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Apple has backed off its misguided design of a buttonless iPod shuffle and returned to the right path. Throw in the VoiceOver features and the longer battery life, and it’s easy to say that this is the best iPod shuffle Apple has ever made.

The iPod Shuffle's buttons are back, and the lightest, smallest MP3 player on the planet is now better than ever.

It's hard to get excited about an iPod with no screen, but Apple's inclusion of on-player controls makes the affordable shuffle easier to navigate—and a better value.

The Apple iPod Shuffle is an adorable way to take your favorite songs on-the-go, but sometimes it's too small for its own good.

The iPod shuffle is a simple and easy to use MP3 player that will require you to have some grasp of iTunes to get the most out of it, but if you've got that you'll love it. For runners, the ability to create playlists...is a great addition as is the ability to access individual playlists.

Apple's fourth-generation iPod Shuffle is a sleek and easy-to-use device, largely thanks to the return of the controls offered by the first- and second-generation Shuffles. The VoiceOver feature is also a big winner.

...for users who are looking for an iPod-branded device with a shiny new shell and familiar interface, the fourth-generation iPod shuffle is a solid buy—assuming that the new slate of colors and single 2GB capacity currently being offered meet your needs.

...with 2GB of storage and coming in a variety of fruity colours...this iPod Shuffle is the best effort to date.

The fourth generation iPod shuffle goes a long way to redeeming the failings of its predecessor. Physical controls make a welcome return, without making the device notably less portable or stylish. As ever, though, cheaper, more capable alternatives are available.