SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Apple Computer introduced the newest addition to its iPod product line, the iPod shuffle. As expected by rumor sites and Wall Street analysts alike, the iPod shuffle is a flash-memory based music player. The name "shuffle" refers to the units interface, or lack thereof, because it comes without a display and can play wither a Playlist fro iTunes or shuffle through a playlist. The unit comes in either a 512 megabyte unit that holds up to 120 songs for US$99, or a 1 gigabyte unit that holds up to 240 songs for $149, and sports rechargeable internal batteries that will last up to 12 hours.

"iPod shuffle is smaller and lighter than a pack of gum and costs less than $100," said Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, in a statement. "With most flash-memory music players users must use tiny displays and complicated controls to find their music; with iPod shuffle you just relax and it serves up new combinations of your music every time you listen."

iPod shuffleis most distinguishing feature is the lack of a display. iPod shuffle literally is designed to play music back in a shuffled Playlist, though it can also play a Playlist in order. It features an LED that changes color according to the task it is doing -- for instance green for play, red for pause -- and users control the unit through forward, back, play/pause, and volume up and down buttons. The unit does not include a clickwheel.

Physically, the unit is small, smaller than a pack of gum according to Apple, and is made of the same white plastic that helped the original iPod become such a hot seller.

Unlike previous iPod, however, the unit come equipped with USB. The USB port sticks out of the bottom of the unit and plugs into a Mac or PC like a USB pen drive would. It ships with both a cap for covering the port, and a lanyard cap for wearing the unit around your neck.

In addition to iPod shuffle, Apple also introduced some accessories for the unit, including a sportscase that encases the unit, an armband for athletic endeavors, a dock, and an additional battery pack that can augment the onboard power. All of the units are available now from the Apple Store.