The latest incarnation of the iPod Shuffle is a vast improvement on previous versions. It’s kept the best features, while revising the ones that didn’t work so well. Let’s see what exactly you’re getting when you decide to buy a 4thgeneration iPod Shuffle.

A simple, user-friendly design makes the Shuffle 4 a pleasure to use. The control pad on the front allows you to control the volume, play, pause, and skip between songs, while a small switch along the top edge allows you to choose exactly how you listen to your music. Flipping it to the left randomizes your music, the middle plays your songs in order, and the right turns off the device.

What’s more convenient than a music player you can wear? You won’t have to worry that your gym shorts don’t have pockets, because the clip on the back of the Shuffle 4 allows you to attach it to sleeves, waistbands, or backpacks. It’s so light you might forget it’s there, so make sure not to toss it in the laundry!

Since the Shuffle series doesn’t feature LCD screens, how do you know what you’re listening to? The answer is VoiceOver. It speaks 29 languages, and can tell you the title, artist, playlist title (if you sync playlists from iTunes), and how your battery is holding up so you know when to charge it without having to risk it dying in the middle of your run.

The best people to trust are the ones who already own it! So go online and check out the reviews. Then you can decide for yourself whether to get one of these convenient five-star players.