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7.2 out of 10

Apple iPod Shuffle / 2nd Generation

 

Information found in: from 78 sources in 17 countries

Great Deal: $59.50

  • User Score (2988)
    8.6 8.6 from 2988 reviewers
  • Expert Score (17)
    6.9 6.9 from 17 reviewers
  • Design (51)
    6.5 6.5 from 51 reviewers
  • Value for money (208)
    7.5 7.5 from 208 reviewers
  • Features (355)
    6.2 6.2 from 355 reviewers
  • Ease of use (376)
    7.6 7.6 from 376 reviewers
  • Performance (5)
    6.6 6.6 from 5 reviewers
  • Sound quality (262)
    7.4 7.4 from 262 reviewers
  • Reliability (178)
    8.0 8.0 from 178 reviewers
  • Overall quality (224)
    7.6 7.6 from 224 reviewers
  • Looks (6)
    8.5 8.5 from 6 reviewers
  • Battery performance (5)
    7.5 7.5 from 5 reviewers
  • Functionality (5)
    8.5 8.5 from 5 reviewers
  • Audio & image quality (163)
    7.5 7.5 from 163 reviewers
  • Speed performance (178)
    7.1 7.1 from 178 reviewers
  • Equipment (25)
    5.6 5.6 from 25 reviewers
  • Portability (5)
    8.5 8.5 from 5 reviewers
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  • Best Deals

Amazon Marketplace
In Stock (S) $59.50 SEE IT
Business-Supply
In Stock (S) $70.23 SEE IT

Prices from Shopping.com (S)

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  • Score Distribution

Experts:
9-10
(2)
7-8
(5)
5-6
(10)
3-4
(0)
1-2
(0)
Users:
9-10
(1286)
7-8
(537)
5-6
(126)
3-4
(78)
1-2
(114)
  • Expert Reviews

  1. PC Magazine

    PC Magazine
    8.0/10
    2 November 2006

    The second-generation iPod shuffle is impressively small, and the built-in clip makes it ideal for working out, running, or just casual listening. Its lack of a screen or any extras like an FM tuner—or even support for many iPod accessories—is countered by its impressively diminutive size and low price. Read more

    • Very good sound quality. Extremely compact and sleek. Seamless integration with iTunes. Built-in clip. Sturdy aluminum casing. Inexpensive.
    • No screen. Doesn't work with iPod accessories that require a 30-pin dock connector. Charge/sync dock is bulky. No extra features.
  2. Digitaltrends

    Digitaltrends
    8.0/10
    2 November 2006

    The new Apple iPod Shuffle features a completely revamped design and is smaller than ever. But have compromises been made in the process? Read more

    • Amazing size and sound; affordable price
    • Dock dongle required; previous generation headphones are included
  3. infoSync World

    infoSync World
    6.2/10
    23 April 2007

    We have some serious beefs with the iPod Shuffle: it has no screen, the tiny LED lights are inadequate for giving you feedback about the player's status, and it lacks any features beyond basic music playing. It's proprietary cable bugged us, and its sound was good, but not fantastic. That said, it is well-nigh impossible to see an iPod and not want one. Read more

    • Tiny, beautifully designed shell. Easy to use, with minimal buttons. Sturdy clip. Colored aluminum looks great and shiny.
    • Dearth of features. Sound quality is not as good as larger iPods. No WMA support, even for non-DRM files. Proprietary connector.
  4. PC World

    PC World
    5.0/10
    7 November 2006

    Apple's iPod Shuffle Read more

    • Inexpensive, Stylish
    • Lacks LCD screen, Expensive
  5. TheTechLounge

    TheTechLounge
    6 May 2007

    Due to the simplicity of the shuffle's design, the most impressive features it can boast include its extremely small size, unmatched durability, and better than rated battery life. If you're the kind of person that constantly breaks or scratches the screens of your gadgets beyond any functional state anyway, then the shuffle might be exactly the kind of device you're in need of. Read more

    • Most durable portable media player ever, Cheapest iPod you can buy (new), Extremely portable, you can clip it anywhere, Impressive battery life
    • No display, and ALL that entails, Price isn't as competitive as it should be considering all the missing features
  • User Reviews

  1. save your money, get something better

    Amazon
    2.0/10
    Reviewer: Kira, Amazon
    3 weeks ago

    when your computer dyes & you lose all your music except for the bit on your ipod...you wont be able to transfer it to your new itunes library. & to those of you that say "no, you can" then why cant i? ive tried. before you tell me to go to: file > transfer purchases from ipod it wont do anything it will act like its doing it for 2 seconds tops. then stop & none of my songs are in my library. Read more

  2. Apple iPod shuffle, second-generation 1GB

    10/10
    Reviewer: matthewmixdc, pcworld.com
    3 weeks ago

    What a great product, I bought one for me, one for my wife, and 2 for an office giveaway. I use it to run, and the low weight of the product does not weigh me down when I am on my road bike. Read more

    • Small, but carries alot of information. Good battery time.
    • The headphone cord it came with is too short.
  3. "tempo is way off and sound is painfully tinny."

    CNET
    2.0/10
    Reviewer: alynn3, CNET
    4 April 2011

    crappy sound. too painful to even tolerate, never mind enjoy. don't buy it. stick with your old ipod which sounds infinitely better. Read more

    • size and simplicity. if you don't care about the quality of the sound (e.g. you don't listen to music), it maybe OK for you.
    • the sound stinks. the pace of the songs is too fast. it sounds like someone has cranked up the speed of all of the songs. even if you are able to ignore the song tempo...
  4. Still the best shuffle design out.

    Ebay
    10/10
    Reviewer: crimson_altruist, Ebay
    3 weeks ago

    Surprisingly, the 2nd gen shuffle is still the best one out there. 2nd Gen was a huge upgrade over the first in every possible category, and they attempted to upgrade with the 3rd, but made a big mistake in not realizing that people use these things while exercising. With the controls built into the headphones of the 3rd gen shuffle, sweat trickles down and actually changes the volume/track/pauses, etc, rendering it entirely useless to any sort of even semi-serious... Read more

  5. Set-up takes time once you figure it out

    B&H Photo
    6.0/10
    Reviewer: SouthGeorgiaMom, B&H Photo
    19 February 2009

    This iPod operates as described once you set it up. This is our first MP3 player. I bought it for my 6 year old daughter. The instructions are limited to a very brief Quick Start guide. What the guide fails to mention is that you must load iTunes software to your computer to create a listening library for your iPod. The only way to figure this out is by viewing a manual on Apple's website. This took way too long to figure out. Read more

    • Reliable Performance, Simple Controls, Sleek/Compact
    • Difficult to Set Up
  • WikiFreak Description

Apple iPod Shuffle / 2nd Generation

The 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle is among the entry level models under Apple’s iPod line of portable media players. It was released in September 2006, the same time the newer version of the 5th Generation iPod Classic and the 2nd Generation iPod Nano were introduced.

The gadget has an anodized aluminum casing with a clip design for better portability. It was initially released in silver, green, blue, pink, and orange with the size of 1 gigabyte. Later on, red, …

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Apple iPod Shuffle / 2nd Generation

The 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle is among the entry level models under Apple’s iPod line of portable media players. It was released in September 2006, the same time the newer version of the 5th Generation iPod Classic and the 2nd Generation iPod Nano were introduced.

The gadget has an anodized aluminum casing with a clip design for better portability. It was initially released in silver, green, blue, pink, and orange with the size of 1 gigabyte. Later on, red, turquoise, lavender, and mint green models were released along with the availability of the 2 gigabyte versions. The colors replaced the original pink, orange, green, and blue colors. Both the 1 and 2 gigabyte versions measure 1.62 x 1.07 x 0.41 inches and weigh approximately 0.55 ounces.

Like the 1st Generation model, the 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle has a circular control pad featuring music payback buttons at the front of the gadget. It also has controls for random and consecutive playback. The 2nd Generation model also makes use of an integrated lithium polymer battery that takes about 4 hours to charge and lasts up to 12 hours of music playback. It also features a battery indicator that lights up in green when the battery is full, amber when the battery is low, and red when the battery is empty.

Apple approximates that the 2 gigabyte version can store up to 500 audio files. It supports skip-free playback of a number of audio formats including MP3, MP3 VBR, AAC, protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store, M4A, M4B, M4P), WAV, and AIFF.

The 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle is compatible with Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later using iTunes 7 or later. For Windows, it is compatible with Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.

Review Summary

Apple iPod Shuffle (2nd Generation) is a lightweight portable device. Its dimension are about 1.62 x 1.07x 0.41 and it weights about 0.55 ouches. With these sizes, you can take this digital player anywhere with you. It can become your travelling buddy, your exercising buddy and even your “chilling” out buddy. A nice feature that is added to it is a clip. With this clip you do not have to worry about what you will do if your clothes does not have a pocket that is large enough to keep it safely inside. This clip is a built-in clip. Therefore you can use the clip to clip it unto any part of your clothing. Yes, any part and you can clip it unto your bag if you prefer. This device carries 1GB of storage space, which converts to about 240 songs. This is very commendable, especially for the size of the device. It has a built in Lithium polymer battery and it carries about 12 hours of power before it will need recharging.

The Apple iPod comes with a USB dock, a quick start guide and an earphone. Gray and white in colour, the device must be placed on the docking station when it is time for it to be recharged. The docking station helps to keep the iPod in one position as you load it with your songs or as it is being recharged. Apple iPod Shuffle (2nd Generation) sound quality is very good. Made in aluminium, it is sturdy and can stand up to the everyday use. You may want to replace the earphones that it comes with though, because it does not do justice to the sound system. However, it is not equipped with a FM tuner. It is compatible with AIF, WAV, MP3, VBR AND AAC.

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  • Manufacturer's Description

Charge and sync with the included USB dock. Operate the iPod shuffle controls with one hand. Enjoy up to 12 hours straight of skip-free music playback.

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