Inside Apple's new third-gen iPod shuffle (teardown photos)

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  • Reply 21 of 81
    me1812me1812 Posts: 2member
    Can someone confirm that the chip is a Samsung SOC?



    So, Samsung now provides ARM processor, RAM, and flash memory on a single package?
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  • Reply 22 of 81
    hiimamachiimamac Posts: 584member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    Apple sells more notebooks than desktops and those didn't get any more USB, and actually lost FW400, so I doubt that is the reason for the addition.



    This was to be expected since the device charges and syncs through the headphone jack and the connectors had to be changed to allow input from the headphone cable. You might think that normal headphones shouldn't be able to work but the L and R audio out hasn't changed, probably so regular headphones can work as well (I am referring more to the other iPods that use this quad-connector), but the connector to charge and sync probably has changed. At least the simple, short USB-to-3.5mm quad headphone jack will be a very, very cheap item on Monoprice next month.



    As an IT tech mostly Apple, gsx global anyone (we get paid to maintain our gear), most guess as well as tech sites thatbexta USB is for iphone developers as many use them for this reason as you can't develop on the PC.



    Just a thought. Do I love being tied in to headphone, no. Perhaps others will come along. Foe the iPhone I have learned to deal with them and they are not that bad. Might get one for novelty as well as size.



    Peace
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  • Reply 23 of 81
    hiimamachiimamac Posts: 584member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tonton View Post


    That's not true, actually. To fast-forward you double-click and hold after the second click. To fast rewind you triple click and hold. Funny that the Apple Store employee would get it wrong.



    To be fair, they don't know much but it's not their fault but Apple marketing. Example, Peo care and one to one used to be one program and the teachers knew motion, FCP, shake, Logic, now all they know is iLife as the market dictates that. All if not most are new switchers mom pop students wanting to use their .mac and iWeb, iPhoto. Mac specialist need to review the one page tear sheet. Probably hadn't seen it but just saw the info card.



    Peace
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  • Reply 24 of 81
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by floccus View Post


    Why can't we all accept that in a few weeks someone will release an adapater that provides the remote functions and a 3.5jack for non-Apple headphones?



    As for the post, I wonder how much Apple is influencing/investing in battery design? They made a trade off in capacity for size for the shuffle, but capacity will always be something they'll want to increase. With $20 billion lying around, I'd hope they're engaging some battery manufacturers to improve their R&D.



    The problem is not in the adapter. Apple took away the functionality of the clickwheel and replaced it with some sort of triple button system and green light flashing one has to memorize and practice for couple hours before it can be really used in full. They could add this remote as a feature on the Apple earphones and keep the clickwheel. That way one could swap those cheap earbuds with any other headset without worrying about the adapter, jack, remote function. They have sacrificed user comfort for size - not a good deal in my opinion.
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  • Reply 25 of 81
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:

    ...without Apple's proprietary headphone playback control, you will not be able to change songs or adjust the volume





    That seals the lid on the coffin.
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  • Reply 26 of 81
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tonton View Post


    That's not true, actually. To fast-forward you double-click and hold after the second click. To fast rewind you triple click and hold. Funny that the Apple Store employee would get it wrong.



    I overheard an Apple store employee last night tell a potential iMac customer that it's new keyboard was all she needed but if she wanted the other one she could buy it separately.
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  • Reply 27 of 81
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by quinney View Post


    This iPod is dangerously small. That is, swallowed by a toddler small.



    (I hope they put a choking hazard warning on the packaging)



    I guess the black one could be mistaken for a piece of licorice.
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  • Reply 28 of 81
    gtl215gtl215 Posts: 242member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Wiggin View Post


    Sorry, I guess I should have marked my original comment with a sarcasm tag, but I thought it was kind of obvious.



    Don't worry, it WAS obvious.
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  • Reply 29 of 81
    dentondenton Posts: 725member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tonton View Post


    That's not true, actually. To fast-forward you double-click and hold after the second click. To fast rewind you triple click and hold. Funny that the Apple Store employee would get it wrong.



    You missed the point of BeaverbookG4's comment. He wants the ability to skip forward or back a few seconds at a time, rather than one track at a time:



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BeaverbookG4 View Post


    I was really excited about this new generation... Until my father bought one, and found out that there was NO fast forward OR rewind function (as in skipping seconds through songs)



    I personally think that this feature is almost completely useless on my 1Gen Shuffle, but apparently not everyone feels the same.
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  • Reply 30 of 81
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Denton View Post


    You missed the point of BeaverbookG4's comment. He wants the ability to skip forward or back a few seconds at a time, rather than one track at a time:







    I personally think that this feature is almost completely useless on my 1Gen Shuffle, but apparently not everyone feels the same.



    On a long music selection, let's say over 8 minutes, it's great.
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  • Reply 31 of 81
    gmhutgmhut Posts: 242member
    The last picture in the article is what the thing will look like after the first time you forget you left it in your pocket and it goes through the washing machine with the rest of your laundry.



    Makes me think of the SNL skit with Fred Armisen playing Steve Jobs stopping by as a guest on the news segment. Every few seconds he announced a new smaller and smaller device until he was finally holding up his empty fingers, pretending their was a tiny device there.
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  • Reply 32 of 81
    gmhutgmhut Posts: 242member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by teckstud View Post


    On a long music selection, let's say over 8 minutes, it's great.



    Podcasts and audio books too.
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  • Reply 33 of 81
    Before, the Shuffle had battery power, but no memory. Now they have memory and no battery life. It looks to me as though there's room in there for a thicker battery. "Up to ten hours" means 6-8 in my book. Not enough if you're traveling
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  • Reply 34 of 81
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ignomini View Post


    Before, the Shuffle had battery power, but no memory. Now they have memory and no battery life. It looks to me as though there's room in there for a thicker battery. "Up to ten hours" means 6-8 in my book. Not enough if you're traveling



    Considering the 1st and 2nd gen Shuffles had 12 hours it's only 2 hours difference, but that is only 17% less. I don't think are indicative of actual audio playback for iPod, but if we add 20% to your assumed times we get 7.2-9.6 hours. Not much of a change. Apple did well to reduce the battery by about half while keeping so much usage, but I surely would have wanted and equal or longer lasting battery, too. Though 10 hours is more than enough for my workout needs for a a couple weeks.
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  • Reply 35 of 81
    paxmanpaxman Posts: 4,729member
    The nice thing about the new shuffle, other than better handling of playlists, is the fact that your player can be deep within your clothing and you can still control the thing. This is a feature no other iPod tackles and very useful when performing sports, working around the house or anywhere where the wires can get caught, or when you don't want the iPod exposed (as in "come and get me!"). I think the controls will be a non issue once people have used it for a few days. The headphones? I agree with the complaints but there is an easy way around the problem until third party headphones arrive, namely stick with your existing set up. I wouldn't be surprised if the cable control feature becomes a standard option on all future iPods.
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  • Reply 36 of 81
    ronboronbo Posts: 669member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Zauner View Post


    Should I ever accidentally swallow it I can at least remotely operate it via the ear-buds hahahaha



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  • Reply 37 of 81
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GMHut View Post


    Makes me think of the SNL skit with Fred Armisen playing Steve Jobs stopping by as a guest on the news segment. Every few seconds he announced a new smaller and smaller device until he was finally holding up his empty fingers, pretending their was a tiny device there.







    That's so true- it reminds the other post who asked whether or not this was an April Fool's joke released to early.

    They can't even display it in the store properly, it's so small- an Apple salesman has to whip it out from their pockets with that strange USB connector attached to it and no headphones. You can't demo the sound and features?????
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  • Reply 38 of 81
    f1turbof1turbo Posts: 258member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gabberattack View Post


    The problem is not in the adapter. Apple took away the functionality of the clickwheel and replaced it with some sort of triple button system and green light flashing one has to memorize and practice for couple hours before it can be really used in full. They could add this remote as a feature on the Apple earphones and keep the clickwheel. That way one could swap those cheap earbuds with any other headset without worrying about the adapter, jack, remote function. They have sacrificed user comfort for size - not a good deal in my opinion.



    And in addition, the main advantage of the shuffle (small size, simplicity), to me, is defeated by having to attach an adapter to it, to say nothing of the cost. I used to use wired remotes with the hard drive based iPods. They cost $50, the same as the 1GB 2nd gen shuffle. And they didn't last that long, with the clips eventually breaking.





    Earlier thread on cost of iPod remote:

    http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=84787



    While I like a lot of the new features, I see it fitting in a more narrowly defined niche now than the previous Shuffle.
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  • Reply 39 of 81
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by paxman View Post


    The nice thing about the new shuffle, other than better handling of playlists, is the fact that your player can be deep within your clothing and you can still control the thing. This is a feature no other iPod tackles and very useful when performing sports, working around the house or anywhere where the wires can get caught, or when you don't want the iPod exposed (as in "come and get me!").



    Right - as if no one is going to know you're carrying an iPod as you wear white, ear bud headphones. The fact is the exact opposite would occur.
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  • Reply 40 of 81
    f1turbof1turbo Posts: 258member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by paxman View Post


    The nice thing about the new shuffle, other than better handling of playlists, is the fact that your player can be deep within your clothing and you can still control the thing. This is a feature no other iPod tackles and very useful when performing sports, working around the house or anywhere where the wires can get caught, or when you don't want the iPod exposed (as in "come and get me!").



    I wouldn't say that. That's the whole purpose of the wired remote that's always been available, and used to be included with the hard drive based iPods. iPhones and iPod Touches also have controls built into included earbuds.
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