Apple announced today that the latest version of the economy level iPod is now on sale. In this version of the iPod shuffle is half the size of its predecessor, made from stainless steel, and is smaller than a AAA battery. The Shuffle features only one button that turn the device on and off as well as selects playlist or shuffle. Skipping and replaying songs is handle by buttons on the cord of the provided headset.

The Shuffle can now speak to you so that you can access song information, battery information and have multiple playlists.  Currently there are 14 different languages available including Spanish, Czech, Dutch and Mandarin as well as English.

“Imagine your music player talking to you, telling you your song titles, artists and playlist names,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod and iPhone product marketing. “The new iPod shuffle is the world’s smallest music player and takes a revolutionary approach to how you listen to your music by talking to you, also making it the first iPod shuffle with playlists.”

Many people have express a disappointment in the fact that they will have to use the provided headset and will have no display.

“We’ve rejected the idea of a screen on all our iPod shuffles, because you can only really fit a one- or two-line display and keep the size small,” said Mr Joswiak. “We don’t think that’s a very good way to navigate your music collection. With the new shuffle and VoiceOver, you get all the benefits of the display without having to have one. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Mr Joswiak also sated that Apple is working with many accessory makers to ensure iPod shuffle controls are built into a wide variety of headphones.

“They’ll be introducing headphones that have the controller integrated into their headphone design,” he said. “There will also be adapter cables available, so you can use your existing headphones with the new shuffle too.”

The 4GB device will be available in black or silver, hold about 1000 songs and cost $79. Apple will continue to sell the 1GB entry-level iPod shuffle.

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