The iPod Shuffle is a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is
the smallest model in Apple's iPod family, and was the first to use flash memory. The
first model was announced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 11, 2005; the
current fourth generation model was introduced on September 1, 2010.
Overview
1st generation Released on January 11, 2005, the first-generation
iPod Shuffle weighed 0.78 ounces and was designed to be easily loaded with a selection of songs
and to play them in random order. According to Apple, owners of existing iPods had often
left the music selection to "shuffle", and the new iPod Shuffle was a way of implementing
that in a much more cost-effective fashion. It relies on the use of an "autofill" feature
in iTunes, which can select songs at random from a user's music library and copy as many
as will fit into the iPod Shuffle's memory. The Shuffle can hold up to 240 songs. It used
the SigmaTel STMP35xx system on a chip and its software development kit v2.6, a flash
memory IC, and USB rechargeable lithium cell. The STMP35xx SOC and its software was the
most fully integrated portable MP3 playback system at release time and SigmaTel was Austin's
largest IPO capturing over 60% of flash based MP3 player world market share in 2004. In
2005, peak iPod first-generation Shuffle production occurred at a hundred thousand units per day,
at the Asus factory. It lacks a display and the trademark scroll
wheel, playlist management features, and is missing the games, address book, calendar,
alarm, and notes capability of larger iPods; it cannot be used with iSync. Due to the codec
not being ported, it is incapable of playing Apple Lossless and AIFF audio files.
Due to superior audio technology in the SigmaTel STMP35xx SOC and SDK, the iPod Shuffle has
a better bass response than a 4th generation iPod, according to a review published days
after its release.
iTunes offers some new features for iPod Shuffle. One is the ability to reduce the bit rate
of songs to 128 kbit/s AAC. The conversion is done automatically, with the original file
left untouched on the computer and the smaller file sent to the iPod Shuffle. Older versions
of iTunes allowed an iPod Shuffle playlist to be viewed and changed while the unit is
not connected; the next time the unit is connected, it can then be updated with the changed playlist.
This functionality is no longer a part of iTunes as of iTunes 7.
The front of the iPod Shuffle has buttons for Play/Pause, Next Song/Fast Forward, Previous
Song/Fast Reverse, and up and down volume adjustment. On the reverse, it has a battery
level indicator light and a three-position switch to turn the unit off or set it to play
music in order or shuffled. It plugs directly into a computer's USB port, through which
it also recharges its battery, which has an expected life of around 12 hours between charges.
The USB plug is hidden beneath a cap. The unit also comes with a lanyard that attaches
to the iPod Shuffle via an attached cap and this allows the user to wear the iPod Shuffle
around his or her neck. The iPod Shuffle can also be used as a USB
flash drive. iTunes allows a user to set how much of the drive will be allowed for storing
files, and how much will be used for storing music.
2nd generation
On September 12, 2006, Apple announced the release of the second generation iPod Shuffle,
calling it "the most wearable iPod ever". First shipments of the unit were slated for
an October 2006 arrival, but actually started shipping on Friday, November 3, 2006. The
second generation initially featured a lone 1 GB model in a silver brushed aluminum case
similar to the second generation iPod Nano and the older iPod Mini. The new model is
less than half the size of the first generation model at 41.2 x 27.3 x 10.5 mm, and is the
size of the iPod Radio Remote available for iPod Nanos and 5th generation iPods. Apple
claimed it was the "world's smallest MP3 player". This size includes the new built-in belt clip;
the actual unit itself is thinner, with the entire device weighing only 15.5 g. The powerno
shuffle switch from the first generation version was separated into two controls to avoid an
accidentally selected mode of operation. The formatting of the iPod itself is new to Apple,
as the 2nd generation Shuffle will only format itself to FAT32. iTunes issues a warning that
the iPod is incorrectly formatted if brought to the Macintosh format HFS+. All previous
iPod models have allowed the usage of either the Mac format or the Windows format.
On the second generation iPod Shuffle, USB connectivity is provided via an included piece
of hardware which acts as a docking station for the transfer of data and the recharging
of the iPod's internal battery through its headphone jack. The second generation iPod
Shuffle is also able to act as a flash drive, just like the first generation iPod Shuffle.
However, unlike the first generation iPod Shuffle, the second generation does not have
a built-in USB connector. This means that the docking station is required for connection
to a computer on the second generation model. The second generation Shuffle can play MP3,
MP3 VBR, AAC, Protected AAC, Audible, WAV and AIFF. Due to its low processing power
the only iTunes-supported file format that the iPod does not support is Apple Lossless.
Using large file sizes inherent of WAV or AIFF files will very quickly fill the device's
low 1 GB capacity. iPod Shuffle cannot play music from music video files.
On January 30, 2007, Apple announced the addition of four new colors to the iPod Shuffle line.
Pink, orange, green, and blue choices have been made available via retailers and the
Apple Store in addition to the original silver color. The colors blue, green, and pink are
essentially the same hues as the second generation iPod Nano and iPod Mini. The new orange color
is a first for the iPod franchise. They also now come with the new redesigned headphones
that were not included with the original silver model. The box was also changed to have gray
text instead of the lime-green text; lime-green text indicating that the original headphones
are included, gray text indicating that the new headphones are included On September 5,
2007, Apple refreshed the line with four new colors including a Product Red version. The
new colors are turquoise, lavender, mint green, and Product Red, with the previous colors
orange, blue, green, and pink being discontinued. On February 19, 2008, Apple introduced a 2
GB version of the iPod Shuffle, retailing for US$69 and available in all the same colours
as the 1 GB model. On the same day, the price of the 1 GB model was lowered from US$79 to
US$49. At the Apple Let's Rock Event on September
9, 2008, Apple released four new colors for the iPod Shuffle: blue, green, pink, and red,
replacing the colors that were released in September 2007. The blue, green and pink variants
of the iPod Shuffle during this period reverted to shades that were similar to the colors
that were released in January 2007, while the red variant was now a brighter shade.
In June 2009, Avon offered a gold iPod Shuffle for $29 when purchased in conjunction with
two ANEW skin care products. The second generation 2 GB iPod Shuffle was
discontinued on March 11, 2009 and the 1 GB version was discontinued on September 9, 2009.
3rd generation
The third generation iPod Shuffle was released on March 11, 2009 and was said by Apple to
be "jaw-droppingly small" and "The first music player that talks to you". with dimensions
of 45.2 × 17.5 × 7.8 mm. It was available with a silver or black brushed aluminum case
similar to the second generation iPod Shuffle. This made it the first iPod Shuffle that was
available in black. It featured VoiceOver technology that allowed song names, artist
names, album names and playlist contents and names to be spoken in 20 different languages
using the Text-to-Speech incorporated in iTunes 8 and 9. It also gained support for multiple
playlists, in contrast to previous versions of the iPod Shuffle, which allowed only a
single playlist.
The third generation iPod Shuffle features a polished steel attachment clip, adopting
for the first time the polished steel finishing previously found only on the larger iPods,
rather than the brushed aluminum used in the second-generation iPod Shuffle. It also no
longer had volume or track controls on the device itself. Instead, the packaged iPod
earbuds included a three-button device on the right earbud cord. This adds the functions
of changing between playlists, hearing the song title and artist of the track playing,
as well as play/pause, track changes and volume control. It is not possible to change songs
or volume with most third-party headphones, since they lack these controls. However, since
the iPod Shuffle begins playing music automatically when it is turned on, third-party headphones
may still be used in "autoplay" mode. Some third-party headphones and headphone adapters
include full support for the third generation iPod Shuffle. The official headphones contain
a chip designed by Apple to control the device. DRM is not however present in the chip as
there is no encryption used. On September 9, 2009, Apple introduced three
new colors for the iPod Shuffle: pink, blue, and green. The Apple Store also offered a
4 GB model made of polished stainless steel. 4th generation
On September 1, 2010 the fourth generation was released as part of the new iPod lineup.
The fourth generation features the return of clickable track and volume controls from
the first two generations. The control pad is 18% larger than the second generation of
iPod Shuffle. The dimensions of the device are 29 × 31.6 × 8.7 mm and it weighs
12.5 g. The model also features VoiceOver from the
third generation, now with a devoted physical button, in twenty-nine languages, Czech, Danish,
Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian,
Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai and Turkish). It also
features Genius and handles multiple playlists. Like the previous generation it supports MP3,
VBR, AAC, Protected AAC, Audible, WAV, AIFF and Apple Lossless, and the battery lasts
for 15 hours of music, according to Apple. It was originally sold in five colors, but
on September 12, 2012, Apple held an event to formally introduce the iPhone 5, as well
as a new iPod lineup. The iPod Shuffle remained unchanged except for the exterior colors now
being offered in 7 new colors as well as a Product Red edition model with a white control
pad. Unlike the second Generation, the iPod does not come with a dock, but like the third
generation, comes with a 45 mm USB Cable. A longer cable is also available for $19US.
The included in-box headphones do not feature the remote control, but the device supports
them. It is currently being sold in 2 GB models with US pricing for the device set
at US$49; in Europe it costs €49, in the UK the price is £40, in New Zealand the price
is $69 and in Australia the price is A$55.
Models Reception and impact
The iPod Shuffle was announced at the same time as the Mac Mini. Like the iPod Shuffle,
the Mac Mini is a scaled-down product which has been introduced at a lower price. These
two products together can be seen as a conscious effort on the part of Apple management to
target a lower-end market and increase visibility in the mass-market. Previously, the success
of Apple's iPod and especially the iPod Mini had been chipping away at the inexpensive
flash player market, causing flash players at the beginning of 2005 to account for less
than half the market share they did in 2004. However, the original and Mini iPods were
expensive and the Shuffle was intended to make the iPod compete with mainstream players.
By April 2005, the end of Apple's second fiscal quarter, the iPod Shuffle had already proven
itself to be a successful product for its manufacturer. Although Apple has chosen not
to specify how many iPod Shuffles were sold in the product's first three months of existence,
analysts at Piper Jaffray estimated that 1.8 million of the 5.3 million iPods sold in the second
quarter were Shuffles. NPD Group estimates that the iPod Shuffle captured 43% of the
flash-based music player market in February 2005, after only its second month of existence.
By March 2005 the iPod Shuffle's market share had risen to 58%.
In September 2006, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced during his keynote presentation on the "It's
Showtime" Special Event, that until then, Apple had sold 10 million first generation
iPod Shuffles. Criticism and controversy
Blinking light problem PC World reported a problem with the first-generation
iPod Shuffles ceasing normal function, only to flash orange and green lights and become
unmountable. Since the Shuffle has no display, the owner cannot read an error message or
troubleshoot easily, requiring diagnosis by Apple service personnel. Flashing green and
orange lights on the iPod Shuffle indicate that a generic "error" has occurred, according
to Apple's documentation. If the device is still covered by warranty, Apple will replace
it for free. This problem has also occurred on second generation iPod Shuffles.
On October 26, 2006, Apple released an iPod Shuffle Reset Utility that corrected this
problem for some owners of first-generation iPod Shuffles. Then, in March 2007, an updated
iPod Reset Utility was released which can also address similar problems with second-generation
iPod Shuffles. Third generation headphone controls
Unlike most other portable audio players, the third generation iPod Shuffle's controls
are situated on the packaged headphones. The user is unable to control the device unless
they use either Apple headphones designed for it, or third-party headphones or adapters
that must be licensed by Apple. The third generation iPod Shuffle's headphones contain
a proprietary integrated circuit. Also, inline control adapters that were made by third-party
companies for use with the iPhone and iPod are incompatible with the iPod Shuffle.
Several months after the third generation release, several third-party companies, including
Belkin and Scosche, released adaptors which can be used to add the controls to standard
headphones. Timeline of compact iPod models
References
External links
iPod Shuffle – official site at Apple Inc.