The detached controls could be a problem in the long run. Perhaps some third party will make an attachment so that the controls stay with the Shuffle's body. It probably cannot cost more than $35. Otherwise I might as well buy a nano, and get a LCD screen to boot.

So, ignoring all the hype, an even smaller iPod Shuffle, costing even less to manufacture, now costs even more... way to s**** your customers, John.

John Sculley? Wasn't that 20 years ago? I thought Tim Cook is running Apple at the moment. Or Pete Oppenheimer.

didnt Oppenheimer invent the atomic bomb ? now he's designing ipods ?

Those who're complaining about these headphones should keep in mind that in the field of music players, Apple sets the standards. You'll soon be able to get headphones of all sorts that do these tricks and from numerous sources.

And if Apple's lawyers don't have patents up their sleeves, look for other music players to adopt these same inline controls. The ability to control music without pulling out the player, looking at a screen, and fumbling with controls is a major step forward. This tiny, inexpensive shuttle has become much better in almost every way than my aging iPod mini and for about one-third the price.

Thanks to Apple too for adding voice announcements and playlists. I like to listen to podcasts and that makes no sense in shuttle mode.

Curses on Apple for one thing though. I've been contemplating getting an iPod touch or a nano, being unable to decide between the relative merits of each. Now they've added a Shuttle that's appealing for the first time. What will I do? I like all three but can't afford but one.

That would be Julius Robert Oppenheimer. He did have a son, Peter, but I don't think it's the same Peter...

This Shuffle is going to be like CANDY when they introduce new colors. NEXT UP - the iPod Pill - swallow it and listen to your music with wireless headphones.

I better get one of the previous generation shuffles before they're out. I switched from the iPod to the iPod Shuffle because I MASSIVELY preferred the Shuffles built-in controls. I've tried the remote on the iPod, and it's purely annoying... teh shuffle itself isn't much bigger than the remote in the first place.

This is just totally daft.

I listen to my shuffle whenever I ride my bike (yes, this can be done safely and legally). But I half the time I ride in a group so I like the ability to quickly stop the music if I talk to someone in the group or if there is some safety issue; I do not want to take my earbud out every time. I use Sony earbuds because they stay in place and I can hear the music rather than wind whistling between the earbud and my ear. Also, I like to be able to skip or replay songs easily as effort and mood dictate. In sports, without looking, it is much easier to access a control on a clipped device than it is to grab at a swinging cable and feel it up until you find the control section. Other than for cost, why would anyone want to buy a shuffle (as opposed to a nano) for anything other than sports? Why would you want the extra weight of a control tugging on earbuds that already fall out?

All the talk is about the forcing to use the crappy supplied headphones. And that is a 100% deal breaker to me.

Nobody is saying anything about this... a 50 dollar item is now 80. AND while I think some form of adapter/remote MAY be in the offing, you can add another 50 bucks to that 80. Or maybe 40. So for 120 bucks over 50, you can have the voice thing. In this economy?

Folks, the ONLY way to slap them upside the head is to NOT BUY THESE. The real problem with Apple is not matter what, fans keep on buying no matter what. Which is EXACTLY why they feel this sense of entitlement that they can do anything they want to c*** on their customers...because said customers keep coming back for more.

BOYCOTT the new shuffles... that is the ONLY way to send a real message to Cupertino.

It use a 4 pin headphone connector, same as one that adds microphone function to iPod touch 2g. Not proprietary, the Apple one is not the only one on the market. Yes it will work with hi-fi headphones with 3rd party adapters.

If you don't believe the truth, you can buy the old version or the nano if you want. No one is stoppying you.

Just because it uses the same headphone jack on the ipod touch does NOT make it "NOT proprietary". The fact that there are vendors who sell attachments also do not mean this.

If it's apple's design, and they have to approve your use, then it is proprietary. This is the same as Apple's mini DisplayPort connector. It may be a 'standard', but it's still under Apple's control and requires a license to use from Apple.

I can see one of the benefits to Apple on this is, by going even smaller, it is now so much easier to lose, misplace, etc. Then people just start buying replacements. Market share increases galore!

The very fact that it requires a video to explain how to use the thing ought to tell idiots in Apple's design department that something's wrong here. My mum picked up my 2G iPod shuffle and was able to use it without needing to ask a single question; give her one of these and she wouldn't stand a chance.

I know Steve Jobs dislikes physical buttons, but this is just ridiculous. What's more, it looks unfinished. Which is the front and which is the back of the device? Apple logo hidden on the back and nothing whatsoever on the front? Just plain wrong.

BUT....with each iteration it has gotten worse and better.

1st to 2nd....better build quality, LOSS of USB connector and WORSE sound quality.

2nd to 3rd....nice physical design, LOSS of physical controls on body and REQUIRES special headphones or an adapter (more $$$)...raising the price of the device.

I am sure it will sell well, but for me, I must pass as I don't want to use special earbuds (especially white ones - please mug me) to use my mp3 player.

I guess I will keep using my original shuffle and 5.5 video modles.

Inkling wrote:
"The worst hassle with these gadgets has always been the bother of pulling the device out to change anything."

For anyone other than an APPLologist that is a fault of the device's buttons and design, not a feature to be complimented on and to be complemented by earphone cords.

I have a mobile phone. It can have it's volume altered and tracks skipped back and forth blind whilst still in my pocket. Pity that is too complicated a design feature for Apple's engineers to achieve.

If your lugholes do not conform to Apple's design specification, no iPod shuffle for you. Is there not disability legislation that could be abused to combat this nonsense? Norway?

They keep upgrading it, making it smaller and smaller, yet never adding a screen to this thing!

Come on Apple, we need a screen on the shuffle! With a real Dock connector! And Touch screen! With Wi-fi access to the app store! And video playback! And a Built-in news reader that actually reads you the news (with appropriate snide remarks and comments as well, just as if you were reading it yourself)!

And where's the iPhone Shuffle?????

I have it.. in Black.. it is going back to the store for a refund.. I will eat the 10 percent.. heck.. I'd eat 50 percent to get rid of this! Here is the problem(s). 1. the inline control is 5 inches from the Ear bud!.. this means I have to reach up to my neck blindly, find the control, if there is even the slightest tug on the control it dislodges the ear bud from my ear!!!!.. I mean if you are going to put an inline control on WHY OH WHY would you put it there of all places?? It also adds the ever so small extra weight at that area.. so if you move (jog), etc the inline control pendulates around and is annoying. The inline control would have been better placed down by the shuffle unit say six inches or so from the jack.. 2. can't use 3rd party buds!.. ugh.. these apple buds do not fit well and pop out or loosen constantly.. I am returning my shuffle.. apple is usually great .. esp in design.. but just because this is an apple product doesn't mean they completely dropped the ball on this one...