The Apple 2G iPod Shuffle 1GB :

The Apple 2G iPod Shuffle has been out for a few weeks now, but it’s definitely not too late to give it some love. I managed to get my hands on “the world’s smallest digital music player” a few days before the official release of the product, and it’s been my constant companion ever since. Apple has pretty much dominated the portable music player market for the past few years and it is due to products like the new iPod Shuffle that have earned them the position as market leader. Apple somehow manages to continually put out products that I wouldn’t normally pay much attention to based on a mere listing of features; but once I get to take a good look at them, and I am able to feel them in my hands, my brain just screams, “I gotta have it.”

The Shuffle is tiny, lightweight, and durable. While it doesn’t have anything fancy, like an equalizer, a screen, or file sharing abilities, the compact design and strong battery life will have you taking it just about anywhere you go. I’m an active guy, so in the past few weeks I’ve taken it running, to work, out when taking my dog for a walk, to the airport, and to the mall. The Shuffle is so small and light that you won’t notice it on your body; so you can just clip it to your shirt or stuff it into your pocket and go. It’s perfectly designed aesthetics and functionality beg you to bring it with you everywhere; just make sure to find a more comfortable pair of earhpones or earbuds than the standard Apple issue set.

Due to the lack of bells and whistles, the Shuffle won’t be your choice of player at home; but at $79 for 1GB (about 240 songs) of storage, you’ll find yourself reaching for the Shuffle just about every time you head out the door. Kudos to Apple for making me love and admire something that normally wouldn’t cause me to even raise an eyebrow based on paper specs alone.