Apple iPod shuffle 3rd Generation Black (2 GB)

the 3rd generation of the iPod shuffle is a definate improvement on the previous model, with an even smaller body, better range of colours and the new "talking song title feature" its a step in the right direction from the arguably best MP3 player producer on the market, Apple made only one design fault with this product in my eyes, the fact that theres no controls on the actual shuffle body itself, making it completely useless in the event you lose or damage your headphones as the controls for play/pause next and previous song and volume control are all on the headphones cable

luckily ive found that Belkin make a replacement product that you can plug any of your desired headphones or even aux input to other devices like in car headunits or hi-fi machines at home, costs only £9 on ebay, but it is an unessesary thing to have to buy if only apple put the contrls on the ipod, liek they have done tot he 4th gen just released

but for the price they go for thanks to the newer models release its a good buy, esecially since they start at a minimum capacity of 2gb which tome is the lowest anyone can need, anything less is simply too small, my 8GB nano only just keeps me at bay, some people i know cant even make do with theyre 16GB touch!

but there is also a larger version with 4GB, probably the better version to have if you have many songs, and dont mind paying that little bit more to avoid constant re-syncing to get the songs you want on the shuffle

I have always enjoyed listening music on the go. But after trying out different music players I realised that the ideal for me would be small size player with clip for easier attachment. I chose iPod shuffle 3rd gen. because of it's elegant design, good battery life and I really like that it has only one on/off button and all the controls are on the headphone wire. Lack of display is compensated with Voiceover function. The 2GB capacity is enough for couple hundred songs. I've been using this player for a couple of weeks, and for now and I haven't experienced any trouble with it. By my opinion this is best model in this small player range.

I'm a big fan of Apple products for their build quality, their intuitive use & aesthetic design. The iPod shuffle 3Gen is no exception.

It's slim, slick & shiny with a cold aluminium exterior which you know will stand up to most drops on the floor - it gives the MP3 player with adding bulk.

The sound produced is perfect, even if the included headphones are a bit poor.

I purchased this player to listen to when I go running - it's perfect for that! Not too big or bulky, clip it to your collar / sleeve & forget about it.

The only down side, and it's one I'm suprised at Apple about.

The previous iPod Shuffles all had their control buttons on the MP3 player - however the 3rd Generation model doesn't. The controls are inline on the headphone cable.

As mentioned earlier, this is ideal for exercising with however the standard headphones (complete with control) are useless! So if you want to change the headphones, you'll need to find another way of controlling the iPod.

An ideal solution would have been to make the controls seperate from the headphones, even if it was an inline connection.

There are several solutions out there though. I picked up a 'Scosche tapStick' which plugs into the Shuffle and provides controls and the ability to use any headphones.

Great peice of kit, let down only by the lack of controls.

Great audio quality.
Great compact size, especially for exercise.
Good battery life.

My only complaint (also the reason I sold my 3rd gen shuffle) is the lack of controlling buttons on the device. The only way to control audio (Play, stop, skip, volume) is though the headphone controller integrated into the standard headphones. As I like to use my own headphones for running and cycling, I am not able to use the device since I can't control the music.

Interestingly, I notice that the 4gen Shuffle has gone back to buttons.

Ipod Shuffles are great for the gym or just for anytime that you want to listen to music on the go. Very light, compact and comes with a clip so can be carried easily without having to hold it. The controls are on the headphones, there are no play/pause/fastforward/rewind buttons on the device but personally I think it's better having them on the headphone wire as you can access them easily and they are easy to use. It can do everything I want/Need it to do in a small and cute package! :)