Proprietary chip and Apple’s iPod Shuffle headphones

Apple (AAPL) recently launched its third-generation iPod Shuffle, and the traditional control pad that were on previous models is now gone. Now what we have is a slim three-button controller on the headphone cable. This means that the new iPod Shuffle will not work unless you use Apple’s own headphones.

A number of companies have suggested that they will begin to supply aftermarket headphones with similar features of Apple’s, but these are not yet available. There were reports over the weekend from Web sites iLounge and Boing Boing Gadgets that Apple have asked that these third-party headphones will require an “authentication chip.”

V-moda and Scosche, iPod-accessory vendors along with a number of others have been speaking to Macworld and have confirmed that these reports are true. These vendors are calling the chip a control chip.” For use of this proprietary circuitry, Apple will charge these vendors a fee through the Made for iPod program.

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