14 DAY TRIAL // Clearly Apple doesn't like the buzz circling the web about its new shuffle's headphones, but this is what you get when you try to have full control over 3rd party accessories. According to several reports, a chip found inside the three-button remote controller on the headphone cable has been confirmed by Apple as a counter measure for third-party headphones. Apple claims there is no DRM in the chip.
It is a known fact that using third-party headphones with the third generation iPod shuffle is not (100%) possible due to the control mechanism tied to the original headset. This has spawned quite some controversy. Without fail, reviewers (and ourselves) noted Apple's choice of tying controls to the headphones as a rather bad move. Those who got their hands on the device went further than the people at iFixit and opened the remote controller as well. To Boing Boing Gadgets' surprise, there is a chip located inside the new iPod shuffles' headphone control module, Macworld reports. This, coupled with comments over at iLounde regarding the existence of such a chip, kicked off speculation that Apple had included DRM with the new iPod shuffle, as means of forcing third-party manufacturers to pay a licensing fee to make headphones for the device.
However, according to iPod-accessory vendors V-moda and Scosche, as well as other vendors speaking to Macworld anonymously, the circuitry is more of a “control chip” rather than an authentication chip. Talking to the site, an Apple spokesman confirmed the presence of the chip inside the headphone for control module. "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.
According to Monster Cable's Kevin Lee, there is no DRM in this new control chip. "In fact, it's not even authentication. It just gives us a way to control the iPod," he said. The statement is most likely accurate, since Apple is known to offer a "Made for iPod" licensing certification for accessories that work with their iPods, following some compatibility issues with third-party accessories for iPhone and iPod touch. With the introduction of this chip, Apple has merely extended the "Made for iPod" certification to accessories aimed at the new iPod shuffle.
DRM or no DRM, third party vendors will still have to answer (pay) to Apple if they wish to produce shuffle-compatible headphones, chargers, etc. However, there is talk that reverse-engineering the chip may prove to be fairly easy. We'll know whether or not this is true when the first third-party headphones make their appearance.