Sun Blogs: Virtual RAMification
Apple's Headphone Ploy
March 30, 2009 - 11:00pm
Being a Mac user, I’m bombarded with the inane advertisement that is the Safari home page whenever I start up my browser. Surprisingly, I can’t believe that I’ve JUST seen the ad for the new iPod shuffle. Aside from VoiceOver, which (l) allows the iPod to announce things to you, such as playlist title, song name, etc., the other feature that caught my attention about the shuffle was the placement of the controls on the right earbud.
Hold on, something’s not right. The controls are on the earbud?
This feature just makes me think of the antitrust problems that Microsoft ran into with the EU. Based on what I’m seeing, putting the controls on the earbud may provoke the same kind of response. Let’s face it - iPods were the most popular mp3 players on the market even back in 2007 before the new iPhones came out. Apple could get even more money if they could dominate the headphone market as well. With the new shuffle using the earbud controls, Apple will have the chance to ease in on the market. Granted, the shuffle works with other headphones, but the lack of control will most likely force users to use Apple’s headphones anyways. And on the same note, this will also make third party companies who wish to make headphones for the shuffle buy licensing rights from Apple.
Considering that most Apple headphones , the new shuffle headphones won’t be cheap either if you break them by accident. I know I decided to buy third party in-ear headphones that cost as little as $6.00 rather than cough up the $20.00 for the ones from Apple and I know I would want to keep using my own headphones if I bought the new shuffle.
True, headphone controls may be an innovative way to control music players. But because Apple finds the need to squeeze the iPod cash cow dry, it’s very difficult for other companies to take off with this venture without Apple’s approval, which only solidifies Apple’s near-monopoly on the mp3-player industry.
In defense of the new Shuffle
Okay, so I have a couple problems with this article. Now I'm not a huge fan of the new shuffle, but you have to realize that the people who buy an iPod shuffle are not the same people (in general) who buy nicer headphones to enjoy their music with. I've never had a large complaint with Apple's earbuds, but I can understand that they aren't the best headphones on the market. Fine. But if you're buying an iPod shuffle, chances are it's for a kid or for the gym and in either scenario, guess what? Apple's ear buds are just fine. Did you complain that in order to use the iPhone hands free you need Apple's own ear buds? Besides, Apple is very good about supporting third party developers - it won't be all that hard for the headphone manufacturers to implement the shuffle controls in their headphones.
It's also not like they're stifling innovation like Microsoft did with Explorer/Office - the headphone industry is not the hotbed of innovation that the web browser industry is. And seriously, what headphone manufacturer relies solely on the iPod market? Laptops, Desktops, Zunes, Sonys, Home Stereos - they all have the same headphone jack, and all need (at least sometimes) a nice pair of headphones.
Remember, now that the iTunes music store is DRM free, people buy iPods because they like iPods, and for no other reason. So it's hardly fair to use the anti-trust argument against Apple making their headphones a little bit more proprietary.
And if you really find Safari's default home page that "inane," you can always change it. It's right in preferences, under the General tab.