The fourth generation of the Apple iPod Shuffle is a return to the iconic form that made it a hit from 2006 to 2008, but now it offers a few extra features to keep things interesting. As expected, Apple is keeping things simple with its entry-level iPod, offering it in just one 2GB capacity ($49) that's available in silver, green, blue, and orange.
If you don't remember what Apple's 2009 design for the Shuffle looked like, you're probably not alone. The buttonless aluminum gumstick known as the third-generation Shuffle was an utterly forgettable MP3 player. Its only saving grace was its capability to manage playlist, podcast, and audio content, using a unique system of VoiceOver navigation to announce menus, track information, and battery status using a synthesized voice.
For the fourth-generation version of the iPod Shuffle, Apple has thrown out the design from 2009, returning to a form that is similar (but not identical) to the popular second-generation model. Placed side by side with the second-gen Shuffle, the latest version is noticeably smaller, slimmer, and more square, measuring 1.24 inches wide by 1.14 inches tall by 0.34 inch thick. In spite of the shrunken body, the main navigation has actually increased just slightly in size, so it is easier to make any adjustments to volume or track position.
Another design feature that distinguishes the fourth-gen Shuffle from the second-gen is that the majority of the physical features--the headphone jack, the power switch, the battery indicator, the playback mode control, and the VoiceOver button--have been consolidated to the top edge of the device. The bottom edge and sides of the Shuffle are now a completely smooth and seamless expanse of anodized aluminum.
