Overview: The Apple iPod Shuffle (4th gen) is a sleek, compact, portable digital music player. Its main body is crafted from a single piece of aluminum and polished to a beautiful shine, so the new iPod shuffle (4th gen) feels solid, sleek, and durable. The iPod shuffle (4th gen) is equipped with a 2GB flash memory for music storage and offers playback functions such as VoiceOver & Genius Mixes. It also includes an integrated clip so you can attach it to your shirt, jacket, workout gear, backpack, or purse so you can listen to your music on the go.

Music Player
Control Functions
Convenience Features
Connections
Software Requirements
Battery Information

Music Player

2GB Flash Memory: The Apple iPod shuffle (4th gen) has a built-in 2GB USB flash drive, capable of storing approximately 500 songs (4-minute song average--recorded in AAC format at 128 kbps). In addition to storing audio, you can use the flash memory to store data files as well.

Audio Formats: The iPod 2GB shuffle (4th gen) supports the following audio formats: Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store; M4A, M4B, M4P), HE-AAC, MP3 (8-320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, AAC (8-320 Kbps), Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF, and Podcasts. When you import music from a CD using iTunes, it is converted to AAC format by default.

128 kbps AAC Format: If your iTunes library contains songs in higher bit-rate formats, such as iTunes Plus,Apple Lossless, or WAV, you can set iTunes to convert songs to 128 kbps AAC format as they're synced with iPod shuffle (4th gen). This doesn't affect the quality or size of the songs stored in iTunes.

Skip Protection: Because the iPod shuffle (4th gen) uses flash memory, playback is completely skip-free.

Store Data Files: You can use the iPod shuffle (4th gen) as an external disk to store data files. The iPod shuffle disk icon appears on the desktop (Mac), or as the next available drive letter in Windows Explorer (Windows PC). Drag files to or from the iPod shuffle (4th gen) to copy them.

Control Functions

Clickable Control Pad: The big, clickable control pad on the front of iPod shuffle (4th gen) is 18% larger than on previous iPod shuffle models, so it's even easier to see and use the music controls. Simply press the center button to play and pause. Press the outer buttons to skip forward or back and adjust volume.

Shuffle Switch: The portable audio digital player's shuffle switch has 3 positions. You can set it to the left, and your music will randomly playback. If you set it to the middle, your songs will play in order. And turn the iPod shuffle off by setting the switch to the right position.

Playlists: The iPod shuffle (4th gen) lets you snyc different playlists and Genius Mixes from iTunes so you have the perfect mix of music for every mood.

VoiceOver: The Apple iPod shuffle (4th gen) can provide more control over your playback options by speaking your song titles and artist names, and announcing a menu of playlists for you to choose from. The VoiceOver feature changes the way you browse and navigate your music by telling you what title or artist you are listening to (through the headphones) without interrupting your music with a press of  button. The VoiceOver feature also allows Playlist playback the iPod shuffle (4th gen) since it will announce your Playlists names with press of a button. VoiceOver also tells you battery status and other messages.

• Track Info: VoiceOver can speak the current track title and artist name while you're listening to iPod shuffle (4th gen).
• Playlists: When VoiceOver is enabled, you can hear the playlist names and choose any playlist you've synced to the iPod shuffle (4th gen). If audiobooks or audio podcasts are synced to iPod shuffle, their titles are also read as part of the playlist menu.

Genius: Genius finds songs in your iTunes library that go great together and uses them to create Genius playlists and Genius Mixes. Genius playlists and Genius Mixes created in iTunes can be synced to iPod shuffle like any other iTunes playlist. You can't add Genius Mixes to iPod shuffle manually.

• Genius Playlist: A Genius playlist is based on a song that you select. iTunes then compiles a Genius playlist of songs that go great with the one you selected.
• Genius Mixes: Genius Mixes are preselected compilations of songs that go great together. They're created for you by iTunes, using songs from your iTunes library. Each Genius Mix is designed to provide a different listening experience each time you play it. iTunes creates up to 12 Genius Mixes, based on the variety of music in your iTunes library.

Podcast, Audiobooks & iTunes U Collections: The iPod shuffle(4th gen) supports the download and playback of Podcasts, iTunes U, and Audiobooks.

• Listening to Podcasts: Podcasts are free, downloadable shows available at the iTunes Store. Podcasts are organized by shows, episodes within shows, and chapters within episodes. If you stop playing a podcast and return to it later, the podcast begins playing where you left off.
• iTunes U: iTunes U is a part of the iTunes Store that features free lectures, language lessons, audiobooks, and more, which you can download and sync to the iPod shuffle (4th gen).
• Audiobooks: You can purchase and download audiobooks from the iTunes Store or audible.com, or import audiobooks from CDs, and listen to them on the iPod shuffle (4th gen).

Volume Level: The loudness of songs and other audio may vary depending on how the audio was recorded or encoded. You can set iTunes to automatically adjust the volume of songs so they play at the same relative volume level, and you can set iPod shuffle to use those same iTunes volume settings.

Volume Limit: You can set a limit for the volume on iPod shuffle. You can also set a password in iTunes to prevent anyone else from changing this setting.

Convenience Features

Compact Design: The Apple iPod shuffle (4th gen) is very compact and light-weight. It measures only 1.245" (w) x 1.165" (h) x 0.355" (d).

Built-in Clip: The 2GB iPod shuffle (4th gen) comes ready to wear with its built-in, stainless steel, sturdy clip. You can clip it to your pants or shirt pocket, belt or shirt sleeve.

Reset: Reset iPod shuffle (4th gen) by turning it off, waiting 10 seconds, and then turning it back
on again.

Connections

3.5mm Jack: The Apple iPod shuffle's (4th gen) 3.5mm jack does double duty as a headphone connector and USB connector. The shuffle (4th gen) uses a 3.5mm male connector to plug in either the supplied headphones or to connect the iPod shuffle to your computer using the supplied minijack to USB cable.

Headphones: The iPod shuffle (4th gen) features a 3.5 minijack headphone output and comes with earbud-style headphones (Frequency Response: 20Hz-20,2000Hz; Impedance: 32-ohms). If desired, you can use any headphones with a 3.5mm minijack connector.

USB Cable: The iPod shuffle (4th gen) connects to your computer's high-power USB 2.0 port for downloading and charging the battery using the supplied minijack-to-USB cable.

Software Requirements

iTunes: iTunes is the software application you use with the iPod shuffle (4th gen). iTunes offers over 13 million songs for your to choose from. iTunes can sync music, audiobooks, podcasts, and more with your iPod shuffle (4th gen). When you connect the iPod shuffle (4th gen) to your computer, iTunes opens automatically.

Auto-Synching: Each time you connect the iPod shuffle (4th gen) to your computer, the unit's Auto-Synch feature automatically updates it with any changes made to the iTunes program on your computer, including any new music purchased at the iTunes Music Store.

Computer Requirements: The Apple iPod shuffle (4th gen) is compatible with both Macintosh and Windows operating systems with the following minimum requirements:

• Operating System:
  • Windows: Windows 7, Vista, or XP Home or Professional (SP3) or later
  • Macintosh: Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
• USB Port: USB 2.0 high-speed
• Software: iTunes 10 or later (software not included, must be downloaded from Apple iTunes website)

Battery Information

Rechargeable Battery: The iPod shuffle (4th gen) has an internal, non-user-replaceable, rechargeable lithium polymer battery. The battery offers up to 15 hours of playback. When the iPod shuffle (4th gen) is connected to a high-power USB port on your computer using the supplied minijack to USB cable, the battery charges. The iPod shuffle (4th gen) battery is 80% charged in about 2 hours, and fully charged in about 3 hours.

Charging/Status Light: When the battery is charging, the status light on the iPod shuffle (4th gen) is solid orange. When the battery is fully charged, the status light is green. In iTunes, the battery icon next to the name of your iPod shuffle also shows the battery status. The icon displays a lightning bolt when the battery is charging, and a plug when the battery is fully charged.