shuffle

Apple simplifies troubleshooting with Express Lane

In an attempt to put more troubleshooting know-how in the hands of its customers, Apple has created Express Lane, a simple to use resource for locating issues and solutions to common problems with all of Apple's products.

The site is incredibly easy to navigate, using a simple three-column approach to determine the general scope of the issue you are having. Once you've narrowed down the topic, you can select one of the thousands of helpful articles available directly from Apple about nearly any documented problem--including information for many older Macs and previous generation iPhones and iPods.

But Express … Read more

iPod upgrading--Jasmine's Tech Dos and Don'ts

You may have noticed that this column enjoyed a hiatus last week. You may have also taken note of a little announcement from Apple about some new iPods. That was no coincidence; I spent the first several days of September up to my neck in the related iTunes 10 news.

Still, the new MP3 players didn't escape my attention, mainly because I'm eager to replace my essentially ruined second-gen iPod Touch. But more importantly, should you upgrade to one of the new iPods? To answer just that question, I spent some time with all three players.

The first … Read more

Apple 2010 iPod lineup, reviewed

Maybe you thought Apple's latest unveiling of iPods was the best refresh the product line has seen in years. Or, perhaps you're a little burned out after a year of iPads, iOS, iPhone 4, and antenna-gate. Personally, as CNET's resident expert on all things portable audio, it was nice to get a new crop of iPods to play with and put through their paces.

Call me a geezer, but I still carry an iPod separate from my phone. One of these days, I'm sure I'll bite on a new smart phone to make my iPod … Read more

CNET TV Apple Byte: New iPods, new iOS, and a thing called Ping

CNET TV's Brian Tong takes a look at the latest in Apple news, notes, tips, tricks, and rumors. This week Apple shows off its latest iPod lineup, including redesigned iPod shuffles, iPod nanos, and iPod touches, the new Apple TV (not iTV), and iOS 4.1. Check out the iOS 4.1 walk-through, including HDR photos, Game Center, and Ping.

Apple starts shipping new iPods

Apple has started shipping its new line of iPods.

Over the weekend and early Monday, those who preordered a new iPod started receiving e-mails from Apple that the devices are shipping. Some folks have seen their delivery date pegged at week's end, while others have received word from Apple that it might be slightly later.

I preordered the new iPod Nano when it was announced at Apple's media event last week. The device is scheduled to arrive at my doorstep Friday, though Apple's official "delivers by" date is Sunday.

The new iPod Nano is drastically … Read more

All Apple news

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded: Apple's new iPods iOS updates included in Apple's Fall lineup Streaming AppleTV Windows Phone 7 goes to OEMs Another blow to net neutrality New Sony e-readers

Is Apple's iPod tune getting old?

For the second straight year, the collective reaction to Apple's unveiling of its fall iPod lineup was basically "meh."

For the uninitiated, that's Internet shorthand for "I couldn't care less." Last year's iPod Nano with camera failed to ignite much instant excitement, and this year's new products didn't appear to fare much better. It's not that they're not good products--the announcements are just not generating the same amount of hype and interest as, say, an iPhone or iPad launch these days.

One of the issues is that Apple sets the bar pretty high for these kinds of special events, particularly in the last year. But the bigger one is that as Apple closes in on a decade of making the iPod, it's become clear that the category has become rather ho-hum for the company.

That's not to understate the iPod's influence. The first MP3 player from Apple in 2001 morphed it from a computer company into a consumer device and digital content company and paved the way for Apple's ability to turn the existing smartphone and tablet categories completely on their heads. But the iPod's influence on the company has been waning for some time, as was demonstrated Wednesday. … Read more

Apple iPod Shuffle (fourth-gen), a return to form

The iPod Shuffle is back to the design that made it famous, only better and cheaper than ever.

With five colors (silver, green, pink, orange, and blue), one capacity (2GB), all the features of last year's VoiceOver model, and one low price ($49), the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle seems to be the best model yet.

There's very little new to report on the latest Shuffle. The navigation controls, clip, and power switch are taken right from the second-gen design, while the internal features, such as VoiceOver navigation of your playlists, music collection, audiobooks, podcasts, and so on, are all … Read more

Which Apple announcement was best? (poll)

On Monday I asked you to vote for the item you most wanted to see during Apple's special event today. Nearly 30 percent of you chose "an updated iPod Touch"--and your wish was granted.

Others beat the drum (and clicked the mouse) for a new Apple TV and iOS 4 for iPad--both of which Apple also announced. In fact, the rumor mill got just about everything right; the only poll item that didn't become reality was a smaller iPad.

All this begs the question: which of today's announcements did you like best? Are … Read more

Apple rolls out new iPods, social iTunes

There were few surprises at Apple's annual music event Wednesday, but as usual there are new iPods for the holiday season and a new version of Apple TV.

Here's a quick recap of what Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced Wednesday in San Francisco. Check here for a replay of our live coverage of the event from earlier in the day.

Apple released a new version of iOS--iOS 4.1--that fixes bugs and brings the previously announced Game Center API for developers to use in building social-networking games. Also, iOS 4.2 will be released later this year, which … Read more