Apple quietly updates In-Ear Headphones
Remember these? The $80 Apple earbuds "," whose built-in volume control didn't work with the then-current iPhone 3G?
Looks like sometime in the recent past Apple changed their design, swapping out the for a hard plastic one that closely resembles the company's Mag-Safe notebook power adapter.
What's the big whoop?
These are the headphones that were roundly beaten around for their problems 鈥� from their easy-to-lose silicon ear tips (and Apple reportedly doesn't sell replacements) to their incompatibility with the iPhone 3G, to their easily-unglued rubber cord sleeves (the issue responsible for this writer's complimentary Apple Retail Store replacement).
Other reviews on for these 鈥� there are 876 as of this writing 鈥� complain of their lack of bass response (Apple sez: ), poor performance in cold weather, and wind noise transmitted through the cable. And don't forget that though these were unveiled at a September 2008 Apple event with , they weren't available until .
These were also the buds that launched numerous Apple support discussions because of their unnerving tendency to transfer static electricity from the air (yow! 鈥� : avoid very dry environments, stay grounded.)
With the new plastic hardware, has the company changed anything else to address complaints about this much-maligned product?
Asked for comment on the design change Monday, Apple has yet to respond.
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