Apple today launched an updated version of their iPod Shuffle, which gets an elegant new redesign that’s around half the size of its predecessor. The new Shuffle’s storage capacity is now doubled to 4GB and includes an interesting new feature called VoiceOver, that tells you which song is currently playing and by which artist – at the touch of a button.

Apple is calling the new Shuffle the world’s smallest music player and that’s not difficult to believe. Measuring a mere 1.8″ (45.2mm) x 0.7″ (17.5mm) x 0.3″ (7.8mm), it sure is tiny. Weight comes in 33% lighter too at just 0.38 ounce (10.7g) and it’s expected to get up to 10 hours of playback through its lithium-polymer battery.

Almost all of the controls reside on the headphone cord and seem easy enough to use, despite their miniscule dimensions. The downside to this, however, is that you’re pretty much locked in to using Apple’s own earphones. If you want to use better quality earphones, or even headphones, you’ll lose most functionality. Purpose-built cans like the iMuffs may work though, as they have controls built into them already and the Acoustibuds Earphone Adapters may help improve sound quality on the standard earphones.

The new VoiceOver feature seems pretty neat, even if rather unpolished and reminds me of Amazon’s Kindle 2, which was released recently with a useful text-to-speach feature. You can hear the stilted computer voice for yourself in the demonstration video over on Apple’s product page.

The new iPod Shuffle retails for $79 | £59 and is available now.

Sources:
Apple and CNET