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Today marks the 14th anniversary of the unveiling of the first-generation iPod shuffle, presented by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs on stage at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco. On January 11, 2005, Apple debuted the first-of-its-kind iPod shuffle, which completely lacked a display, weighed 0.78 ounces, and held up to 240 songs (on the 1GB model) that would be played randomly.

At the Expo, Jobs called the iPod shuffle "smaller and lighter than a pack of gum," and touted the device's low-end 512MB model, which ran for $99 in the United States and could hold up to 120 songs (the 1GB version cost $149). "With most flash-memory music players users must use tiny displays and complicated controls to find their music; with iPod shuffle you just relax and it serves up new combinations of your music every time you listen," Jobs said.

Like previous iPods, iPod shuffle connected to a user's iTunes account to sync downloaded music onto the media player. The iPod shuffle also supported AutoFill, which automatically selected the perfect number of songs to fill out the iPod shuffle from iTunes. Besides randomly playing music on shuffle, users could also flip a switch on the back of the device to play music in order.

The iPod shuffle also doubled as a portable USB flash drive that users could store personal files on to exchange between computers. In the original press release, Apple mentioned that the iPod shuffle was the latest member of the iPod family, which at the time included the fourth generation iPod, iPod mini, iPod U2 Special Edition, and iPod photo.

Apple highlighted the iPod shuffle's portability in its first ads


Apple also sold accessories at the launch of the iPod shuffle, like an armband that turned the device into an athletic accessory, a sport case that came with a neck strap, a dock, and a USB power adapter. There was even a battery pack that extended the iPod shuffle's life from 12 hours to 20 additional hours. Every iPod shuffle came with an included lanyard so users could wear the small device around their neck.

iPod shuffle was a notable release for the iPod lineup because of its huge departure from the typical iPod feature set. Besides a display, it lacked a scroll wheel, ability to manage playlists, and typical iPod features like games, address book contacts, calendar, alarm, and other software mainstays of the iPods before the shuffle.

The only buttons on the front of the iPod shuffle were for Play/Pause, Next Song/Fast Forward, Previous Song/Reverse, and volume rockers. The back held a battery level indicator light, and the three-way switch that turned the device off or alternated between randomly playing music or playing it in order. The bottom of the iPod shuffle had a removable cap where the USB plug was hidden.

iPod-shuffle-wikimedia-commons.jpg
Every iPod shuffle generation by Matthieu Riegler via Wikimedia Commons


Apple eventually updated the iPod shuffle throughout numerous generations. The second generation debuted on September 12, 2006, coming in at half the size of the original model and with a built-in belt clip.

The third generation iPod shuffle launched on March 11, 2009, which returned to the long, rectangular design of the original device but introduced a brushed aluminum frame and VoiceOver features. This model completely lacked playback and volume controls on the device itself, and resigned these controls to the included EarBuds.

third_generation_ipod_shuffle_lineup.jpg
iPod shuffle third generation


The fourth generation of iPod shuffle came out on September 1, 2010, again returning to a previous design by mimicking the square body of the second generation, while offering a bevy of colors for customers to choose from. This was ultimately the last generation of iPod shuffle to release from Apple, and the line is now dead.

ipod_shuffle_2015_lineup.jpg
iPod shuffle fourth generation


As of July 27, 2017, Apple discontinued the iPod shuffle family by removing it from the company website and online store. At that time, the iPod shuffle had been on the market for twelve and a half years. Apple also discontinued the iPod nano on the same day, leaving the iPod touch as the only remaining device in the iPod lineup.

Article Link: First-Generation iPod Shuffle Turns 14 Today
 
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Somehow, I've managed to accumulate the first three generations of Shuffle over the years. This is how I've thought of them:
  • First gen – Most iconic and could plug directly into your computer.
  • Second gen – Best form factor (area to left of navigation for your finger to open clip).
  • Third gen – Confusing as hell, but at least it had song information, I guess?
  • Fourth gen – Smallest design, buttons integrated again, plus song info. Bonza.
I always wished they made some combination of the first and fourth generations with an internal speaker too. The idea of being able to play music directly from an SD-card-sized device that needs no cables to plug into your computer still seems cool.

Low-res mockup of advertisement of said iPod that I made in 2009:

shuffle.png
 
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The last affordable Apple product for everyone lol. Now it's all overpriced iPhones and iPads.

This was just an overpriced MP3 player, you could buy cheaper alternatives with a screen for less.
Buying a more expensive device with less features isn’t exclusive to 2019 Apple.
I got a first gen as a leaving present from my work colleagues when i joined the military in 2006, I still have it somewhere.
 
This was the first Apple product I was interested in...ultimately I bought a first gen iPod mini instead...
 
Since nobody wanted to buy them anymore after 12 years on the market, does this mean it was just a fad?
Or have smartphones and smaller smart watches replaced it (with streaming subscription music)?
 
Since nobody wanted to buy them anymore after 12 years on the market, does this mean it was just a fad?
Or have smartphones and smaller smart watches replaced it (with streaming subscription music)?

The smarthphone just killed the market. For the majority of people having one device that could do the job made them redundant. This happened before streaming services even took off.
 
I use these as travel pods. The ear pod cord reaches easily and fit my ears, unlike the AirPod for some reason.

And who the hell is going to steal it form you?

How long before we get an iPhone Shuffle?

With Apple’s need to make bigger and bigger phones, it’ll be the iPhone Sheet.
 
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"It just shuffles."

My iPod Touch and iPhone have had playlist synch and playback stability problems for years.

So, the iPod Shuffle may be dead, but the shuffle concept lives on thanks to longstanding iTunes/iOS bugs.
 
I miss my Mint Green 3rd generation 8GB iPod Nano. I used it for ten years before it finally gave up. Even a new battery couldn’t salvage it (powered up, but nothing showed on the display). Fortunately I could still see the contents through my iMac’s iTunes and I had a third party program (iRip) that allowed me to pull everything off it and back into my iTunes library before my Nano became completely inert.

I liked the wheel control and the “just right” compactness of the design.

I’m presently using my old iPhone 4 as a glorified iPod, but I liked my Nano better as a dedicated music device. I should have bought one of the last generation Nanos when they were available, but my old one was still working well at the time so I saw no point. Ain’t hindsight wonderful?

I could pick up a current iPod Touch, but it wouldn’t really be any different than using my old iPhone 4.

Nothing lasts forever.
 
Let the nostalgia begin!

I nearly forgot about the 3rd gen model, but not too surprising since it was only around for about 18 months before they switched to the 4th gen design.
 
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I wish I had an iPod Nano 4th and 5th gen that could support Apple Music downloads and Airpods. That IMO was the best iPod, ever.
 
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Just realized that my Apple Watch Series 1 holds a lot more music.

If only they hadn’t removed the audio port from it!
 
I owned every incarnation of the Shuffle and loved each of them, but the last one went unused once the iPhone took over my life.
 
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