Apple Apparently Discontinues iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle(macrumors.com)
macrumors.com
Apple Apparently Discontinues iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/07/27/apple-removes-ipod-nano-ipod-shuffle/
77 comments
Other than the size aspect they don't really replicate the UX experience of a tiny device with dedicated media buttons. Specialized devices used for specialized purposes will always perform better than general devices.
They should sell the original iPod Nano with the wheel, it was awesome.
How so? We gave our daughter ours, but the dependence on iTunes sucks.
I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't want my children having access to the internet or apps before the age of 10. The iPad Nano was the perfect device for this. The kids can listen to all the music they want without the baggage that comes with the iPod Touch.
I don't agree with the 1st statement really, but if you have seen the movie Baby Driver then I can under the nostalgia you are talking about. There is still a market for old ipods like you are talking about for this reason.
My wife loves them for running. She told me to order 2 immediately before they run out of stock.
No wonder she does, they're fantastic due to the clip and light weight.
Same here. I have a very old Nano for hiking and running. Using a phone is not a replacement for this. Can the Apple Watch be used as player?
I would never run with my 6S Plus. It's approximately as wide as my bicep and aside from looking ridiculous, would just be too heavy to comfortably run with. The 5S I had was pushing it even with the big strap I had.
I've considered buying a Shuffle now as I don't really care what order the music is in, but I don't know if the Forerunner I have will connect to it (everything I've read in my cursory search specifically says "phone").
I've considered buying a Shuffle now as I don't really care what order the music is in, but I don't know if the Forerunner I have will connect to it (everything I've read in my cursory search specifically says "phone").
The Shuffle supports loading multiple playlists, which you can set in any order you like. You can also choose "shuffle" mode (in other words, you're not stuck with "shuffle" playback on the iPod Shuffle).
Assuming you mean Toyota 4Runner: As long as your 4Runner has an aux port, you should be able to connect the Shuffle with a male-to-male audio extension cable.
Assuming you mean Toyota 4Runner: As long as your 4Runner has an aux port, you should be able to connect the Shuffle with a male-to-male audio extension cable.
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Apple Watch is the new portable music player.
Can it play music independent of a phone? I don't want to carry a phone with me when running. No good place to put it. Likewise in the gym - I'm moving around, so any pocket is likely to be a problem for at least some portion of the workout (back pocket - benchpress, side pocket - stretching and yoga, etc).
You can, but only using the Apple Music app. I've asked Google Play music repeatedly to have something similar on the watch, but they don't seem to care. Like you, I wanted to have ONLY my watch while running (I like to minimize any external clothing/devices while doing so).
So what I do now is use an armband as a place to keep my iPhone while running or exercising. The watch DOES let you seek forward/back once you have any music app playing (this works for podcasts as well) so effectively, I use the watch as a convenient "controller" for my iPhone.
Protip if you're oncall/devops: I LOVE the watch when running because I can quickly acknowledge pages from PagerDuty since you can scribble and send text right from the watch itself. Once ack'd, I finish my run and get back to handling the page
So what I do now is use an armband as a place to keep my iPhone while running or exercising. The watch DOES let you seek forward/back once you have any music app playing (this works for podcasts as well) so effectively, I use the watch as a convenient "controller" for my iPhone.
Protip if you're oncall/devops: I LOVE the watch when running because I can quickly acknowledge pages from PagerDuty since you can scribble and send text right from the watch itself. Once ack'd, I finish my run and get back to handling the page
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Overcast can also play podcasts from the Watch without the phone. It's annoyingly slow to transfer, but it works.
Get it now, though. The developer has said the feature was a mistake to implement and is a pain in the ass to maintain, so it might be going away soon.
Get it now, though. The developer has said the feature was a mistake to implement and is a pain in the ass to maintain, so it might be going away soon.
It’s going to be removed in Watch OS 4: https://twitter.com/OvercastFM/status/890236178238230533
Urg, that's unfortunate. This is totally baffling, Overcast is literally the only third-party app I use on my Watch, and it seems to be one of the only apps that was serious about Watch support. With watchOS struggling with dev support, you'd think Apple would be tripping over themselves to help out the few devs who actually use it.
I guess, but the watch is still 7 times more expensive than the shuffle. It does do Bluetooth through, so that's nice. A bit extravagant for someone who is just looking for a music player for their workout.
But its more than just a music player. The workout tracker is absolutely amazing. I've used it to accurately track my running and swimming and I just love how easy to use it is.
Yes, you can sync a playlist to the watch so it can play it independently: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204691
Cool. Didn't know that. I was leaning towards picking up a Garmin Fenix, but this makes the Apple Watch a bit more compelling. Still not sure I can deal with the frequent charging. Hmmmm.
Edit - nevermind - looks like only a single playlist can be synced. That's a pretty major flaw in the system.
Edit - nevermind - looks like only a single playlist can be synced. That's a pretty major flaw in the system.
IIRC the shuffle can only handle a single playlist too -- how would you switch playlists?
BTw in practice I haven't found charging an issue on my 0th gen apple watch and I use it to track both exercise and sleep. It's not "fire and forget" but neither was the iphone for a long time either.
BTw in practice I haven't found charging an issue on my 0th gen apple watch and I use it to track both exercise and sleep. It's not "fire and forget" but neither was the iphone for a long time either.
The shuffle does multiple playlists. Hold the voice button (short push reads song name/artist) to access playlists, device reads playlist title, user clicks voice button to select the one they want. Not a great user experience, but it works.
As for battery; my wife just got a Series 2 and she often goes to bed with it at 60%+ charge but I guess depends how heavy a user you are.
Personally I'm waiting for another month or two to see if the next generation has enough to make me take the plunge.
Personally I'm waiting for another month or two to see if the next generation has enough to make me take the plunge.
My original handles all day just fine thanks to the not so recent software updates. If you're really worried turn on theater mode so the screen doesn't constantly turn on.
Yeah, daily is the problem. I'm tired of charging devices all the time. Phone, watch (TomTom for running), GPS (for cycling), iPod, iPad(s), laptop.
The Garmin Fenix comes really close to replacing the watch and GPS from above. And it'll run for about a week between charges. If it played music, I'd own one already (even if that meant charging twice a week).
Total 1st world problem.
The Garmin Fenix comes really close to replacing the watch and GPS from above. And it'll run for about a week between charges. If it played music, I'd own one already (even if that meant charging twice a week).
Total 1st world problem.
AFAIK Spotify doesn't have offline play on the Apple Watch
Not...really. You can do some playlist-like stuff, but not really. It isn't there yet but it is definitely on the horizon. Not hard to imagine an Apple Watch talking directly to your AirPods and skipping the phone at a point in the future.
Yes...really. I regularly run with just my Apple Watch and a pair of bluetooth earbuds. Works fine.
Yeah, a tiny and cheap player with GBs of music is ideal for running or leaving in your car.
Does no one make that anymore?
Does no one make that anymore?
The iPod Shuffle is the perfect form factor for my specific use case: I plug a second generation model into the gym's sound system (I work out at 3 am, I'm the only one there at the time), leaving my phone to run the fitness app and heart rate monitor. It recharges as fast as my bike blinkies when I get back, and because I listen to the exact same workout playlist every time, I don't have to fidget with the tracks on it.
There are still scads of these units on eBay after a quick check, so I'll probably scoop up a couple, because the Apple UI to load the simple playlist is what I use for all my other music devices, so switching to a different UI would just be more overhead for me at this point.
With some re-branding, these could be re-positioned as children's first music devices. They can be priced cheap enough to give to really young children without stressing over losing them, say $30 USD. It would still suck, but not in the same way as if a child lost an iPhone 7. And it gets children into Apple's ecosystem early, and the children can even use the UI themselves because the constrained environment makes drastically simplifying the UI possible. I think Apple is giving up an opportunity here to create an advertising platform for their ecosystem that is paid by their own customers.
There are still scads of these units on eBay after a quick check, so I'll probably scoop up a couple, because the Apple UI to load the simple playlist is what I use for all my other music devices, so switching to a different UI would just be more overhead for me at this point.
With some re-branding, these could be re-positioned as children's first music devices. They can be priced cheap enough to give to really young children without stressing over losing them, say $30 USD. It would still suck, but not in the same way as if a child lost an iPhone 7. And it gets children into Apple's ecosystem early, and the children can even use the UI themselves because the constrained environment makes drastically simplifying the UI possible. I think Apple is giving up an opportunity here to create an advertising platform for their ecosystem that is paid by their own customers.
Can't edit, but apparently Steve Jobs explicitly positioned the iPod Shuffle the way I described above [1]. Unless Apple has a similar single-function, low-cost, easy-to-manage device to take the Shuffle's spot in the lineup, that can be positioned towards young (age 4+, say), they're discontinuing the Shuffle and leaving a gap in their product ecosystem story, at a time when Chrome is making huge inroads to their traditional education-institution-based markets that reach children. Losing the cognitive and top-of-mind attention of children weakens their grip when they grow older and make/influence purchasing decisions of more expensive devices like smartphones today, who knows what device in the future.
[1] https://www.wired.com/story/requiem-for-the-ipod-shuffle/
[1] https://www.wired.com/story/requiem-for-the-ipod-shuffle/
If you're not carrying it while you run how is the tiny iPod Shuffle perfect form factor? You're just "plugging it into the sound system"?
I personally leave my big Nexus 6P on the ground on top of my towel next to machines while I work out, connecting to headphones via bluetooth with a $40 headphone amp that clips onto to my shirt or shorts:
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Headphone-Amplifier-Integrat...
Works well for me and the sound is great (despite the fact it's made by Creative and not overpriced autophile-ware).
Now that Bluetooth headphones are a thing I don't see the utility in the shuffle anymore.
I bet Apple views bluetooth headphones as the portable iPod killer more than anything...
I personally leave my big Nexus 6P on the ground on top of my towel next to machines while I work out, connecting to headphones via bluetooth with a $40 headphone amp that clips onto to my shirt or shorts:
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Headphone-Amplifier-Integrat...
Works well for me and the sound is great (despite the fact it's made by Creative and not overpriced autophile-ware).
Now that Bluetooth headphones are a thing I don't see the utility in the shuffle anymore.
I bet Apple views bluetooth headphones as the portable iPod killer more than anything...
When I go early enough, there is no one there. They let me plug my iPod Shuffle into the sound system via the headphone jack, and enjoy the experience of working out with my playlist going out over the speakers. It's not the same as when I have headphones on; not better, just different, and I like the change.
When I work out with other gym customers present, I use my headphones.
I agree that with Bluetooth headphones going in the $20-30 range, the use of headphone jack-based devices will go down over time. But there are a lot of those jacks out there in the world, so it will take a long time.
When I work out with other gym customers present, I use my headphones.
I agree that with Bluetooth headphones going in the $20-30 range, the use of headphone jack-based devices will go down over time. But there are a lot of those jacks out there in the world, so it will take a long time.
I wonder when enough of the relevant patents for the iPod Classics expire that someone can use the tech to create their own take on it? I have to think there are profits available for someone who takes the old chassis and builds on the form factor.
EDIT: Just looked over the Fiio line. Are they using the same tech as Apple? Does the scroll wheel feel pretty similar?
EDIT: Just looked over the Fiio line. Are they using the same tech as Apple? Does the scroll wheel feel pretty similar?
Who's making good portable digital music players nowadays? In particular, looking for a replacement for the iPod classic.
> Who's making good portable digital music players nowadays?
Flash-based? Sandisk's Sansa (Fuze, E and C-series, Clip, Clip sport, et.al.) line has been around for a while and is good. I have a Fuze that is approaching eight years old and has been battered until the paint flaked off but it still works. They are supported by the Rockbox (https://www.rockbox.org/) firmware.
That said, I don't use it much any more as I usually have my phone with me.
Flash-based? Sandisk's Sansa (Fuze, E and C-series, Clip, Clip sport, et.al.) line has been around for a while and is good. I have a Fuze that is approaching eight years old and has been battered until the paint flaked off but it still works. They are supported by the Rockbox (https://www.rockbox.org/) firmware.
That said, I don't use it much any more as I usually have my phone with me.
I can also vouch for the sandisk clip line, they are simple and work perfectly, and support lossless formats out of the box.
Like kyyd mentioned, fiio [1] is one of the best (if not the best) manufacturer of portable players.
I've heard really good things about a Korean brand called Cowon [2] too. Have my eyes on their Plenue line ATM. Pricey, but it's what I'd expect from high-end audio devices.
[1] http://fiio.net/en/
[2] http://www.cowonglobal.com
I've heard really good things about a Korean brand called Cowon [2] too. Have my eyes on their Plenue line ATM. Pricey, but it's what I'd expect from high-end audio devices.
[1] http://fiio.net/en/
[2] http://www.cowonglobal.com
I used to like them a lot with the iAudio X5. That was a great device. However, I had issues with their flash line i7 so I gave up on them.
I love my Sony NW-A20. It has 64gb internal + 200gb microsd.
The market is pretty much locked up between the Sandisk Clip and the Sony Walkman. Some of their models offer micro SD slots too.
Many of the Sandisk models can have their firmware replaced by Rockbox if that's your thing.
Had to replace my iPod classic a while back; I just went on eBay.
They've been crazy prices when I've looked before, but I might resort to that when my current classic gives up the ghost.
fiio
fiios are OK. They don't support large sized micro sd and the ui sucks.
People who buy Fiio don't buy them for the UI. The audio quality that comes out of a Fiio player is phenomenal.
Yeah that's true, but it does not cut it for me. If I have over 300 artists, a good UI is a necessity IMO. I'd like to have it all, Fiios with a good UI.
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I have some very fond memories of my iPods Nano (is that really how we have to say it?). Farewell, old friend.
>(is that really how we have to say it?)
I can't imagine why. Most formally it would be "iPod Nano devices", but most people would say "iPod Nanos".
You only pluralize the words that there are actually multiple of. You may talk about a Member of Parliament, but you wouldn't have Member of Parliaments because you're not talking about multiple Parliaments. You're talking about multiple members and a singular Parliament, so it's Members of Parliament. Your city has a Chamber of Commerce, but your state has many Chambers of Commerce.
But with the iPod Nano, it's not multiple iPods and a singular Nano. It's multiple "iPod Nano" devices. So you'd just say "iPod Nanos".
I can't imagine why. Most formally it would be "iPod Nano devices", but most people would say "iPod Nanos".
You only pluralize the words that there are actually multiple of. You may talk about a Member of Parliament, but you wouldn't have Member of Parliaments because you're not talking about multiple Parliaments. You're talking about multiple members and a singular Parliament, so it's Members of Parliament. Your city has a Chamber of Commerce, but your state has many Chambers of Commerce.
But with the iPod Nano, it's not multiple iPods and a singular Nano. It's multiple "iPod Nano" devices. So you'd just say "iPod Nanos".
Since I can no longer edit my previous post, I'm gonna add another one here.
Your premise is false because your examples ("Member of Parliament") are using a preposition. iPod Nano doesn't include a preposition... just a noun or an adjective. The only reason your examples work is because the noun is still being pluralized and the preposition stays the same. The object of the preposition is not the main noun in the sentence or term so it doesn't make sense to pluralize it.
Your premise is false because your examples ("Member of Parliament") are using a preposition. iPod Nano doesn't include a preposition... just a noun or an adjective. The only reason your examples work is because the noun is still being pluralized and the preposition stays the same. The object of the preposition is not the main noun in the sentence or term so it doesn't make sense to pluralize it.
The Whopper Jr. would like to have a word with you. I did have multiple iPods because the iPod is the name of the device and the "Nano" piece is a descriptive adjective of which iPod it is.
If you had multiple iPods including the Nano, you would say "multiple iPods including the Nano". iPod is the brand name, Nano is the model. You can have multiple iPods and multiple iPod Nanos but multiple iPods Nano is, at best, heavily archaic use of the language.
I've owned two Corolla cars in my life. It doesn't make sense for me to say "I've owned two Toyotas Corolla", does it? If I cloned this site, would I say "there are two Hackers News"?
I've owned two Corolla cars in my life. It doesn't make sense for me to say "I've owned two Toyotas Corolla", does it? If I cloned this site, would I say "there are two Hackers News"?
No... Apple is the brand name, iPod is the product, and Nano is the descriptor for which model of iPod. As mentioned in my last reply, it's not 2 Whopper Jr.'s, it's 2 Whoppers Jr. Since Nano is an adjective, you pluralize the noun which, in this case, is iPod.
So I should be saying "Macbooks Pro", "Surfaces RT", or "iPads Pro". If I have a Toyota Corolla S and then bought another, it should be "I have two Toyota Corollas S". Would I also have multiple "Telsa Models S"?
Or you can end the ridiculous destruction of the English language and realize that "Nano" isn't really an adjective in this case, but rather "iPod Nano" is the entire noun and is pluralized as such. "Red iPods" has a noun and an adjective and the noun is pluralized. If you dropped the word "iPod" from the statement you'd still have a valid sentence "I have two Nano..." what? "Two Nanos", or "Two Nano", since Nano is an adjective and can't be pluralized?
You asked "is that really how we have to say it?" and the answer is no. That is decidedly not how you have to say it. It may be how you choose to say it, but you don't have to, and most people would find it very odd phrasing indeed. If you ask Apple, brand names cannot be pluralized, so their recommendation is "iPod Nano mobile digital devices": https://www.apple.com/legal/intellectual-property/trademark/...
I do want to point out that no matter what Burger King says, The Onion has an article specifically mocking that line of thinking: http://www.theonion.com/article/william-safire-orders-two-wh...
Or you can end the ridiculous destruction of the English language and realize that "Nano" isn't really an adjective in this case, but rather "iPod Nano" is the entire noun and is pluralized as such. "Red iPods" has a noun and an adjective and the noun is pluralized. If you dropped the word "iPod" from the statement you'd still have a valid sentence "I have two Nano..." what? "Two Nanos", or "Two Nano", since Nano is an adjective and can't be pluralized?
You asked "is that really how we have to say it?" and the answer is no. That is decidedly not how you have to say it. It may be how you choose to say it, but you don't have to, and most people would find it very odd phrasing indeed. If you ask Apple, brand names cannot be pluralized, so their recommendation is "iPod Nano mobile digital devices": https://www.apple.com/legal/intellectual-property/trademark/...
I do want to point out that no matter what Burger King says, The Onion has an article specifically mocking that line of thinking: http://www.theonion.com/article/william-safire-orders-two-wh...
Every single one of your examples in the first statement is grammatically correct. You can call it ridiculous, if you want, but it doesn't change the fact that it's grammatically correct to phrase it with the noun being pluralized. In your other example, it doesn't apply because "Red" comes before the noun and a "Nano" isn't a thing so it's not a noun either. If you want to say "I have two Nanos", then you're using a colloquial description that turns "Nano" into a noun.
Mocking rules of grammar doesn't make them incorrect. It is a weird rule, but it is the proper way to write and speak the language.
Mocking rules of grammar doesn't make them incorrect. It is a weird rule, but it is the proper way to write and speak the language.
if Nano is an adjective though then it might be like the classic "Attorney General"/"Attorneys General".
Nano is part of a brand name, not an adjective: https://www.apple.com/legal/intellectual-property/trademark/...
Apple prefers that the device names never be pluralized[0]
0: https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/725791354769399808
0: https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/725791354769399808
I wouldn't say “have to”, but it would fit the pattern of compound (proper and otherwise) nouns formed of a simple noun followed by an adjective, such as “Postmaster General" (pluralized as “Postmasters General”.)
What is a good shuffle alternative?
Disappointing but expected as these devices haven't been updated in forever.
It's clear that Apple wants the Watch to be the new small scale iPod for fitness use, but I really don't need all that fancy tech and the corresponding high price of the Watch.
It's clear that Apple wants the Watch to be the new small scale iPod for fitness use, but I really don't need all that fancy tech and the corresponding high price of the Watch.
I have a 6G Nano. It has a great UI but the physical buttons are really fragile. It cost me less to get a new dumb phone plus a SD card than is would have done to get the Nano repaired.
iPod Shuffle is the best there is for running, buuuut I suppose it endangers Apple's business model and profitability so it needs to be sent to a farm upstate.
One step closer to ditching the iTunes app on the Mac?
The shuffle in particular seems to still have a place as a super portable player you use while jogging or biking or whatever, but was hampered in recent years by lack of support for Airpods. I get that the usage model is "just use your phone", but phones are not always a great size for this.