Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 1GB, red)

Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MB231LL/A

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$49.00 at 2 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.0 stars Good
Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 2 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: If you like your music playback simple and your device nearly invisible, the third-generation iPod Shuffle will suit you well. But absentminded users should steer clear of this easy-to-misplace player.

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CNET editors' review

Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 1GB, red)

price range: $49.00

If you like your music playback simple and your device nearly invisible, the third-generation iPod Shuffle will suit you well. But absentminded users should steer clear of this easy-to-misplace player.

The good: The competitively priced iPod Shuffle has a dead-simple user interface with satisfying tactile controls, and its integrated belt clip provides a handy way to keep track of the player. The Shuffle is available in five, metallic colors, and the package includes a cute little syncing cradle.

The bad: The iPod Shuffle has no screen, so there's no way to navigate easily among artists, albums, or playlists. And it only offers so-so sound quality. The player might be too small for some users, and nonstandard USB syncing takes away from its plug-and-go appeal.

The bottom line: If you like your music playback simple and your device nearly invisible, the third-generation iPod Shuffle will suit you well. But absentminded users should steer clear of this easy-to-misplace player.

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Apple iPod Shuffle

Editor's note: The following review was originally written for the second-generation Apple iPod Shuffle. The latest series of the Shuffle is functionally identical to the second-generation series, although the color options have changed.

It's true: The third-generation iPod Shuffle (1GB) is the lowest-profile MP3 player we've laid eyes on. Apple may have been slow out of the gate, but the company has succeeded in launching perhaps the tiniest and simplest player on the market--and it sports a price tag to match: $79. The new Shuffle is appealing in its elementariness, too, but the itty-bitty device is far from perfect. Its screenless design means you get few navigational options and no extra features. And how small is too small?

Even the Shuffle's box is small.

At 1.6x1x0.4 inches and 0.6 ounce, the iPod Shuffle is one minuscule music player. In fact, it's so inconspicuous that we have trouble keeping track of it--if you're constantly misplacing your keys, this player probably isn't your best option. If you just can't help yourself, go for one of the brighter color options. The red, green, purple, and blue models will probably be easier to spot on a cluttered desk than the muted silver one is. That said, the integrated belt clip on the back of the Shuffle helps keep the player within easy reaching distance. Some users have complained that the clip isn't very durable, but it seemed fairly sturdy during our testing.

The Shuffle is a little longer than the MobiBlu Cube2, but it's smaller overall.

Like its predecessor, the third-generation iPod Shuffle has no screen for navigating through music or other options (of which there are none). Instead, you get a simple and amply sized five-way control pad on the face of the player: play/pause in the center, surrounded by volume up/down buttons and track shuttle keys. There's no way to navigate among specific albums or artists, but you can click play/pause three times fast to skip through playlists. The bottom edge of the player houses two switches: one for powering the unit on and off and the second for toggling between shuffle and repeat modes. A standard-size headphone jack--which doubles as the Shuffle's USB syncing port--rests on the top side of the device. There's also a tiny LED indicator that lights up different color combos (orange, red, and green) depending on the status of the player

We're rather fond of the teeny cradle.

To charge and sync content to the iPod Shuffle, you'll need to use the included cradle. It's a rather cute little piece, but we'd prefer a standard mini USB port or the older Shuffle's built-in USB interface. However, some users may prefer the 3-plus-foot cable attached to the dock for easy USB access. Apple also includes a pair of the newer iPod earbuds now; initially, the Shuffle was packaged with the older, less-sleek set. For music management, you'll need to download the latest version of iTunes (currently, 7.4) from the Apple Web site. As with all iPods, the Shuffle supports MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, and both protected and unprotected AAC files. And like the previous Shuffle, you can click Autofill in iTunes to automatically replace contents with music from your music library or playlists.

As you might expect from such a small player, the Shuffle's rated 12-hour battery life is nothing impressive, though CNET Labs tests proved that Apple underestimated the player: we eked out a decent 15.8 hours. In cursory testing, we found the Shuffle's audio quality to be decent through the included earbuds, but bass was lacking, and we could detect some light static when we twisted the headphone plug during quiet moments. Swapping in a pair of Shure E4cs improved the bass situation, but overall, music was still too bright and lacking in warmth for our tastes. We could also detect noticeable background noise during silent segments. Suffice it to say that the newer Shuffle doesn't sound as good as the older one.

In final analysis, the iPod Shuffle is a decent player that offers a sleek, compact form factor, an excessively simple user interface, and a low price. Fans of ultraportable gadgets will no doubt be drawn to it. But audiophiles, beware: this is not the player for you. If you're discerning about audio quality or tend to misplace things easily, steer clear.

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Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 2 reviews

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8 stars

From a non-Apple fan: My first iPod -- not as bad as I thought

by Spotted on December 13, 2007

Pros: Pretty neat design; Very small; Can clip onto your clothes

Cons: No repeat-1 function; A tad overpriced for what you're getting

Summary: I'll start off by saying I have never anticipated buying an iPod before. I have never been an Apple fan, and always considered iPods as gimmicks ever since they'...

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Summary: I'll start off by saying I have never anticipated buying an iPod before. I have never been an Apple fan, and always considered iPods as gimmicks ever since they've become so popular. The last time I used an Apple product was when we had to use Macintosh computers back in elementary school in the late 90s. I decided that despite this it was high time I get a portable MP3 player and I considered an iPod as an option. Because size was a very important issue, it had to be small. Space wise, I didn't really need more than 1GB, so the iPod shuffle from the get-go attracted me. Although I had looked at the Zune, Zen, and other options, it was bascially going to come down to the Sony Walkmans on SonyStyle and the iPod shuffle. I chose the shuffle because as shallow as it may seem, they just looked better than the weirdly-shaped Walkman.

Now, I am definitely still not an Apple fan, but I am pretty pleased with my dealings with them thus far. Apple store delivered this to me in 2 days after date of order with standard shipping, which was pleasantly surprising. The product worked precisely as I expected right out of the box. The packaging is very nice and you get these nice looking Apple stickers (so I guess the aim was so you can sticker other things and show your support for Apple).

I must also say that I am pleased with the audio quality I'm getting from this cute little toy. I haven't bothered trying the packaged earbuds to see how they are and instead use my own monitoring headphones (I cannot justify earbuds for more than 20 minutes tops -- after that they start to really hurt my ears). Also, I use a car cassette adaptor in conjunction with this iPod shuffle and it works just fine listening to the music through my car's speakers. It's pretty cool because since the shuffle is so small I can just put it in the ashtray compartment (don't worry I don't smoke so it's clean!).

I wouldn't say I'm that much of an audiophile, but I am pretty pleased with the iPod shuffle all in all and would recommend it to anyone who may have similar needs as I did. I purchased the (PRODUCT) RED because to be quite honest none of the other colors looked that much better (no jet black option!). That, and it's always comforting to know that at least some of your money is going to a good cause (AIDS in Africa). I think the red looks better in person when you see it, and the back of the shuffle where it says iPod and PRODUCT RED looks pretty.

Now, I wouldn't say the iPod shuffle is the best bang for your buck, but if looks, quality, and portability are all you care about, then a shuffle is for you. One last thing: Just know that the REPEAT function on the shuffle is meant as a REPEAT ALL function, not a REPEAT-1 function. In other words, you cannot listen to one single track in repeat without pressing the previous button each time. Not a MAJOR drag, but had I known this, I probably would have bought the Sony Walkman instead (assuming they have that feature). I deduct 2 points for not having this feature. (Yes, I know the point of an iPod shuffle is to "shuffle" the tracks, but the reason I bought this was for the size not for the name.)

Oh, and you can only get this special edition from the Apple store as far as I know. Like with the other iPods, the iPod shuffle (PRODUCT) RED is listed as Designed by Apple in California and Made in China.

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4 stars

APple plays sneaky

by acousticb1 on February 20, 2008

Pros: works great

Cons: people who bought it before this price reduction

Summary: Apple did the same to iphone users and lowerd the price. Now its done it to the ipod users. Something has to be done. It is not fair. It is ...

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Summary: Apple did the same to iphone users and lowerd the price. Now its done it to the ipod users. Something has to be done. It is not fair. It is hard to move files over to the shuffle

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0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Apple
Part number: MB231LL/A

General
Width 1.6 in
Depth 0.4 in
Product type Digital player
Height 1.1 in
PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
Weight 0.6 oz
Color Red
Available body colors Blue, Silver, Red, Purple, Green
Flash memory installed 1 GB Integrated
Digital storage None
Dimensions (W x D x H) 1.6 in x 0.4 in x 1.1 in
Body material Anodized aluminum
Included accessories Docking station
Packaged quantity 1
Software type iTunes 7.4 or later, Drivers & Utilities
iPod Generation 2G
Digital storage media type None
Digital Player / Recorder
Digital player supported digital audio standards WAV, AIFF, Audible, MP3, AAC
Digital player response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
Digital player supported bit rate 8 - 320
Digital player additional features Variable bit-rate compatible
Carrying Case
Case type None
Battery
Required Qty Lithium ion
Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
Battery Enclosure Type Integrated
Technology Lithium polymer
Recharge Time 4 hour(s)
Battery Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Mfr estimated battery life 12 hour(s)
Audio System
Sound output mode Stereo
Additional features USB 2.0 compatibility, Battery level indication
System Requirements
Peripheral / Interface devices USB port (compatible with 2.0 specification)
Min Operating system Apple MacOS X 10.4.8 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later
Connections
Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm

Power
Power Supply / Device None
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Audio Features
Amplifier response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
CD System
Digital audio standards supported Protected AAC, Audible 3, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible 2, AIFF, MP3, AAC, Audible 4
Remote Control
Remote control None
Headphones
Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
Sound output mode Stereo
Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
Impedance 32 Ohm
Connectivity technology Wired
Battery / Power
Power device type None

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Manufacturer info

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