The digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc, the Ipod Shuffle, has reached the third generation. It will please minimalist-design enthusiasts: smaller than a USB drive, it is completely devoid of buttons, knobs, and a screen. Apple introduced the latest Shuffle on Wednesday. Besides being half the size of the previous model, the device is unique in that it can speak artist, song, and playlist names. With 4 GB of storage, the gadget can hold up to 240 songs.
The new shuffle design requires headphones with Apple's inline controls and most third-party headphones would be rendered essentially useless to use with the tiny device because the controls for the Shuffle are located on the included ear buds, housed in a tiny remote on a cable below the right ear. Not only do these headphones have all the necessary controls—which are also compatible with the iPod nano, iPod classic, iPod touch, and iPhone—but by most accounts the headphones also sound great.
Measuring 0.7 by 1.8 by 0.3 inches and weighing a scant 0.38 ounce, this minuscule device could easily get lost in your pocket or bag if you're not careful. At the top of the device, next to the headphone jack, resides a switch for Shuffle, Play in Order, or Power Off. Between the switch and the jack is a status light that indicates how much life is left in the battery.
Press the button once to play or pause playback; twice to skip forward a track; three times to skip back a track; twice and hold it to scan forward; three times and then hold it to scan backward; once and hold it to tell the shuffle to speak the name of the current song; or once and hold it longer to tell the shuffle to speak the names of playlists, using the volume buttons to “scroll” through the list—press Button again to choose a playlist.
The new iPod Shuffle costs $79. If you decide to use the bundled earbuds, that's all you'll be spending on a 4GB device with a slim form factor and iTunes compatibility. If you already have headphones you like more than those ear buds, you'll be forced to pay an approximate grand total of $99 before tax to own an iPod Shuffle and use your existing headphones. The previous 1GB iPod Shuffle is now sold for under $50.
It is available with a silver or black brushed aluminum case similar to the second generation iPod Shuffle.
The iPod debuted in 2001 and has sold more than 170 million units worldwide. The latest version, iPod Touch, offers a touch screen and Wi-Fi functionality.
But the Shuffle isn't the only thing Apple had up its sleeve this week. It also got people buzzing about what's next when it announced on Wednesday a March 17 invitation-only event to discuss a new iPhone SDK and an updated version of the iPhone software.
