UPDATED: This Review Was Updated on March 7, 2007

The second incarnation of the Apple iPod Shuffle hit our offices several days before the national rollout and caused quite a sensation. The all aluminum chassis, with a built-in clip, looked beautiful and was quite the music fashion statement when each of us sported the digital player during our individual TestDrives.

Technolust doesn't even aptly describe the tactile response one gets when holding the cool-to-the-touch silver case with the familiar white iPod navigation wheel. The 0.55 ounce iPod Shuffle 2.0 defines portable music technology. And you don't even miss the now common color screen found on every other iPod model. At 1.07 inches by 1.62 inches, the Shuffle 2.0 is tiny. Any smaller, and the Shuffle would almost be unusable. The robust, built-in clip for attaching to a garment, invokes one of those "hey, why didn't they think of this earlier" responses when you realize how great it works and wears.

The quality construction is exhibited by the ultra-tight "reveals" (the casing seams)

One of the biggest issues we had with the original Shuffle has been addressed by the redesign. The slippery on/off switch of the original, which was extremely hard to grip and slide, has been replaced by a simple toggle switch that shifts into place with a satisfying click. Yes! A second toggle switch designates whether the music should play in order, or shuffle, randomly selecting music from the 1 GB of onboard memory.

The sound quality of the Shuffle 2.0 is good, but doesn't pack the same punch, especially on the bottom end, as the original. In fact, the Shuffle 2.0 seems to be EQ'd more for neutered Radio Pop and AudioBooks instead of banging music. Fans of Hip-Hop, Rock and Dance music will notice a thinner sound in the low frequencies resulting in the diminished impact of many of their favorite bass-heavy tracks. Other than the lack of big bass, the fidelity is quite good, and more than adequate for listening to lossy MP3's and AAC files. However, the quality issue is really going to come into play when you tee up an AIFF file, which the Shuffle 2.0 now supports. The lack of bass and signal power will unfortunately reveal this serious weakness.

The new toggle switches are a vast improvement over the original's Slip'n'Slide

The other minor detractor is the fact that the Shuffle 2.0 does not have a built-in USB connection like the original did. Instead, it comes with a mini dock with a triple-connect mini-plug that serves as the digital link for transferring music from iTunes to the device. Thus, you can't simply attach the Shuffle to any USB connection for a quick charge, you must carry the mini dock. With the new dock scenario, the new Shuffle 2.0 lacks the ability to truly perform double duty as a MP3 player and a Flash drive. Something that some may be concerned about if they like to share files, pictures and tunes between multiple computers.
UPDATE: Since the Shuffle 2.0 debuted, two excellent products have come to market to address this deficit - See Box Below.

Apple claims that the unit's battery will last 12 hours before dying. We averaged a little more than that, as opposed to the 10 hours we received with the original. Apple states that the Shuffle 2.0 will obtain an 80% charge in just two hours, with a full charge coming in at 4 hours.
UPDATE: In our long term evaluation, we found that the battery life averaged 10 hours before needing a recharge.

As we predicted when Apple first splashed pictures and specs of the Shuffle 2, the unit will be a force at the cash register this holiday season. At $79 dollars for 1 GB of music and wearable design bliss, the Shuffle 2.0 appeals to anyone aged 8 to 88 who wants a real iPod branded player. Reports of shortages have already surfaced, so I'd get moving to Amazon if you want to score one by the Holidaze.

The Future: The Shuffle 2.0 eclipses the original in design, but unfortunately not in sound. While the price of $79 dollars is the lowest entry point by iPod standards, there are now a lot of options for a 1 GB player, and many come in at half the price with a screen. A step back in sound quality should have never been a consideration when developing this next generation model.
Apple should update the Shuffle 2.0 and iTunes in short order to incorporate common and custom EQ profiles into the iTunes Settings Tab. That way you could remotely modify the Shuffle's internal settings via iTunes - similar to the Limit Maximum Volume. That would solve our biggest complaint with the Shuffle 2.0, and bring a smile to users who prefer the Bass in yer Face!

Apple Shuffle 2.0 New Dock & Charging Accessories Two companies have come forward with excellent dock and charging options. First is Incipio, who debuted a tiny USB-To-MiniJack dock/charger dubbed the IncipioBud. It supports full-speed USB file tranfer rates, but in our tests, it was significantly slower to charge a depleted Shuffle than the DLO product below. However, its micro size makes it a perfect option for your office computer, or any other secondary device that you may utilize to dock your Shuffle. The best thing about the IncipioBud is that is only costs $6 bucks! Instead of taking you to the cleaners, like most iPod accessory makers, Incipio has priced the "Bud" more in tune with their manufacturing costs. We like that...we like that a lot! More information on the IncipioBud The IncipioBud is the perfect option if you need a second USB dock/charger If you're looking for a pure charger for your second generation Shuffle, then the best option is the Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) PowerBug. DLO has produced dozens of excellent products for Apple's complete lineup of iPods, so this must have been a no-brainer for the company. The PowerBug simply plugs into Shuffle via the MiniJack port and juices it up in no time. The DLO PowerBug is great for rapid juice ups when you don't have a computer Our staff found the PowerBug to be the quintessential companion on every Snowboard and Mountain Bike trip we've taken this winter with its compact size and AC plug that folds flat. The DLO PowerBug retails for $24, but can be found on Amazon for $12. More information on the DLO PowerBug For Shuffle

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