FFS: Form Follows Function
Posted under: Heads up: this is just a rambling…nothing photography related.
As an engineer, I always abide by the law that form follows function. No matter how pretty a thing is, if it doesn’t serve its main purpose then it is essentially POINTLESS. Beauty will occur once the object serves its purpose…such as aerodynamically designed Formula 1 cars. They are gorgeous because every curve serves a purpose. Nothing is just there for show. (there are exceptions to the rule…a few odd balls here and there).
Continuing on to the main point of the post, Apple released it’s third version of the iPod Shuffle today and it is purely Function Follows Form. Apple has always come out with some fantastically designed products…most are fashion accessories which can also serve the daily grind…such as the iMac, iPod, MacBook, etc. However, with all their products, you can just feel that in some areas functionality took a backseat to aesthetics. A few minor issues I’ve always noticed include the slippery metal casing of the MacBooks (I can never keep one steady on my lap…never had an issue with my Dells); glossy screens of the new MacBooks, iMacs, and Mac Screens; slippery backs of all iPods, and the uncomfortable shape of the third generation Nanos (one before this one). These inconveniences sometimes have put me off a product, but Apple stepped down to a new low with their new Shuffle.
I’ve always been a fan of the Shuffle. Wanted a second generation one the first time I laid my eyes on its FCC patent application (I was working for an electronic accessory manufacture at the time). Since then, I’ve owned two shuffles and absolute adore them for their simplicity and convenience. With the new version, Apple threw out all usability out the window and chose for a stylish minimalistic design which looks to be a pain to use.
Unlike the old shuffle which had individual buttons for (prev, next, play/pause, vol+, vol-), Apple has taken it down to three buttons (vol+, vol- and one centre multi-purpose button). So now with this setup, to go to the next song, you press the center button twice, to go to the previous song, you have to go to press the button 3 times. To rewind the song, you have to press the button 3 times and then hold. To fast forward, you have to press the button twice and then hold.
What a load of CRAP!!!
This new system is suppose to make it easier for people to use when running, so that you don’t have to fumble around and accidentally press buttons. Well, thanks Apple, now all I have to do is press the right button gazillion of times to go to the song I want!
Furthermore, the new Shuffle cannot work with regular headphones, so you have to buy adapters…what a pain! What the hell were you thinking Apple?
You can read a whole list of the new Shuffle button click control combinations here.
Now, after the Shuffle, the following product doesn’t look too absurd anymore:
Totally agree with the stupidly regarding proprietary headphones, but I think the control system is actually genius. I have the predecessor of this control system on the iPhone and it is *so* much more natural than looking down at a traditional in-line remote.
With a regular remote, you have to find it, look at it, press the appropriate button and if you change your mind a few seconds later you have to repeat the process. Wheras on this type of remote, you very quickly find it by running your finger down the cable, it doesn’t matter which side of it you get. You then press the top/bottom to adjust volume (note you don’t need to look at it) and press the middle to move through your playlist or get the name of the song.