Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family
iFreePlay "cordless" Shuffle headphones
We recently mentioned a concept from Arriva for iPod Shuffle headphones that integrate the Shuffle into the 'phones themselves. Well Monster Cable (of way-too-expensive-cables fame) has apparently beaten them to the punch with these foldable iFreePlay headphones. As you can see the Shuffle fits into the top of the left can for a "cordless" experience, while still giving access to the controls, etc. While you're certainly not going to be a paragon of fashion walking down the street with these, I could imagine that they might be useful for the gym or a run.The iFreePlay headphones are available now for $49.95.
[via MacMerc]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason Martin said 5:39PM on 5-24-2007
I can't imagine that they have very good sound quality. Would it be that hard to do the same basic thing with canal earphones (or whatever their called)?
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Jason Martin said 5:40PM on 5-24-2007
Sorry, that should be "whatever THEY'RE called". I can't believe I did that (pet peeve).
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Neo said 6:24PM on 5-24-2007
Now if they made some speakers to plugin the shuffle, I would have something to buy this week.
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Rhys said 10:24PM on 5-24-2007
@Jason Martin - they'd probably have a decent sized 3cm driver, so the sound quality wouldn't be too bad. But the amplifier in the iPods aren't great anyway.
Also, how would you hang a shuffle from an ear canal headphone?
These headphones are a great idea. But I wouldn't want to use them for extended listening, I have a pair of Sennheiser PMX50s which were the similar design. After about an hour my ears used to get really sore from them resting on the top of my ear. With the added weight of the shuffle... this would be impractical. Especially for running, your right ear would be sore very quickly.
As for Monster Cable - they are expensive, and pointless unless you have quality components that are good enough to show the differences in audio/video. But on a good system, they do make a difference.
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Sito said 12:32PM on 5-25-2007
I took my Apple lanyard headphones (from the original Nano), ground away the plastic/metal ipod connector leaving just the stereo mini plug. Attached my shuffle to it and it works great. Was going to do the same with the new Apple lanyard with the better earbuds, but the mini-plug was more towards the center making the shuffle off center.
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ThePete said 1:50PM on 5-25-2007
You can also take a pair of decent $20 headphones, cut the headphone cord down with a pair of wire cutters (or even scissors) and electrical tape, then clip your shuffle to the headphones themselves.
I know Monster Cable is known for too-expensive cables, but this is more of the same from these guys. There's virtually no reason to charge $50 for these things.
Just my 2,000 yen, of course (which is substantially less than $50).
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marcosmalo said 6:27AM on 5-26-2007
What I'm waiting for is a motorcycle helmet with a built in dock.
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