The Teeny Weenie iPod, Part 2
By J. Allen Leinberger

OK. Last month I ran the wrong picture. This month you should see the new iPod Shuffle being held in-between two fingers. The control wheel you saw on the old one is gone. Ancient technology. (I hope I didn’t confuse you.)
Next. I actually tried to use a good set of Bose QuietComfort Headphones on the new Shuffle and, as I predicted, it didn’t work. Oh, sure, I could hear a little of the music, but since the volume control is on the right earbud wire, and that means there is no control on the Bose, you are stuck with what you get.
The difference is in the plug also. The plug on most headsets or earbuds has three metal bands, separated by little plastic “separators.” One for the left channel, one for the right channel, and one for the common ground. You also cannot plug this little guy into a larger sound system—even one designed to play iPods. Sorry.
There is a fourth metal band on the teeny weenie iPod plug for the controls. These controls are complicated. They consist of a one inch long piece of plastic. At the top you can press to increase the volume. At the bottom you can decrease it. If you press in the middle, you get the voice that tells you which playlist you are listening to and what song is playing. The details of this are a bit complicated. If you get one, you'll find a nice video at the Apple.com site that explains it all.
Best of all, as I mentioned last month, the new Shuffle has four gigs of hard drive, which is as much as the first iPod released back in 2001. I have been selective in what I have loaded, but I still have not filled it up. As the entire thing consists of the earbuds and wire and a tiny metal piece, it carries better than any of the older iPods.
You may still have to drop it in the bucket when you go through TSA screening at the airport, but it carries conveniently in your shirt pocket once you are aboard. You could even golf with it on and not bother anyone. Apple keeps saying that you can get your iPod engraved if you buy it from them. I really need to ask a mall engraving shop if they can do the same job or if the delicate insides can only be handled by Apple engraving specialists.
Now, on to some more thoughts on iTunes. There are a regular series of free downloads to be had. They change every week, on Tuesdays. Many of them are free video downloads. Many of those are the pilot episodes of new TV shows. Some are features or previews of new movies. These are only good if you have an iPod with the video function. Of course, you can download them to watch on your computer. Some TV systems allow you to run these video downloads on your TV. Since I have not gone that far, I cannot guarantee that you’ll be happy with the results on your 60” big screen TV, but the audio should be good.
Do not believe that iTunes is solely invested in new hip-hop and “American Idol” music. In fact, I have searched for years for the Ray Charles’ theme to the old Charlton Heston movie “Ruby Gentry.” Last month I found “Ruby” in the iTunes library. The original soundtrack themes to all of the James Bond movies, including Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, are now available. Go to the iTunes Essentials listing, and you will find an amazing collection of lost recordings. Jazz from the 1920’s. Old Mississippi blues tunes from the 1930’s. All of the songs you would need for a wedding from Mendelssohn's “Wedding March” to the “Chicken Dance” for the reception. One hit wonders, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Costello. Chamber music and the “Celtic Keening Song.” You name the category, and iTunes Essentials can probably find it.
If you can’t find it, iTunes accepts mixes, which would be your collection of tunes to fit a certain category. But check first; they may already have your list. (See: Super heroes. i.e.; the themes to “Batman,” “Superman,” “Spiderman” and the “X-Men.”)
The iPod library has a vast assortment of recordings. The audiobooks selection is great for those who have listened to books-on-tape in the past. The podcast collection covers everything from comedian rants to college courses. And you can now download “apps”; applications for your iPhone.
OK, I know I tend to prattle on about the iPod. The contemporary cell phone would seem to take priority in society today. Well, why not? It can take photos and videos and runs GPS and Word and can download and upload just about anything on the Internet. Make that “everything” on the Internet. You can text from a cave or a coffee shop of a hotel in Las Vegas.
Personally, I like to use my phone to make calls, my camera to take pictures and my iPod for music. One breaks and the others still work.
Am I getting old?