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News

Mystery Chip Raises iPod shuffle DRM Concerns

Apple's new third generation iPod shuffle apparently has some people up in arms over a mystery chip that's packed away inside the diminutive music player's earbuds because they fear it may be designed to lock out third party developers from making add-ons. So far, it appears that the concerns are based on nothing more than rumors and speculation.

The chip in question is less than a millimeter across and has "8A83E3" stamped on its surface. So far, no one has identified exactly what the chip is for, although iLounge claimed that the new shuffle's earbuds include an "authentication chip" has many people assuming that's what the mystery chip is.

iLounge stated in its iPod shuffle review "This is, in short, a nightmare scenario for long-time iPod fans: are we entering a world in which Apple controls and taxes literally every piece of the iPod purchase from headphones to chargers, jacking up their prices, forcing customers to re-purchase things they already own, while making only marginal improvements in their functionality? It's a shame, and one that consumers should feel empowered to fight."

The Electronic Frontier Foundation picked up on the iLounge comments, but made the leap from opinion to fact with the site's statements. Fred von Lohmann said on the group's blog "The 'authentication chip' is there so that Apple's lawyers can invoke the DMCA to block those efforts. So this shows us, yet again, what DRM is for -- not stopping piracy, but rather impeding competition and innovation."

While it's possible that the chip is designed to lock out third-party developers or to impose product licensing fees, it could also simply be part of the circuitry that controls the player's remote buttons. The controls for the newest iPod shuffle are on the player's earbud cord instead of the unit's body, which let Apple leave the player body smooth and button-free.

Apple hasn't said exactly what the little chip is for, and labs haven't had enough time yet to test it to see what it does. Unless Apple reveals what the chip is for -- which isn't likely -- or labs discover what it does, comments about the chip's function are just speculation, and not fact.

 

5 comments from the community.

You can post your own below.

Lee Dronick said:

I am thinking that the chip is there for controlling the Shuffle, but maybe there is something more nefarious in its presence.

I have had my new Shuffle for less than 48 hours and I am very much liking the inline controls. The loose fitting earbuds I don’t not so much and today I will probably get some Griffin EarJams or some of those silicone covers.

   Quote

Tiger said:

Considering the first 3rd party earbuds with controls were released within 24 hours of the new Shuffle’s appearance seems to mitigate some of that. Apple hasn’t locked out the aftermarket at all. It may be “licensing” technology, but then again, isn’t that how they make some of their fortune? They are working with developers, not blocking them out.

But until a definitive answer comes about the purpose of the chip, I am keeping an open mind on this issue. I just won’t jump to conclusions without any hard evidence. Wars start that way you know.

   Quote

geoduck said:

Or it could be a capacitor, or an audio amp, or any other a controller for the buttons on the cord, or any other of a hundred functions. So far nobody has any idea what the chip does. It is exceedingly irresponsible to publish this wild speculation as news. It is shameful for the EFF to publish it as fact.

Personally I think we’re looking at Cramer-style stock manipulation and nothing more.

   Quote

Tiger said:

it seems I was right not to assume. The chip is for licensing purposes, not for DRM.

   Quote

deasys said:

Tiger wrote:
The chip is for licensing purposes

No, it’s not:

“It turns out, however, that the mystery chip is not so mysterious, and is merely the circuitry needed by a set of headphones or earphones to control the otherwise-controllerless iPod shuffle.”

   Quote

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