Apple’s miniature players make a return to anodized aluminum

Sep 17, 2012 20:11 GMT  ·  By

A photo gallery showing the updated 2012 iPod shuffle line is now available from the fine gents at iLounge who note changes in colors as well as textures, compared to the former (fourth-generation) shuffles.

The diminutive shuffle no longer employs polished, glossy aluminum, but marks a return to the sandblasted anodized aluminum which can hold paint much better, and offers a nicer texture as well, according to the source.

The white Apple logo on the back of the players is also in higher contrast with the colors. Speaking of which, the colors themselves are different.

New tones now make the pink seem rosier, for example. The new shuffles also sell in additional colors now, such as purple, yellow, and black.

Notably, the players come with the same old earphones Apple used to ship every iDevice with. The new iPod nano and iPod touch lines are inheriting the all-new EarPods from the iPhone 5.