Highlights From Our Collection - June 2009

The iPod Shuffle MP3 Player, 2005

In January 2005, the Apple computer company released its first generation iPod Shuffle MP3 player. In a break from the standard method of storing data on a hard disk, it was the first iPod to use flash memory. This allowed people to more easily listen to music while active and greatly spurred on the use of portable music devices. This small, lightweight device can play up to 120 songs in random order, with a battery life of about 12 hours. In addition to music files, the Shuffle can be used as a storage device for other data files. In September 2006, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that Apple had sold 10 million iPod Shuffles of this type.

The Tunebuds headphones and fabric lanyard device is an after market item made by Griffin Technology. Connecting to the Shuffle's USB plug, the lanyard fits over the neck, supporting both the Shuffle and headphones. With this setup, a user was free to run, bike, walk, or dance without having to hold their musical device.

These artifacts were donated by John Lilley and Laura Stinson. They are longtime Boulder residents and owners of DataLever, Inc. a successful software company. This donation of modern technology illustrates the Museum's goal of collecting current as well as older material. Someday iPods will be old technology, just as wax recording cylinders are now.

For other 'Highlights from Our Collection', check out our Archive.