Version: 2008

Crave

Comments on: Report: iPod Shuffle accessories to get Apple 'tax'

Apple is reportedly planning to require third-party headphones--and headphone adapters--for the new device to include an Apple-licensed authentication chip that will jack up the prices.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 3 of 3 pages (89 Comments)
by gmhendo March 16, 2009 2:00 PM PDT
Bend over forwards, here comes Apple again! Haven't they got enogh trade restrictions already? When is the world gonna say "Enough!"
Reply to this comment
by shingshadow March 16, 2009 2:52 PM PDT
see everyone's like the sound quality sucks with earbuds, but i think it's a smart move, b/c what other set of headphones has inline with good quality? Why the new $79 apple ones
Reply to this comment
by ikramerica--2008 March 16, 2009 4:33 PM PDT
What about the "Sony" tax? My Sony phone required an adapter to use anything but the standard cheap headphones that came with it as a handsfree. They had two options, one with controls for music and volume control and one with just the mic, answer/hangup button and mini jack. Both were EXPENSIVE, far more than any Apple dongles are.
Reply to this comment
by Miloheat3 March 16, 2009 9:07 PM PDT
Why in the wold would you rather go with a "locked down" iPod shuffle for $79
and have to be locked in with a pair of cheap-o earbuds, for only 4gb??????
Fashion icon? is that what it is? For $79, go get a 4gb Sansa Fuze, which actually,
has a screen, memory expandability, and excellent sound quality. Now tell me, which one
is more bang for your buck? Personally, I would go w/ the Sansa Fuze, cause I think, and
don't go to whatever in new from apple, or any company..cough cough..apple fanbois...
Reply to this comment
by asong4u1975 March 16, 2009 10:54 PM PDT
Apples headphones and earbuds suck. They are the weak link in the system. Why don't they offer different sizes and styles like their competitors? Lazy? Just want the "tax revenue." The latest IPod buds are HUGE. Who has ears that big?
Reply to this comment
by 3rdalbum March 17, 2009 5:03 AM PDT
Apple has been screwing retailers for years - where I live, Apple's RRP is only about 5% more than the retailer's cost including G.S.T. That's why retailers stock up with massive numbers of accessories, as that's where they can make some money. If you don't buy a skin, FM transmitter or some other accessory, the store might as well have not sold you an iPod. And then, Apple changes the physical dimensions of the iPod so the retailer is left with a bunch of "made-to-fit" accessories that don't fit the new designs.

Now Apple is going to screw the manufacturers of the accessories by forcing them to license the Apple headphone controls.

You know, that's the real reason why other brands of MP3 players are sometimes more expensive - they have a more realistic RRP so the retailer can get some sort of profit margin. When I was in the market for an MP3 player, and in the electronics industry, the cost price for an iPod Nano 8gb was the same as for a Sony Walkman 8gb. Naturally, I chose the better MP3 player - you know, the one that doesn't get scratched, that has the same battery life but much better sound quality, that's smart enough to generate its own music database rather than require extra buggy software on the PC...
Reply to this comment
by trouble001 March 17, 2009 12:03 PM PDT
Y A W N .....
Reply to this comment
by Bozco11 March 17, 2009 12:35 PM PDT
Obviously Apple does it because the idiot masses out there will buy it anyway, just because it's an "ipod". Hopefully people wise up to this BS though it's not likely. Hell, the stock earphones don't even fit in my ear to the point that I can't even wear them for a second. F giving them money to wear headphones of my choice.
Reply to this comment
by FadingRose550 March 20, 2009 8:48 PM PDT
Saying that someone who wants good sound quality shouldn't buy the shuffle could be true - but you can't even control the volume?! That's like the most basic feature of a music player (even the cheap-o radios that they give away for free as promo items have volume control!).
Reply to this comment
by tarapola June 19, 2009 7:43 PM PDT
I asked for an Ipod for fathers day. I got it tonight. I?m totally disappointed that I can?t plug it directly into my cassette adaptor in my car. I can plug it in but have no control moving from song to song. The other 3 Ipods that are in this house work that way but this one doesn?t. Nice that I can?t find a cable that will accommodate me. Nice that I can?t return it once it?s open. Very deceptive marketing.
Reply to this comment
by Annyza October 2, 2009 4:46 PM PDT
hi guys.......i am happy to see you here. u have Nice Blog Thank for sharing article with me
Do you want buy ........iPoD.......? If u want please join visit me >>>> http://astore.amazon.com/ipod.shuffles.for.sale-20
Reply to this comment
by Annyza October 2, 2009 6:18 PM PDT
hi guys.......i am happy to see you here. u have Nice Blog Thank for sharing article with me
Do you want buy ........iPoD.......? If u want please join visit me >>> http://astore.amazon.com/ipod.shuffles.for.sale-20
Reply to this comment
Showing 3 of 3 pages (89 Comments)
advertisement

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Crave topics

15 sites that went kaput in 2009

Web sites launch all the time, but they also shut their doors. We highlight 15 that bit the dust this year.

Top 10 news stories of the decade

Let the debate begin: Was the iPhone more important than iTunes? Was anything bigger than Google finding a great business model? CNET offers its list of the 10 most important stories of the '00s.