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New iPod Shuffle has Mysterious Chip
Techtree News Staff, Mar 17, 2009 1100 hrs ISTIt will take time for users to become comfortable with the VoiceOver controls
Apple last week launched the smallest iPod Shuffle with proprietary headphones that replace the buttons on the music player's body. The third-generation iPod Shuffle doesn't have any screen, and the headphones have new VoiceOver-controls for navigation. Sounds confusing, doesn't it?
Basically, Apple has removed the control buttons from iPod Shuffle's body and ported them on their stock headphones. These stock headphones have control functions and battery level indicator. The playback controls and navigation becomes way more complex for first-time iPod users, and it will take time for them to get used to the VoiceOver controls.
The user navigation is backed with a VoiceOver control, a human-like voice that gives information about the status based on the click action. For instance, to play a track, click the center button once. To hear about the singer and the song, click and hold the center button for a couple of seconds and a human-like voice will give out information about the artist and the song played.
Apple has details about the VoiceOver control function on their site for those looking to know how to use it. Check the full post here.
The third-generation iPod Shuffle got dissected, but folks missed out dissecting the headphones.
The iLounge guys revealed in their review that the new iPod Shuffle's headphones with remote control functions have an 'authentication chip.' With this authentication chip, Apple could possibly enjoy a monopoly in the remote control headphones' market.
To check the chip, BoingBoing folks opened up the headphones and found a mysterious 8A83E3 chip that supports remote control functions. Apple Store already has these new earphones with remote and mic available for the iPod Nano, iPod Classic, and iPod Touch.
Now, the third-party earphone and remote and mic manufacturers will either have to get the authentication chip from Apple or have to follow the same hardware specifications. Silently, Apple has waved their wand to capture a major share in the portable music market.
Much will depend on whether the signals from and to the remote on the headphones of the new iPod Shuffle are encrypted or not. If the signals are encrypted, then it's the mysterious 8A83E3 chip behind it, and the headphones will be Apple-only intellectual property. But if the signals are not encrypted, then, any third-party earphone manufacturer is free to copy the design and come up with customized remote-based headphones. However, where Apple tends to fall is in the size and quality of the stock earphones that are bundled with iPods.
Until the mystery of the 8A83E3 chip is solved, nothing much can be said about compatibility with any third-party headphone.
UPDATE:
What earlier was called an 'authentication chip' is actually a control chip. As part of the 'Made for iPod' and 'Made for iPhone program,' third-party headphone developers will have to follow a specific circuitry design in their headphones. An Apple spokesman confirmed the news about the presence of the chip at Macworld. "As part of the Made for iPod program, we make sure that third-party headphones work properly with the third-generation iPod Shuffle," the spokesman said.
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Edward Virtuall
,United States, on Mar 17, 2009 11:37 AM
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asimpleson
,Mumbai, on Dec 02, 2009 09:26 PM
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,Doncaster, UK, on Mar 19, 2009 02:19 AM
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