One thing I like about Apple is that they’re not afraid to experiment with their product designs. Take the third generation iPod Shuffle, for instance. They took a bold step to take away the physical player controls in lieu of in-line music controls, which to be frank, was not accepted by all. Thankfully, Apple has realized it and brought back the clickwheel design we’re used to see in an iPod in its fourth-generation iPod Shuffle.
The new iPod Shuffle is similar to the second-gen iPod Shuffle but only smaller. With dimensions measuring only 1.14-inch by 1.24-inch, and just 0.34-inch thick, we can label the Shuffle as one of the tiniest music player.
The build quality of the player is pretty good. The aluminum casing with solid colors give it a premium look. There is a clip-on as well that can be used to hook the player to your pocket or sleeve in case you need to use the device during your jog.
The control buttons are now revised and much easier to use. There are basic playback control buttons. The power button doubles up as a shuffle activate/deactivate button. Just next to the power button, a new button has been integrated that controls the VoiceOver function. VoiceOver that was introduced in the last edition of Shuffle can now be used to hear the details of the current song, playlist menu and even the battery status. Moreover, the voiceover speaks 25 different languages, so it tells you song titles and artists in the native tongues or any language you choose. Although a good addition, we’d love to see Apple bring VoiceOver for Hindi-speaking users.
With 2GB capacity that can house about 500 songs (this is the only capacity) and a battery life of around 15 hours seems a good sound machine.
All said and done, with a decent sound quality, intuitive and minimalist design, the iPod Shuffle is a good music player that can be your companion during your jog or at home or for that matter any other place. Affordability is another factor that makes Shuffle a good buy.
The iPod Shuffle currently retails for Rs.3,200 and can be purchased from any leading electronics store.
Rating: 
Pros: Voice over, size, Battery Life
Cons: 2GB is the only capacity available
Leave a Reply