Ipod shuffle
iPod shuffle was a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc.. It was announced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 11, 2005 with the motto "Life is random", 'Life is random'. Like the rest of the iPod family, except for iPod classic, it stores files on flash memory (iPod Classic does so on a hard drive). In addition, it differs in that it is the only model that does not have a screen. It weighs 12.5 grams.
General characteristics
iPod shuffle is designed so that you can easily add a selection of songs and play them in a random order. It has the "grab" option in iTunes, which can randomly select songs from the user's music library (or from a specific playlist) and copy as many as will fit in the iPod's memory.
It doesn't have a screen, no scroll wheel, no games, no address book, no calendar, no notes feature of early iPods, and it can't be used with iSync either. Also, it can't play Apple Lossless or AIFF files (although with a firmware update it might play them), unlike other iPod models. iPod shuffle has better bass sound quality compared to its larger iPod relatives, according to a review.
iTunes brings new features to your iPod shuffle. One is the ability to down-rate songs to AAC 128 kbit/s. The conversion is done automatically, leaving the original file intact on your computer, and sending the smaller file (with a lower bit rate) to iPod shuffle. iTunes also lets you view and change your iPod shuffle playlist while the device isn't connected; the next time you connect, you can be updated with the new playlist.
The front of iPod shuffle (1st and 2nd generation models) has buttons for play/pause, next song/fast forward, previous song/fast backward, and volume adjustment (up and down). On the back it has a battery level indicator light (activated by a button) and a three-position switch to turn off the device or select music playback in normal or random order. It connects directly to a USB port (both 1.1 and 2.0), through which it also recharges its battery, which has a range of about 12 hours. The USB cable connects through the headphone jack. The third generation models only have the clip and the mode selector (random, alternate playback, and off), along with the status light, and the headphone port, which is where the USB cable is also connected, so The buttons are on the headphones, which are the volume buttons and a central button that when pressed a number of times performs various actions. The device has a built-in clip that allows it to be placed on the sleeve, on the jacket, or on the pants.
iPod shuffle can also be used as a USB flash drive. iTunes allows the user to establish how much space to dedicate to store files, and how much to store music, it can also indicate sounds through the earpiece that let the user know when the mode has changed (random and alternate rep.), or if it's over battery power (tritone).
Models
| Generation | Image | Capacity | Colors | Connection | Actual date of departure | Minimum requirements | Battery life (hours) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First |  | 512 MB | White | USB (no adapter required) | 11 January 2005 | Mac: 10.2 Windows: 2000 | audio: 12 | ||
| 1 GB | |||||||||
| New entry model. Use memory card and have no screen. | |||||||||
| Second |  | 1 GB | (original) Plated Green Blue Pink Orange | (refresh 1) Plated Menta Turquoise Red Laundry | (refresh 2) Plated Green Blue Red Pink | USB 2.0 (with port included) | 12 September 2006 | Mac: 10.3 Windows: 2000 | audio: 12 |
| 2 GB | n/a | 26 February 2008 | |||||||
| Design with small clip included and aluminum protection; 4 colors added recently (30 January 2007); green and blue were changed by lighter tones; rose and orange were replaced on 5 September 2007. The 2 GB model was introduced on 19 February 2008. Finally, the blue and green colors were replaced by brighter tones, and the pink shifted to the purple on September 9, 2008. | |||||||||
| Third |  | 2 and 4 GB | Plated Black Blue Green Rosa Aluminium (special edition) | USB 2.0 | 11 March 2009 | Mac: 10.4.11 Windows: XP | audio: 10 | ||
| Aluminum body and smaller size. Clip integrated. This iPod does not have buttons (it has them on the headphones), and it is the first iPod that integrates a voice system called VoiceOver. Initially, it was available in black and white. On September 9, 2009, the blue, green, pink and steel colors were included, the latter only available in the Apple Store as a special edition of stainless steel. | |||||||||
| Fourth |  | 2 GB | Black Plated Blue Green Yellow Rosa Red | USB 2.0 | 1 September 2010 | Mac: 10.5.8 Windows: XP, Vista, 7 and 8 | audio: 15 | ||
| Rediseño retouching the 2nd generation buttons and switch on/shuffle of the 1st generation, with the addition of a button for VoiceOver. | |||||||||
| Fifth | | 2 GB | Black Plated Blue Rosa Dorado | USB 2.0 | 15 July 2015 | Mac: 10.5.8 Windows: XP, Vista, 7 and 8 | audio: 15 | ||
| Just like your previous generation, only other colors are available. | |||||||||
Accessories
Apple and other manufacturers offer a variety of accessories for iPod shuffle. Apple offers products like armbands and belts, a sporty case that protects iPod shuffle from the elements, and a dock that allows for an easier connection to your computer, similar to the dock units for the regular iPod and mini. Other manufacturers offer products such as decorative protective covers, belt clips, AC and DC power supplies, and FM transmitters.
“Chew and eat”
Due to its small size (8.38 × 2.49 × 0.84 cm), the Apple website declared iPod shuffle "smaller than a pack of gum and much more fun", with the footnote on their US website: "don't eat the iPod shuffle." By January 21, 2005, the footnote had disappeared from the US Web site; however, it remained on various international websites.
On the UK and Irish pages, a slightly different version appeared: "Don't chew iPod shuffle," while other versions of the site, such as the Canadian, French, or German versions, did not. no mention about it. However, these slogans have recently been removed.
RAID
In February 2005, "Jim" (of the Wright This Way blog) posted his iPod shuffle RAID blueprint. He bought a USB hub and connected four iPod shuffles, getting a total of 3.9Gb of storage. His intention was to install Mac OS X on all four iPods, but the installer wouldn't allow it. A message from Jim on February 10 indicates that he is continuing with the project, in an effort to increase the speed of the package by using a multiport USB expansion card, instead of a hub.
“Super Shuffle”
In March 2005 at the CeBIT fair, the Taiwanese company Luxpro released the Super Shuffle, which is aesthetically very similar to the iPod shuffle. Luxpro also ran promotional ads to prevent the Super Shuffle from being shown, increasing legal pressure on Luxpro. Since the CeBIT event several media outlets have claimed that the Super Shuffle demo was a publicity stunt designed by Luxpro "to turn the media attention placed on Apple in their favor". intended to make an identical iPod, but hoped that the attention devoted to the Super Shuffle and the inevitable legal challenge from Apple would help the company sell the electronic circuitry for digital music players. Luxpro has since replaced on its website a description of a new model, called the Super Tangent which is identical to the Super Shuffle except for a few cosmetic changes.[citation needed]
Advertising
One of the most successful forms of promotion for the entire iPod family has been commercials. These ads show people in silhouette against a solid-color background, dancing while listening to music on their white iPods. Hit songs such as Ride by The Vines, Jerk it Out by Caesars, Vertigo by U2, Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz, Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet, Rock Star (Jason Nevins Mix) by N.E.R.D, Technologic by Daft Punk, and many more. Later flat colors were abandoned and black backgrounds, "color explosions" and colored clouds began to be used.
IPod Timeline
