Smart & Connected Life iPods & MP3 Players 62 62 people found this article helpful Everything You Need to Know About Every iPod Shuffle Model by Sam Costello Writer Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. our editorial process Facebook Twitter Sam Costello Updated on November 08, 2019 image copyright: Chloe Media/Flickr/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ iPods & MP3 Players Working From Home Headphones & Ear Buds Smart Home Smart Watches & Wearables Travel Tech Connected Car Tech iPods & MP3 Players Tweet Share Email The iPod line was almost 5 years old when the iPod Shuffle debuted. The iPod Mini was Apple's first attempt to shrink the classic iPod into a smaller, lighter, more portable form factor. The Shuffle took that a step further. Not content with simply being portable, the iPod Shuffle was designed to be ultra-portable — a very small, very light iPod that would be ideal for runners and exercisers who wanted music without a lot of extra weight. Seen that way, the iPod Shuffle has been a great success. It outlived the iPod Mini and became a common accessory for exercisers. It was also one of Apple's major playgrounds for experimentation. No iPod Shuffle ever had a screen and one Shuffle didn't have any controls at all — it was just a flat, smooth piece of metal. Those experiments weren't always been successful (check out the third generation model, for instance), but they were always interesting. This article spotlights each different iPod Shuffle to demonstrate how they changed and improved (or didn't) through the years. Let's begin by returning to 2005 and the debut of the first Shuffle. Want to know how the iPod Shuffle impacted sales of the entire iPod line-up? Find out in This is the Number of iPods Sold All-Time. The First Generation iPod Shuffle Quinnydj AvailabilityReleased: January 2005Discontinued: September 2006 The First Generation iPod Shuffle was shaped like a small pack of gum. It was long and thin and had a cap at the bottom that could be removed to reveal a USB connector used for syncing music and other data. This model was plugged directly into a computer's USB ports for syncing, so it didn't require the cable that other iPods did. The Shuffle did not have a screen. It was designed to be extremely lightweight and to be used in situations where weight is valued over features or a screen, such as running or biking. This model was controlled using the buttons on the front, which were visually similar to the iPod Clickwheel. However, these buttons lacked that device's scrolling functionality. It offered two playback modes: straight through the music stored on it or shuffle. Think you know who invented the iPod? We bet you don't! Find out in Who Really Invented the iPod? Capacity512MB (roughly 120 songs)1GB (roughly 240 songs)solid-state Flash memory Dimensions3.3 x 0.98 x 0.33 inches Weight 0.78 ounces ScreenN/A Battery Life12 hours ConnectorUSB port accessed by removing the cap at bottom of Shuffle ColorsWhite Original PriceUS$99 - 512MB$149 - 1GB The Second Generation iPod Shuffle Apple Inc. AvailabilityReleased: September 2006Updated: February 2008Discontinued: March 2009 The Second Generation iPod Shuffle changed the shape of the Shuffle substantially. It was smaller and matchbook-sized, with just a wheel-shaped button on the face and a clip on the back. Unlike the previous model, this one did not have a USB connector. Instead, it synced with computers using a small dock attachment that connected the headphone jack of the Shuffle to a computer's USB port. The major changes in this model were its shape, its method of syncing, and support for some new audio file formats. Capacity1GB2GB - introduced Feb. 2008 Dimensions 1.62 x 1.07 x 0.41 inches Weight 0.55 ounces ScreenN/A Battery Life12 hours ConnectorHeadphone jack to USB Original ColorsSilverMagentaOrangeBlueGreen Colors (Sept. 2007)SilverLight blueLight greenLight purpleRed Original Price$79 - 1GB ($49 after introduction of 2GB model)$69 - 2GB The Third Generation iPod Shuffle Apple Inc. AvailabilityReleased: March 11, 2009Updated: September 2009 (new colors, 2GB, and special edition 4GB models)Discontinued: September 2010 The 3rd Generation iPod Shuffle dramatically redesigned the iPod Shuffle. It made the device even smaller, added new features like VoiceOver, increased capacity, and returned the device to a form factor similar to the first-generation Shuffle. In keeping with earlier models, this one did not have a screen. Unlike earlier models, though, the Third Generation iPod Shuffle also lacked buttons on its face. Instead, the device was controlled by a remote control on the included earphones. Single, double, or triple clicks cause various actions, such as fast forward or play/pause. Third-party headphones could be used with the Shuffle with the additional purchase of a remote-control adapter. Its new VoiceOver feature allowed the iPod to read menu items to the user through the headphones in languages including English, French, German, Greek, Czech, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. Capacity2GB (about 500 songs)4GB (about 1,000 songs)solid-state Flash memory ColorsSilverBlackPinkBlueGreenStainless steel special edition Dimensions1.8 x 0.7 x 0.3 inches Weight0.38 ounces0.61 ounces for stainless steel edition ScreenN/A Battery Life10 hours ConnectorHeadphone jack to USB Requirements Mac: Mac OS X 10.4.11 or higher; iTunes 9 or newerWindows: Windows Vista or XP; iTunes 9 or newer Original PriceUS$59 - 2GB$79 - 4GB The Fourth Generation iPod Shuffle LICreate / Getty Images AvailabilityReleased: September 2010Updated: September 2012 (new colors), September 2013 (new colors), July 2015 (new colors)Discontinued: July 2017 The 4th Generation iPod Shuffle was something of a return to form, recalling the second-generation model and bringing buttons back to the face of the Shuffle. It was also the final version of the Shuffle, lasting for nearly 7 years before Apple discontinued the entire iPod Shuffle line. It was discontinued at the same time as the iPod nano. Both devices were casualties of declining sales caused by the rise of powerful, multifunction portable devices like the iPhone. Previous iPod Shuffle models had buttons on the device’s face (1st and 2nd gen. models) or were controlled by a remote on the headphone cable (3rd generation). After criticism of the 3rd generation model, the 4th brought the buttons back. This model also added support for Genius Mixes and a hardware button for VoiceOver. Curious how this final version of the iPod Shuffle compared to the final version of other iPod models? Check out our iPod comparison chart. Capacity2GB Original ColorsGrayRedYellowGreenBlue Colors (2012)SilverBlackGreenBluePinkYellowPurpleProduct Red Colors (2013)Space Grey Colors (2015)BluePinkSilverGoldSpace greyProduct Red Dimensions1.14 x 1.24 x 0.34 inches Weight0.44 ounces ScreenN/A Battery Life15 hours ConnectorHeadphone jack to USB Price$49 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! 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