iPod shuffle 2nd Generation (2006): History and Specs
Aluminium and a clip
Made of aluminium and fitted with a built-in clip, the second-generation iPod shuffle was announced on 12 September 2006. Apple promoted it as the world's smallest digital music player, nearly half the size of the original; its volume was about half a cubic inch. The specification lists 41.2 × 27.3 × 10.5 mm including the clip, and 15.6 g. Apple had promised availability in October; Macworld reported that it would reach stores on 3 November 2006. At launch there was a single silver model with 1GB of flash memory, holding up to 240 songs, for US$79.
Controls, dock and battery
Like the first shuffle, it had no screen. On the front, a circular control pad took care of play and pause, track skipping and volume, and two separate switches set power and the choice between shuffle and in-order playback. The first model's built-in USB plug was dropped: a small supplied dock connected through the headphone socket for USB 2.0 syncing and charging, and iTunes AutoFill could load songs automatically. Its battery was rated for up to 12 hours of music; charging took about four hours in full, or about two hours to 80 per cent.
Reviewing it for Macworld on 6 November 2006, Christopher Breen measured more than 15 and 16 hours in two battery tests. He noted the lack of Apple Lossless support, faint hiss in quiet passages and the need for the dock in place of a built-in connector.
Colours and capacities
Pink, orange, green and blue joined silver on 30 January 2007. The colours were revised on 5 September 2007, when a (PRODUCT) RED special edition was added. On 19 February 2008 the 1GB model fell to US$49 and a 2GB model, holding about 500 songs, arrived at US$69, in silver, blue, green, purple and (PRODUCT) RED. Another revision on 9 September 2008 brought blue, green, pink, silver and red.
Successor
The third-generation iPod shuffle, with its controls on the earphone cord, was announced on 11 March 2009, and the 2GB second-generation model was withdrawn the same day. The 1GB version stayed on sale as the entry-level model until 9 September 2009.
Specifications
| Announced | 12 September 2006 |
|---|---|
| Launch price (US) | US$79 (1 GB); from 19 February 2008 US$49 (1 GB) and US$69 (2 GB) |
| Capacity | 1 GB or 2 GB flash memory — about 240 or 500 songs |
| Display | None |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours of music |
| Connectors | 3.5 mm headphone jack, also used with the included dock for syncing and charging |
| Size | 41.2 × 27.3 × 10.5 mm including clip (1.62 × 1.07 × 0.41 in) |
| Weight | 15.6 g (0.55 oz) |
| Colours | Silver at launch; more colours from January 2007 |
| Works with | Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later; Windows Vista or XP (SP2) — as listed for the 2008 models |
| Model number | A1204 |
Figures from Apple's published technical specifications. Where Apple lists only inches and ounces, metric values are converted and rounded.
How to identify it
- An aluminium clip-on player, smaller than the first shuffle and with no USB plug.
- A control pad on the front.
- Model number A1204; serial number ends in 1ZH, 1ZK, 1ZM, 1ZP or 1ZR.
Where to find the model number and serial number: how to identify a used iPod.