Introduction to the iPod Shuffle - #3 - iPod Shuffle accessories

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Introduction to the iPod Shuffle

#3 / May 22, 2009 / 3:51 min.

iPod Shuffle accessories

The new iPod Shuffle is incredibly small because the player controls have been moved to the headphones. The downside: if you don't like the headphones that come with the player (or they're uncomfortable or often fall out of your ears), you can't just switch to any old set of headphones... so we have a few survival strategies.

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Strategy #1: Modify the headphones that come with the player itself with a silicon earbud sleeve. We used the Acoustibuds eartips, which cost about $15, and just slip over the end of the iPod's earbuds. Not quite as high-quality as proper isolation headphones, but still a big improvement over the earbuds as-is.

Strategy #2: Upgrade to a pair of Apple-certified headphones with the player controls built in. Apple already has their own in-ear headphones, which work just fine with the new Shuffle, even though it doesn't say so on the package. New headsets are forthcoming from many of the usual suspects, including Etymotic and Scosche, among others.

Strategy #3: Use a headphone adapter

If you absolutely must use your own set of headphones, you'll have to wait for the availability of an adapter with Apple-certified player controls built in. There's one coming from Scosche in the summer - player controls will be down near the player instead of up near your ear, but that's the price you have to pay, unfortunately.