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There are so many small MP3 players on the market today, most of which are pretty nice. This makes it hard to decide which one to choose, however, the good guys at Generation MP3 recently offered up a nice comparison chart to offer some comparison between four players that are currently on the market. The four MP3 players being compared include the iPod Shuffle, Samsung’s new S2, iriver’s MPlayer, and the Creative Zen Stone. All of these MP3 players are really good and they all come with their own unique features. Let the battle begin!

So far, the lightest music player is Samsung’s Pebble, or the S2, weighing in at 13.6 grams. The next lightest being the iPod Shuffle. In terms of battery life, Samsung’s S2 wins again, with a long battery life of 13 hours, however, the iPod Shuffle isn’t too far behind again, coming in with 12 hours of battery life. iriver’s MPlayer only offers a 9 hour battery life, and the Stone comes in the middle with 10 hours, of course these times are all under optimal use.

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In addition to the updated MacBook and MacBook Pro’s that we saw earlier this morning Apple has made the previously announced 2GB iPod Shuffle available. As promised the Shuffle will begin shipping “later this month” of course the website still refers to a 7-10 day time frame before it will ship, but it is at least available for order.

Product [Apple]

Well it looks like our “intelligence" came through. Today Apple released 4 new $79 products in the form of new colored iPod Shuffles. Although I was hoping for something along the lines of iLife and iWork, I’m totally cool with a hot pink shuffle.

“When we designed the new shuffle we entered into a new space of fashion—the idea that you can wear it in your favorite color is a great extension,” Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, told Macworld

Well as long as your favorite color is Pink, Orange, Green, Blue, or Silver. I think the biggest question is, with the new paint job, does this make them 2.5-Gen shuffles?

Product [Apple] via [TUAW]

All of the Apple rumor sites have mentioned that new products are ready for launch tomorrow.  The lastest report is out of Mac Rumors and calls for “four $79 Apple products coming on Tuesday.” We can’t say for sure what it is that’s being announced - or if there’s any facts to support the speculation, but it sounds like we could be seeing multiple colored Shuffles hit the shelves.

Read [MacRumors]

Xpress, the new thumb-drive shaped MP3 player from SanDisk, is entering the market in a perfect niche.  The product reaches out to those that are hesitant to buy a Shuffle due to the lack of a screen, those that use non-iTunes music services, as well as those that want to save a little cash on their player.

The Xpress comes with 1GB built-in flash memory, and is also expandable (unlike the Shuffle) for those that start to run out of space on the tiny device.  It also has navigational pad, 15 hour battery life...and that’s right, a screen!  You can pick up a SanDisk Xpress for just $59.99.

Product Page [SanDisk] Via [Chip Chick]

Wow if this doesn’t create excitement what does? Apple has changed their homepage image to the one seen above.

The first 30 years were just the beginning. Welcome to 2007.

As if there was not enough buzz around the company, they have certainly succeeded in reinvigorating the rumors and longing for shiny new gadgets and software in 2007. We already know that Apple will be upgrading their OS, from Tiger to Leopard around Q3 2007 as well as entering the living room space via the “iTV.” Other expectations are a HD Apple Cinema display with HDMI, Blu-ray support for the Mac Pro, the long awaited Apple phone, as well as the forever rumored video iPod.

Can we expect other new products/services from Apple? Be sure of it. How about some thinner, faster, sleeker MacBook Pros, maybe a MacBook tablet, doubling the memory of the nano and shuffle, HD iTunes downloads, more movie studios on iTunes, as well as other gadgets here and there.

Gadgetell Contest: We want to know what your Apple wishes are for 2007. Post them as a comment below and we’ll pick five winners at random. If you win, we will send one of the following items:

• Altec Lansing’s M602 iPod speaker dock ($199)


• Altec Lansing im500 iPod speaker dock ($129)


• Myvu personal media view for the iPod ($299)


• DLO Homedock ($99)

The rules…

The Rules:

• You may only enter this contest one time


• The winners will be sent a notice via email and has 72 hours to reply with their mailing address to claim their prize — make sure you use a valid email address


• You will be shipped your prize as soon as we get it into the mail, but don’t worry it’s coming


• Contest only valid in the continental 48 states


• Contest is open until 11:59pm PST on Friday, January 5, 2007


• Gadgetell has the right to use any and all submissions in any way, shape or form; but will never sell your submission nor your contact information.

Good luck!

Did you know that you can clip this thing anywhere? I know it is crazy, what an amazing idea! But honestly it is a cool spot for the Apple 2g iPod shuffle (though not too original).