Apple has updated a software repair tool for its first-generation iPod Shuffle that is said to now allow the Flash-based music player to work correctly with songs downloaded from the company's own online music shop.

Apple quietly posted iPod Shuffle Reset Utility 1.0.1 just before Christmas, but it's only just begun to be noticed by users. Some are claiming on a variety of online forums that using the utility finally eliminates problems the old-style Shuffle has had playing DRM-protected songs.

From the Shuffle's earliest days some tracks downloaded from the iTunes Music Store would skip during playback - an issue this reporter can attest to as it was an issue with his own Shuffle - and, in extreme cases, not play downloaded songs at all.

Apple released iPod Shuffle Reset Utility 1.0 in October in a bid to fix Shuffles that had become unresponsive to users or wouldn't mount on users' computers. The utility was intended to fix some ITMS-download playback issues, but it didn't appear to fix the problem.

iPod Shuffle Reset Utility 1.0.1 can be downloaded from Apple's support website in Mac and Windows versions. ®