Apple iPod shuffle (Second Generation)

When the iPod Shuffle debuted in early 2005, it was met with mixed results. Some praised Apple for releasing a flash-based, wallet-friendly version of the popular music player; some knocked the company for attempting to pass off a screenless iPod as an innovator of “random” song shuffling. A year later, Apple has released the second-generation Shuffle with everything that you loved or hated about the first generation player-except that it now looks much cooler.

 

The second-generation Shuffle eschews its formerly low-grade-looking body for a brushed-aluminum finish that resembles the sleek, revamped iPod nano line. Less than half the size of the original,  the 1.6 x 1.0 x 0.4-inch Shuffle weighs an unbelievably light 0.5 ounces. Apple fully utilized the player’s svelte-ness by integrating a clip onto its back, which lets users attach it to a belt buckle or a shirt pocket–perfect for joggers and gym rats. The Shuffle is so lightweight that we literally forgot that we had it on our clothes.

 

Although the Shuffle doesn’t feature the iPod’s familiar scroll wheel, the controls are simple to use given the device’s small physique. You can play, pause, and skip tracks in the forward and backward directions, but we found that fast-forwarding and rewinding within a song required almost too delicate a touch.

 

The lack of a display may not be much of a deterrent to those with only a few dozen tunes, but those looking to max out the 1GB of memory—that’s 240 tracks—will quickly get frustrated skipping tracks to find a sought-after song. Radio listeners will be disappointed to learn that Apple still hasn’t included an FM radio, something that the color-screen SanDisk Sansa c200 includes for the same price.

 

The Shuffle is packaged with the now-ubiquitous white earbuds, which we found hard and unforgiving on the ear canal. On the plus side, the Shuffle cranks out high volume. You can expect approximately 12 hours of play time, and should you need to recharge, a mini-dock is included. It connects to the Shuffle through the headphone jack to charge or sync to iTunes, since a USB port isn’t built into the player.

 

Priced to move at $79, the second-generation Shuffle won’t win over those who were unimpressed by the original release, but it’s a solid pick for music lovers who don’t mind the lack of a display.

 

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