He could sell a ketchup popsicle to a lady in white gloves!

I gotta hand it to Steve Jobs and Apple.

On Monday Steve Jobs announced or showcased at the Macworld Expo in SF a new iPod called the “iPod Shuffle”. Rumors had been flying around literally for several months that Apple would be unveiling a flash memory-based iPod, and this was it.

1 Gigabyte of storage/space for $150. Not too bad, in comparison to some other fancy flash-based MP3 players out there. But? Those other mp3 players have loads of features and things like FM radio and screens. That’s right, 1GB of music– up to 200 some odd songs they say– and no screen to navigate them with. There are a couple of theories about this. The first, which I’m not sure I support, is that Apple just slapped this thing together so fast that they did a cheap job. It remains to be seen that these things are “cheaply” made or designed, in my opinion.

My own theory goes like this: Apple wants to make a Flash Mp3 player. It’s gotta have the name iPod because hey– iPods are hip, EVERYONE knows what an iPod is. Ok. Also, industrial design is key– it has to have that Apple style. Simplicity has always been one of their strong points (I mean how many buttons can you find on an iPod anyways? Not as many as on most other devices.) A screen? Oh but a screen would clutter the design, make it look uglier not to mention make it more expensive. Let’s not put a screen on it. But most flash players these days have screens! I know, we’ll call it the iPod Shuffle and make the fact that it DOESN’T have a screen one of its most exciting features, yay! Thus the iPod Shuffle is born, and its slogan is “Life is Random”.

The thing is… people don’t buy it for the shuffle/random “feature”. I know this. Being the geek that I am, I’ve read a lot of discussion on message forums about this product– some say it’s doomed to failure. I would bet otherwise. Why? Because it bears the name “iPod”, and also resembles the trendy white iPod.

Nevermind that similar devices have been available for a number of years already. Never mind that more advanced devices can be purchased for the same amount of money. Those companies don’t know how to market and don’t have the name established.

I knew this on Monday when I heard about it. For a moment I wanted one myself. I’ve never wanted a flash player but Apple really knows how to sell. The reason I rant about it today was that some co-workers totally reinforced my above-stated opinion (you must remember that I work in an art department with a number of Mac elitists to whom Mac is not just a computer but a symbol of their superiority over the rest of the human race). They were gathered around a nearby cubicle earlier today chatting when one of them goes “did you see the new iPod Shuffle?!” Of course they all had. One of them did say “but it doesn’t have a screen”, but I’m sure that didn’t detract from the fact that it was an iPod. Another designer chimes in “it’s so cool!” and the one who brought it up says “I want one!”.

There it was. My theory validified. These people were gaga over a little white plastic mp3 player because it was made by Apple and had the name iPod. Had anyone else made the exact same mp3 player– no one would know about it much less care about it. But ooooh, Apple, iPod, mmmm, it’s so coooool. That’s all there is to it! Regardless of how good of a value it might be, these people were lusting after it for it’s name / status.

Let me step back and say that I don’t hate Apple. I think they make excellent software and sell it with well designed hardware. But I am easily amused and the way these people love everything Apple / iPod makes me laugh. It’s not better than the competition per se– it’s just presented better. I can see cars being status symbols, even clothes. But an mp3 player? This is why I’m so impressed with how Stevie has been running Apple.

Oh, click below for more entertainment…

from Gizmodo.com

Now all that’s left to do is to get myself an iPod Shuffle to take to the gym. I mean, when the chicks see that thing dangling from my neck, they’ll instantly KNOW that I’m cool. I mean, I have an iPod– I must be hip, right?

(the fact remains that I’m tempted by the iPod Shuffle… a testament to Apple’s influence on me, a Sony / PC whore).