Source: iPod shuffle refresh to go (RED)

[AppleInsider]

With much of the excitement lately surrounding anticipated evolutions of Apple's video iPod and iPod nano families, little has been said about an upcoming refresh to the company's diminutive iPod shuffle line, an expansion of which is likely to include a new (RED) model.

People often familiar with Apple's future product plans say the company is preparing to add a red-colored model to the line of petite clip-on players, possibly as early as next week. Any such model would presumably join or replace the electronics maker's existing (PRODUCT) RED offerings that include (RED) iPod nanos and iTunes gift cards.

(PRODUCT) RED products such as the (RED) nano help benefit the (RED) charity created by Bobby Shriver and U2 front-man Bono, which encourages big businesses to help fight against AIDS in Africa through donations. In addition to Apple, (RED) has so far garnered the support of several other big names that include the Gap, Motorola, American Express, and Converse.

A predetermined portion of the proceeds from each (RED) product sale are donated directly to the charity. For instance, Apple currently spares $10 from the sale of each (RED) iPod nano and 10 percent from the sale of each $25 (RED) iTunes gift card.

Unlike the aging video iPod and iPod nano families -- which are expected to receive the royal Mac OS treatment and hefty industrial design overhauls -- the iPod shuffle is arguably the freshest of Apple's digital media players. It received a completely new form factor just last fall and there has been little to no evidence to suggest a second evolution is in the cards for '07.

Outside of going the iPod Picano route, Apple's options for advancing the shuffle appear limited to capacity increases, price reductions, and new software-driven features. At the same time, the cost of the shuffle's components -- such as the NAND flash used for media storage -- have fallen sharply over the past year. Significant price reductions notwithstanding, Apple should make more off the sale of each shuffle this year than it did last.

Few changes and fatter margins would also lend support to source reports of an impending iPod shuffle (RED), given that Apple would be in a better position this year to hand-off a percentage of each sale to charity without significantly pinching profits.

Yesterday afternoon, Apple issued formal invitations to a special product launch event next Wednesday at San Francisco's Moscone West convention center. The gathering of analysts and members of the media is an undeniable sign that new iPods are in the cards, as the company has historically used media events in the early weeks of fall to unveil its holiday media and music player offerings.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[caliminius]

See, now the tag line from yesterday's invitation makes sense. It's a pun...The beat (beet) goes on." Apple is using the event to introduce a beet red iPod shuffle. That's actually more exciting than the alternative (The Beatles on iTunes...yawn).

[sandau]

introducing iWine (Red), better than the old Apple kool-aid.

[Walter Slocombe]

Originally Posted by sandau

introducing iWine (Red), better than the old Apple kool-aid.

Isn't the iWhine for those looking to buy/not buy an xMac mid tower?

[mgkwho]

I bet there will be a 2GB black edition too.

Plus, they could always shave off that left-chin and make it square!

-=|Mgkwho

[monkeyastronaut]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Outside of going the iPod Picano route

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

He's not saying "iPod Picano"

Fake Steve says iPod micro, iPod "Pequeño" (small in Spanish) and iPod Invisa

[Buck]

So if you want to buy it, you'd go to an Apple store and say:
"Dos Pequeños por favor!"

[SactoMan01]

I still think the iPod shuffle may get a small increase in size so it could accommodate a small display. With its nearest competitors doing the same (the Creative Labs Stone Plus and Sandisk Sansa Clip), the shuffle would be at a disadvantage if it lacked a display.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by SactoMan01

I still think the iPod shuffle may get a small increase in size so it could accommodate a small display. With its nearest competitors doing the same (the Creative Labs Stone Plus and Sandisk Sansa Clip), the shuffle would be at a disadvantage if it lacked a display.

They've been saying that for years, and the Shuffle still runs roughshod over the competition.

.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by mgkwho

I bet there will be a 2GB black edition too.

Plus, they could always shave off that left-chin and make it square!

-=|Mgkwho

Doing that would make it harder to use. I use the ob-longness of the thing to tell which button i'm pressing without looking. I always figured that was done on purpose.

[Inkling]

The bigger the storage on the Shuffle gets, the more absurd its lack of folders becomes. Users need a simple way to select categories of music to fit their moods and to play through podcasts in order.

Adding playlists to the Shuffle would not require a display. It'd be easy to have iTunes record (via text to speech) the name of a play list and place it as the first file in the playlist. As part of the power switch, a momentary-on position past On would increment playlists. The Shuffle would play the file with the playlist's name and wait a few seconds. If the user did nothing, it would begin to play the files in that playlist. If users wanted a different playlist, they'd keep incrementing the On switch until they reached the right one. Simple but effective. It'd cost only pennies and beat the competition with a very handy feature.

And the feature, perhaps using a different way of incrementing, would work well across the entire iPod line, excepting only the iPhone. We all tire of having to stop jogging or take our eyes off the road and pull out our iPod to step through a playlist, squinting at a tiny screen. This feature, broadened to also read aloud music/podcast titles, would let us switch between playlists or select music/podcasts without taking our iPod out of our pockets. Wonderful!

And last but not least, it would be marvelous for those with vision problems.

--Mike Perry, Inkling Books, Seattle

[MacTel]

Originally Posted by mgkwho

I bet there will be a 2GB black edition too.

Plus, they could always shave off that left-chin and make it square!

-=|Mgkwho

The black edition will cost $20 more just because it's black and for no other reason.

Seriously, I had hoped for a screen on the next iPod Suffle release. Oh well, there's always next year.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Walter Slocombe

Isn't the iWhine for those looking to buy/not buy an xMac mid tower?

It's best not to mention the xMac idea if you can avoid it.