2008 Woodie Awards
iPod Shuffle now iAffordable
Tim Moore
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Features
Tuesday, Feb. 19 - Apple announced a few notable changes with the famed iPod shuffle - some changes that just might revive the low capacity, screen-less MP3 market. The most notable change is the dropping of the 1GB shuffle's price from $74.99 to $49. "At just $49, the iPod shuffle is the most affordable iPod ever," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing, in a press release. Apple also announced a 2GB shuffle that maintains the same design as the 1GB, for $69. "The new 2GB model lets music lovers bring even more songs everywhere they go in the impossibly small iPod Shuffle," said Joswiak. The 2GB version will be releases later this month.
The announcement has gone over well with most consumers, however a commenter on macworld.com brings up a valid point about the 2GB version. "I think these upgrades for the shuffle are silly, especially for the 2GB version. Who wants 500 songs (33 hours) that you can only go forwards or backwards or random?! The shuffle is starting to creep out of its purpose."
The recent changes bring Apple's product closer to the price range of the second-rate MP3 players. One of the most similar 'cheap' alternatives is the COBY MP-C582 Clip MP3 Player. The MP-C582 is a 1GB player with all of the rudimentary functions of the iPod Shuffle, though marginally less attractive. The COBY player retails for as low as $25, but has received sub-par reviews relating to the aesthetics and dependability.
One of the more popular alternatives is the Creative Zen V. The Zen V 1GB player sports a $59.99 price tag and boasts a 1.5-inch color screen. The price tag along with fact that the device has a screen makes it one of the more desirable choices among the vast sea of low-capacity MP3 players.
The announcement has gone over well with most consumers, however a commenter on macworld.com brings up a valid point about the 2GB version. "I think these upgrades for the shuffle are silly, especially for the 2GB version. Who wants 500 songs (33 hours) that you can only go forwards or backwards or random?! The shuffle is starting to creep out of its purpose."
The recent changes bring Apple's product closer to the price range of the second-rate MP3 players. One of the most similar 'cheap' alternatives is the COBY MP-C582 Clip MP3 Player. The MP-C582 is a 1GB player with all of the rudimentary functions of the iPod Shuffle, though marginally less attractive. The COBY player retails for as low as $25, but has received sub-par reviews relating to the aesthetics and dependability.
One of the more popular alternatives is the Creative Zen V. The Zen V 1GB player sports a $59.99 price tag and boasts a 1.5-inch color screen. The price tag along with fact that the device has a screen makes it one of the more desirable choices among the vast sea of low-capacity MP3 players.
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