search technology reviews, news, features, group tests
Popular Searches:   windows , asus , free
 |  Register
 |  Newsletters  | 
Sitemap  |  RSS
RSS
Wednesday December 2, 2009 2:33 PM AEST
Skip Navigation LinksPC Authority > News > Apple's new iPod shuffle is smaller than AA battery
Apple's new iPod shuffle is smaller than AA battery
NEWS

Apple's new iPod shuffle is smaller than AA battery

by William Maher  on Mar 12, 2009
Tags: Apple | iPod | shuffle | music
"Let's check for alternate character sets, ie. Unicode... Greek? Check. Japanese? Check. Mandarin Chinese? Check. Thai? ...FAIL... so it can't pronounce something like: ธงไชย์ แมคอินไตย์ - ..."
 
The tiny iPod shuffle has an even smaller pocket-friendly size, and storage for 1000 songs, and Apple's new VoiceOver feature.

We've always seen the shuffle as the poor cousin of the iPod family - good for a run around the park but not much else.

With the $129 4GB iPod shuffle announced today, the pint sized player suddenly looks a lot more appealing as a day-to-day music player (though not everyone remains convinced, including our resident Mac blogger Alex Kidman) , especially considering it can hold up to 1,000 songs and Apple claims is capable of 10 hours battery life.

Perhaps the most interesting aspects though, is the VoiceOver feature. In an effort to solve the shuffle's one Achilles heel - the lack of on-screen navigation - Apple's technical team has taught the iPod to speak.

Press a button and the iPod shuffle will talk to you, telling you which song or artist you're listening to, and the name of playlists, or how much battery life you have left.

One interesting point: the VoiceOver function in the shuffle is apparently capable of speaking 14 languages including English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

The buzz about voice-capable technology, from Spinvox to text to speech seems to be getting louder.

click to view full size image
Smaller than a AA battery. the new iPod shuffle is half the height of the nano

 

click to view full size image

The 3rd generation iPod shuffle with 4GB and 10 hour battery life

Email a Friend Email this
Print Page Print this
Tweet This Tweet this
Feedback Send us your tips


Ads by Google

Comments: 1
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.
SA Penguin
Mar 14, 2009 10:41 AM
Let's check for alternate character sets, ie. Unicode...
Greek? Check. Japanese? Check. Mandarin Chinese? Check.
Thai? ...FAIL...
so it can't pronounce something like:
ธงไชย์ แมคอินไตย์ - มีแต่คิดถึง.mp3


Comment made about the PC Authority article:
Apple's new iPod shuffle is smaller than AA battery?
The tiny iPod shuffle has an even smaller pocket-friendly size, and storage for 1000 songs, and Apple's new VoiceOver feature.

What do you think? Join the discussion.
Login or register to submit a comment.
 

Top Stories

Internode starts selling revamped TiVo bundle online
In addition to unmetered downloads, Internode will also sell a 320GB TiVo package for under $700 from its online store.
 
Half of Sony TVs could be 3D capable by 2012
Sony has said up to half of its TVs will be 3D capable by 2012, showing the company's confidence in adding an extra dimension to its products
 
Dutch court guts Mininova
File sharing site Mininova has been ordered by a Dutch court to remove all of its 'pirated' content.
 


 
Intel
 
 
Amazing Dell Coupons now available
 
Discover Apple