Apple confirms iPod shuffle chip, licensing fee
It’s repeated so often that it has become mantra—there two things in the world you don’t want to know how they are made—laws and sausages. Perhaps we can now ad iPods to that list.
Macworld reports that Apple has confirmed the existence of the control / authentication / DRM chip built into the new “talking” iPod shuffle. Moreover, this chip is available for license from Apple for an undisclosed fee.
“As part of the Made for iPod program, we make sure that third party headphones work properly with the third generation iPod shuffle”—an unnamed Apple spokesman.
Thereupon, Engadget adds to story in saying that the chip, which is also embedded in other earbud controllers sold by Apple and licensed third parties since at least last Fall, isn’t encrypted or otherwise locked down, so it should be easily clonable by anyone willing to forgo Apple’s Made for iPod blessing (who outside of Asia stocks iPod accessories not bearing Cupertino’s holy seal?).
Still, this mystery has been defined if not resolved. The question that remains is whether Apple certifies or will certify third party solutions as “Made for iPod” that aren’t built around bought and paid for Cupertino IP?
That said, now that we’ve seen what the sausage is made of, is it any less delicious than before?
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