Here we go again- "We're gonna whine like babies again because Apple came out with yet another cool product that we didn't think of first." You can tell how great a company/product is by the amount of naysayers and armchair critics there are.

Here's a novel approach: if you don't like a product or it doesn't suit your needs, shut up and choose a different product- like a Zune.

In my Gollum-like conversations with myself about replacing my still-functioning iPod mini, it's looking more and more like the Bad Gollum is the one wanting me to buy.

BAD G: We wants it, my precious. We wants it.

GOOD G.: But they're sticking us with something that means that only headphones they approve will work on our iPods. That's like buying a Ford that'll only run if you buy Ford tires. That's not right!

BAD G: We wants it my precious. We wants it.

GOOD G: But if we let them get away with this, what else will they DRM: hard drives, laptop batteries, video cables?... oops they did that one already.

BAD G: We wants it my precious. We wants it.

GOOD G: But remember what The Master said:

Three iPhones for the Elven-kings under the sky.
Seven iPod shuffles for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone.
Nine iPod nanos for Mortal Man doomed to die,
One DRM for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the land of Cupertino where the lawyers lie
One DRM to rule them all, One DRM to find them,
One DRM to bring them all and in the courtroom bind them
In the land of Cupertino where the lawyers lie.

BAD G: We wants it my precious. We wants it.

--Michael W. Perry, author of Untangling Tolkien

I like the iPod but if it doesn't work with any old headphone, then it isn't for me. However, I do think it is lame if it requires an Apple approved headphone to work.

... have you ever tried using the Zune on a Mac? Oh, the Zune won't work on a Mac, you say... whose fault is that? Not Apple's, dude. But no one complains about that.

And by the way- all other iPod models work with any generic headphone setup. It just so happens that the new shuffle needs the latest Apple earbuds because of the interaction between the new buttons and the shuffle's speech software. There's no DRM conspiracy here, just a bunch of third-party developers and competing companies jealous of Apple's popularity and their well-designed products. Get over yourselves, please.

The Mac web has been abuzz over the past few days regarding the possibility of an "authentication" or "DRM" chip included inside the headphones for Apple's new iPod shuffle released last week. After several days of investigation, explanations, and misunderstandings, the chip appears to contain no authorization or encryption component.

Following up on comments from iLounge regarding the existence of such a chip, Boing Boing Gadgets discovered the chip located inside the new iPod shuffles' headphone control module. The discovery touched off speculation that Apple had added the chip as a means to force third-party manufacturers to pay a licensing fee in order to produce headphones compatible with the new iPod shuffle.

Macworld, however, contacted an Apple spokesman about the matter. While the spokesman confirmed the existence of the chip, its intended purpose is said to be related to the "Made for iPod" program alone. Boing Boing Gadgets was also able to speak with Apple and received what is so far the clearest explanation regarding whether the chip contains DRM:

Just spoke with Apple. There is no encryption or authentication on the chip, so clones could conceivably be made, just not with "Made for iPod" official certification. And now we know!
Update: Apple offers a "Made for iPod" licensing certification for accessories that work with their iPods. With the introduction of this chip, Apple seems to have extended "Made for iPod" certification to headphones/remotes that work with the iPod shuffle. Previously, these accessories were not required to be "Made for iPod" certified. So while there is no DRM in the chips, themselves, it is unlikely that a 3rd party manufacturer would be carried in an Apple Store unless they are "Made for iPod". The implication is that Apple has further extended their control over 3rd party accessories for the iPod.

Ha, wrong again, and again and again. Poor Zune users. All 12 of them.

I think the worst part of this situation is that we are stuck using the standard iPod earbuds which I'm not a big fan of because they are uncomfortable however, there is a way to use the iPod earbuds and have a comfortable fit. I should begin by saying that I'm not an audiophile however I enjoy my comfort. I found a company called Earsound Customs at www.earsound.com that makes an iPod attachment. The iPod earbuds fit snugly onto the attachments which then fit comfortably in your ears. They fit comfortably because they are made from impressions of your ears. There is nothing more comfortable then something made custom for you. I don't care how many tips come with a product, it's not even close to the comfort of a custom product. An unintended benefit is that my iPod attachments fit onto my cell phone's hands free device so I can listen to my calls in comfort as well. I hope this helps!

I'd like to see the marketing data on who the shuffle buyers are. Seems like they are people out for a jog who want ipod controls dangling in their face and need someone to tell them what song they are listening too cause they cant take their eyes off the road for a second to read a display. Does anyone really want an ipod Pequeno? Why not just sell the headphones with the music player embedded in it? Isn't that the next logical step? The ipod Invisa.

I'm a diehard Apple fanboy, but I think this type of practice is unwise. Apple's products have enjoyed enormous success in part because of the community around them. 3rd party suppliers are part of that community. Locking them out, or taxing them to participate, seems like a poor business move in the long run.

Not only are all headphones obsolete, but it had made all accessories and peripherals obsolete, because you cannot plug it into an aux input.

For instance, you can't connect a 1/8th" stereo cable from your car stereo to your Shuffle. You'd need a special cable that doesn't even exist yet.

I forecast a boom in eBay sales of 2nd Gen iPod shuffles.