Shuffle's new hardware DRM taxes 3rd-party vendors

ipodnncom ^ | 03/14/2009, 8:20pm, EDT

[martin_fierro]

Shuffle's new hardware DRM taxes 3rd-party vendors

Apple's new iPod Shuffle has added a new layer of hardware DRM, possibly preventing third-party companies from reverse-engineering the Shuffle technology in order to build headphones. Electronic Frontier and iLounge have discovered an Apple authentication chip DRM (Digital Right Management) requirement that will mean third-party headphone makers will have to pay fees for the authentication chip and design headphones with the chip included. The authentication chip provides a legal means to prevent headphone makers from reverse-engineering the Shuffle output to create a set of headphones that work with the new iPod. Apple could sue any companies that attempted such an effort for DCMA violations.

iLounge< takes Apple to task for draconian controls of all pieces of hardware in the iPod ecosystem. The taxes Apple applies increase prices for the consumer and stifle both innovation and competition. In addition to the new Shuffle, Apple has used DRM on numerous products, including the iPhone, locking the device to AT&T's network, and iPods, preventing them from syncing with software other than iTunes. The company also uses software DRM on video and audiobook files from the iTunes Store.

[martin_fierro]

	iPod
Send FReepmail if you want on/off iPing list WARNING: This is a high-volume Ping list. Turn your headphones down
The List of Ping Lists

[Star Traveler]

Well, the headphone makers can always make headphones for the other devices. I hear that there are a lot of other such devices on the market... :-)

[Star Traveler]

Perhaps a ping for the group?

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

I got myself an Archos 5 internet media tablet, and Shure's SE 530 in-ears.

Kicks my previous Apple iPod to the curb.

[Swordmaker]

Perhaps a ping for the group?

I've been watching the reports... but everyone of them comes from a single source: iLounge. I have seen no corroborating reports that do not reference iLounge's claim. It strikes me that the "authenticating chip" may be a controller to tell the difference between double clicks, clicks and holds, volume up-down clicks etc., and the sending the right command to the iPod Shuffle. I've read commentary on both sides... it's DRM... no it's merely part of the control system. I, for one, don't think it's Digital Rights Management. It may be "hardware rights" management. It also may be licensing rights management. Let's wait and see.

[word_warrior_bob]

Cool, watched the video, can I use it with my macs or is it just for PC?

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

From the website:

Minimum system requirements:

Microsoft® Windows® Vista, XP, ME, 2000 or higher
MAC OS X and Linux (with Mass Storage Device Support)
USB 2.0 interface

http://www.archos.com/products/imt/archos_5/specs.html?country=ru&lang=en

So, I guess it would work. Besides, the thing has a hard-drive mode, where it will appear as a USB hard-disk drive on the computer upon connecting the USB port. Just drag-drop your files in the appropriate folders within the hard-drive, and it will find them. No proprietary software like iTunes, needed.

[bigbob]

What B.S. You can get comparable performance at less cost without all the nonsense, yet people buy Apple just to get the name.

Just another example of the lack of critical thinking that got us Obama, Al Franken, Pelosi, et al.

[Choose Ye This Day]

They’d better not try this with their other iPod models. I’m going to upgrade soon, but I need one that I can use my own headphones in, not to mention pipe it in through the car stereo.

[Theo]

The SE530s are a bit expensive. Are they worth it? Where’s the best place to get them from?

[martin_fierro]

yet people buy Apple just to get the name.
Just another example of the lack of critical thinking that got us Obama, Al Franken, Pelosi, et al.

So ... anyone with an iPod perforce voted for 0bama?

I'd re-analyze your own thought processes there, Mr. Cranky.

[martin_fierro]

Well, the thing with these new 3G Shuffle headphones is that they're the *only* way to control the Shuffle. Controls are mounted on the headset themselves. A regular set of headphones will fit in the unit, but then you can't play anything.

[Richard Kimball]

[Kirkwood]

Uh, he didn’t say Apple owners voted for Obummer. He was saying Apple management didn’t think this idea through.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

I didn’t pay much for mine; got it at a church sale for about $70, which was a steal. It was unused, to boot.

I’m not sure if this is possible, but if Shure has outlets where they let you try these on, that might be the best way to judge.

The audio fidelity out of it is certainly better than the stock earphones that you get with every player. Balanced driver earphones are far more faithful in reproducing sound than regular dynamic driver earphones, by design.

http://www.edn.com/blog/1770000177/post/1800007780.html

[Choose Ye This Day]

Yeah, that’s what I was reading about the new shuffles. I just don’t want Apple to get some exclusive technology for ALL the other iPods—even the ones that have their own controls—where you can’t use anything but “approved” headphones. That would be nonsense.

I’m just paranoid, I guess.

[Erik Latranyi]

Well, the thing with these new 3G Shuffle headphones is that they're the *only* way to control the Shuffle. Controls are mounted on the headset themselves. A regular set of headphones will fit in the unit, but then you can't play anything.

Apple has always been about controlling the hardware end of things. That is why they usually end up a minority player in many of the markets they previously dominated.

[martin_fierro]

Uh, yes he did.

[Star Traveler]

Yep, good idea...