exercise companion.

Pros
- New 2GB provides better capacity at a lower price per gigabyte!!!!
- Enlarged capacity allows for more song storage and less swapping in iTunes!
- Compact and functional design
- Nicely integrated clip - No case needed!
- Nice battery performance for long use
- Great family of Apple accessories
- Great for those already used to iTunes
- iTunes also good for inexperienced MP3 users
- Included in-ear headphones are great for a starter pair
- Same great color options (silver, green, purple, blue)
- Highly durable player
- Apple brand and reputation

Cons
- Still a premium price compared to competing players in total $ terms
- Competing products offer more features, including fm radio and voice recording
- No screen to view track names
- Difficult to control / select tracks via playlists
- Proprietary dock / jack for syncing
- No expandability
- Limited native file format support in iTunes (MP3, AAC)
- No drag and drop music control
- Non iTunes fans are still forced to deal with software limitations

The Form Factor

The long awaited 2 gigabyte iPod Shuffle has the same body that has captured a large audience of fans. Size has always been the iPod shuffle's greatest asset. The integrated clip is no doubt its second greatest asset. Big intuitive buttons make fast learners out of new users.

This unit works fine with no extra case, though there are still case options. The composite case comes in one of several popular color options, including silver, blue, green and purple.

Apple's proprietary headphone jack is still used for syncing. Most competing players use a standard USB B port. Still a great overall design.

Durability

Apple deserves points for the more durable player in this group. Even with the composite body, these guys do hold up to a lot of abuse. Creative's failure rates are too high, but Sandisk's Clip is gaining ground in this area.

Capacity

The 2GB is LONG OVERDUE!!! Amazon's long wait times will surely have some going to Apple stores.

The 1GB size was Apple's only option for a LONG time. The market has been flooded with 2GB players from the competition, as well as shuffle lookalikes. Still, as Apple finally ups their size, Sansa now offers the Clip in a 4GB size, though with long backorder waits. SanDisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player (Silver) Still, expanding options makes the current starter MP3 market very good for consumers right now.

Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)
SanDisk Sansa c150 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)
SanDisk Sansa Express 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)
SanDisk SDMX7-2048 Sansa c250 2 GB MP3 Player
SanDisk Sansa Clip 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)

Features and Software

Competing players over simple screens for track viewing as well as FM radio and voice recording. The Zen Stone Plus by Creative and the Sandisk Clip each offer all three features at better price points. Apple's reliability and brand loyalty has allowed the shuffle to survive with limited features.

Competing players also offer drag and drop syncing using standard USB cables or, in the case of the Sansa Express, via direct USB. Apple still requires the proprietary dock.

It still seems excessive to have to use iTunes software to sync 2GB of songs. Competing players have even worse software, but allow you to drag and drop files on these devices like USB thumb drives.

iTunes is both a curse and a blessing, depending on your point of view. For those who are used to iTunes or totally new to MP3s, the interface can be a great plus. For anybody who wants more direct control over their music collection, some of the features within iTunes can become burdensome. Not to mention, it seems every week iTunes requires a new software update.

Once again, if you LOVE Apple and iTunes, or if you are totally new to MP3s the software will still be a net plus for you.

For those that care about file options, Apple's software allows only limited MP3 and AAC music formats. You can easily convert other formats to these, but be aware of the limits. This is only a negative for those really loyal to a certain file format, such as the growing group of WMA users. Having to have 2 format copies of all your music can really hurt as your collection grows.

Sound

The sound this unit produces is pretty good though not great. While I still feel the first generation shuffle sounded much better, the tradeoff was worth the smaller size.

Cost

The shuffle's price has finally come down to about $65 for 2GB or $50 for 1GB. While not a bargain, this price makes the sting much less painful for Apple loyalists. The dollar per gigabyte cost is at least approaching that of competing players. The absolute dollar cost is still a premium when you factor in features.

Players like the Sansa Clip continue to offer more features at this capacity. If you want a small player and you are open to brands beyond Apple, your options continue to expand. The Creative Stone Plus, Sansa Clip, and new models from Samsung and Sony are all worth a look.

Once again, Apple's reputation is well deserved. This model still requires you to pay a premium for it, though a slightly shrinking premium. :-D

Conclusion

If you must have Apple and need a small player for high impact workouts, this new 2GB shuffle is it. If you and can afford it, stepping up to the Apple iPod Nano 4GB will cost you $140 but gives you twice the capacity and video. Still, if you're not an Apple die-hard, the Sansa Clip and other options deserve serious consideration.

Research your options and choose the player that's right for you. Overall this is a good player at an improved price.

Enjoy!!!

Apple iPod Shuffle

Come on, Apple! Stop being so stubborn.

Come on, Apple! Stop being so stubborn., September 19, 2008

By	Cohaagen - See all my reviews

Pros:
-Sleeker, slimmer design.
-Return of the taller (better) body.
-Still easy to use, as ever.
Cons:
-STILL no support of FLAC and other superior formats.
-STILL no FM radio.
-STILL no Bluetooth/WiFi, etc.
-STILL some of the sh***iest audio quality among PMPs (I'm talking just plain abysmal).
-STILL not enough flash memory, especially given the premium price.

Final judgment:
If, like my old lady, you like what iPods have done right and can live with what they do oh-so-wrong, then you'll love the newest addition to the line. If, on the other hand, you're like me and can't live without your Cowon PMP - if substance, compatibility and audio quality are more important than style and ease of navigation - then you might want to go an Apple-free route.

Apple iPod Nano

Simple but compact and excellent

Simple but compact and excellent, January 6, 2008

By	wizard_chef (Birmingham, Alabama) - See all my reviews

I picked the Shuffle for my wife because she wanted an simple music player, had no interest in pictures or videos, and needed a device that was easy to sync with straightforward software. I have experience with several MP3 players used on Windows platforms, and I knew she would be frustrated with the downloading issues. The Shuffle works perfectly. It is easy to sync with iTunes, it is very compact and can be clipped to a T-shirt, it holds plenty of music for her purposes, and the sound quality is great. If you want just music, a compact device, and simple operations, the Shuffle is for you.

Apple iPod Shuffle

THE UNTENDED UNDERLING IN THE iPOD FAMILY

THE UNTENDED UNDERLING IN THE iPOD FAMILY, January 4, 2008

By	Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews

I wanted to buy a no-nonsense mp3 player to keep me company while running. No video, no funky display menus, no labyrinthine software to work with. If I wanted to spend half a day getting my music in order I'd shell for the 80 gig iPod.

So I got myself a Shuffle, by far the sleekest small pod in the market.

But boy did I regret it.

After the one-time registration and initialization (which is not optional) the lemon wouldn't get the songs on it, thanks to the infamous "Disk not found error". Googled for it and discovered websites that are brimming with untended complaints; I'm on Windows XP, but the glitch seems to pervade operating systems.

Spent a day battling with the idiosyncrasies. Downloaded and installed an extra utility that Apple's Help site recommends. Enabled the Shuffle "for disk use". Reset it to factory settings and tried all over again, five times. And I'm a fairly persistent tech-savvy one. I did everything that's needed and more, but the stupid thing will still not remember the settings, will not let me change songs, and so on.

Tired with all of this rigmarole, I got a Creative Zen Stone Plus. It's a little larger than the Shuffle, but you can see why--Shuffle doesn't have a display and it uses the same jack for charging and earphones so you can only do one of those at a time. Stone Plus on the other hand connects through a small non-spaghetti USB cable, comes up instantly as a new drive on your PC, you copy the mp3 files from your music folder to this drive, and you're done.

I was up and running in 5 minutes flat. Can't help kicking myself for having fallen for the iPod luster.

Without becoming any clunkier in any meaningful way (both the doohickeys are pretty small), Stone Plus shows me the song that's playing, which I don't see on Shuffle. Stone Plus has an FM radio, a voice recorder, a timer, and a digital clock--none of which the Shuffle has. It charges in 5 minutes, which the Shuffle doesn't. I can use iTunes or any other tool or even nothing at all, but with Shuffle I am in an unhappy marriage with iTunes. The Stone Plus will hold about 1000 songs in comparison to Shuffle's 200 at the same bit-rate.

Because this is Creative, the company known among geeks for its speakers, the ear phones that come with the Stone Plus have a fabulous combination of bass and treble that will please the most fastidious connoisseur. After hearing them Shuffle's white thingies sound tinny and childish. I got my Stone Plus with a clip that makes it much more practical for running.

And all of it at 60% of the cost of a basic bare-bones Shuffle.

Sorry, Apple folks, in the small-mp3-player market Apple is simply the beautiful blond bimbo who trips on high heels at ten paces. If you're in the market for a nifty little mp3 player, skip the Shuffle. Even in the 3rd generation it's a 3rd rate contender.

Apple iPod Shuffle