3 March 2009 459 views No Comment Email This Post

The brand new “baby” iPod Shuffle has hit the market and it is a minimalist masterpiece. Apple has taken the wraps off the newest member of the iPod range – the updated iPod Shuffle. The tiny new units are available in black and silver finish and are the first iPods with the ability to talk to its owner.

In a first for digital music players, the new Shuffle uses a VoiceOver software function to tell its owner the name of the artist and track they are listening to. The unit can ‘speak’ in 14 different languages, including English, Mandarin, Turkish and Japanese.

In another break with iPod tradition, there are no operating controls on the aluminium chassis. Apple are moving closer to producing button-less gadgets, and the new Shuffle is no exception, taking a big step towards being totally button free. There is a simple power on / off switch which also operates a couple of play modes. The majority of the units’ controls are incorporated into the headphone cable. The downside to this of course, is that if the cable is lost or damaged, a new unit can only come from Apple or authorised resellers.

Retailing at around $129, the cheapest and smallest of the iPod stable has a 4GB capacity, meaning it can hold about 1000 songs. It is slightly smaller than an AA battery. Don’t let the size fool you - it’s a beauty!