Apple adds buttons to new fourth-generation iPod shuffle

Apple's new fourth-generation iPod shuffle is a marriage of the last two generations, bringing back physical buttons to the company's smallest media player.

The new iPod shuffle will sell for just $49 and comes in five different colors. Like the previous generations, it has a clip so it can be worn.

It looks like the second-generation device, but retains the voiceover capabilities of the third-generation.

"People clearly missed the buttons," Jobs said.

The new wearable iPod shuffle has an all-aluminum enclosure with a built-in clip and comes in five colors: silver, blue, green, orange and pink. With nearly 50 percent more battery life, the new iPod shuffle features over 15 hours of music playback on a single battery charge and offers 2GB of storage for just $49.

"We’re making the iPod shuffle even better by combining clickable buttons and VoiceOver technology, so users can find and enjoy their music without ever looking at their iPod shuffle," Jobs said in a press release. "With its all-aluminum enclosure and built-in clip the new iPod shuffle is a great workout companion, and at just $49 it's a great entry-level iPod that almost everyone can afford."

The new VoiceOver button on top of iPod shuffle allows users to hear the name of the currently playing song and to switch between songs, playlists or Genius Mixes. VoiceOver speaks 25 different languages and even alerts users when their battery needs charging.

The new iPod shuffle now supports Genius Mixes, the iTunes feature that automatically creates mixes from songs in a user’s music library that go great together. Genius Mixes allow users to to rediscover music they already have, but may not have listened to recently.

Features:

• Beautiful and Wearable: It’s small, it’s colorful, and it lets you take hundreds of songs with you everywhere.
• Buttons: The big, clickable control pad gives you an easy way to play your music.
• It Talks to You: Press the new VoiceOver button to hear the song title, playlist name, or battery status.
• Multiple Playlists: Sync different playlists and Genius Mixes and have the perfect music for every mood.

Technical Specifications

Size and weight:

• Height: 1.14 inches (29.0 mm)
• Width: 1.24 inch (31.6 mm)
• Depth: 0.34 inch (8.7 mm) including clip
• True volume: 0.35 cu. inch (5668 cu. mm) including clip
• Weight: 0.44 ounce (12.5 grams)

External controls:

• 3-way switch (Shuffle, Play in Order, Off )
• VoiceOver button
• Control pad

Input and output: 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack for audio and for USB charging

Environmental requirements:

• Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
• Non-operating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
• Relative humidity: 5% to 95% non-condensing
• Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Capacity:

• 2GB flash drive
• Stores data via USB flash drive

Battery and power:

• Up to 15 hours of audio playback
• 80% charged in 2 hours; fully charged in about 3 hours
• Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter (sold separately)

Headphones:

• Earphones
• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
• Impedance: 32 ohms

Audio:

• Skip-free playback
• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
• AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV

Environmental Status Report:

• iPod shuffle embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
• Brominated flame retardant-free
• PVC-free
• Highly recyclable aluminum enclosure
• Smaller, more compact packaging (60% smaller, 53% lighter)