The New iPod Shuffle.

Apple just posted their new iPod shuffle on their website today.

What? No event featuring a turtleneck-clad Steve Jobs in front of a power point presentation of their latest gadget?

Just when you thought the iPod could not get any smaller, here it is, just shy of a AA battery.
It has more memory. 4Gs compared to the 2Gs in the previous models.
The click wheel is gone and a steam-lined device attached to the head phones controls the volume, let's you pause and skip songs and gives you the freedom to control your music, without taking the iPod out of whatever nook you've stashed it in.
Those tiny pockets in jeans now have a new best friend.

Some down side is the lack of visuals and playlist control. (Previous shuffles had the same problem.)
However, these new iPod Shuffles come complete with a VoiceOver system.
You simply hold down the play button and a robotic voice will come on and tell you the name of the song as well as the artist.
Continue to hold down that tiny button and it will tell you the playlist you are currently listening to followed by your list of previously selected playlists. When you hear the playlist you want to listen to, simply click the button again.
And voila!

Sounds like a great new toy for my father, who is happy listening to anything.
I once witnessed him listening to Styx and when the song changed over to "Gaston" from Beauty and the Beast, he didn't een flinch. He actually sang along with a few arm gestures here and there for affect.
I'm sure there are plenty of other music lovers of this sort out there in the world who would love this new iPod.
But for those of us a little more serious and in need of greater control to what they listen to, this just shall not suffice.

Being part of the music industry, you need to be able to present your product in a way that is professional.
I've experienced plenty of bands at Warped Tour especially who want you to listen to their music, but have only brought an iPod shuffle and a dinky pair of headphones. They stumble to unravel their headphones and can never seem to find the one song they ant you to listen to.
There are the ones who have older versions of the regular iPod and they can not only find the song they want to share with you in an instant, they can also play you videos of them live and how photos of their album or of the band when they are cleaner and less musky. it makes the world of difference to a fan and potential purchaser.

Apart from the business aspect of it, there is the daily usage. I have playlists for different moods, situations, events and even just specific artists that I'm loving at the time. So in a moment I can change my music just as my mood or situation changes.
Being able to flip through pictures and videos is also a great upside to the regular iPod. You never know when you need to show off a picture of your latest rock star run-in.

It's all just a matter a preference. And that's why iPods are on top of the music playing devices. They give you options. Not just in size, shape or color. But in how you experience your music. How do you top that?