iPod Shuffle Directions

If you offer me a golden iPod Shuffle like the one below for less than $50, maybe I would get it, but otherwise, the Shuffle is not my thing, and let me tell you why - sound quality is the lowest in the iPod family, there's no display, and it's too small, so you can lose it without even feeling that. Anyway, there are a lot of people using it, and I can't go and tell them they are wrong, and their beloved media player is the worst possible choice, because that wouldn't be the truth, either. Considering its popularity, the Shuffle still seems to have a future, so let's talk about iPod Shuffle directions, shall we?

The question is very simple - there are plenty of directions available, but only a few of them are good. Which one will be chosen by Apple? The latest rumor says the iPod Shuffle will receive a lot of updates, and the most obvious is related to storage space. While a "slight redesign" could mean a lot of things, a jump from 2GB to 4GB in terms of storage space means an additional 2GB of MP3 files, and nothing else.

After cutting the price earlier this year to $49, I wonder where could Apple go this time. Don't get me wrong, $49 is fine, but if you're going to spend at least a few minutes searching for alternates, you'll surely find 2GB players with 1.8"-2" LCD screens, video playing capabilities, 2GB of memory and microSD expansion slot, most of them priced below $80, with a few models going as low as $40-$50, and I am not talking about Chinese no-name devices!

If someone would ask me, here's what I would like to see in the next iPod Shuffle: more file formats supported, at least a black and white display, EQ, microSD expansion slot, and a black model. If they aren't going to add a black model, anything else would be pointless, at least when it comes to gaining myself as a customer.

Other than the above, I don't know what else could I ask. What would you ask from Apple to change? Could you go as far as requiring them to drop the Shuffle and concentrate on the other iPods? A lot of iPod Shuffle directions available, and only a few of them valid...good luck with this one, Apple, you'll need it!