Today Apple announced the new iPod Shuffle and the big “new” feature on it is the absence of buttons. Apparently the solution for those using the shuffle is to navigate music via the headphones, which is great if you like wearing sub-par plastic pieces of trash in your ears.

Now, I realize that some people actually enjoy the feel of the standard Apple earbuds, and I realize they are very popular. However, I have seen a LOT of people that use 3rd party headphones with their iPod/iPhone (a brief office poll here at Imulus came up with over half of us using non-Apple headphones). So let’s just be honest, what this really feels like is a ploy to make you purchase the high-end Apple earbuds. And if you’re like me and hate earbuds in general because they hurt your ears, you’re basically out of luck.

Even if Apple decides to release their headphone control technology to 3rd parties I still have to purchase a new set of headphones to use while running, or at minimum a new control cord add-on for my current phones, which is sure to be a minimum of $20. Now suddenly to get a lightweight mp3 player for running I am dropping $79 plus $20.

This is a great example of how Apple’s want to simplify can be taken too far. In theory it sounds great, but in practice it ends up creating a mess for everyone but the most default basic customers. And worse, it makes Apple look greedy and out of touch.

Something I have been seeing a lot of lately is big blocky type that interacts with the environment. Instead of the typical caption that is boring and un-designed, more movies and television shows are opting for more refined and interesting means of conveying the information. What I like about this trend is that there are subtle cues that tie the type into the scene such as a shadow or a reflection. I hope this sticks around or is at least used as a springboard for more designs that refine the use of type, and less of just slapping it on.

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