Meeting unknown needs

The next step in the world of unlimited choice is figuring out what people need before they do. Case in point: I just picked up a new iPod Shuffle, as much for the shiny-new-thing factor as for discerning any true need for it. For $80, how could I not buy one? Thing is, I can suddenly see a number of different situations in which it would be handy to have a tiny batch of songs clipped to my coat. Without Apple having made such an appealing product, I likely would never have determined such a need.