Ipod shuffle review

By admin

First impressions

The iPod shuffle weighs a mere 15.6 grams (0.55 ounces), and measures just 27.3 mm (1.07 inches) high by 41.2 mm (1.62 inches) wide by 10.5 mm (0.41 inch) deep (and this depth, by the way, includes the clip). It is the ultimate portable music player, encased in robust aluminium that resists the smearing caused by dirty or damp fingers.

There’s also a choice of five colours: blue, green, pink, red and silver. A range of hues may not seem significant, but if you fix your iPod shuffle to your clothes like a badge, you may want a preferred colour.

The device that holds the iPod shuffle in place on your clothes or bag, incidentally, is a clip fixed to the back. Any such clip must be secure and reliable: if you’re jogging, working out, or commuting to and from school or work, you don’t want to drop or lose such a tiny piece of electronic equipment. The clip on the iPod shuffle feels completely trustworthy.

Features

The main feature of the iPod shuffle is the offset ergonomic ring that has the volume, previous/rewind, and next/fast forward controls, with the play/pause button in the middle. Both the ring and button respond positively and feel good to the touch. They give you the confidence to use them without needing to watch what you’re doing – a handy ability if you’re squashed amidst commuters on a bus or train.

The on/off control is neatly located on the bottom, together with the shuffle switch. This switch lets you hear your songs in random order, or listen to them in your chosen sequence.

There are two status lights on the iPod shuffle, one on the top, and one on the bottom. The different messages the lights can give you may take a while to learn, but the most important – the battery status indicator – is straightforward. A green light means you have a 30% - 100% charge; an amber light means you have a low charge, somewhere between 10% and 30%; and a red light indicates you have less than 10% of power remaining. At other times, the status lights tell you when you’ve pressed a certain button, and whether the iPod shuffle is up and running as an external storage disc. They also warn you if there’s a problem.

One of the two accessories that accompany the iPod shuffle is a set of earphones. These rest comfortably in each ear and have an adjustable cable. If you’re happy to use less discrete headphones, different manufacturers offer a compatible range.