Trendy and Tiny (Apple iPod shuffle (2G) 1 GB)

Member Name: roktimdutta

Product:	Apple iPod shuffle (2G) 1 GB
Date:	30/10/09 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Storage, user friendly

Disadvantages: Read the review

I have made it amply clear in earlier reviews that iPod are great but they are yet to impress me on the reason about huge popularity that it enjoys all over the world. As a true music lover I must say that the real nuances and its true liveliness very much depends on the quality of out put that is available from the device it is played in. The simple reason is the popularity of a track is vastly depended on which device being used to reproduce it. True in this age of technology the quality of musical instruments, recording gadgets and the sophisticated post production process are so high that they sound quite okay in most players. But think of the era of the great 'Beatles', 'Beach boys', 'The Carpenters' or even for that matter of performers like Elvis Preaseley, Bob Dylan they hardly enjoyed these privileges. So naturally it requires a good player to really have true greatness felt. What I mean to say that a good audio player quite makes UP THE DRAWBACK of unsophisticated recording instruments in which they were being recoded.
So a quality device should be able to mask the bad quality recoding. Even for that matter, play a Pink Floyd number in an ordinary player and do the same in real quality player the difference in flavor will be abundantly clear.

Now if you are prepared to compromise with device's capability to reproduce and store enormous number tracks with the quality of reproduction, then it is a different issue altogether and I will strongly advice you to flip over to a different review, this is not your cup of tea I am sure, else carry on and I would very much appreciate your critism and comments.
I think it's highly pertinent to provide you the technical specs of Apple iPod Shuffle 1 Gb so that it's clear where lies the technical problems with this Apple's tiny wonder (wonder it is)
Here is the specs:

PC interface(s) supported USB
Flash memory installed 1 GB Integrated
Digital storage None
Weight 0.6 oz
Dimensions (W x D x H) 1.6 in x 0.4 in x 1.1 in
Body material Anodized aluminum
Color Orange
Available body colors Orang, Pink , Green , Blue, Silver
Included accessories Docking station
Software type Drivers & Utilities
iPod Generation 2G
Digital Player / Recorder
Supported digital audio standards AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible
Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
Supported bit rate 8 - 320
Additional features Variable bit-rate compatible
Audio Features
Sound output mode Stereo
Additional features USB 2.0 compatibility, Battery level indication
CD System
Digital audio standards supported MP3 , MP3 VBR , WAV , AIFF , AAC , Protected AAC
Remote control None
Headphones
Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
Sound output mode Stereo
Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
Impedance 32 Ohm
Connectivity technology Wired
Connectivity
Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Battery / Power
Battery Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player battery Integrated
Mfr estimated battery life 12 hour(s)
Recharge time 4 hour(s)
Power device type None
System Requirements
Peripheral / Interface devices USB port
Operating system Apple MacOS X 10.3.9 or later , Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later , Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later , Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later
I have copied and pasted whole of the technical specification to demonstrate what makes difficult for it to give quality out put.

There can be no second opinion on the fact Apple iPod shuffle is the tiniest possible digital player in the market, how tine is tiny? Just check out the dimension (W x D x H) 1.6 in x 0.4 in x 1.1 in and weight? Just 0.6 oz. Naturally you have to marvel at the technology involved. I think it's irevelevent but a note a of caution: be careful you might keep misplacing it every nano second and land up buying again.
Now the frequency range is 20--20000 hz, excellent, the catch is the 30 ohm impedance factor, so it should be capable of, technically define high, midrange frequencies with élan now the problem will rise with a absence of good equalizer, synchronization and equalization of certain frequency groups remains undefined. It's expected that these are excellent considering size of the device.

IT IS BOUND GIVE and in fact it gives reasonably good sound quality with the ear-bud or headphone supplied but as expected the bass is weak. Also what I have noted is that the music is too shrill and not at all heart warming since the mid-ranges and bass is not accentuated and less defined, so background noise is inevitable and the music becoming less enjoyable. One more aspect of it which I am yet to delve in is the compression. Imagine a 1gb stuff can hold more often than not as much as around 14 to 16 hrs of music, that's mind-blowing.

Another point of big concern is it unimpressive battery life for such a tiny device hardly around is 9 and a half to 11 hrs, but the recharge time is good--4 to 4 and a ½. Hrs.

Another draw back is, it does not have screen for navigation through music, specific folders (albums) or artists. Instead it's provide with five way control pad with simple play pause and shuffle functions, of course its an advantage also (using is easy) But another big disadvantage is the nonstandard USB syncing.

The color choice excellent. It's available in Blue, Green. Pink and Orange, Silver, makes it look tiny and aesthetic as well.

It must mentioned that its OS adaptability is really one of its unique features but again Plug-ins are required in your computer to load files onto the iPod.

It's an excellent media player considering the price at around £89 for the 1GB version. But not for me.

(First published ciao.co.uk under the same user name)

Summary: Trendy

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