Not updated since 2010 or 2012, and declining sales? I wonder if there is any possibility that these two facts were related?
The shuffle in particular seems to still have a place as a super portable player you use while jogging or biking or whatever, but was hampered in recent years by lack of support for Airpods. I get that the usage model is "just use your phone", but phones are not always a great size for this.
Other than the size aspect they don't really replicate the UX experience of a tiny device with dedicated media buttons. Specialized devices used for specialized purposes will always perform better than general devices.
I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't want my children having access to the internet or apps before the age of 10. The iPad Nano was the perfect device for this. The kids can listen to all the music they want without the baggage that comes with the iPod Touch.
I would never run with my 6S Plus. It's approximately as wide as my bicep and aside from looking ridiculous, would just be too heavy to comfortably run with. The 5S I had was pushing it even with the big strap I had.
I've considered buying a Shuffle now as I don't really care what order the music is in, but I don't know if the Forerunner I have will connect to it (everything I've read in my cursory search specifically says "phone").
The iPod Shuffle is the perfect form factor for my specific use case: I plug a second generation model into the gym's sound system (I work out at 3 am, I'm the only one there at the time), leaving my phone to run the fitness app and heart rate monitor. It recharges as fast as my bike blinkies when I get back, and because I listen to the exact same workout playlist every time, I don't have to fidget with the tracks on it.
There are still scads of these units on eBay after a quick check, so I'll probably scoop up a couple, because the Apple UI to load the simple playlist is what I use for all my other music devices, so switching to a different UI would just be more overhead for me at this point.
With some re-branding, these could be re-positioned as children's first music devices. They can be priced cheap enough to give to really young children without stressing over losing them, say $30 USD. It would still suck, but not in the same way as if a child lost an iPhone 7. And it gets children into Apple's ecosystem early, and the children can even use the UI themselves because the constrained environment makes drastically simplifying the UI possible. I think Apple is giving up an opportunity here to create an advertising platform for their ecosystem that is paid by their own customers.
Can't edit, but apparently Steve Jobs explicitly positioned the iPod Shuffle the way I described above [1]. Unless Apple has a similar single-function, low-cost, easy-to-manage device to take the Shuffle's spot in the lineup, that can be positioned towards young (age 4+, say), they're discontinuing the Shuffle and leaving a gap in their product ecosystem story, at a time when Chrome is making huge inroads to their traditional education-institution-based markets that reach children. Losing the cognitive and top-of-mind attention of children weakens their grip when they grow older and make/influence purchasing decisions of more expensive devices like smartphones today, who knows what device in the future.
If you're not carrying it while you run how is the tiny iPod Shuffle perfect form factor? You're just "plugging it into the sound system"?
I personally leave my big Nexus 6P on the ground on top of my towel next to machines while I work out, connecting to headphones via bluetooth with a $40 headphone amp that clips onto to my shirt or shorts:
I wonder when enough of the relevant patents for the iPod Classics expire that someone can use the tech to create their own take on it? I have to think there are profits available for someone who takes the old chassis and builds on the form factor.
EDIT: Just looked over the Fiio line. Are they using the same tech as Apple? Does the scroll wheel feel pretty similar?
> Who's making good portable digital music players nowadays?
Flash-based? Sandisk's Sansa (Fuze, E and C-series, Clip, Clip sport, et.al.) line has been around for a while and is good. I have a Fuze that is approaching eight years old and has been battered until the paint flaked off but it still works. They are supported by the Rockbox (https://www.rockbox.org/) firmware.
That said, I don't use it much any more as I usually have my phone with me.
Like kyyd mentioned, fiio [1] is one of the best (if not the best) manufacturer of portable players.
I've heard really good things about a Korean brand called Cowon [2] too. Have my eyes on their Plenue line ATM. Pricey, but it's what I'd expect from high-end audio devices.
I can't imagine why. Most formally it would be "iPod Nano devices", but most people would say "iPod Nanos".
You only pluralize the words that there are actually multiple of. You may talk about a Member of Parliament, but you wouldn't have Member of Parliaments because you're not talking about multiple Parliaments. You're talking about multiple members and a singular Parliament, so it's Members of Parliament. Your city has a Chamber of Commerce, but your state has many Chambers of Commerce.
But with the iPod Nano, it's not multiple iPods and a singular Nano. It's multiple "iPod Nano" devices. So you'd just say "iPod Nanos".
I wouldn't say “have to”, but it would fit the pattern of compound (proper and otherwise) nouns formed of a simple noun followed by an adjective, such as “Postmaster General" (pluralized as “Postmasters General”.)
Disappointing but expected as these devices haven't been updated in forever.
It's clear that Apple wants the Watch to be the new small scale iPod for fitness use, but I really don't need all that fancy tech and the corresponding high price of the Watch.
I have a 6G Nano. It has a great UI but the physical buttons are really fragile. It cost me less to get a new dumb phone plus a SD card than is would have done to get the Nano repaired.
iPod Shuffle is the best there is for running, buuuut I suppose it endangers Apple's business model and profitability so it needs to be sent to a farm upstate.
I think the part of the model it endangers is selling sufficient volume of product to make money. I have been surprised to see it still on the shelf in recent years.
[+] [-] jandrese|8 years ago|reply
The shuffle in particular seems to still have a place as a super portable player you use while jogging or biking or whatever, but was hampered in recent years by lack of support for Airpods. I get that the usage model is "just use your phone", but phones are not always a great size for this.
[+] [-] ksk|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mcone|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] keltex|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pc86|8 years ago|reply
I've considered buying a Shuffle now as I don't really care what order the music is in, but I don't know if the Forerunner I have will connect to it (everything I've read in my cursory search specifically says "phone").
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] jpalomaki|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BurningFrog|8 years ago|reply
Does no one make that anymore?
[+] [-] yourapostasy|8 years ago|reply
There are still scads of these units on eBay after a quick check, so I'll probably scoop up a couple, because the Apple UI to load the simple playlist is what I use for all my other music devices, so switching to a different UI would just be more overhead for me at this point.
With some re-branding, these could be re-positioned as children's first music devices. They can be priced cheap enough to give to really young children without stressing over losing them, say $30 USD. It would still suck, but not in the same way as if a child lost an iPhone 7. And it gets children into Apple's ecosystem early, and the children can even use the UI themselves because the constrained environment makes drastically simplifying the UI possible. I think Apple is giving up an opportunity here to create an advertising platform for their ecosystem that is paid by their own customers.
[+] [-] yourapostasy|8 years ago|reply
[1] https://www.wired.com/story/requiem-for-the-ipod-shuffle/
[+] [-] dmix|8 years ago|reply
I personally leave my big Nexus 6P on the ground on top of my towel next to machines while I work out, connecting to headphones via bluetooth with a $40 headphone amp that clips onto to my shirt or shorts:
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Headphone-Amplifier-Integrat...
Works well for me and the sound is great (despite the fact it's made by Creative and not overpriced autophile-ware).
Now that Bluetooth headphones are a thing I don't see the utility in the shuffle anymore.
I bet Apple views bluetooth headphones as the portable iPod killer more than anything...
[+] [-] Brendinooo|8 years ago|reply
EDIT: Just looked over the Fiio line. Are they using the same tech as Apple? Does the scroll wheel feel pretty similar?
[+] [-] oneeyedpigeon|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rlonstein|8 years ago|reply
Flash-based? Sandisk's Sansa (Fuze, E and C-series, Clip, Clip sport, et.al.) line has been around for a while and is good. I have a Fuze that is approaching eight years old and has been battered until the paint flaked off but it still works. They are supported by the Rockbox (https://www.rockbox.org/) firmware.
That said, I don't use it much any more as I usually have my phone with me.
[+] [-] snowcrshd|8 years ago|reply
I've heard really good things about a Korean brand called Cowon [2] too. Have my eyes on their Plenue line ATM. Pricey, but it's what I'd expect from high-end audio devices.
[1] http://fiio.net/en/
[2] http://www.cowonglobal.com
[+] [-] simlevesque|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] freehunter|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] panglott|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kyyd|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dkonofalski|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] freehunter|8 years ago|reply
I can't imagine why. Most formally it would be "iPod Nano devices", but most people would say "iPod Nanos".
You only pluralize the words that there are actually multiple of. You may talk about a Member of Parliament, but you wouldn't have Member of Parliaments because you're not talking about multiple Parliaments. You're talking about multiple members and a singular Parliament, so it's Members of Parliament. Your city has a Chamber of Commerce, but your state has many Chambers of Commerce.
But with the iPod Nano, it's not multiple iPods and a singular Nano. It's multiple "iPod Nano" devices. So you'd just say "iPod Nanos".
[+] [-] amdavidson|8 years ago|reply
0: https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/725791354769399808
[+] [-] dragonwriter|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wodenokoto|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Tiktaalik|8 years ago|reply
It's clear that Apple wants the Watch to be the new small scale iPod for fitness use, but I really don't need all that fancy tech and the corresponding high price of the Watch.
[+] [-] rjsw|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] VeejayRampay|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gumby|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jpttsn|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] twoodfin|8 years ago|reply