With the redesign of the fourth generation iPod shuffle, Apple has brought back a classic design that works well with any set of headphones. At £39 for 2GB of storage, it's not only the perfect entry level iPod, it's also a solid second device for iPhone users who want to keep it simple while...

Stylish, simple and perfectly suited to the gym

Apple's third-generation iPod shuffle boasted a radical new design. Instead of locating its controls on the body of the audio player itself, it mounted them on the earbud cable instead.

I'm on the record somewhere as saying that my favourite iPod of all time is the second-generation (2G) iPod shuffle . There was just something about that little guy, with its clip-on body and its circle of easy-to-navigate control buttons, that I found irresistible.

On-device controls; VoiceOver navigation; long battery life

Awkward to clip on clothing; no way to lock out controls from inadvertent bumps

Simple yet elegant navigation and a useful VoiceOver feature make the fourth-generation Apple iPod shuffle a great little device.

High build quality; VoiceOver a useful feature; Buttons make for simple navigation

Average sound quality; Small capacity

Review The iPod Shuffle's entire history is a testament to the fact that Apple doesn't always get products right. The fact it exists at all shows Steve Jobs was wrong to say that consumers don't really want low-cost, plug'n'go music players.

Apple's iPod Shuffle received another makeover when Apple launched its new iPod line up in September, but were they right to go back to one of the previous designs or has the re-inclusion of buttons spoilt it?

Small; light; VoiceOver feature; ability to limit volume; Genius playlist support

No screen; has to be managed from your computer; only 2GB

Many thought that Apple scored an own goal with the third-generation iPod Shuffle. Stripping it of controls made for a dinkier device, but forced owners to either stick with the supplied headphones (with an in-line remote) or pay extra for an remote adaptor.

Every year, Apple releases new iPods, forcing us all to consider whether its time to upgrade our music player. The 2010 crop of iPods--revamped shuffles and nanos, and a refreshed iPod touch--represent some of the biggest changes to the iPod lineup in recent times.

One year on from the harsh criticism that stung it after the physical buttons disappeared from the last version of the iPod Shuffle, Apple has brought them back.  We're not sure whether that's going to be enough

The buttons are back; Small

No screen; Mediocre sound quality; Dreadful headphones