So, let me see if I’ve got this straight: the new iPod Shuffle has no controls at all, making it usable only with the supplied earbuds or your in-ear headphones that cost as much as the player; the interface on the new remote includes double-click to go forward, triple-click to go back, and press-and-hold until it speaks the name of a playlist; and it’s smaller than most of the flash drives that people are constantly losing.

I ask because my beloved 2nd-generation Shuffle has shown some signs of near-future failure, and it sounds like I should grab another one as soon as the clearance sales start, before this new widget is all that’s on the shelves.

[not that that would leave me pod-less; I’ve yet to have one fail completely, so I’ve still got a 30GB, a 60GB, and a Mini that all use the old-style remote control, which I find best for car use. I’ve also got a Touch (for apps) and a Nano (a gift), and someday need to sync them all up with a machine that has my complete music library.]