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