iPod shuffle is an iPod digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Computer. It absolutely was announced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 11, 2005, while using the tagline "life is random." As opposed to storing data over a hard disk, it was the first iPod to make use of flash memory (the greater recent iPod nano also uses this form of memory). It weighs 22 grams (0.78 ounces).

 

Overview

 

The reverse side of the iPod shuffle.Ipod and iphone shuffle is designed to be easily loaded with an array of songs and to play them in random order. It had been found that those who own existing iPods had often left the music selection to "shuffle", and also the new iPod shuffle was obviously a way of implementing that in a much more cost-effective fashion. It utilizes the use of an "autofill" feature in iTunes, which could select songs at random from a user's music library (or from the specific playlist) and copy up to will fit into iPod shuffle's memory. It can hold up to 240 songs (1 GB model, depending on Apple's estimate, of four years old minutes per song and 128 kbit/s AAC encoding).

 

It lacks the trademark display, scroll wheel, playlist management features, games, address book, calendar, and notes convenience of earlier iPods, and cannot be used with iSync. In addition, it is not capable of playing Apple Lossless and AIFF audio files, unlike other iPod models because of its lower processing power. Oddly, ipod shuffle has a better bass quality of sound than its larger iPod kin, based on one review. Also, unlike every other iPod, it cannot be used with on two separate iTunes libraries.

 

iTunes offers newer and more effective features for iPod shuffle. The first is the ability to slow up the bit rate of songs to 128 kbit/s AAC. The conversion is completed automatically, with all the original file left untouched on the computer and the smaller (lower bit rate) file delivered to the iPod shuffle. iTunes also allows an iPod shuffle playlist to be viewed and changed even though the unit just isn't connected; next time the unit is connected, it may then be updated with all the changed playlist.

 

iPod shuffle with the cap removed showing the USB connector. The cap snaps onto the machine. iPod shuffle includes a second cap on a lanyard which an individual can wear around their neck.The leading of the iPod shuffle has buttons for Play/Pause, Next Song/Fast Forward, Previous Song/Fast Reverse, or more and down volume adjustment. About the reverse, it has a battery level indicator light (activated by way of a button) along with a three-position switch to turn the unit off or set it to play music to be able or shuffled. It plugs into a computer's USB port (either 1.1 or 2.0), through which it also recharges its battery, that has an expected life of around 12 hours between charges. The USB plug is hidden beneath a cap. The machine also has a lanyard that attaches to the iPod shuffle via an attached cap which allows an individual to wear the iPod shuffle around his or her neck.

 

iPod shuffle can also be used as a Usb stick. iTunes allows a person to set how much of the drive will be allowed for storing files, and the way much is going to be used for storing music.

 

iPod shuffle size

Accessories

 

iPod shuffle skin (green) by Speck ProductsBoth Apple and third-party manufacturers provide a variety of accessories for that iPod shuffle. Apple offers specific things like armband attachments (so that it can be worn on one's arm), a sport case that protects ipod and iphone shuffle from the elements, and an iPod shuffle dock which allows easier link with a computer, like the dock units readily available for the regular iPod and iPod mini. Third-party manufacturers offer such things as iPod shuffle decorative and protective sleeves, belt clips, AC and DC power plugs, earphones, and FM transmitters.

 

Software

The key program that props up iPod shuffle is iTunes, which can be bundled using the product and may be updated from your Apple web site.

 

Users can download music from an internet music store and use the iTunes software to upload it for the device.

 

Impact

The iPod shuffle was announced concurrently as the Mac mini. Like iPod shuffle, Mac mini is a scaled-down product which has been introduced at a lower price point. These two products together can be seen as a conscious effort by Apple management to a target a lower-end market and increase visibility within the mass-market. Previously, the achievements Apple's iPod and especially the iPod mini have been chipping away in the inexpensive flash player market, causing flash players in the beginning of 2005 to account for less than half industry share they did in 2004. However, the initial and mini iPods were costly as well as the shuffle was intended to make the iPod accessible to the mainstream audience.

 

By April 2005, the conclusion of Apple's second fiscal quarter, ipod and iphone shuffle had already proven itself to become successful product for the manufacturer. Although Apple has chosen never to specify the amount of iPod shuffles were sold in the product's first three months of existence, analysts at Piper Jaffray estimated that 1.8 million with the 5.3 million iPods sold in the second quarter were shuffles. NPD estimates that the iPod shuffle captured 43% with the flash-based music player market in February of 2005, after only its second month of existence.By March of 2005 ipod and iphone shuffle's market share had risen to 58%.

 

Chewing and eating

Because of its small size (8.38 × 2.49 × 0.84 cm or 3.3 × 0.98 × 0.33 inches), Apple's internet site declared iPod shuffle "smaller than a pack of gum and much more fun," with all the footnote on its American internet site: "Do not eat iPod shuffle." By the September 29, 2005, the footnote has disappeared from the American website; it remains on several international sites, however.

 

The united kingdom and Ireland site stood a slightly reworded version: "Do not chew iPod shuffle," although some other versions of the site, like the Canadian, French and German versions, made no reference to this. These warnings have since been removed.

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