[Rcovell]

The slide switch on the back of my new Shuffle is not the easiest thing to use. It needs some 'tooth' to be more functional.
Since I don't use my Shuffle everyday, would it be a problem in leaving the back switch in the 'shuffle' position i.e. not turned 'off' and just use the front pause control.
The instructions don't seem to cover this idea.
Thanks, Bob.

[kerby74]

I don't know about the Shuffle specifically, but with other iPod's if you pause them they shut themselves down to a sleep mode after a while. You could just try it and if you don't seem to be getting the battery life you expect you would need to shut off.
just my 2 cents.

[feefer]

I think if you pause it for a few minutes, then the Shuttle goes into dormant mode. Apparently Apple doesn't recommend leaving it on:
http://docs.info.app...ml?artnum=60945

I still haven't figured out exactly how to do it, but I'd like to know how to turn off the Shuffle so that it remembers where it was playing before it was turned off. Why? If you have a 1GB Shuffle, it would take awhile to find your exact spot where you turned it off, especially if using the iPod to listen to podcasts, etc.
I THINK you can put the Shuffle into 'pause', place it in 'hold' mode (by holding the play button until the yellow light flashes (3) times), and then power it off with the slider. Next time you turn it on, wait for the green light to dissapear and hit the play button. I THINK that'll work: I'll have to check it to be sure....
Chris

[moose_n_squirrel]

It's unpredictable. I've had a shuffle for over a year. 90% of the time, if I slide the switch all the way to off, it remembers where it was when I turn it back on. But 10% of the time I turn it back on, it loses its place and I don't know why. Haven't figured out if it makes any difference to hit pause before a full shutoff.

[feefer]

Quote:

---

It's unpredictable. I've had a shuffle for over a year. 90% of the time, if I slide the switch all the way to off, it remembers where it was when I turn it back on.

---

Ha! Unpredictable behavior seems fitting for the Shuffle, since Apple says we're supposed to embrace randomness and chance when using an iPod Shuffle. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Chris

[Nobody]

Hence the name, Shuffle! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[feefer]

Hi all,
As the original poster says, it's tricky to get traction on the power slider of the Shuffle, and worse yet, some of the carriers and cases (e.g. the Action Jacket, from DLO) don't even ALLOW access to the slider without pulling the device out of the case; a pain in the neck, and that'll create more wear and tear on the surface. (FWIW, I cut a hole in my carrier's back, but that's hardly an elegant solution: in fact, I chewed up a carrier trying to do that: such user modifications DEFINITELY will void the warranty on the case). /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

So after a bit of trial-and-error, I worked this out.
Alternative One (not so good alternative):
1) Set the Shuttle to pause (push the play button briefly). The music will stop playing, and the green LED will blink.
2) After (1) minute, the Shuttle will automatically go into hibernation (energy conservation) mode. If you still have your ear buds in, you'll hear the amp clicking off, giving total silence (you won't hear that bit of background hiss that you usually hear). Be sure to leave the power slider in it's current position, though, as turning it 'off' will over-ride hibernation.
3) Pushing almost all of front panel controls at this point will do NOTHING: e.g. pushing the volume or fast-forward buttons will do nothing, and you won't even see the orange LED blink to confirm a button push.
4) The exception is pushing the PLAY button: hit it, and music will begin to play immediately from wherever you paused. At this point, all the buttons resume normal functionality.
The reason this is not advantageous is it's very likely the play button will depressed even momentarily while your Shuttle is in storage in your work-out bag, etc, and you're likely to discover the battery is dead the next time you want to use it, or that you've lost your position in the playback. So it's not a good alternative, and hence why I think Apple doesn't suggest this vs. turning the unit off with the power slider.
Fortunately there's a better way, combining hold functions with auto sleep mode:
1) Set the Shuttle to pause (push the play button briefly). The music will stop playing, and the green LED will blink.
2) Go into "Hold" mode by holding the play button for (3) seconds. Once engaged, the orange LED rapidly blinks (4) times. Trying to activate any button on the front panel will NOT work, with the orange LED appearing to remind you that you've put the Shuttle into hold (key lock-out) mode.
3) After (1) minute, the Shuttle will automatically go into hibernation (energy conservation) mode. If you still have your ear buds in, you'll hear the amp clicking off, giving total silence (you won't hear that bit of background hiss that you usually hear). Be sure to leave the power slider in it's current position, though, as turning it 'off' will over-ride hibernation.
Pushing almost all of front panel controls at this point will do NOTHING: e.g. pushing the volume or fast-forward buttons will do nothing, and you won't even see the orange LED blink to confirm a button push.
The exception is pushing the PLAY button: the orange LED lights, and the LED will light for ANY subsequent pushes of any of the buttons, too. This is the "awakening" mode, in that the amps haven't kicked on, etc, but the Shuffle is now receptive to be awoken. If no buttons are pushed within (1) minute, it automatically goes back into hibernation mode.
4) When you want to use the Shuffle again (say, the next day at the gym), press the play button for three seconds, and a green LED will flash (4) times, confirming you've unlocked the Shuffle from hibernation and "hold" mode.
5) Now press play, and the Shuffle should continue playing from where you last left off.
I think all of this in undocumented: I searched the Net, and Apple's site, and couldn't find any of this discussed. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Chris

[Rcovell]

Well, here's what I've found out so far. I've left the back slide switch in the 'shuffle' mode and just used the front controls to 'pause'. (Note: Whenever I've gone back to use the shuffle, it does start from where the song was paused.) But, after several days in the 'pause' mode, the battery seems to check out OK (still lights the green light on the back) and the song picks up right where it was paused.
So, to this point, the Shuffle seems to permit an automatic sleep mode without draining the battery.
BTW, the unit and my headphones just sit on my desk, so accidental operation is unlikely, unless my granddog decides to listen to my rock and roll.
Thanks for the input. Bob.