Remember the 3rd generation iPod shuffle having a proprietary control chip? You don’t have to worry about that anymore since Belkin has reverse engineered (and probably licensed it from Apple too) the in-line controller that’s integrated onto the standard 3rd generation iPod shuffle headset.

What it essentially does, is simply providing an open 3.5mm jack for you to plug in your own headphone/earphone/headset. The controls are as follows:

• Play/Pause: Single-Click
• Next track: Double-Click
• Previous track: Triple-Click
• Hear title and artist of song playing (VoiceOver): Press and hold the multifunction button
• Move between playlists (VoiceOver): Press and hold, and then release the multifunction button after you hear a tone. Click to select playlist.

The Belkin Headphone Adapter for the 3rd generation iPod shuffle (F8Z452) is priced at $19.99 and will be available in the US by the end of July 2009. The adapter will start appearing everywhere else starting mid-August.

There’s just something weird, this thing costs 25% of an iPod shuffle!

[via Belkin]

See also:

• Apple 3rd generation iPod shuffle comes with VoiceOver feature
• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle getting a VoiceOver update
• Apple iPod shuffle 3rd generation earbuds contain proprietary control chip
• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle costs only $22 to manufacture
• Apple revamps the whole iPod family for 2009
• Belkin Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit (F5D4076)

Did you know that Apple just needs $22 to make a piece of their latest Apple iPod shuffle?

The Samsung main chip and flash memory cost $5.98 and $10 respectively, while the rechargeable battery for the device costs $1.20. Couple those parts with the proprietary earphone controller, a sleek casing with an Apple logo, some labor costs… and behold! The total reportedly comes out to just $22. Can you believe it? The markup is an eye-popping 359%.

Not to crap on the people who are whining about the price markup. But that’s how that’s how you do business!

So… Is this going to stop you from getting that super tiny and sweet lookin’ iPod shuffle? Would you rather get one of those cheap MP3 player knock-offs?

[via Geeks are Sexy and Techgeer.com]

See also:

• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle getting a VoiceOver update
• Apple iPod shuffle 3rd generation earbuds contain proprietary control chip
• Apple 3rd generation iPod shuffle comes with VoiceOver feature
• Belkin headphone adapter (F8Z452) allows you to use any headset with the 3rd generation iPod shuffle
• Apple revamps the whole iPod family for 2009
• Apple iPod touch, classic and nano receive silent price cuts

The 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle is getting an update to its VoiceOver feature, which reportedly corrects the pronunciation of some artist names along with some minor bug fixes. No detailed log of which bugs were fixed was provided.

I don’t get the big deal with having to update the VoiceOver feature of the 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle. Do people actually use it that much? But I would have to salute Apple on that. Because even though it might be a feature that owners often overlook, they would think twice about it since Apple is churning out updates for it. There is Apple’s marketing tactic for you.

[via TechWorldSpace]

See also:

• Apple 3rd generation iPod shuffle comes with VoiceOver feature
• Apple iPod shuffle 3rd generation earbuds contain proprietary control chip
• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle costs only $22 to manufacture
• Belkin headphone adapter (F8Z452) allows you to use any headset with the 3rd generation iPod shuffle
• Apple revamps the whole iPod family for 2009
• Apple iPod touch, classic and nano receive silent price cuts

Klipsch is one of the first companies to surrender to Apple’s proprietary earbud design. Klipsch will be manufacturing headphones for the 3rd generation iPod shuffle which will reportedly cost $100!

Instead of purchasing $15 to $40 earbuds/earphones which can do the trick for most people, the licensing fee for the proprietary control chip definitely drives the cost of manufacturing way up! I caution you to think twice before purchasing the latest iPod shuffle. Nice as the design may be, the proprietary earbuds design requirement is certainly not attractive.

More information elsewhere:

• Apple confirms proprietary chip in shuffle headphones, licensing fee (SlipperyBrick)

See also:

• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle costs only $22 to manufacture
• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle getting a VoiceOver update
• Apple 3rd generation iPod shuffle comes with VoiceOver feature
• Belkin headphone adapter (F8Z452) allows you to use any headset with the 3rd generation iPod shuffle
• Apple revamps the whole iPod family for 2009
• Apple iPod touch, classic and nano receive silent price cuts

The main highlight of the latest generation iPod shuffle is the VoiceOver. Through the push of a button, VoiceOver tells you aloud what song is currently playing. It can also tell you the names of playlists. Claimed playback time is 10 hours if the device is fully charged. A good rule of thumb would be to expect around 75% of the claimed playback time, so in the real world you’d be good for around 7.5 hours. For more information, you may click here.

See also:

• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle getting a VoiceOver update
• 3rd generation Apple iPod shuffle costs only $22 to manufacture
• Apple iPod shuffle 3rd generation earbuds contain proprietary control chip
• Belkin headphone adapter (F8Z452) allows you to use any headset with the 3rd generation iPod shuffle
• Apple revamps the whole iPod family for 2009
• Apple iPod touch, classic and nano receive silent price cuts