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?
Filed under: Portable Audio
Third-party iPod shuffle headphones will require Apple-licensed authentication chip originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read |
Permalink |
Email this |
CommentsSource:
iPhone watch
No comments:
Post a Comment