2011 iLounge iPod/iPhone/iPad Buyers' Guide

ipods, iphones + iPADS
2011 Buyers’ Guide
iPod shuffle
2 GB - 15 Hour Battery - Music - Data - $49 US
Last year’s iPod shuffle flopped due to its confusing and
ultimately failure-prone reliance on a wired three-button
remote for its track and volume controls. So Apple took its
two new features and dropped them into this: a smaller but
better retread of the second-generation iPod shuffle, now
with multiple playlists accessed by spoken VoiceOver menus.
A dedicated VoiceOver button on top activates the vocal
prompting, telling you artist, song, and playlist titles, as well
as battery status. A six-button Control Pad on front is now the
size of a U.S. quarter, with just enough polished aluminum on
all sides to make the device easy to hold, and a shirt clip on
the back to match one of its five body colors.
While Apple has fixed the problems with last year’s model,
bolstered the battery life to 15 hours, and improved the
sound quality - all positives - the iPod shuffle offers little save
for its low price. With too little storage for the average user’s
music library, and no screen, you’re left to load it with small
batches of tracks that can play with little direct control - or in
random mode, hence the “shuffle” name. Most users would be
best off spending a little more and buying one of last year’s
discontinued $99 iPod nanos, which offer great value. But if
budget and simplicity are critical, this is good enough for $49.
Recommended
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