What’s Going on With the New iPod Shuffle?
- March 16th, 2009 - 8.27 pm UTC
- Apple News, iPod News
- Alex Brooks
One of the biggest complaints about the new iPod shuffle is that Apple’s removal of buttons from the unit itself onto the earphone cable forcing users to use the included earphones. Over the weekend it also became apparent that Apple was including some kind of authentication chip in the earphones, this would make it impossible for third parties to develop earphones for the iPod shuffle.
Today the story has developed further with Apple and manufacturing partners downplaying rumours of an authentication chip but manufacturers wishing to develop headphones for the iPod shuffle will have to have a license from Apple to be part of the “Made for iPod” program.
Apple has been using the “Made for iPod” program for several years to help protect consumers from buying products that weren’t designed to work solely for the iPod. This is the first time Apple has required manufacturers to be part of the program to create headphones.
Comments
WTF? 16th March 2009, 22.42 pm
> Apple has been using the “Made for iPod” program for
> several years to help protect consumers from buying
> products that weren’t designed to work solely for the iPod.
What has this got to do with protecting consumers? Don’t you mean protect their pockets?
Elric 16th March 2009, 22.44 pm
If you are in the market for the low end shuffle, why do you care if you can’t use Skullcandy headphones?
slappy 17th March 2009, 00.20 am
Sorry, but there is no authentication chip there. Another regurgitated story without fact base checking done.
Lock-In 17th March 2009, 11.45 am
Seems Apple are going from bad to worse.
Matt Shaw 17th March 2009, 13.07 pm
Surely all the chip is doing is super imposing serial commands for the controls over the audio…?
Alex Brooks 17th March 2009, 14.41 pm
@WTF?
Surely protecting consumers pockets is the same as protecting the consumer as a whole?
@slappy
I linked to several sources in the article itself, if you have better sources please list them. Apple has confirmed that manufacturers wishing to interface with the iPod shuffle will have to include this chip.
Nazly 22nd October 2009, 17.45 pm
The New Shuffle…An Unexpected Disappointment
I’m extremely disappointed with the new Shuffle. After opening the small box, I held the gadget in my hand wondering where the controls were. Now what kind of maker would place the controls in the earphones of an iPod loved by exercisers?! Some people might be OK with that, but I’m a runner and I mainly use my Shuffle for an hour of hard core sweaty sessions. Fellow exercisers will note that earphones have to be replaced every now and then when they get clogged. In this case, I’ll have to replace my Shuffle every now and then
Did Apple realize how good the first Shuffle was and that the low-cost gadget might be affecting sales of its more expensive siblings and decided to disfigure the Shuffle? I gave the thing away to a friend who ironically lost it the next day. We have nothing to be sorry about. But this leaves me wondering whether I should still trust Apple and buy a more expensive iPod or is it time to try out another brand altogether? Shame on you Apple.
From a very disappointed consumer in Cairo.
LadyHeather 7th November 2009, 15.54 pm
I’m training for my first marathon and loved my old shuffle. It stopped working, and I tried replacing it with this one and when I saw the control on the headphones I had one of thos wtf moments, and I’m 60 in a few days. This one is going back to Target today. UNUSABLE. Thanks for the forum to vent in.
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