| Small is in when it is only 1.62 inches long and weighs | | | | consumers interested in the shuffle are those same |
| only half an ounce – and lets face it – | | | | type of people. Its advantage is its low price. The |
| "small is in". With the whole purpose being to easily | | | | target for the iPod shuffle and the iPod mini was the |
| load it with an assortment of songs, it then plays them | | | | lower-end market. Eventually, any heavy physical |
| in a random order. The first iPod to use flash memory, | | | | activity would decrease its usage, yet the price was |
| the iPod shuffle weighs only 22 grams, or .78 ounces, | | | | low enough that a person could actually purchase |
| while holding 240 songs in the 1GB version, or four | | | | another one if needed. |
| minutes per song, with listening power of 12 continuous | | | | As the name suggests, the benefit of the shuffle is |
| hours. Apple claims its iPod shuffle is "the biggest thing | | | | that every time you listen to it the songs you |
| in small", available in 512 MB or 1 GB. The iPod shuffle is | | | | downloaded are played in a different order. There are |
| made to clip onto just about anything: coin pockets, | | | | ways to get around this if it is not a benefit you are |
| purses, bags, or hats. In the world of digital electronics, | | | | excited about. For instance, you can set the play list on |
| it is the small size that matters the most anymore. And | | | | your computer before sending it to the iPod, but you |
| the iPod has the small market cornered in the | | | | cannot control the songs being played from the shuffle |
| mainstream market – more than any previous | | | | itself. Arguments against the shuffle stem from the |
| iPods. | | | | "shuffle" feature itself, the fact that you cannot control |
| The opposite side of the iPod shuffle is that it has | | | | the play list from the device itself like other iPod |
| several less features than the iPod – the | | | | systems. However, the price and durability appear to |
| trademark, scroll wheel, playlist management features, | | | | be above average for "flash drive" players. |
| games, address book, calendar, notes capability of | | | | Shuffle seems to be a good fit for fast paced |
| earlier iPods, the iPod shuffle cannot be used with | | | | individuals who are on the move, and are physically |
| iSync, its incapable of playing Apple Lossless and AIFF | | | | active while listening to music on the go. With this sort |
| audio files. But it has a better bass sound quality than | | | | of clientele, accessories that are available to keep the |
| the larger pods. The iTune allows an iPod shuffle | | | | iPod shuffle on the go with its user is a case that |
| playlist to be viewed and changed while the unit is not | | | | protects it from the weather and elements, a shuffle |
| connected, and when the unit is connected the next | | | | dock that allows it to connect easier to the computer, |
| time, it can be updated with the changed playlist. | | | | decorative and protective sleeves, belt clips, AC and |
| The question then becomes, why buy the shuffle with | | | | DC power plugs, earphones, and FM transmitters. The |
| its limited disk space? The complaint against other iPod | | | | battery takes about 1 1/2 hours to charge 80%, while a |
| systems is the lack of durability, so you couldn't take it | | | | full charge will take about 3 hours. |
| to the gym regularly and keep it for long, yet the | | | | |