Fancy new headphones leapfrog iPhone?

Jonathan Curtin
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September 13, 2008
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We weren't the only ones excited about Apple's announcement of the new In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. A quick look at this thread on discussions.apple.com reveals acute interest from iPhone owners in the dual-driver buds, which ostensibly offer "pro audio" quality at the seemingly impossible price point of $79. The only catch was that they didn't list iPhone in the Compatibility Information statement. Odd, but we didn't want to annoy the fanboys by rushing to judgment. We thought we'd wait until the 2.1 upgrade came out for iPhone and check the product page again to see if it was merely a software update that was required.

24 hours hence, we got nothing. Are we left, then, to assume that the lack of compatibility is a hardware, and not a software issue? Is it a fact that the top-of-the-line Apple headphones are incompatible with Apple's top-of-the-line mobile device? The implication is "yes." In all likelihood, iPhone owners will have to wait until the next-generation iPhone to adopt this accessory.

Lest we sound too whiny, the consensus on Apple's discussion boards is that the headphones will be able to perform all advertised functions on an iPhone, except for the volume control function. That's okay, we guess, since we didn't have volume control on the factory headphones, but it's still kind of crappy not to have. This is to say nothing of the 1G iPhones with the recessed audio port (worst idea EVER). The owners of those can now add another little item to the list of arguments for upgrading to 3G (if it turns out the 3Gs ARE compatible with the new buds) or waiting until the next-generation iPhone which will do your dishes, make your bed, and zap your cellulite, but still cause GSM buzz in your car stereo.

Another beef that has been revived with these new headphones is the standard "why can't Apple offer headphones in black?" lament. From a sales perspective, this would make sense for apple, but from a marketing and differentiation perspective, we don't think it will happen. Tilt at some other windmills, folks. We'd also like to point out that if you're afraid of getting 'pod-jacked because of your white headphone cables, you're probably just a paranoid <expletive>.

So what do think? Is there still any hope for iPhone compatibility with the fancy new headphones? Are there other ultra-geeky headphones out there that are as good or better and not 10x the cost? Help us out in the comments.

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Comments (15)

Chris (Germany) (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 8:06am

If the new top-of-the-line headphones from Apple really do lack compatability with the first gen iPhone, then they are really making a huuuuuuuuuge mistake. Noone is going to upgrade from 1st gen iPhone to iPhone 3G just for the sake of being able to dish out another 80 bucks to get new headphones (and still not have volume control on them).

Seriously, sometimes I can't believe what bad moves Apple is taking when releasing new stuff. Look at all the shit they put out lately:
MobileMe *cough*
SafeMag power supply cords
iTunes8 (anyone else notice that this is by far the sloooowest iTunes in over 2 years unless you have brandnew hardware?)
iPhone 2.1 (where the fuck are the features that justify a .1? And what the fuck? After playing with it for just ONE DAY, I noticed that the freakin contact-app is still not reacting instantly on flicks and/or touches - how hard does it have to be to fix that, Apple?!)

I'm sooo waiting for new MacBooks in October, but given all the glitches of the past few months, I'm sure all of us rushing to buy the new hardware will be stuck with some sort of beta-stage problems. Cuz that's what Apple seems to have adopted as a new company policy: "Let the users test out our stuff and complain about it, maybe we'll fix it in another 6 months or so (copy/paste on the iPhone, anyone?!)

Just my 2 cents...

psr (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 12:11pm

For me, iTunes 8 is much faster, not slower. My hardware is a 733MHz G4 running 10.4.11, if this makes any difference.

S_S (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 8:54am

Well, there IS a standard for microphones. It's a 4 ring 3.5mm plug. It's the same shape as the 3 ring, just with the upmost ring divided again.

I think that those headphones WILL work with the iPhone, albeit not the volume control and maybe not as a take/end call button. Sound will definitely work, I will put a small question mark behind the mic (but I am pretty much convinced it will work) and a bigger one behind the controls.

S_S

Kris (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 9:01am

I have the V-Moda Vibe Duo's for my phone. And have you ever driven with something like these in? I have many times (like a true prick). And you can't hear much outside of the headphones. I don't want to say that the V-Moda's are noise cancelling. But pretty isolating, none-the-less.

Now, I'd imagine that Apple's new earbuds aren't too far off from V-Moda. And I'm sure Apple made this decision for safety reasons, so you don't drive with these in place. Don't panic. It's for your safety. :)

Thomas Fitzgerald (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 10:03am

Engadget talked to an Apple rep at the event and they said that the headphones will work with the iPhone except for the volume controls, which presmably require adittional/different hardware in the phone.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 10:07am

What about 4.5g iPods (called classic now)

Headphone Mac (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 12:23pm

The reason they don't show as compatible is because they don't have an inline mic. Let's not over react here, OK? Like every single other headphone that fits into the iPhone 3G, these will work too, you just won't be able to talk on them.

Use your friggin' heads!

Jonathan Curtin | September 13, 2008 - 2:50pm


What’s in the Box

  • Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Control your iPod.

The control capsule located on the cable of the right earpiece includes a microphone and three buttons. Here's what you can do with this convenient remote:*

  • Record voice memos on supported iPod models.
Divotdude16 (not verified) | October 17, 2008 - 7:42am

I am sorry that you think that way. But on the back of all of the buttons, there IS a mic! How do you think the voice recording app on the ipod nano 4G works? Do you watch steve job's keynotes much? Hope I didn't sound disrespectful.

Anon (not verified) | September 13, 2008 - 5:46pm

These headphones won't be any more compatible with the iPhone 3G than they are with the original. iPhones simply do not have the hardware to distinguish the microphone ring from the volume controls.

That said, it will perform all the functions any other iPhone headphones will: headphones, microphone, and play/pause/answer/hang-up clicker. I was holding out for the volume controls to work too, cause that'd be crazy useful, but I don't think it's going to happen. :(

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 14, 2008 - 7:29am

As a electronics tech i dont really see why this isn't possible. They could just do different signals for volume and mic, like pressing the volume button would produce a HF osc, and pressing the center button would just short circuit. Odd choice indeed!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 14, 2008 - 9:59am

Issue is not mic, but volume control. Someone just needs to get the earphones and test them with iPhone, rather than a speculative web post, and a bunch of second guessing comments, like this one..

My 'guess' is, at best, they will probably work but the volume control will not, at worst, the volume control adds something wonky and irritating when used with iPhone.

Otherwise, have someone put etymotics earbuds on your standard iPhone earbuds cable, or buy one of the others made for iphone. WHich are confusing on their own, with people still talking about adapters and multiple cables plugged in, rather than a mere clone with different buds.

James Katt (not verified) | September 14, 2008 - 11:29am

Aside from volume control problems with the iPhone, the main problem is that the headphones are white.

Imagine if you drive with these on and are seen by the highway patrol.

The patrolman may think that you are driving unsafely because you may not be able to hear sirens or other noices on the road. And he may cite you for driving unsafely.

The white color of the headphones make them stand out when you are driving.

White is Apple's trademark color for headphones. Thus I do not believe they will change to another color.

But the problems of driving with headphones on is a safety issue that prevents Apple from advertising that these headphones are for the iPhone.

Jon (not verified) | September 15, 2008 - 8:26am

...the issue from my perspective is that Apple probably had these in design and development towards the end of the 3G development cycle. Therefore the could have and should have planned for compatibility.

Really this has always been Apple's achilles heel, releasing incompatible products. The whole point of the Apple "ecosystem" should be compatibility. There should be someone there planning out products such that releasing a new set of headphones doesn't require loyal customers to buy new flagship products to use them.

Partners in Grime (not verified) | September 21, 2008 - 8:38am

Thanks for the info on iTunes 8 performance on G4 hardware.