To have taken over the market for Flash players so quickly and strongly is astounding. They are low margin, but that's not the key here. The key is the more people using iPods, the more leverage and brand recognition Apple has. The iTMS is much stronger -- even than it was -- now that the Shuffle has a firm footing. This is great news.

"The only way is up....baby!"

My wife has a MUVO 256+FM, I have use of a first-gen 5GB iPod thru work, and now own a 1GB Shuffle.

The Shuffle is the best deal going. I don't miss the display (the MUVO display is unreadable), it takes zero effort to reload it, runs forever, is a flash drive besides over USB. I never thought I'd have a flash player. The only use for the iPod display has been Contacts, but Tiger can now sync my phone like Panther couldn't - so it all works with less juggling.

this is just further proof that Apple is DOOMED!

when are they going to put Paris Hilton in Apple Stores? It's the only way to save them!

/M$ whoring anal-yst

Weren't they just predicting that Apple missed the mark by introducing such a simple, no frills MP3 player?

Wonder how long before they try to roll out their own shuffle knock off...?

All you people buying a Shuffle are apparently without the mental faculties to resist buying anything from Apple. Don't you people realize you're being ripped off.

First, its got no FM tuner.

Add in the lack of display (how are you supposed to find the song you want to listen to without a 3x5 screen?).

There's also no voice recorder. How can you record all those hours of conversations with your friends without a voice recorder. Linda Tripp wouldn't dare be without one.

Then there's the lack of choices. You can't buy music from anywhere but iTMS. No Napster, no Walmart. Certainly no support for the quality and affordable subscription services out there.

Now tack on the lack of a stopwatch. How are you supposed to time things without a stopwatch? Those three-minute eggs you're making turned into 5 minute eggs. Haha! If you had a real MP3 player, you wouldn't be eating overcooked eggs!

Basically, what it comes down to is that those 58% that use the shuffle just don't realize how they're s******* up their lives!

I think it takes a small-minded individual to slag off others who may have different tastes and requirements.

Life has the potential to become fairly complicated in so many ways that a return or digression to simplicity and less organisation/control is often a dream. For many, an iPod Shuffle might just suit that dream.

I love iTunes and digital music but I don't go for portable music players so I take an outsider's view, which is often amusing. It's just when you read opinions from individuals who clearly have issues in other aspects of their lives that I am motivated to comment.

Latest NPD data showed iPod shuffle saturation in current US market. Their m/s is fallen into mid 40%. Not all the people look for low cost MP3 player, but look for more premium features such as Voice recording, LCD screen and FM Radio.

Maybe. Time will tell. Nobody said Apple has to cater to all markets. They don't with their computers, they don't with their music players.

BTW, I wouldn't call Voice recording a premium feature. The voice recording feature built into MP3 players is paltry compared to a dedicated voice recorder that professionals use. It's a toy.

And testudo, that was hilarious! Made me laugh.

So where is this source that shows the iPod shuffle US market share fell from 53% to 40% in April?

Link please.