New iPod Shuffle to arrive on Friday

Apple announced on Tuesday that the second generation of its iPod Shuffle will be available globally on Friday 3 November. The 1GB screenless iPod, which retails for £55, has been the subject of much fan speculation because of Steve Jobs' claim that it's the world's smallest digital-audio player -- it measures just 41mm by 27mm by 10mm.

The new Shuffle was announced as part of an Apple 'special event' in September. Jobs originally stated that the little music player would ship in October, but when most of the month went by without a definite release date, enthusiasts began to wonder what had happened to it.