Apple iPod shuffle
Apple has renewed its line of iPod. The iPod shuffle, her Walkman entry level, seems to have been forgotten. Its capacity remains unchanged. It can embark 1 GB of flash memory. It has no screen, as in the two previous versions. Finally, the real novelty is the color … Her hull is decline in new colors. In addition to silver, aluminum is dressed in black, red, green or blue.
Twice a small box of matches!
The iPod Shuffle can boast of being one of the smallest strewn in the world. This MP3 player with Flash Memory Apple measuring just 4.1 inches wide by 1 inch thick. And this weight weighs less than 15 grams. In short, it is twice as heavy and cumbersome that the first generation Shuffle. And it has no screen. Its aluminum is resistant to scratches fairly well. And its design is quite original. Its hull includes a clip to attach to the side of his jacket or backpack, for example.
From small, it nevertheless embarks Walkman 1 GB of flash memory (967 MB of space actually available). It can store about 200 MP3 files from CD quality (196 Kbps). The iPod Shuffle also reads music in AAC format, including protected songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store kiosk, like Audible audio books. With the supplied headphones, the audio quality of the Walkman is no longer correct. All this lack of detail and heat. The lack of equalizer does not help …
And in tiny Walkman tiny cradle and recharge. One of the iPod Shuffle does that connects USB port on a PC or Mac. Users can, however, buy an adapter sold as an option to recharge the battery from an outlet. The headphone MP3 player that also serves as a docking station for the home. Autonomy announced is 12 hours. Apple has probably underestimated: the battery of the test pattern has fallen flat after 17 hours of operation. By contrast, it takes about five minutes to complete the 967 MB available. Either a flow rate of 3 MB / s. Hardly!
The aim is not command with a touch wheel like the iPod Nano and video, but a button in a circular shape with five hotspots. Despite its small size, this button can be controlled quite easily. A few minutes will suffice to take control. To start or stop playing music, just press the center button gray. Its contour, white provides volume control, as well as a move to the previous or next song. A press triggers further advance and the rapid return. A pressure three seconds locks the camera. And vice versa. Under the aircraft to the left of the button is switched on, a tiny button toggles reading random or continuous mode. Finally, two lights placed above and below the camera give information about battery, and the activation and deactivation of the key lock. Alas, it is not possible to hear the music content by artist, genre or musical style.
Certainly, the iPod Shuffle is imperfect. Some him reprocheront the lack of screen and audio quality rather average. But with an original design and ease of use, this product entry level remains a good choice as the first MP3 player or Walkman booster. And it can even act as USB drive.
