Third-party iPod shuffle headphones will require Apple-licensed authentication chip

Sigh, it looks like Apple's habit of squeezing iPod accessory manufacturers for license fees has now extended to freaking headphones -- iLounge is reporting that the new iPod shuffle can only be controlled by headphones with a special hardware authentication chip. That means that third parties will have to pay Apple for the privilege of making shuffle-compatible accessories, and you can bet they'll just pass that cost right on to consumers -- we wouldn't expect any cheap headphone adapters or inexpensive replacement headphones for the littlest iPod. iLounge calls this a "nightmare scenario" for iPod fans, and we're inclined to agree -- it's one thing for Apple to require the Made For iPod certification for accessories that interface with the dock connector, but trying to lock down headphones is a sad new low, and it makes the lack of physical controls on the shuffle seem even more ridiculous. Anyone still planning on buying this thing?

[jason @ Mar 15th 2009 9:10PM]

wow ipod sucks, archos ftw.

[Sean @ Mar 15th 2009 9:18PM]

what happens when your headphones stop working? YOUR SHUFFLE IS DEAD

[FILA @ Mar 15th 2009 9:20PM]

hahahaha I agree

Thou i was lookin into an Archos and changed my mind, for the time being, I must laugh at apple and all the whores goin to buy this piece of shit. I can see where the future is going for Apple if they keep this shit up.

Archos, Zune, Cowon For The Win!!!

Creative, you pissed me off one to many times

[AJC @ Mar 15th 2009 9:24PM]

I've gotta say I really love the new shuffle combo'd with the new (somewhat pricey) in hear head phones from apple. Brightens my day a bit when I use them. Its so strange to see so many haters posting on this little shuffle that they have no intention buying.

[Cynthia @ Mar 15th 2009 9:57PM]

wow. another reason not to buy a shuffle ipod. stick with the nano.

[raczkowskitm @ Mar 15th 2009 9:26PM]

yew used the wrong 2 won two many times.

[Elk. @ Mar 15th 2009 9:29PM]

"I can see where the future is going for Apple if they keep this shit up. "

... Epic profit? Because they've been *such* an open company up until this point, clearly.

Unfortunately (because this is pretty scummy that they'd even consider this crappy scheme), nobody is going to care about paying a few bucks more for headphones. In fact, most of the folks in Apple's consumer base don't even bother with new headphones. Come to think of it, I bet the aspect of the new shuffle that will be losing them more sales is the dumbass morse-code method of changing tracks.

[Leo @ Mar 15th 2009 9:30PM]

As if that useless imitation of a music player wasn't ridiculous enough, now this! Apple SUCKS big time!

[Jon Ivison @ Mar 15th 2009 9:39PM]

This is just flippin' stupid now! first there were no buttons..... I think this will be a problem when wearing a jacket! how the hell are you going to change track then? It was already going to cost for an adapter when the crappy apple headphones break now you need apple authorized 3rd party stuff? its just a Joke, think they have taken it too far with this one!
I would not even want one if they where giving them away!

[kangbp.nyc @ Mar 15th 2009 9:40PM]

an mp3 player without a screem, then a smartphone with no copy-n-paste, now a gadget with no input interface...

[Amrit @ Mar 15th 2009 9:53PM]

looking at AJC here and another 3 other people i saw using the new shuffle today makes me think Apple will win this..

Stupidity & Insanity would live to see another day...


:'-(

[Henry @ Mar 15th 2009 9:58PM]

Sean @ Mar 15th 2009 9:18PM

what happens when your headphones stop working? YOUR SHUFFLE IS DEAD
____________________________________________________________________________________
actually its bricked

@kangbp.nyc

an mp3 player without a screem, then a smartphone with no copy-n-paste, now a gadget with no input interface...
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
an mp3 player without a screen you mean?
a smartphone with no copy and paste...iPhone software 3.0 is expected to have cut and paste....
a gadget with no input interface? Wait are you talking about the buttons on the headphones? also there is a switch on the actual shuffle to turn it on/repeat/shuffle.

DISCLAIMER!!!
I in no way shape or form would buy the shuffle unless apple gave it to me and even then, I'd sell the shuffle and keep the nice apple stickers that come with it. :P

[Gad Get @ Mar 15th 2009 9:59PM]

@ KezMondo

Classic!

[Sirius @ Mar 15th 2009 10:17PM]

@Sean

When that happens, the smart people will go and buy an adaptor and use their own headphones instead of earbuds w/ inline controls..

And the *really* smart people would've gotten a nano and avoided all this crap :P

[Tinu @ Mar 15th 2009 10:21PM]

Authentication chip? Is it more tastier that Sour Cream & Onion Chip? Does it have more cholestrol than Cheddar Chip?

[Andrew88 @ Mar 15th 2009 10:24PM]

Wow, okay so other 3rd party headphones come out with the built in controls, then they end up not working properly... who's fault is that? Apple's, so they have to oversee the 3rd party controls to make sure they work properly since they stupidly decided to put them there. I don't think the controls on the headphones are bad because they fit me great and don't sound horrible, especially when working out. But I agree for others that hate the fit and quality that it's a bad idea. So they pretty much set themselves up for this mess. I will enjoy my shuffle but I think it's dumb to do this for people who hate the headphones, which, on the internet seems to be a lot.

I hope Nike makes some in black.

[iGoon#2 @ Mar 15th 2009 10:26PM]

Darn, i guess no more imitation iPhonie earphones for $3 at DealExtreme

[rob @ Mar 15th 2009 10:28PM]

haha, exactly what i was thinking

off topic:
im enjoying my archos xs202 for years now and think the ease of use and sound quality havent been reached from any other player/brand.

and as long as there are no music phones with proper sound i think my next one will be from archos (maybe cowon) again.

on topic:
the new shuffle sucks, the old one was much better, although it also was an overpriced piece of metal.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 15th 2009 10:49PM]

SEAN

The IPod shuffle starts playing music AS SOON AS IT IS TURNED ON.
In fairness, you can use any headphones with it you want, but, you have no access to the track forward/reverse and volume.

Yes, locking down headphones does suck balls.

The shuffle is going to sell anyway. Its not about the lack of technology and innovation - its about the pop culture purchasing it. Shuffles sold in excess of 15 million units last year. I never thought they'd sell like that.

[iphonerulez @ Mar 15th 2009 10:49PM]

That's O.K. Anyone that has a half-way decent job can afford to buy some nice, new headphones. Consider these minor setbacks as proudly wearing the badge of the elite Apple user. Eventually loyal Apple users will have to have authentication chips transplanted in them. We can't have any Apple haters carrying around advanced Apple products.

[Brian @ Mar 15th 2009 11:02PM]

i had a archos back on i think their 2nd generation with video recording that was great
then i got a cowon a2 wich was even better
i still use that for video
but i gota zune 80 for music simply because apple does crazy shit like this and people buy into it
you damn sheep

[KRIS_C_123 @ Mar 15th 2009 11:24PM]

i feel sorry for jason getting all these reply emails.

[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (BarCODE) @ Mar 15th 2009 11:31PM]

What apple failed to realize is that, consumers have a choice and will chose cheaper, more capable, less restrictive, and feature packed PMPs. Time to abandon ship on the whole iPOD lineup and Welcome the ________ (Zune, Creative, Archos, etc).

[Ridgecity @ Mar 16th 2009 1:24AM]

Wait a second. Don't the included earphones have some remote control or something? that's probably the chip it needs.

[Nipponese @ Mar 16th 2009 1:58AM]

@BarCODE

Your statement is quite far from reality. Apple HAS been dominating the PMP category. With all the hindrance you mention and still trumping the competition when it comes to sales numbers. I do think that this licensing scheme is beyond ridiculous and i sure as hell hope they wouldn't implement this in all their updated iPods coming next round.

[Charlie @ Mar 16th 2009 3:20AM]

Where do these ideas even come from? "Authentication chip" WTF? Apple always has to take something cool they develop and do anything they can to prevent others from improving on it or using it for anything else and creating all sorts of restrictions. It is all about what Apple decides to bless us with. It is getting really old.

[jguilb @ Mar 16th 2009 11:01AM]

""what happens when your headphones stop working? YOUR SHUFFLE IS DEAD""

or you can just get a new set of headphones

[OneLove @ Mar 16th 2009 10:40AM]

Why didn't they put the controls on an "apple chipped" extension cord, that you could plug any 3.5mm headphones into?

[Backlin @ Mar 16th 2009 10:59AM]

@iphonerulez: So wait, all I have to do to be an elite Apple user is pay $120 for a UI-deprived MP3 player and headphones that have to meet a hardware requirement? What about all of those people that paid over $2000 for their new MacBook Pros? They're in the same class too, right? And those people that bought 32Gb iPod Touches (which I have)?

Anyway, back on topic, there was no "still planning on buying this thing?" for me. If this new move doesn't scream product abandonment, I don't know what else will.

[boss-hogg @ Mar 16th 2009 12:17PM]

This is not a good look for apple. FAIL

[Tabajara Labs @ Mar 16th 2009 12:41PM]

I still cannot see the reason for buying a newer MP3 player. I have an (old old old old old) Ipod mini 2nd generation and I use it everyday. 8GB of music **is enough**, you'll never listen for more than that in A WEEK.

I think it is time to "grow up" and stop using music as a collectable. Music is for listening and not to brag "my media player has 1*10^123 Terabytes of storage, with 1*10^1023! musics stored!"

[paolo @ Mar 16th 2009 1:48PM]

Flame me if you want, but the design apple went with NEEDS a chip somewhere in the remote. Otherwise, there would be like 7 wires going up the earphones if all the switches were directly routed to the ipod, requiring instrument grade machining just to make the tip of the of the 1/4" plug. It quite easy to see that the remote interface talk via USB to the iPod. So obviously, there is some kind of encoding that gets done. The real question is, will apple actually make 3rd party companies pay for the encoding or if they put some kind of identification device in there. Further proving that the people suggesting this are idiots, they call it DRM. Where is the freakin' media in a switch talking to a PMP !?!

Knowing apple and their money sucking ways, they probably did put some kind of identification system. But we might as well and see if they in fact make that info available to the public orif they in fact have an ID system as, at the moment, there is no proof of it.

Think before you post, engadget, no ? Obviously there is a chip in the remote, there would be too many wires otherwise, not to mention additional chips in the iPod to read it.

PS, the shuffle design is horrid and I'm getting quite pissed off by apple's ways.

-not an apple fan, simply a lucid reader.

[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (BarCODE) @ Mar 17th 2009 1:04AM]

@Nipponese
What I am saying, is that it's still a free market. People don't take too kindly to this DRM-esq type of controls. The PMP market is flooded, the devices are near comodoty status. With other alternatives, that have more features, fewer restrictions, for less money; there's little reason to buy an iPOD. Especially after they pull a stunt like this one.

Just because it's a near-monopoly, doesn't mean you have to take part in keeping it alive. Make a choice for something different, something open, something other than iPOD. Put the squeeze on this over ripened Apple; it's time for it to rot, buy a Zune or Creative PMP.

[chickenjordan @ Apr 29th 2009 11:54PM]

ya archos!

[Noah @ Mar 15th 2009 9:10PM]

Short answer? No. Long answer? NOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Seriously though, Apple needs to see that this is completely absurd. I wonder if their sales are low enough/the internet complains enough, they'll get the picture.

[HunterXI @ Mar 15th 2009 9:38PM]

Gonna have to go with you here. "Fuck no" is the only acceptable answer to this bullshit.

[Neoprimal @ Mar 15th 2009 9:40PM]

How did people not see this coming? I called it the second the shuffle was released. And I'm also going to predict that they're going to try this on any new Apple headphone/earphone requiring product in the future, because it locks in money for Apple on the peripheral accessories level. If people buy up the Shuffle despite this factor, plan on seeing it on the Iphone 4G/next model Iphone and all the new Ipods coming up later on.

They can't slam you for every part you want to buy and stick into or onto the Mac anymore....that was something that turned people off Apple from the get go, but that has made Apple seem 'friendlier' lately because they abandoned the practice somewhat for proprietary everything. They're trying to quietly re-introduce the practice with peripherals and accessories. Not to say that you CAN'T use 3rd party stuff, but Apple wants to make sure that they make money off of any and everything made for Apple products. I suppose it's not unreasonable by any means, but it just doesn't paint a good picture for the company. And people who just want a small mp3 player who get the shuffle are going to be disappointed and angry when their included headphones break and they try to pick up a replacement for it anywhere else but an Apple Store (or try to pick up anything for less that 30 or 40 from Best Buy, etc.).

[marsromangod @ Mar 15th 2009 9:46PM]

i agree... and long explanation for both those answers HELLLL F'IN NOOOOOOO !!!

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 15th 2009 10:47PM]

Sadly Apple clients are more and more miss and mister everybody, your aunt and uncle. They dont hang out on engadget and have no idea what they are buying. They just want a part of the trend cake.

Pro users are more and more leaving the Apple ship. Inferior macbook screen quality, no more firewire unless you pay 2000$, color accuracy problems in uncompressed quicktimes, glossy only screens, expensive mac pro with cheap videocard (60$ on newegg, come on), and the list go on...

I still enjoy my old Ipod 60gb but my main workstation is now a i7 pc.

[Steveorevo @ Mar 15th 2009 11:11PM]

Waaaaaa. If you don't like it. Don't buy it. Its as simple as that. But I'm sure all the Fat M$ Zune fans here will all cry foul. If you don't identify with Apple and their fit crew... then stick to your cheeseburgers folks.

[ash @ Mar 16th 2009 2:02AM]

@ Boards of Canada

You're right. People that don't know / don't care are just going to buy it and not give a shit. They probably won't even find out until they lose their pair of earbuds at which point they'll likely be pretty pissed.

Is it getting more difficult for fanboys to come up with defenses (read: excuses) for this stuff? Headphone licensing and the weak assed Mac Mini "revamp" in the same month?

I'd like to hear the company defense on this. I'm thinking it begins and ends with "Well, we're dicks. What did you expect?"

[Burt Reynolds @ Mar 15th 2009 9:11PM]

Terrible, just terrible.

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 15th 2009 10:36PM]

Yes, there is a lot of better options on the market for 4gb small mp3 players.

Skip the Ipod Shuffle and give a look to a SanDisk clip.

[Ridgecity @ Mar 16th 2009 12:57AM]

Apple is probably kidding, they would never force companies to pay them extra just after the big price of admission...

[Troels C @ Mar 16th 2009 6:15AM]

Maybe the FTC should stop riding Microsofts back and have a look at Apple. They aren't any better.

[thethirdmoose @ Mar 15th 2009 9:11PM]

I just wanna be the first to say....
ROFL.

[BluesK1d @ Mar 15th 2009 9:23PM]

I second that. This is the biggest pile of fail in a while.

[Temo @ Mar 15th 2009 9:30PM]

I third this

ROLFLMAO

[_||_ @ Mar 15th 2009 10:28PM]

auth chips > blu-ray | bags of hurt

[rob @ Mar 15th 2009 10:33PM]

apple is the bag of hurt