The history of the iPod in pictures. Apple iPod shuffle 2nd generation iPod shuffle 2nd generation

• Dimensions: 4.11 x 2.72 x 1.04 cm;
• Weight: 15.6 g;
• Memory capacity: 1 GB;
• Operating frequencies: 20 Hz to 20 KHz;
• Supported formats: MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store, M4A, M4B, M4P), Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4 ), WAV and AIFF;
• Time autonomous work: till 12 o'clock;
• Full charge time: about 4 hours.

After the release of the first iPod nano models, the iPod Shuffle no longer looked attractive to buyers because it was comparable in size to the new product, and the lack of a display in it deprived the model of all the advantages of iPod nano. Apple needed to either abandon the iPod Shuffle altogether (that is, not update anything and gradually sell out all the leftovers in warehouses), or fundamentally change it, creating its unique competitive advantages inherent only to Shuffle, and not miss out on a significant market share. Of course, Apple chose the latter route.

One of the most pressing questions that consumers have when using any portable device, whether it's a PDA, mobile phone or an mp3 player is a matter of wearing it. This is well known by the manufacturers of various accessories, who sensed the demand in time and formed a huge market for various covers, fasteners, ropes with an incredible assortment.

Apple understood perfectly well that if they release an mp3 player, for which you need to purchase an additional accessory, then the dimensions of the device, its weight and cost will increase significantly (in comparison with the player itself). And then again the novelty will have no serious competitive advantages.

Therefore, now a clip is built into the back of the player, which allows you to attach the shuffle almost anywhere, on any clothing. It is made soundly, holds well, it was not possible to find any minuses. So now the player is a complete product - when buying it, you don't need to think about additional accessories.

iPod shuffle uses a 3.5mm mini-jack for syncing; the player doesn't have any. It is possible to use the player as a flash drive for transferring files, but this feature is unlikely to be of interest to a large number of users - the volume of 1 GB is not particularly suitable for these purposes (you can already find 16 GB flash drives, you can read about this in our news and), then it is unlikely that the player will not be 100% loaded with music for many, and if we also add the need to use a dock for this purpose, then it will be very difficult to find such enthusiasts (either a full-size iPod with an 80 GB hard drive, with which sometimes the cable is not a pity to take).

Playback control remains the same as in the first shuffle: the main block (circle) consists of five buttons (volume control, select the next / previous track and pause / play in the middle). No Click Wheel, as in a regular iPod and iPod nano, it would be completely out of place here.

On the bottom of the player there are two switches: playback mode (normal and random selection, that is, shuffle, hence the name of the device), as well as the switch itself and the light indicator.

On the top there is only a 3.5 mm jack and an indicator light. The last two, this is done to display information during playback and when connected to the dock, in most cases they work synchronously (sometimes, in particular, when the player is turned on, only the lower one lights up for a few seconds - next to the switch).

Despite the absence of a switch for blocking all keys (hold), it is possible to block (or vice versa, unlock) the control unit by pressing and holding the central button for three seconds. After that, any key press of the control unit will be ignored, and the indicator will light up yellow.

Resetting iPod shuffle is easy. If in other iPods it was necessary to hold down certain buttons in a special way, then here it is enough to turn off the player, wait five seconds and turn it on again.

As in other iPods, when the headphones are disconnected, the player automatically goes into pause mode; when reconnecting, you must press the play key.

The indicator light (more precisely, the indicators - there are two of them) should be discussed separately. Despite the seeming uselessness, it is capable of reflecting quite a lot of information (of course, this cannot be compared with the display). So, during switching on or off, the lower indicator lights up in green for a few seconds, which means a good battery level (30-40%), orange - low (10-30%), red - very low (less than 10%), if the indicator does not light up, which means that the player is not charged at all, and if first the green and then orange lights up, then you should restore the player's firmware.

When the player is in the dock, the orange color of the indicator means charging, green - that the player is fully charged, and blinking orange - that the player cannot be turned off now, it is either synchronized or not removed from the system (in disk mode use).

During music playback, when you press any key, a green signal means playback, volume control, track change or "rewind". Orange - keyboard lock, volume limit reached. Alternating green and orange - no songs in the player. If the battery is almost empty, then shuffle gives a signal in the form of a constantly flashing red indicator.

The disadvantages due to the lack of a display are the most obvious: information about the track being played is not reflected, any song must be selected blindly, moving forward or backward step by step, is absent detailed information battery charge. And that's of course not to mention additional features and games.

Sound reproduction quality

As befits the players of this line, the new Shuffle supports not only compressed audio, but also standard files WAV PCM (no compression). Accordingly, testing was carried out in both of these modes (although performing this operation on the player without navigation is still something to do - we had to work in several stages). However, as the results showed, there was no need to bother. The only plus of the integrated approach is that the problem is not in decoding files (which the “old” iPods sinned a couple of years ago), but in the hardware. On the other hand, maybe not even in itself, but in its commutation with outside world... But more on that later - first the results (traditionally used RightMark Audio Analyzer):

Tested chain: External loopback (headphones-out - line-in)
Operating mode: 16-bit, 44 kHz
Overall results

The left column is a test uncompressed file, the middle column is the same, but with compression, the right-most column is for comparison and was obtained as a result of examining the same file, but decoded on a computer. In fact, its content can be considered a kind of ideal that any MP3 player should strive for, the creators of which set themselves the goal of achieving high-quality sound. You cannot jump higher, because in real conditions the amplifier, etc., will affect, but it is quite possible to get closer to this. True, not in this case. Narrow dynamic range, a fairly high amount of distortion and, the most noticeable 11, weak channel separation. In practice, this behavior will (and does) lead to the "jammed" sound of frequency-rich music, and it is also not worth hoping that it will be possible to "guess" the spatial arrangement of the instruments. However, when using the bundled headphones, this would not be worth hoping anyway, but the headphones are an additional accessory that can be replaced; there is no point in doing it here. Who is guilty? And what to do?

By and large, there is nothing to blame Apple for - the company has never promised high quality sound from the iPod line (unlike, for example, Creative, which positions the truly excellent sound of Zen models as their main advantage over the competition). Stylish is on the way appearance, non-standard solutions in design, etc., but not sound. Sometimes excellent results are obtained, as in the case, sometimes quite averagely reasonable, as in the case of the first, and sometimes what we see in the table above. There are suspicions that the issue of sound quality when choosing a true manufacturer is not considered by the company as the main one. On the other hand, it may well be that it is not even electronics that is to blame, but the struggle for style and compactness - the headphone jack used, combined with everything that is possible for the compactness of the device, does not cause much enthusiasm among professionals. So, at least, not the best result of channel separation can be attributed to the bad contact of the cable in the connector. Or maybe not on him - to disassemble the player to find out what is inside, no one gave us.

In fact, we can state the following fact: the sound quality of the player is perfectly balanced with the quality of the supplied headphones. Taking into account the fact that very many buyers do with them, this will not cause problems. And true music lovers are unlikely to choose Shuffle, both because of not enough memory for them, and the lack of a display.

Synchronization

As with any iPod, you need to use iTunes to copy music to your player.

Here you can download and install firmware updates (when using the seventh version of the player), restore the player in case of any failure, adjust the synchronization parameters, automatic start programs when the player is connected to a computer, set the option to automatically convert songs up to 128 Kbps AAC (in the event that the original bitrate is higher - this is important for those who store collections in high quality, and on the player they are ready to make small sacrifices in exchange on large quantity saved songs), leveling the volume, set the maximum volume of the player, and also activate the disk use option (in this case, the player will not be dismounted from the system after the synchronization is complete, allowing you to copy files to it. But then before disconnecting it, you will have to disconnect it first in OS).

There are several synchronization options: random selection of songs or sequential synchronization from a separate playlist or from the full library. Full filling of the player takes about 4.5 minutes. Of course, in the future, when you make adjustments to the playlist, only the changes will be synchronized.

Pros:

• Ultra-compact;
• Convenient fastening (as a result, there is no need to purchase additional accessories);
• Stylish design;
• Relatively low cost.

Minuses:

• The lack of a display and all the consequences of this (there is no information about the current composition, the ability to navigate through the library, additional applications and games);
• Poor sound quality, both in comparison with other iPods and in comparison with models from other manufacturers.

Outcomes

The official price of iPod shuffle in the US is $ 79, while in Russia at the time of publication of the article, the new product can be purchased for about $ 100.

The player makes a very positive impression, replaces the first model with dignity and will undoubtedly enjoy popularity. Of course, this is not the choice of demanding music lovers: as a rule, they need a large amount of internal memory, a display that displays all the necessary information about the current track, a navigation system through the library, high sound quality, which will be appreciated on expensive headphones. For this, they are willing to tolerate the large size of the device and the high price).

Shuffle is designed so simple and compact that you stop noticing it and just listen to music. This is fully consistent with the market positioning of the novelty, expressed in the advertising slogan: "Put some music on" (put on some music). Many people need this.

The iPod Shuffle is the smallest music device of all the iPods from Apple.

One year after the release of the first player of this line, which met with the approval of fans of ergonomic music devices, in the fall of 2006, Apple introduced the world to its updated version - the improved iPod Shuffle, 2nd generation of the device. In March 2009, the updated 3rd generation iPod Shuffle was released, and the latest 4th generation iPod Shuffle was released on September 1, 2010.

Due to its minimalistic design, affordable cost and compactness, the player quickly gained popularity among a wide range of consumers.

Specifications for iPod Shuffle Multiple Generations

1st generation:

• iPod shuffle 1st generation.
• Release date - January 11, 2005.
• The amount of flash memory is 512 MB or 1 GB.
• Dimensions - 84 x 25 x 8.4 mm.
• Weight - 22 g.
• Battery life - 12 hours.
• Body colors - white.

2nd generation:

• The amount of flash memory is 1 or 2 GB.
• Dimensions - 27.2 x 41.1 x 10.4 mm (thickness including clip).
• Weight - 15.6 grams.
• Battery life is 12 hours.
• Computer interface - USB.
• Body colors - metallic.

3rd generation:

• Dimensions - 45.2x17.5x7.8 mm.
• Weight - 10.7 g.
• Net volume - 4326 mm3.
• Capacity - 2 or 4 GB.
• Player control has been moved to headphones.
• New navigation system "VoiceOver".
• The battery lasts for 10 hours of music.
• Body colors - metallic, black, blue, green, pink, gold.

4th generation:

• Dimensions - 31.6 x 29.0 x 8.7mm.
• Weight - 12.5 g.
• Capacity - 2 GB.
• The controls were returned from the headphones to the player.
• The nominal load resistance is 32 Ohm.
• To enable VoiceOver, there is a separate button on the side of the player.
• The battery lasts for 15 hours of listening to music.
• Body material - anodized aluminum.
• Body colors (updated by Apple on July 16, 2015) - silver, gold, space gray, pink, blue, red.

Equipment

The set of the device includes the following components:

• portable music player(player) - 1 pc .;
• adapter in the form of a docking station for charging the device with an integrated cable (USB cable) - 1 pc .;
• user manual (operating instructions for the device) - 1 pc .;
• Apple logo sticker - 2 pcs .;
• a plastic box with a lid (transparent), in which the device and all components are packed.

This is standard on all 2nd generation iPods.

To highlight both the positive and negative characteristics of this model, it is necessary to do detailed review iPod Shuffle.

Specifications

Unlike technical characteristics phone (pros and cons) of Apple, iPod Shuffle has narrowly targeted functions, since it is intended only for listening to music.

The iPod Shuffle is 41.1mm long. The height of this music device is 27.2 mm. The thickness of the player reaches 10.4 mm (taking into account the thickness of the clip located on the back of the player). The device weighs no more than 15.6 g.

The player connects to personal computer using a USB cable.

In 2006, the player is released in 1 color scheme - "metallic". But since winter 2007, the company has been producing players in other colors. Pink, blue and green iPod Shuffle are available. Since the fall of next year, the device is available in mint, lilac, red and turquoise shades.

Supported formats

The player plays audio recordings in such music formats as: AAC, WAV, MP3, Audible, and Protected AAC. In this case, the permissible number of bits (bitrate) is from 8 to 320 Kbps per second, not only for the AAC format, but also for the MP3 format.

Memory

This type of iPod is a player that uses flash memory for the first time. This iPod version has built-in memory for storing music files, the volume of which is 2 or 1 GB.

Battery

The player has a built-in battery that provides up to 12 hours of autonomous operation of the device.

The 220 mAh battery is based on special lithium polymer technology (Li-Pol), which explains its compact size.

It takes at least 4 hours to charge your iPod. The battery charging process is carried out using a docking station (first, the player is connected to it), which connects to a personal computer via a USB cable.

Control

This version of the iPod is controlled by a special block (by means of a round-shaped button with 5 functional zones) located in the center of the front panel of the device.

Pressing the left arrow button will rewind the music you are listening to. By pressing the part of the button that shows the arrows pointing to the right, you can fast forward the song.

When you press the part of the button with the "+" sign, the volume of the musical composition increases, and when you press the part of the button where the "-" sign is depicted, the volume decreases.

The center of the control button is responsible for functions such as pause and start music playback.

If, when pressed, the central part of the button is held for 1–2 seconds, the control system is locked.

The player also has 2 slide switches located on the side of the device. The first of them changes the modes of listening to music. Available as Shuffle-mode, which means listening to songs in a chaotic order, and standard mode, which allows you to listen to tracks in the order set by the owner of the player. A second slide switch (like the side control keys) is needed to turn the iPod on and off.

There is a built-in indicator next to the switches that indicates the state of charge of the iPod battery: green indicates that the iPod Shuffle battery is between 30% and 100% charged, orange indicates the iPod owner is less than 30% charged, and red means that the battery has less than 10% charge.

The back of the iPod Shuffle has a clip that secures the player to clothing or accessories (such as a trouser pocket, belt, scarf) for a comfortable listening experience.

Sound quality

The sound quality of the iPod is not perfect. But in the process of listening to compositions, there are no distortions and noises.

The player supports both "compressed" audio format and standard WAV files. Due to the specifics of channel separation, the problem of an unbalanced sound range often arises.

Music and sound quality of tracks during operation iPod of this version is not radically different from the quality of songs played by the previous iPod model.

Conclusions - pros and cons

The advantages of the iPod of this version include the compactness of the player, its narrowly focused functionality (the device is designed only for listening to music), attractive appearance, ease of operation and ease of use.

The disadvantages of this model include the peculiarity of the battery charging procedure, as well as the lack of a display.

Apple iPod Shuffle Audio Players - digital devices to listen to music, playlists, audio files by synchronizing them from the Internet, computer, iTunes programs Store. The operating time of the players depends on the built-in battery. Charging for all generations of iPod Shuffle is quick and easy.

To find out how long the gadget takes to charge, how to charge it, you need to consider these issues in more detail.

general information

Replacement of the built-in battery is possible only in authorized service centers Apple. Therefore, the user must be able to properly operate it. For optimal performance, the battery must be fully charged before using the player for the first time. After 2 hours the charge level will be 80%, after 3 hours it will be 100%.

The audio player is charged in 2 ways:

• connecting to a computer;
• by connecting to the Apple USB Power Adapter.

USB cable - A power cord with a 3.5 mm plug on one side and a USB plug on the other. Cables from different generations are similar, but not suitable for charging. For example, the iPod Shuffle 2 lead cannot be used to recharge 3 and 4, and vice versa.

When connecting to a computer, make sure that it does not go into "sleep" mode. It should be noted that some Mac models support charging in sleep mode.

A colored indicator located on the body of the gadget informs about current state battery.

Each color corresponds to this level:

• green - 26-100%;
• yellow - 11-25%;
• red - 1-10%;
• flashing red - less than 1%;
• off - 0%.

V latest version The Apple player has voice guidance using the latest development - the VoiceOver function.

Charge iPod Shuffle 1st Generation

For iPod Shuffle 1, charge is as follows:

1. Determine the state of charge of the battery. Find the Battery status button on the back of the gadget.
2. To charge through a computer, first turn on the equipment, then remove the cap from the player and insert it into the USB port of the computer.
3. Using the adapter, connect the gadget to the socket of the AC device, then connect the power supply to the network. If using an extension cord, attach one end of the cable to the AC adapter and the other to the audio player. Plug into a working outlet.

Charge iPod Shuffle 2nd Generation

The Apple iPod Shuffle 2 battery charges like this:

1. Check the discharge level of the device according to the color scheme of the status indicator.
2. Connect the USB cable to your computer or Apple Power Adapter. To do this, connect the cable plug to a high-power USB port on your computer or to the power supply connector, and the plug to the player's connector.
3. Connect the Apple Power Supply to an electrical outlet.
4. Check if all devices are connected correctly. During charging, the indicator should shine orange, when finished - green.

Charge iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation

For the 3rd generation of audio players, you need to do the following:

1. Check the charge, quickly turn off and on the device, look at the status of the indicator. At the minimum charge level, the indication is red.
2. To connect to a computer, insert the plug of the USB cable into the USB port of the equipment, the other end with the plug into the audio player. The computer must be turned on.
3. Through the AC adapter, the process is carried out in the same way, only the cable plug is inserted into the power supply connector and plugged into the network. Before plugging in, check if the adapter is assembled correctly.

Charge iPod Shuffle 4th Generation

The 4th generation Apple player charges in the same way, with the only difference that the VoiceOver button is used to determine the battery level.

The number of recharge cycles is limited. The durability of the devices and the number of cycles depend on the mode of operation and settings.

Apple's iPod Shuffle series of compact players since 2006 has opened new page in the class of compact turntables with a loyal value. The absence of redundant systems allows you to work without any difficulties. Small size and weight provide versatility in the process of all kinds of activities, any movements of the owner. But this player is more suitable for sports, and not in everyday life.

Equipment

The product is provided in stylish transparent plastic packaging. It opens easily after removal protective film... This 4th version includes:

• the "apple" player itself;
• half-meter USB cable for charging the device, synchronization;
• standard headphones;
• stickers and instructions;

The minimum of the components of the standard kit ensures full use. However, if you want to recharge not from a PC, new components must be purchased in brand stores.

IPod Shuffle 2010 Model Price this moment in Russia will be from 3,990 rubles.

Construction, design

IPod Shuffle has the smallest dimensions, when compared with all predecessors, only 29 x 31.6 x 8.7 and 12.5 grams. The square shape, together with its compactness, allows you to attach it to various objects or clothes almost imperceptibly without feeling any discomfort. On the sides, the corners are smoothed, the bottom edge is flat and allows you to install it vertically.

The integrity of the case without individual components made of anodized aluminum prevents the appearance of extraneous sounds, damage, pollution. From the outside, it looks completely "cast", this prevents disassembly or removal of components without damaging the device.

The 4th generation color scheme consists of 5 options: pink, blue, orange, gray, green.

The least visible traces of scuffs and scratches on the silver color, even after prolonged use it looks perfect. In color variants, the marks of use will be slightly noticeable.

There are 5 buttons on the front side:

• central - to activate, stop, lock when clamping;
• upper, lower - allow you to control the playback volume, respectively;
• right, left - intended for changing tracks, rewinding;
• possible combination with control elements for additional functions management.

The top panel is equipped with several elements. A 3.5 jack makes it possible to connect any headphones, charge and connect to other devices. Nearby there is a battery indicator indicating that it is full (less than a quarter - red, 26% -50% - orange, more than half - green).

On the other hand, VoiceOver and a three-way switch act out, the purpose of which is indicated below.

There is a clip for fastening at the back. Due to its considerable size, as well as the tight spring, the device can be securely attached to almost any clothing.

The side edges are completely smoothed, which prevents snagging during various movements.

Sound

The excellent volume level drowns out almost any ambient sound. The sound is decent, but a lot depends on the headphones. The set comes standard, but their quality leaves much to be desired.

There is no noise, distortion, but if Shuffle of the fourth generation is compared with other iPod models, then this version will yield.

Control

After experimenting with previous versions, the models returned the buttons again. Possibility voice control The “older brother” was distinguished by originality, but at the same time certain difficulties and limitations arose. The return to the keyboard control was caused by numerous requests from users, so the joystick area was also increased for convenience.

There is a protruding slider on the top of the player. It moves smoothly and is comfortable when shifting. Designed to change working listening modes (in a row, random mixing) or complete shutdown nutrition.

Another feature is VoiceOver, which is highlighted separately. It speaks the names of tracks, artists, the name of the playlist, battery level.

Each of the presented items is located in the correct place for ease of use. A small selection above the body makes it possible to manipulate under clothes, but absolutely does not create any inconvenience or interference from the player.

Power, battery

The declared working time "in one go" is up to 15 hours of continuous listening, but the working time directly depends on the volume level of the tracks being listened to. At " fast charging»4/5 of the battery fills up in two hours, 100% will take a full 3 hours. When used during classes (about 2 hours a day) it will last the whole week. Battery charging is possible both through the port from a PC and from the network (with the additional purchase of a network device).

Memory

One of the controversial points is the limited amount of information, which is only 2 GB of data available for storage. This is enough for several days of listening, but requires regular replacement or updating of the playlist. You can place files of any format.

The ascetic firstborn iPod Shuffle features minimal control options. There is a multi-functional Click Wheel on the vertical body of the device, and a play mode switch (three-position) on the back.

iPod Shuffle 1G

The next generation of digital audio players is a much smaller, horizontally oriented device. On the front panel there is a Click Wheel and two buttons (one for switching playback modes, the other for turning on the player). Rear part the structure of the case is made in the form of a clip-on, with which the device can be fixed on items of clothing.

iPod Shuffle 2G

The smallest are third generation audio players. Since their dimensions do not allow placing the control buttons on the case, these options were placed on the headphone cable. On the case itself there is only one button for switching modes and a headphone jack, on the back of the case there is a clip-clothespin.

iPod Shuffle 3G

Flawless fourth iРod S huffle

The last type of players is made in the form of a miniature square keychain. Despite its size, the Click Wheel reappeared on the device. In the upper part of the case there is a slide switch and a Voice Over button (allows you to determine the name of the song being played and the battery charge level).

iPod Shuffle 4G

Thus, visual inspection and the presence of appropriate buttons will help you determine the generation of iPod Shuffle. Also, users should take into account that different generations iPod Shuffle