Review: The New iPod Shuffle

Apple released the third generation of the iPod Shuffle this month, advertised as “smaller is better” for the next generation of iPod users.

Its advertising is no exaggeration: the iPod Shuffle is smaller than a standard household key.  Holding 4 gigabytes of data (up to  1000 songs in AAC format), the storage doubles its predecessor.  In order to keep the device so small, Apple placed  most of its buttons on a separate cord that connects from the iPod Shuffle from one end to your headphones.

The iPod Shuffle is priced at $79, comparable to $300 and $400 iPod models, and  seems ideal for joggers or workout routines if the device is properly stored away.  Due to its size, the iPod Shuffle can easily be lost.  While the clip on the back side seems sturdy enough to clip on to most articles of clothing, consumers may want to view the device in a store to see its size.  Less than 46 millimeters in height and less than 8 millimeters in depth is quite small.

The device also features VoiceOver, a program designed within the iPod to tell you what song and artist is playing through a computer-generated voice.  Using the latest iTunes software, each song will generate its own unique vocal label.  To support international music pronunciation, Apple announced that 14 languages support VoiceOver technology.

The VoiceOver feature may feel a little silly for the average consumer, as most people who download and purchase their own music are inclined to know what songs are playing on their own iPod.  The feature may be more appropriate for consumers who burn entire CD collections that they haven’t heard in a while,  or learn the correct pronunciation of most international music, or friends willing to swap iPods for new music.

The iPod Shuffle can last up to 10 hours and requires up to 3 hours of charge time.  The iPod is only available in black or gray.  Apple has not planned any announcements for multiple colors, such as the nine available colors on the iPod Nano.

Laid Off.

In the past half hour, I was one of the many employees laid off at my job.  You never really think about what it means to be laid off, and five thousand people losing their jobs elsewhere, when it hits home: there’s no money, there’s no support, there’s no benefits any more.  Health care costs way too much money.

I’m an optimist when it comes to personal matters.  Life sucks, but it gets better.  Life gets good, then it sucks.  But then it gets better.  And even if it sucks again, life will still turn out good.  So you can be a pessimist, you can be an optimist, but whatever you choose to be, you have to remain confident in a tomorrow.

So what will happen to www.robgalbreath.com ?  Well, cutbacks.  In an effort to find a job, I will not be posting here quite as often in the coming weeks.  I will try to maintain a regular schedule next week, but I don’t know how far that will go just yet.  It’s rather uncertain, and things seem a bit crazy.  But I do have goals.

Number one, job.  Find a job.

Number two, money.  Make money.

Number three, bills.  Pay them.

Number four, return to recreation.  This includes World of Warcraft, all console video games, and dedicating myself to this blog again.  Every week day, just like I’ve been providing for a while.  But for me to get to this step, I need to accomplish one, two, and three first.

I admit, I will have to think about my priorities.  So the more comments you post, the more I’ll feel dedicated and commited to putting more up on this site after all of the woes and troubles are over.  If there are zero comments, I probably won’t update any longer.

Save Completed.

Facebook: Reuniting with Buffalo People.

I was going to write about the Final Fantasy XIII impressions, but I wasn’t all that impressed — it’s just a visual of everything they’ve already said.  Moving on.

So I’ve been visiting Facebook regularly this past week.  I must say, minus the interaction among a couple cool people, and it’s worth it, I’m rather annoyed by all of these programs that keep popping up everywhere.  I have 120 programs recommended to add.  I don’t want to add any of them.  I’d like to socialize and get out there with meeting people again and all, but seriously?  A program that connects to friends through friends through pre-existing friends channels on a friends network?  Little overkill, huh?

There’s so many useless programs.  I don’t want to bother with werewolves, vampires, ghosts, zombies, or crazy games on there.  I’m just not interested.  The same goes for all these crazy clubs of people who I don’t know — why are you inviting me to this?  Don’t you filter the number of people you invite?

And don’t give me that crap about getting me a cyberdrink, or whatever creepy exchanges that go on there.  If you want to get me liquored up, you come to my house with a bottle of Bacardi Select and a 2-liter of Coke.  Giving me some 100×100 icon isn’t going to get me smashed.

I wish there was a way (maybe you know of one?) where I can just turn off all these applications altogether.  No more invites, no more crazy notifications about not just one, but every one of those apps.  I just want a social atmosphere where I can keep updated on everyone’s lives and post a little bit on my own.  Hell, that’s why I posted this blog on Facebook as well.  It just makes more sense to do so.

Eh, still better than MySpace!  Tootles!

Save Completed.