New Apple iPod shuffle 2GB – Blue

Ian Richardson

at 5:09 pm

I really don’t understand the many gloomy and critical reviews of this product; when most of these are made about features that are blindingly obvious before you part with your money.

As an old fart who still plays vinyl records, this is my first introduction to the world of portable, digital music players and I have been delighted with it. The headphones are, indeed, not suitable if you want to run with the shuffle. (They fall out of your ears with little effort and I suspect that moisture or sweat would be a disaster for the control unit on the right headphone wire). Also, you are restricted to these headphones if you want to retain control over managing volume and movement between tracks. However, it is the work of a moment to set up a playlist, adjust the volume and plug in your preferred headphones. I can do exactly this and have used full circumaural SONY ‘phones that the shuffle drives beautifully. If you don’t want to run, the earphones provided are remarkably good for such a tiny and (relatively) cheap package. The sound quality from this miniature object is astonishing and the quantity of music that you can pack into it, unbelievable. The “voiceover” feature takes a little getting used to, but is remarkably simple and quick, once you have played with it for a while. As a staggeringly miniaturised music player that weighs almost nothing, looks cool and is very portable; this will take some beating. Incidentally, it’s not really black but a sort of graphite/charcoal with a shiny stainless steel clip. Of course it’s NOT a full-blown ipod and if you really need the features that so many reviewers are moaning about missing, then buy something else! Simples.
Rating: 4 / 5

J. P. Harper

at 7:11 pm

I bought this to go running with and it is useless for that purpose because you can only use the ipod headphones it comes with.

I bought some seinnheiser wrap around headphones and they dont work when you plug them in. There is no control over which tracks you play, or control over volume. It is hopeless running with ipod headphones as they fall out.

Sent it back and now use iphone with running headphones.
Rating: 1 / 5

J. Kettle

at 7:46 pm

It doesn’t matter how small, how much it holds, how long it can play for or what type of cool, new voice interface this iPod shuffle has, the only way to play any music on this is with the factory provided headphones which are worse than rubbish. So until a manufacturer develops some good headphones for this product, do not buy it or you shall come to regret wasting your money.
Rating: 1 / 5