An iPod Shuffle (like the one we’re giving away!) is an amazing device. It can store and play about 240 songs. This number can vary a little depending on file quality and how long the songs are. If that seems unimpressive, just remember how small the Shuffle is. It contains a gigabyte (GB) of storage space in a package that’s not too much wider than a quarter.

iPod Shuffle

The largest object inside the Shuffle’s case is the rechargeable battery. This particular battery is a lithium-ion polymer battery. Just like a laptop battery, it uses charged particles of lithium to carry electricity. But unlike a laptop battery, a lithium-polymer battery can be extremely thin. Lithium-polymer batteries are also lighter and less likely to overheat. A pair of wires connects the battery to a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB holds the other components together. The battery shares its side of the PCB with the flash memory chip. The flash memory holds lots of information, including music files and the Shuffle’s operating system.

iPod Shuffle PCB front

The other side of the PCB houses the Shuffle’s microprocessor, which controls the Shuffle’s functions. The PCB also holds five small dome switches that you use to control the Shuffle. When you press one of the buttons, a tiny piece of rubber flattens one of the domes. When you let go, the dome springs back to its original shape. A sticky membrane inside the case holds the rubber pieces and the buttons in place.

iPod Shuffle PCB back

The sliding on-off and shuffle switches work differently. Rather than pressing against dome switches, they connect directly to small pieces of metal that complete electrical circuits.

The Shuffle doesn’t have a screen, so it communicates using flashing lights. These lights come from two pairs of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Small pieces of translucent plastic carry the light from the LEDs to translucent dots on the Shuffle’s outer case.