Apple iPod shuffle (3rd Generation)
Apple’s smallest ever MP3 player is also possibly its most controversial – and this is why…
The preamble: My cult and contentious reviews’ system. Designed as a time saver to highlight the potential deal breakers in a product before you commit to reading lengthy reviews on your favourites sites and/or magazines. For a more detailed description please read: the Rules
Just the Bad Points Review: iPod shuffle (3rd Generation)
- Removal of on-player controls renders your existing third party earphones/headphones useless without cost of a separate adaptor
- Positioning of inline controls on the new earphones is just below the chin, not ideal during exercise
- Positioning of inline controls on adaptor too low with existing third party earphones
- Clip and on-player controls of its predecessor meant you could position them wherever convenient
- Reduced battery life (10 hours compared to 12 hours on 2nd generation shuffle)
- No display unlike all major rivals in its price range
- No track selection functionlity
- No FM tuner as on rivals
- No voice recorder as on rivals
- VoiceOver text-to-speech prone to mispronunciation
- Heralded minimalist design is surely just an aluminium coated memory key
- Improved 4GB storage still only half that available on some rivals
- Requires new iTunes download
- Were adding 5mm to its height, dropping 10mm in width, 2mm in depth and 5 grams in weight from shuffle 2G worth all this?
- Price (£59) is a lot more than an 8GB Sansa Clip (£39) which also has a display, FM tuner, voice recorder, track, album, artist and playlist selection, 15 hours of battery life and drag and drop content
If there ever was an iPod who was so bested by the competition this is it! Sansa Clip for the win!
Spot on. I do not think I’ll be buying this one… no matter how much I love Apple products.