Apple iPod Shuffle
The basics
The latest version of Apple's tiny MP3 player is a 4GB Flash memory MP3 and AAC player with tie-clip, in-line remote and VoiceOver song announcements. It can squeeze 10 hours worth of playback from its battery and measures a minuscule 45x18x8mm and weighs 11g (without the earbuds).
The good
It’s the small ones you have to watch out for. Napoleon, Stalin, that one from the Krankies: each of them famous for a rampant superiority complex that is clearly reflected in Apple’s new Shuffle. Not only does this minute player speak 14 languages, reporting the title, artist and playlist of the song you’re listening to, it will even badger you for a recharge when its high-tech lithium polymer battery is running low. Build quality is sublime, from the stainless steel clip to the anodised aluminium case, and the in-line remote makes it oh-so-easy to skip songs and adjust the volume.
The bad
Steve Jobs should have thrown in a nose-guard with this iPod – those of us blessed with generous nasal openings risk inhaling the microscopic Shuffle in all our excitement. There is a more serious drawback though. Because the Shuffle’s new ‘smart’ earbuds include an in-line remote, you can’t just upgrade them in favour of headphones that are less harsh, tinny and generally rubbish.
The bottom line
Gorgeously minute and packed with sexy new features but handicapped by Apple’s painfully poor – and now irreplaceable – earbuds.
User comments (4)
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davewestmids18 December 2009
great little gadget,but...i bought one in may 09 and now in december it has had to go back for repairs , because if you buy one for the gym because its small ,like i did ,moisture gets in the inline remote and plays havoc with it, apple know this because it tells you on there website , the volume has dropped by half ..not good , i expected better from apple, good apart from that ... .. c ya dave
Report as inappropriateSomeRandom29 December 2009
belkin are making an adapter with all the controlls on it so you can use it with any set of headphones you want to now and its so much better with then
Report as inappropriateSarah2149803 May 2010
I got one as a present a few years back, thing is it's just sooooo small. So easy to just lose! The buttons are a bit hard to press as they're tiny too! It is handy though, but not my fave of apple's inventions.
Report as inappropriateH-been27 May 2011
this needs updating this is the 3ed gen theres a 4th gen which is sooooooooooo better!
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