| iPod shuffle is an iPod digital audio player | | | | cap and this allows the user to wear the iPod |
| designed and marketed by Apple Computer. It | | | | shuffle around his or her neck.iPod shuffle |
| was announced at the Macworld Conference & | | | | can also be used as a USB flash drive. iTunes |
| Expo on January 11, 2005, using the tagline | | | | allows a user to set how much of the drive |
| "life is random." Instead of storing data on | | | | will be allowed for storing files, and how |
| a hard disk, it was the first iPod to use | | | | much will be used for storing music.iPod |
| flash memory (the more recent iPod nano also | | | | shuffle size |
| uses this form of memory). It weighs 22 grams | | | | |
| (0.78 ounces).OverviewThe reverse side of an | | | | AccessoriesiPod shuffle skin (green) by |
| iPod shuffle.The iPod shuffle is designed to | | | | Speck ProductsBoth Apple and third-party |
| be easily loaded with a selection of songs | | | | manufacturers offer a variety of accessories |
| and to play them in random order. It was | | | | for the iPod shuffle. Apple offers such |
| found that owners of existing iPods had often | | | | things as armband attachments (so it can be |
| left the music selection to "shuffle", and | | | | worn on one's arm), a sport case that |
| the new iPod shuffle was a way of | | | | protects the iPod shuffle from the elements, |
| implementing that in a much more | | | | and an iPod shuffle dock that allows easier |
| cost-effective fashion. It relies on the use | | | | connection to a computer, similar to the dock |
| of an "autofill" feature in iTunes, which can | | | | units available for the regular iPod and iPod |
| select songs at random from a user's music | | | | mini. Third-party manufacturers offer such |
| library (or from a specific playlist) and | | | | things as iPod shuffle decorative and |
| copy as many as will fit into iPod shuffle's | | | | protective sleeves, belt clips, AC and DC |
| memory. It can hold up to 240 songs (1 GB | | | | power plugs, earphones, and FM |
| model, based on Apple's estimate, of four | | | | transmitters.Software |
| minutes per song and 128 kbit/s AAC | | | | |
| encoding).It lacks the trademark display, | | | | The main program that supports the iPod |
| scroll wheel, playlist management features, | | | | shuffle is iTunes, which is bundled with the |
| games, address book, calendar, and notes | | | | product and can be updated from the Apple web |
| capability of earlier iPods, and cannot be | | | | site.Users can download music from an online |
| used with iSync. In addition, it is incapable | | | | music store and use the iTunes software to |
| of playing Apple Lossless and AIFF audio | | | | upload it to the device.Impact |
| files, unlike other iPod models due to its | | | | |
| lower processing power. Oddly, the iPod | | | | The iPod shuffle was announced at the same |
| shuffle has a better bass sound quality than | | | | time as the Mac mini. Like iPod shuffle, Mac |
| its larger iPod kin, according to one review. | | | | mini is a scaled-down product which has been |
| Also, unlike every other iPod, it cannot be | | | | introduced at a lower price point. These two |
| used with on two separate iTunes | | | | products together can be seen as a conscious |
| libraries.iTunes offers some new features for | | | | effort on the part of Apple management to |
| iPod shuffle. One is the ability to reduce | | | | target a lower-end market and increase |
| the bit rate of songs to 128 kbit/s AAC. The | | | | visibility in the mass-market. Previously, |
| conversion is done automatically, with the | | | | the success of Apple's iPod and especially |
| original file left untouched on the computer | | | | the iPod mini had been chipping away at the |
| and the smaller (lower bit rate) file sent to | | | | inexpensive flash player market, causing |
| the iPod shuffle. iTunes also allows an iPod | | | | flash players at the beginning of 2005 to |
| shuffle playlist to be viewed and changed | | | | account for less than half the market share |
| while the unit is not connected; the next | | | | they did in 2004. However, the original and |
| time the unit is connected, it can then be | | | | mini iPods were costly and the shuffle was |
| updated with the changed playlist.iPod | | | | intended to make the iPod accessible to the |
| shuffle with the cap removed to show the USB | | | | mainstream audience.By April 2005, the end of |
| connector. The cap snaps onto the unit. iPod | | | | Apple's second fiscal quarter, the iPod |
| shuffle comes with a second cap on a lanyard | | | | shuffle had already proven itself to be a |
| which a user can wear around their neck.The | | | | successful product for its manufacturer. |
| front of the iPod shuffle has buttons for | | | | Although Apple has chosen not to specify how |
| Play/Pause, Next Song/Fast Forward, Previous | | | | many iPod shuffles were sold in the product's |
| Song/Fast Reverse, and up and down volume | | | | first three months of existence, analysts at |
| adjustment. On the reverse, it has a battery | | | | Piper Jaffray estimated that 1.8 million of |
| level indicator light (activated by a button) | | | | the 5.3 million iPods sold in the second |
| and a three-position switch to turn the unit | | | | quarter were shuffles. NPD estimates that the |
| off or set it to play music in order or | | | | iPod shuffle captured 43% of the flash-based |
| shuffled. It plugs directly into a computer's | | | | music player market in February of 2005, |
| USB port (either 1.1 or 2.0), through which | | | | after only its second month of existence.By |
| it also recharges its battery, which has an | | | | March of 2005 the iPod shuffle's market share |
| expected life of around 12 hours between | | | | had risen to 58%.Chewing and eating |
| charges. The USB plug is hidden beneath a | | | | |
| cap. The unit also comes with a lanyard that | | | | Due to its small size (8. |
| attaches to the iPod shuffle via an attached | | | | |