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