iPod shuffle

Apple has done it again. In the world of portable MP3 players, they are unmatched in both the quality and the simplicity of their devices. Yes, I realize there are other MP3 players available. Some are smaller, some do some things just as well or better than the iPods. But for overall performance, I feel they are without equal. Today's Family First site looks at the latest incarnation from Steve Jobs and company, the smallest iPod yet.

The latest iPod is called the iPod shuffle. It was announced by Steve Jobs at the latest MacWorld show, and it is truly an interesting player. For one thing, it is about the size of a stick of gum. It is a departure from previous players, in that it is not hard drive based, but rather, it uses flash memory. It comes in two sizes, 512mb and 1.0gb. It uses a USB interface to hook to a computer, in other words, you simply plug it into an available USB port. That is how it syncs with iTunes, and how it recharges as well. It is designed to have 8 hours of battery life, and hold up to 120 songs (on the 512mb version).

Size is a critical factor in this iPod's design. It is so small, that it is designed to be worn with a lanyard around the neck, as opposed to clipping to a belt. That makes it less visible when it is in use. This is one that I could see wearing at my workplace, where a larger iPod would be out of the question. There are some accessories available for it as well. There is a sport case, which allows you to take it to the beach or skiing (well, that's what Apple says), a mini-dock, armband, and A/C adaptor.

The iPod shuffle is not a ground-breaking new device, but it compliments the iPod product line. It does that by providing another option for users who may not be able to carry a full sized iPod with them, but can't. Now they can enjoy the quality of an Apple iPod like others.

http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/

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