iPhone iPod Plus

The digital music players play from the beginning the map style and portability, but never as much as Apple does with its new iPod Shuffle. Remains whether this compromise is at the expense of other details can be just as important as sound quality.

Apple iPod Shuffle
This new device designed by designers from Apple, California, is actually the third generation of the popular microbaladeur iPod Shuffle, the smallest and most affordable portable of the range iPod.

It is also the simplest, both in its form as in its functions, it is stripped of any characteristic deemed unnecessary, as any display in particular. Or even the most simple key command, which possess all the other players on the market.

The only things found on this device, the size of a paper clip, tweezers, which are used to attach to his belt (or elsewhere) and the record for headphones, qiu will turn into port attaching USB to connect to a personal computer (Mac or PC) and iTunes. From there you can configure a few unique features to the iPod Shuffle, like the voice that says, in one or other of the 14 languages they understand what playlist is being play, or what room. This feature, called VoiceOver is not automatic: it will read the name of the piece that if you really want to hear it. A good thing.

To order the diminutive player, one must necessarily use the controller small, no larger than a watch battery, Apple has stayed on the wire headset supplied with the unit. Needless to say, it does not please everyone. It will also use an adapter to exchange the helmet in question by a model which is more honor to the musical quality of the digital formats of higher quality than MP3 – as Apple Lossless. And still no FM radio tuner. Another annoying detail, autonomy is reduced by two hours compared to the previous model. Only consolation: If necessary, the memory of 4 gigabytes can also be used as a USB key.

Apple iPod Shuffle (3rd Generation)
Digital with internal memory of 4 gigabytes
Ordering over the headphones
Voice reading the names of tracks and playlists (VoiceOver)
Compatible with MP3, AAC, AIFF, WAV, Apple Lossless
Autonomy 10 hours
Mac, PC (via USB)

Option: a microbaladeur controller with display and Sansa

A little bigger than the iPod Shuffle, Apple has just unveiled the Sansa Clip is another microbaladeurs those who bet on a format for Lilliputian charm mobile music lovers. Available in versions with 2 or 4 gigabytes, the Clip also has the advantage of having a simple monochrome display, but effective, and a controller exists on the case.

Polyvalence later, this diminutive device can reproduce sound quality, given its size, can play digital music formats, high quality, like Ogg Vorbis and FLAC, and can also tune in FM radio, as required. As a bonus, its autonomy is significantly higher than the new iPod Shuffle, at 15 hours. Oh, and it costs almost half as expensive as most affordable.

Sansa Clip
Digital with internal memory of 2 gigabytes or 4
Monochrome display with four lines of text
Compatible with MP3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis and FLAC
Autonomy 15 hours
PC, Mac (via USB)