iPod Shuffle--With VoiceOver, Who Needs a Screen?

The iPod Shuffle has always been about the budget. But without a screen, the Shuffle had trouble capturing even the low end market. Why settle for no screen when you could opt for other low-priced MP3 players that did provide a visual interface (like Creative). Some openly began to question whether the Shuffle would even survive. Apple has responded and the Shuffle is still with us. And it’s available in a new generation that may have people rethinking the need for a screen.

When you’re on the go, you need something small, and the iPod Shuffle has certainly met that need. Its tiny size gives you music at any level of physical activity. Anything that could be converted to MP3 could be carried with you and enjoyed, from music to books to your favorite podcast. The only requirement is that you be able to manage the collection.

For most MP3 players, that’s what the screen is for, to manage and to navigate your files. The new generation Shuffle now comes with something called “VoiceOver.” This innovative new feature (although a similar technology is available on Sony players) provides a way to find out the artist and title at any point. VoiceOver also lets you know when it’s time to recharge.

We’ll have to wait and see if low-end buyers will accept VoiceOver as an acceptable replacement for a screen. Not including a screen on the Shuffle really lowered the costs for Apple, but it also made the Shuffle less attractive to consumers. VoiceOver does provide a way to overcome the inconvenience of not being able to see what’s on the Shuffle by trading one sense for another.