iPod Shuffle
We all got promised one, and last week I got my shuffle. It’s really great. Dare I say… insanely great? It’s just shocking how your music is with you, but with some sort of ESP kind of power. Like your computer is beaming music to your head without needing to be tied to it. It’s virtually weightless, and hands free. Also, I’m noticing, it’s less figity than my big iPod.
Oh, sure, when I want to be specific about what I’m listening to, the big iPod is the way to go, but… throwing all your new music on the shuffle is fast and easy. I gave it to R, and she’s using it, yay 
… My parents checked it out last weekend, and they were both really impressed.
I noticed that it’s instantly recognizable when you see one in public. Great brand building stuff! I saw while at dinner out over the weekend that someone had gotten one… it’s so easy to spot if it’s out in view. I also noticed that when the shuffle is on the lanyard and it’s turned backwards, the green indication area looks like a smiling mouth 
While it’s not a new concept, it brings the concept home into reality. Sure, there’s lots of MP3 players out there, but this is the one. Seamless integration of my music on my computer when I’m there, all my music on my iPod, my new music on a near weightless shuffle when I’m away from my computer, and the best music buying experience. We were talking about buying music the “old fashioned way”… I take the new way for granted now. Not having to buy a whole CD of crap for one good song… well.. DUH, why would you spend $15 for $0.99 worth of music??
When you go on the other side of the equation, to the music creation side, you’ve got GarageBand, which I’ve used somewhat extensively. It’s great. Dare I say again, insanely great?? Stepping up from there is Logic Express, which I’ve used less extensively, but the time I have spent with it has been pretty magical. The gain in control is shocking. It’s everything I need in a music composition tool. The final step up from there is Logic Pro. I tried out version 6 about a year ago and had a hard time getting my head around everything you can do with it. Logic Pro is just mind bendingly powerful and tweaky. I’m sure version 7 is just that much better with Apple Loops Format inclusion and the new instruments and pitch bending stuff (and all the other stuff I don’t even know about!)…
Apple is firing on all cylinders for music.
