Apple iPod Shuffle Second Generation Review

Here is an exclusive review of the Apple iPod Shuffle second generation. Apple, known for its music players, the iPod Touch, Shuffle and Nano seems to have taken it to a higher altitude. We have managed to grab the smallest of all. Looking pretty in light blue, it’s the tiniest music player that we have ever seen.

We can say it has truly cut down on the extra bit and is much slimmer and sleeker than its predecessor. This tiny tot could easily fit in our coin pocket and comes with a lanyard so you can easily clip it on your sleeves. A great companion while you workout. The sound quality is good. It plays uncompressed AIFF and WAV files, MP3 files, AAC (MP4) files. We would like to mention that it does minimize background noise. The latest version of Apple earbuds don’t really help much with the sound quality but are comfortable comparatively.

This miniscule player almost looks like its predecessor, its front side has a white plastic ring embedded on the smooth metal coated body. The centre of the ring has the play/pause button while the ring offers a four way control. One of the sides equips the main on/off button, a toggle switch and an indicator. Its docking mechanism is incompatible to the other iPods and comes with a separate dock that plugs into the device and the other end has a USB that connects it to the computer.

Well, it does not equip a display, forming one of its major drawbacks. We would appreciate even if a tiny one-row display would have been embedded, at least this could be expected from the second generation Shuffle. Thus, we could select or view the content easily.

Here is the next glitch, the ultra-small LED indicator tells us about the working of the Shuffle 2G in the form of color coded signals. Dont worry, you will not have to remember the codes as the small guides bearing the signals, which let us know, if the unit is empty, low battery, error codes etc. Well, we can’t keep deciphering codes all the times. Right?

You will require Apple iTunes 7.0.2 or above for the iPod shuffle 2G requires. We would give a thumps up for this device if you are all about music and not about finding a particular track. No videos or additional goodies that you see in the music players these days. We rate the Apple iPod Shuffle 2G a 7 on 10. It is now available in India for Rs.3, 200 (local taxes apply).