Apple Bumps iPod shuffle to 2 GB

Apple has released a new 2 GB model of its diminutive iPod shuffle for $79...and dropped the price of the 1 GB model to $49.

Apple has announced a new 2 GB version of its tiny iPod shuffle portable music player, doubling the shuffle’s capacity but keeping the same $79 price point. However, Apple hasn’t done away with the original 1 GB version of it’s popular music player: instead, the 1 GB version will be available for $49.

“At just $49, the iPod shuffle is the most affordable iPod ever,” said Apple VP of worldwide iPod product marketing Greg Joswiak, in a statement. “The new 2GB model lets music lovers bring even more songs everywhere they go in the impossibly small iPod shuffle.”

The iPod shuffles are just half a cubic inch in volume, and are designed to clip neatly onto seams, pockets, collars, bags, and almost any other item. Other than a circular control pad, the shuffle doesn’t offer any screen, interface, or menus; instead, users load the shuffle via iTunes. iPod shuffles are available in silve, green, blue, and purple, along with a PRODUCT (RED) edition.