[kkingnia]

I have both a 1st and a 2nd generation ipod Shuffle and now after installing the iTunes 7.7 update both refuse to play when not connected to my computer. All they do is alternate green and orange lights. The content (podcasts and audio books) is there and will play (through the computer's speakers) when the ipod is in the USB connector but not when it is removed from the computer. I just saw the same behavior on Apple's Shuffle support community site.
Also now below the ipod on the left is a podcast subdirectory. Some said copying files to that subdirectory makes it work again but it didn't work for me. It does this on both ipods.

[kkingnia]

I stumbled across the "iPod Reset Utility.app" for the Shuffle on Apple's Support web area. At first it didn't seem to work but this morning it did on both Shuffles. My only problem was that it said the Shuffle was supposed to restart itself and I didn't see that if did anything. I finally quit iTunes then restarted it and found I could put content on which the Shuffle would play to the earphone jack.