RuggedReviews.com Review of Apple iPod Shuffle

Rarely is a product manufactured with the simple perfection of the Apple iPod Shuffle (second generation) music player.

The go-everywhere, pendant-sized Shuffle can be dropped in a pocket or, using the integrated clip, attached to a collar, sleeve or belt. Mine is a constant companion when I'm running, weight training, camping, hiking or wandering city streets.

The Apple iPod Shuffle second generation player is so perfect, it's too bad Apple moved on with third and fourth generation Shuffles. In my opinion, the third and fourth generation models are fatally flawed because the controls aren't on the player, as they are with the second generation model. Instead, Apple put the controls on the cord of proprietary earphones. Why would Apple give people less choices by forcing them to use its headphones, which are usually pretty crappy? Beats me.

Back to the second generation iPod Shuffle model. Besides being one of the smallest music players available, the 1 GB Shuffle holds up to 240 songs, runs up to 12 hours on a full charge, has a tough mostly-metal exterior, and controls that are easy to operate when you're on the move.

The iPod Shuffle's sound is good, but I wouldn't describe it as rich. There isn't a bass boost control or equalizer, so what you hear is what you get. Ultimately, the player suits me fine because I use it when I'm active. Noise from the world around me and the headphones themselves interacting with my ears tend to reduce the sound quality anyway.

The only negatives are that the iPod Shuffle uses a proprietary docking station for charging and transferring music, and you have to convert your music library through iTunes. It would have been nice if Apple had used the same mini-USB cable that recharges my cell phone and GPS. But, then again, the player would have to be bigger to accomodate the mini-USB sized plug. Having to use iTunes is a minor annoyance, only because it means I have to maintain my music in Apple's proprietary format and the universally recognized MP3 format used by my SanDisk Sansa Clip, Creative Zen Media Player and other players.

My absolute favorite use of the Apple iPod Shuffle is in tandem with my Arriva Cordless Headphones. Plug the Shuffle into the Arriva Cordless Headphones, wrap the headphones from your ears to the back of your head, and run without the noisy, tangly annoyance of bouncing wires and armbands. Bliss!