Apple In-Ear Headphones receive durability upgrade
updated 11:50 am EDT, Tue July 14, 2009
In-Ear Headphones update
Apple has made a minor but significant update to its In-Ear Headphones, which improve over stock earbuds supplied with iPhones and iPods by isolating sound, and using separate tweeter and woofer drivers. The casing around the jack plug is now made of hard plastic, instead of a light rubber. It was previously possible to tear or separate the older casing after extended use.
The product's listing has also changed to indicate compatibility with the iPhone 3GS. The headphones have an inline remote, which lets users perform functions like answering calls, initiating Voice Control, or starting and stopping playback. Other remote-compatible devices include the 120GB iPod classic, the fourth-generation Nano, and the second-generation Touch. The headphones can be used with unsupported devices, but buttons such as the volume controls may not work.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007
At my Apple Store
I just got back from the Vancouver Apple Store. They had these in-ear phones in stock, but the salesman had to fetch them from the back, as they were not yet out on the shelf.
These earphones are very nice, and came to just over ninety dollars (CDN) after tax. That's less than half of what I paid for a pair of Shure earphones without any kind of remote control.
The remote control is small and easy to use; the microphone records clean audio; the sound is good; and so far they're comfortable to wear in the office.
I didn't realise that Apple made these. I would have bought the earlier version if I'd known, as it always annoys me to have to dig out my iPod Touch to skip tracks or adjust the volume. And now I can make voice memos and make VoIP calls. Sweet.
They even come with a nice plastic carrying case.