Maybe it’s the BBQ I just had on the Meatbus or something else but I’m not as up in arms about this as I was yesterday. But I’m still kind of miffed. BBG has confirmed that the secret 8A83E3 chip found inside the iPod Shuffle’s headset is actually an Apple-only chip used for transmitting audio or key clicks and is not available anywhere else.
While this isn’t technically DRM, it does force hardware lock-in and forces users to use and purchase only Apple-approved headsets and in-line controls.
That said, a three-button in-line remote could have been easily implemented by Apple without a microcontroller. While the in-line remote is simply an added convenience in most iPods, the iPod Shuffle has no controls on the device itself. To control the latest iPod, customers have no other choice but to use headphones made by manufacturers who have purchased a licensed authorization chip from Apple.
Generally this sort of thing doesn't effect very many people - basically only manufacturers who want to sell accessories - but to be so egregious is quite galling. They could have put this chip into the device itself but instead they hid the little bugger inside the headphones, ensuring that nothing else works with the Shuffle except official headphones.
UPDATE iLounge explains:
From what we were told, Apple offered to sell developers the chip for $1 in a bundle with a $2 microphone, costs which are then multiplied and passed on to consumers. The component costs are now apparently lower. There are also authentication chips inside the new Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic, and the In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic—the ones that you may recall were delayed last year for mysterious reasons.
So it’s all OK!
Here we go with the Proprietary technology, this is why I dont like companies like Sony and Apple.
They make good products but restrict people.
On the plus side if Apple is good about it this can be used and licensed out to quality manufacturers of ear buds and headsets to prevent cheap ones from being used.
On the negative side it can be used to nickle and dime consumers on better quality ear buds or eliminate competing ear buds all together
If any other company does something like this they’ll face law suits of preventing competition etc. But when it’s apple fanboys/girls will find ways to make it logical and the best way it should be. It’s just like the “double think” in 1984 (the book). Although you know it’s not true you make sure to believe it’s how it’s supposed to be.
If you look at it plainly you’ll see that it’s a way of making sure you buy their headphones by paying more than you would for better headphones from another company.
Cant we get an update please??
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/03/16/manufacturer-confirm.html
“Update: Apple confirms no DRM, authentication, just licensing”
Still not exactly sure what the allure would be at all for the new Shuffle.
This is why I wouldn’t buy a shuffle.
See, I destroy headphones. Both good quality and bad quality. I recently totally gave up on having nice ones, because I’d always end up buying more. So, I’ve moved to cheap ones. They don’t sound quite as nice, but I save money.
My little crappy Koss earbuds cost me $7.50 at Radio Shack on sale.
Of course, I wasn’t going to buy a shuffle anyways, as I love my 1st Gen iPod Touch… but it’s the principle. :P
Why can’t you cut off the buds & wire above the controller & solder in you own 3.5mm female jack? I haven’t seen photos of the entire headphones, so I may way off on my idea. Another thing you could do is cut off the buds & solder them into your own phones/buds
…cut off the buds & solder *the wire & controller* into your own phones/buds.
Er they are licensing the tech to headphone manu’s, so who gives a flying funicular. Can’t be a lock-in if it licensed you great booby bird. Sigh – boring non-article.
Yeah lets halt all technological innovation and production, so that Mr Plain Guy can use any headphones he wants to use on the iPod Shuffle.
Apple are trying to innovate something new, and the iPod Shuffle is a product specifically designed for people that don’t care about what headphones they use.
If you care about what headphones you use, don’t buy the iPod Shuffle. Noone is forcing you to buy the Shuffle. Move on and buy something else. There is no need complaining about it, and complaining about is like complaining that a Ferrari only has 2 doors.
I love how Apple gets all this grief for putting a piece of silicon in its headphones that requires a $1 license, while every damn manufacturer of an HDMI-based product has paid $10,000 or $15,000, plus 15 or 20 cents per unit sold. Silence.
People, if you don’t want to buy a Shuffle, DON’T BUY ONE.