Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, silver)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MB867LL/A
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- Bottom Line:
- The third-generation iPod Shuffle is the next best thing to an invisible MP3 player, but the quirky controls and microscopic design make it a limited recommendation.
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CNET editors' review
Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, silver) price range: $74.99 - $79.99
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Edited by: Lindsey Turrentine
- Reviewed on: 03/12/2009
- Updated on:09/10/2009
The good: The third-generation Apple iPod Shuffle is as light as a feather and as small as a paper clip, and it includes VoiceOver cues, and improved support for podcasts and audiobooks.
The bad: You need to operate the Shuffle using a pill-size remote control on your headphones, battery life isn't great, features are few, and the design is a bit boring.
The bottom line: The third-generation iPod Shuffle is the next best thing to an invisible MP3 player, but the quirky controls and microscopic design make it a limited recommendation.
Editors' note: Apple gave the third-generation iPod Shuffle a minor refresh in September 2009. The line added new color and capacity options. Find out more here.
Apple's third-generation iPod Shuffle MP3 player ($79) is the smallest MP3 player you can buy. Its unique size and uncommon, remote-controlled design won't suit every purpose, but people looking for the next best thing to an invisible iPod will appreciate the player's minimal approach.
Design
At first glance, the iPod Shuffle looks almost like a practical joke--as if someone is trying to persuade you that their tie clip plays MP3s. The aluminum-encased hardware measures just a few hairs larger than a paper clip (0.7 inch by 1.8 inches by 0.3 inch) and includes not a hint of button, knob, or screen. The headphone jack sits on the top edge of the Shuffle along with a switch that controls playback mode (shuffle playback/consecutive playback) and power.
Fortunately, Apple doesn't expect you to control the Shuffle's volume and playback using mind control (not yet, at least). The earbud-style headphones bundled with the Shuffle include a remote control on the cable, just below the right ear. The remote offers three buttons: two for volume control (up/down); and a central button with multiple functions. You press the center button once to pause music playback, twice to skip forward, and three times to skip back. Of course, the downside to this headphone-controlled design is if you lose your headphones, you also lose control of your iPod. Apple's replacement earbuds for the Shuffle cost $29, but it's possible to grab third-party headphones and adapters for less. And if you don't like Apple's earbuds, it is now becoming increasingly possible to pick up third-party headphones with integrated iPod remotes.
The headphone cable reaches 3 feet, which should be more than enough length considering that the Shuffle is meant to be clipped to your clothing. A hinged chromed metal clip runs the length of the Shuffle on one side and includes a slot for attaching a lanyard or keychain. An Apple logo is engraved on the clip, and custom engraving is offered on orders placed through Apple's online store.
Features
The Shuffle is purely a digital audio player. There's no FM radio, no voice recording, and--obviously--no photo or video playback. Audio formats supported include MP3, AAC, Audible, WAV, AIF, and Apple Lossless, but no hope for WMA or FLAC.
The third-generation version of the iPod Shuffle offers a few new features over previous models, though. For one, this is the first Shuffle that tells you what you're listening to, which is no small accomplishment considering the player doesn't have a screen. The Shuffle uses a synthesized voice to announce artist and song title information whenever you hold the headphone clicker down. Apple is calling this feature VoiceOver and offers support for 14 languages, with voice quality hinging on what type of computer and operating system you're using. To be clear, even though the Shuffle can speak, it doesn't respond to your voice--so don't go talking to your iPod like a crazy person.
We found the voice feature useful during those moments when a great song popped on that we couldn't identify, but we're glad the Shuffle doesn't announce each song automatically (that would get annoying). But if you just can't stand the thought of a talking iPod, it's possible to turn the feature off using Apple's iTunes software.
Another feature new to the Shuffle is the capability to sync and navigate between multiple playlists, audio podcasts, and audiobooks. Again, Apple uses the Shuffle's VoiceOver feature and headphone remote to accomplish this, announcing your playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks one by one if you hold down the clicker for approximately 3 seconds. Once VoiceOver starts listing your content, just press the clicker again to select the content you want to play. If you've got a ton of playlists, you can use the remote's volume keys to quickly skip back and forth through the list.
The Shuffle handles the playback of audiobook and podcast content differently than music files, and assumes you'd prefer to always play this type of content sequentially--even if the iPod's shuffle switch is on. Audiobook and podcast content is also kept out of the Shuffle's start-up music mix, ensuring that a stray chapter of "A Tale of Two Cities" never ruins the mood of your workout. But if jogging to classical literature is your thing, you'll be relieved to know that any audiobook synced to the Shuffle is treated as a separate playlist. Podcasts all get thrown into a shared podcast playlist, and play in the order of show title, not release date. Like any other iPod, the Shuffle automatically resumes your podcasts or audiobooks where you last left off--allowing you to enjoy them in small doses without scanning back and forth to find your place.
As far as charging goes, the Shuffle comes with a 4-inch USB adapter that connects between the iPod's headphone output and your computer. The Shuffle is rated at 10 hours of playback time, with a full recharge in about 3 hours. A series of battery drains performed by our CNET Labs team consistently reached 11 hours of playback time. By comparison, these same tests were able to pull nearly 16 hours from the
It's also worth noting that the Shuffle can be used on your computer in disk mode, allowing you to store and transfer files without interfering with the audio content on your iPod. As expected, you can't access the music files stored on the Shuffle without going through Apple's iTunes music software (version 8.1 or later is a required download for the Shuffle.
Performance
The third-generation Apple iPod Shuffle has a lot of things going for it: the aluminum and steel construction is sturdy; the design feels invisible; there's a whopping 4GB of storage; and VoiceOver technology lets you control playback without taking your eyes away from what you're doing. The Shuffle's small size and minimal design come at a considerable sacrifice, though, and we have a hard time giving it an unqualified thumbs-up.
Compared with other sub-$100 MP3 players on the market (Sansa Clip, Creative Zen Stone Plus, Samsung Pebble), the Shuffle's microscopic design isn't enough to make up for the limited features, relatively high price, diminished battery life, quirky navigation, and a headphone remote system that reeks of planned obsolescence. MP3 players like the Shuffle that are aimed at the gym and jogger crowd are particularly susceptible to issues of headphone fit, comfort, and wear and tear, and Apple's unique headphone remote needlessly complicates the process of replacing or upgrading the Shuffle's earbuds. This is not to say that headphone control is a bad feature, but redundant controls on the actual device would help avoid confusion over navigation, and improve the product's usefulness in the long term.
Audio quality on the third-generation Shuffle is noticeably better than the previous generation, and sounds comparable to the iPod Nano (fourth generation) and iPod Classic (second generation). The sound has a fuller range, with better bass response and less background hiss. Of course, the improvement in audio quality is hard to notice using the bundled earbuds, and standard headphones lack the remote control necessary for adjusting volume and skipping tracks. Fortunately for this review, when the Shuffle is connected to a standard pair of headphones and then powered on, it automatically starts playing music at the volume level it was last set to; however, you have no control over song playback or volume adjustment.
Third-party accessories such as replacement headphones, headphone adapters, and remote-equipped auxiliary cables are available (or soon to be) for the third-generation iPod Shuffle. If you expect to use the Shuffle with an existing pair of headphones, a home stereo, or a car stereo, you should realistically figure in the cost of some of these accessories with the purchase price of the iPod.
User reviews
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nice design, but what's the point?
by xylitol84 on March 13, 2009
Pros: - great material for the player itself
- you get to use itunes, the strongest music service that is available world wide
- not too bad of a priceCons: ....the earphone/remote controller
Summary: what's the point of this player?
everyone knows that the earphones provided by apple are subpar..so we all fork out extra money to buy a pair of decent ...Summary: what's the point of this player?
everyone knows that the earphones provided by apple are subpar..so we all fork out extra money to buy a pair of decent ones to enjoy our music
knowing that the majority of the people already own a pair of earphones which they are accustomed to, how are they going to be using this with the new ipod?
everytime they need to skip or change the volume on the player, they need to switch the earphone?
worse off, in order to play and pause the songs, they need to be whopping out the earphones..(yeah, sure, the volume is memorized in the previous setting but whats the point..)
nice design apple, you guys never fail in that department but
seriously? the earphones...?3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Arguably the worst iPod since plastic shuffle (1st gen)
by 1812dave on September 10, 2009
Pros: nada none.
Cons: no controls on unit. Price. sweat causes issues (sweat gets into the cable controls) for many who workout using this diminutive iPod.
Summary: Pass on this one. The earlier gen Shuffle is a better deal and easy to control. Don't buy this an give Apple any incentive to keep producing this CLUNKER.
Summary: Pass on this one. The earlier gen Shuffle is a better deal and easy to control. Don't buy this an give Apple any incentive to keep producing this CLUNKER.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Who knew this would make things so much easier?
by Zippy-T-Pinhead on March 13, 2009
Pros: Inline controls.
Ease of use.
SizeCons: It won't work with some of the accessories I purchases specifically for my old 2d-gen Shuffle
Summary: I ordered my new Shuffle the day it came out and didn't even realize how much more convenient it was going to be until walking home last night . I ...
Summary: I ordered my new Shuffle the day it came out and didn't even realize how much more convenient it was going to be until walking home last night . I always had to clip my 2 Gen Shuffle in a spot where I could reach the buttons, oriented in a manner where I knew which end was up and which control was volume versus forward/reverse. Also, since I always clipped it on my pants pocket (that was the most user-friendly location for me in most situations), if I wore a coat, it was always hard to get to the controls.
Actually, I do use the voice command for one thing, which is a great improvement: it can now tell me how much battery life I have left. I really don't understand the uproar on this new Shuffle. I love it. Now I'll just wait for the 3rd party earbud extravaganza to commence.
Well not anymore!
I just love that now I can clip (or not clip) my Shuffle wherever I want and not need to worry about which way it's clipped (facing in, facing out), what direction the controls are facing, and whether I can get to them. They're on the headphones. Easy breezy.
I've had an iPhone since day 1 and always loved the inline controls (just always wished they controlled volume). So having all that in my iPod is great. Honestly, I don't care about the voice feature. I don't have playlists and know the title and artist of every song I've downloaded - um, because I downloaded them.
Now I'm just waiting for the Scosche replacement earbuds to come out, just like I waited for the V-Modas to come out I use on my iPhone. I was never a fan of Apple's earbuds...
Updated on Mar 13, 2009
Updated on Mar 13, 2009One more thing. Now being able to hear my battery level is crucial to me. I'm color blind and was unable to discern the different colors of the status light on my old 2d-gen Shuffle.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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i love just listening to music
by lordbelf on September 12, 2009
Pros: you have non stop music playing 24/7
Cons: you have to download music and you must know how to do it legally
Summary: i would rather listen to non stop music instead of hearing people talk on the radio . you cant work out to people talking .
Summary: i would rather listen to non stop music instead of hearing people talk on the radio . you cant work out to people talking .
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Ear Phones don't work
by bigmfd on September 6, 2009
Pros: I like the size and the strength of the clip. The increased memory storage is great and the fact you can download audio books is a big plus
Cons: I guess the person who designed the ear phones either does not sweat or does not work out. The ear phones were great until they got wet from sweat. The voice over starts talking to you and then you can no longer raise or lower the sound.
Summary: Without the ear phones the shuffle will not work. I would think twice about purchasing until Apple re-designs the ear phones.
Summary: Without the ear phones the shuffle will not work. I would think twice about purchasing until Apple re-designs the ear phones.
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The Shuffle is great! Earphone controls have problems.
by Technowgeek on June 12, 2009
Pros: The small size of the shuffle is cool, compact and durable. The voice-over is awesome. The ability to listen to audiobooks is a bonus.
Cons: I lost mine the first day in my car. When I took my seat belt off the shuffle clipped onto it and it slid all the way up. Same color and all. The problem I have had so far is that the controls stop working when moisture from exercise is present.
Summary: No trouble with Shuffle yet. Earphones are a major problem if you want to use them during a workout. Same goes for the upgraded Apple in ears.
Summary: No trouble with Shuffle yet. Earphones are a major problem if you want to use them during a workout. Same goes for the upgraded Apple in ears.
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Cute until the earphones died
by dubrug on May 27, 2009
Pros: Simple and playlists work well
Cons: Was getting very used to it until the remote on the earphones died in the gym - no idea why. And without Apple's super-special earphones, it's pretty much useless. I though the product was designed for sweaty use ... obviously not.
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I hope I dont lose it....
by muzicnut on May 6, 2009
Pros: love, love, love how small it is and the clip. Perfect for the gym, biking, running or whatever your physical activity of choice. I so prefer it (for working out) over my bulky armband/larger sized iPod.
Cons: Of course with any shuffle, your options are pretty much have songs shuffled or chronological/playlist order. I dont mind though; I also have a touch to match up with my bose or for longer outings than the gym.
Summary: I would definitely recommend it! You can fit a lot more songs (close to 1,000) on this current tiny shuffle for only $79. The clip is really convenient so ...
Summary: I would definitely recommend it! You can fit a lot more songs (close to 1,000) on this current tiny shuffle for only $79. The clip is really convenient so that you are not investing in yet another case or armband. The silver is chic. I am very happy with my purchase!
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Love the size and performance, but not the accessory...
by tfp7 on April 26, 2009
Pros: Great sound with the small ear phones that come in the box. I find it easy to use even for it size once I learned the functions. (I am 47 :) ) The size.
Cons: Apple's business concept of squeezing it customers for using its products. As others report, former accessories do not fit the new shuffle. Charge.
Summary: I do not need a 1" to 4" LCD to see nothing. What world do people come from who watch movies on 4" screens or read books and newspapers on ...
Summary: I do not need a 1" to 4" LCD to see nothing. What world do people come from who watch movies on 4" screens or read books and newspapers on them? Finding particular songs is easy to me, I just rate them, then search that way. So the size is perfect for me and why I chose it. The more simple the design the better. My music library will never go beyond 4 gb, at least for what I need with me at any given moment. To me, why would you buy a 2" shuffle, then want to put some bulky ear/head phones on? I have left it plugged into my imac over night, and it still is charging, after 10 hours, it has not reached a full charge. This is my third attempt to reach a full charge, or green light. It is still blinking too, and the instructions say to not disconnect while blinking, so do I have to wait a day for a charge and use? However, short answer, I like.
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great travel companion
by melmils319 on April 22, 2009
Pros: size, PLAYLISTS, talks to you, usb charger, clip, PLAYLISTS, headphone controls, PLAYLISTS
Cons: boring look, proprietary headphones, perhaps too small
Summary: I'm such a late adopter that I bought an old shuffle and learned the next day that they were coming out with the new one. Luckily I was within ...
Summary: I'm such a late adopter that I bought an old shuffle and learned the next day that they were coming out with the new one. Luckily I was within the 14 days for returns and switched for one of these new ones.
Love it. One thing that made me wait so long to get a shuffle was that they didn't have the capability to have more than one playlist, and now, voila! I travel a lot and love being able to clip this to my shirt and forget about it. I don't have to move it if I put on/take off my jacket and I don't have to rummage around to be able to look at it if I want to fast forward, pause, etc. I just discretely press some buttons by my ear. I can now switch from workout pop music to my classical list for sleeping on the plane to my language lesson cds.
I've found the battery life to be fine - and the tiny little usb charger that plugs into the earphone jack is super convenient to carry around, compared to the base of the old shuffle.
Only real con is that it could be TOO small, i.e. super easy to lose. The boring "little metal bar" look camouflages it when it's sitting on my desk. I look forward to some exciting colors or a little zazzing up.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MB867LL/A
- Description: Even the iPod shuffle clip gets the rock star treatment. Now forged in stainless steel, the clip attaches securely to your shirt, jacket, workout gear, even your backpack. And the sleek, durable, anodized aluminum case - makes iPod shuffle a wardrobe essential. You've probably made multiple playlists in iTunes. With the iPod shuffle, you can sync your playlists and always find the perfect mix for your activity or mood. VoiceOver tells you the name of each playlist, so it's easy to switch between them and find the one you want without looking. The shuffle switch has three positions. Flip it to the left, and your music shuffles for a "whatever happens, happens" flow. Flip it to the middle, and your songs play in order. Or flip to the right to turn it off.
General
- Product type Digital player
- PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
- Flash memory installed 4 GB Integrated
- Digital storage None
- Weight 0.4 oz
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 0.7 in x 0.3 in x 1.8 in
- Body material Anodized aluminum
- Color Silver
- iPod Generation 3G
Carrying Case
- Case type None
Digital Player / Recorder
- Supported digital audio standards AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless
- Playback modes Playlist, Skip playback, Random play / shuffle
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Supported bit rate 8 - 320
- Additional features Variable bit-rate compatible
Audio Features
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Additional features VoiceOver, USB 2.0 compatibility
Remote Control
- Remote control Player remote control - Cable
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Impedance 32 Ohm
- Connectivity technology Wired
Connectivity
- Cable(s) included 1 x USB cable - External 2 in
- Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Battery / Power
- Battery Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
- Mfr estimated battery life 10 hour(s)
- Recharge time 3 hour(s)
- Power device type None
System Requirements
- Peripheral / Interface devices USB port (compatible with 2.0 specification)
- Operating system Microsoft Windows Vista, Apple MacOS X 10.4.11 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3
Product series
-
Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, silver)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, black)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 2GB, silver)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 2GB, black)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 2GB, blue)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 2GB, green)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 2GB, pink)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
-
Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, blue)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
-
Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, green)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
-
Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, pink)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
-
Apple iPod Shuffle (third generation, 4GB, polished silver)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Apple
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.apple.com
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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