New iPod shuffle requires headphones to be Apple certified!

Eh, eventually companies will just make headphones that work with the
new ipod.

same as how other companies make chargers that work with ipods too.


will i buy one myself?
no, i still like the ipod i have

I have purchased multiple styles and brands of ear buds and ended up
having to buy old school walkman style headband ones because none
would stay in my ears!

The more that I think about this, the new headphones sounds like a
special convenience feature, since they control the Ipod itself.

so...you are upset with Apple about a product that you haven't bought
yet and are upset because they are being greedy by forcing you to use
the accessory that comes with their product.

You apparently have bought other headphones for ipods you currently
own (spending extra money on a product not made by Apple). You feel
that Apple is being greedy because they're forcing you to not spend
additional money on another set of headphones.

What does greedy mean in your world?

If you are upset about the quality of their product - that's cool -
personally I would actually have to try them out to form my opinion
but whatever. I'm sure Apple will now go out of business because you
won't consider buying anything from their company anymore. Peace.

It sounds like regular headphones would work, but you need the Apple
headphones to control the Ipod itself. I don't think this is greed.
Maybe they can market a tool that plugs in to the ipod, then you plug
your regular headphone into it?

It has to do with being smaller and sexier. It got so small that they
had to move the buttons elsewhere.

Yes, the fact you need Apple ear buds (which some find objectionable
to use) is annoying. That is why you are eligible to take your
business elsewhere. For products other than this, I don't see why you
should avoid Apple.

Keep in mind that the shuffle has always been the smallest and
simplest of the ipods. There is no screen and only a few controls.
You can always look at other models of ipods that don't have the
controls on the earbuds.

Once you see how small the new shuffle is, there is no room for any
usable buttons.

Good complaint. I'm very picky about headphones/ear buds, and I want
to be able to buy what fits best in my ears, not what a company
dictates I need to use.

I totally agree with you. I must have oddly-shaped ears, because for
some reason, all ear buds pop out of my right ear. Now, I'm a runner,
so I can't deal with that, so I found the perfect ear buds that slide
inside your ear like an earplug, and come with different sized rubber
thingies to make them fit just right. I wouldn't be able to run with
my iPod without them. Looks like I won't be buying a Shuffle any time
soon!

Shuffle doesn't need to be any smaller. It's easy enough to break or
lose already.
Sounds to me like an intentional design change to make more money by
probably earning percentages from all the licensing it's going to get
off of "certified" headphones, since they are replaced so often.

Major screw up Apple.

I completely agree with OP, this definitely turned me off of Apple
products.

I hate to be mean but did you even read up about the new shuffle? From
the apple website:

"Easy access controls.
The controls of the new iPod shuffle are located on the right earbud
cord. With command central now strategically placed in this more
convenient location, you can navigate your music and activate the
VoiceOver feature without taking your eyes off your run, your ride,
or whatever you're doing."

In order for the headphones to work, the headphones have to be from
apple or they developer needs to talk to apple in order to get the
right technology to make it work. Its not being greedy, it's what's
required to make the headphones work.

All the politicians agree companies are greedy so it has to be true.

Some get greedy when you give them taxpayer money to bail themselves
out, when obviously they should have failed (AIG). Kind of like when
people win the lottery and are bankrupt 2 years later, they got
greedy.


Good Day

Adam, the reason you have to have Apple certified headphones is
because they moved the player controls from the shuffle to the
headphone cord so they could make the shuffle even smaller. It's not
about greed at all...this is purely an intentional design change.

You literally can't use any headphones on the new shuffle unless they
have controls built into the cord.

http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/features.html