It's in it's third generation and the iPod Shuffle is still going strong. With larger capacity, a sleeker, more colourful design, the iPod Shuffle is a great buy for users looking for a small, cost effective but proven MP3 player.

At 1.6x1x0.4 inches and 0.6 ounce, the iPod Shuffle is one minuscule music player. In fact, it's so inconspicuous that we have trouble keeping track of it--if you're constantly misplacing your keys, this player probably isn't your best option. If you just can't help yourself, go for one of the brighter color options. The pink, orange, green, and blue models will probably be easier to spot on a cluttered desk than the muted silver one is.

That said, the integrated belt clip on the back of the Shuffle helps keep the player within easy reaching distance. Some users have complained that the clip isn't very durable, but it seemed fairly sturdy during our testing.

The iPod Shuffle pays respect to its bigger siblings with a thumb-friendly, circular control pad that puts the "go" in ergonomic. Click the center button to play and pause, and click the outer buttons to move back, skip forward, and adjust the volume. The old shuffle moonlighted on the side as a USB thumb drive that you could plug directly into your computer, so the need for a dock or even a cable was unnecessary.

Battery Indicator, Clip, and Shuffle Switch

The battery indicator light displays three power levels with three different colors--green means go, amber means you're low, and red means you've almost hit zero. But with up to 12 hours of battery life, iPod Shuffle may keep on rockin' even longer than you do. Thanks to the sturdy, built-in clip, iPod Shuffle goes with just about any outfit. Clip it to your sleeve, lapel, coin pocket or backpack--no matter where you wear it, iPod shuffle speaks volumes about your style and the clip guarantees that it'll stay put right where you want it. Lastly, the Shuffle encourages you to embrace your inner rebel. Flip the Shuffle's Shuffle switch to mix up your iPod's contents--pop follows jazz, rock follows rap, the iPod Shuffle loves to improvise. Then flip the switch again to get back to your hand-picked playlists and albums in the order you synced them from iTunes.

However, Apple has removed this feature from the iPod shuffle. It can still be used as an external USB disk (just like all other iPods) when connected to an Apple Mac computer via cable, but no more thumb drive. As a result, the new shuffle comes with its very own dock.

The Shuffle's headphone jack does double-duty as a dock connector. Flip the iPod Shuffle upside-down and drop it into the included dock. Then connect the dock to your Mac or Windows PC via the USB for a quick sync and charge. And if you're away from your computer, you can charge on the go with the optional USB adapter.

The dock is nearly as tiny as the shuffle itself and comes with a rubberized bottom to prevent slipping, necessary due to its small size and (lack of) weight.