California, March 13: Apple is again out with an innovative product – the ‘talking’ iPod shuffle. Boasting of the new VoiceOver feature, the third generation iPod shuffle is a typical Apple thing – intriguing but imperfect.
Despite the great uproar over the synthesized voice, the little device does not respond to voice commands. It comes equipped with a little robotic man, who will only tell you the name and artist of the song being played. Also, you don’t need to pull out the device every time you want to check the battery status; it will “speak” for itself.
Though an attractive design has always been Apple’s strong point, the latest iPod shuffle is quite a disappointment there. Measuring 45mm x 17mm x 7.8mm, it is roughly the size of a paper clip and looks more like a thumb drive.
The stick-like appearance is also credited to the absence of navigation pad on the tiny device. Shuffle's controls have been shifted to the earbud cord and the early reactions indicate much confusion regarding their proper use.
Just 48 hours of launch and complaints are already pouring in. “The controller itself sits a bit higher than expected and probably would be better served had it been placed a few more inches down the cable,” says Peter Ha on cruchgear.com. “It’s a bit chintzy.”
Also, moving the controls to the headphone cord might disappoint people who prefer using other earbuds. No worries, manufacturers have already taken notice and are working to bring out the alternatives and compatible adapters soon.
The third generation iPod shuffle allows playlist navigation, has a tiny LED, a storage capacity that can be expanded up to 4 GB and comes with the same price tag of $79.
The new shuffle, billed as ‘the first music player that talks to you,’ is available in black and silver and is shipping in 3-5 days.
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