iPod Shuffle Only Works with Apple Earphone?!
Mar 16, 2009 Apple, MP3 Players
Guys at Boing Boing dissects the earphones of the new iPod Shuffle, and found a tiny chip, coded 8A83E3. It could be just a normal chip that read and transmit a button click to a digital signal. As the new iPod shuffle has no button on the device, all the functions are controlled by its earphones. It seems Apple is making advantage from its 70% of the market share. The company can make a decent revenue by just turning the earphone chip into a licensing scheme!
By adding such a chip to headphones, Apple could force third-party manufacturers to pay fees to make headphones for its iPod Shuffle—after all, the device has no controls, so normal headphones are useless.
[ Boing Boing via CrunchGear ]
More reading:
iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen Reviewed by CNet
iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen Dissected by iFixIt
iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen Deals
Popularity: 17% [?]
iPod Nano 2G Clone Hits Malaysia!
Nov 20, 2006 Apple, MP3 Players, Related News
Oh my god, iPod Nano 2G cloned is now available in Malaysia! I discovered it while browsing the local tech forum, Lowyat.net (ya, I’m Malaysian). It is even printed with Apple logo! If you are an Apple fanboy, please buy the original iPod Nano 2G
[ via Lowyat.net ]
Popularity: 42% [?]
How to disassemble iPod Shuffle 2
Nov 4, 2006 Apple, MP3 Players, Tips & Tricks
iFixit recently published a complete guide on how to disassemble the world smallest MP3 player – iPod Shuffle 2
Well, let skip all the dissassembling process. What I want to know is what the heck inside this tiny thing!
On the top of its circuit logic board, you can see five button sensors, ARM chip and data cable ribbon. No idea about the ARM chip, but it has the number: 337S3300 844A N05WDK01 0642 ARM
The bottom of the board has a Li-ion polymer battery and headphone jack plug, which is most impressive part of iPod Shuffle 2. The plug is multi-modal and switches between USB, analog audio, and possibly power modes. Read the rest of this entry »
Popularity: 33% [?]
Another iPod Video?
Mar 7, 2006 Apple, Related News
Are you ready for the said iPod Video?
Popularity: 14% [?]
PCMag Reviews Apple iPod Hi-Fi
Mar 5, 2006 Accessories, Apple
PCMag has just reviewed Apple’s new iPod Hi-Fi and given a high mark on it! The editor of PCMag rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars and awarded Editor Choice to it.
Does all these worth for $350? I would minus 1 star for its high price!
Pros
Excellent sound quality. Can run on alkaline batteries or AC power. Optical and analog audio inputs.
Cons
Menu button on remote doesn’t activate the iPod’s menu system. No video pass-through. Not available in all black.
Bottomline
It’s no surprise that the new champ among iPod speakers/docks comes from none other than Apple. It’s versatile and loud enough for almost any listening needs, though it lacks video output.
Popularity: 22% [?]