iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation

iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation which is supposedly the smallest music player ever created, is simply amazing to look at. It was released on March 11, 2009 and has a dimension of 45.2 x 17.5 x 7.8 mm (1.8 x 0.7 x 0.3 in). It is also the first music player ever created, which can talk to you. iPod 3rd Gen is available in silver or black brushed aluminum case similar to the second generation iPod Shuffle therefore making it the first iPod Shuffle that is available in black. It features VoiceOver technology that allows song names, artist names, album names and playlist contents and names to be spoken in 14 different languages using the Text-to-Speech incorporated in iTunes 8. It also supports multiple playlists, in contrast to previous versions which allowed only a single playlist.

The third generation iPod Shuffle comes with a polished steel attachment clip and no longer have volume or track controls on the device. Instead of that Apple has included earphones having a three-button device on the right earbud cord. This adds the functions of changing between playlists, hearing the song title & artist of the track playing, as well as play/pause, track changes and volume control. Currently the option of changing songs or volume is not available with any third-party headphones due to lack of these controls. However iPod Shuffle begins playing music automatically when it is turned on so the third-party headphones may still be used in “autoplay” mode (with no volume or playback controls). It seems that in future third-party headphones might incorporate these controls on itself or in an adapter for getting full functionality for the iPod Shuffle. The official headphones contain a chip designed by Apple to control the device although there are numerous complaints by the customers regarding the headphones shorting out. Bottomline is that this device is here to stay for sometime despite of all its shortcomings.