5 ms·

Ask YC: Why can't my iPod headphones retract into the iPod?

1 points by Flemlord 17y ago

Seriously. One on each side. Like a clothesline.

silencio 17y ago
Possibly because it wouldn't appeal to all the users who don't use the included iPod/iPhone headphones. I for one use a pair of Motorola S9-HD bluetooth stereo headphones with my iPhone.
- Flemlord 17y ago
  The headphone jack may remain.
  - silencio 17y ago
    The mechanism to retract and store would still have to take up some amount of space. Not all wired headphones have the same type or length of cable. Many of them would just not work ideally, unless it were some open (as opposed to retracting into the device) system to just wind the cable around - and at that point, it is just marginally neater than wrapping the cable around the iPod in the first place.
    - Flemlord 17y ago
      I would happily take an iPod that is 1/4" wider with retractable headphones that don't get lost or tangled. I've lost three corded headphones, and two of those tiny wireless ear buds. I'm good at losing things.
      - eridius 17y ago
        Most people would not. And Apple would definitely not make it wider to include that. If you haven't noticed, one of the reasons the iPod is successful is because Apple is extremely good at removing features that most people don't use in order to leave a much smoother user experience for everything that remains. Making the iPod 1/4th of an inch wider is a definite no-no.
      - Zev 17y ago
        Everyone's welcome to having their own ideal device. Unfortunately for you, the people at Cupertino who design the iPod's don't agree with your sentiments as to what would make the device better and haven't made retractable headphones. Might I suggest you invest in a nice pair of bluetooth headphones instead? It gives you the same lack of a wire-y mess that retractable headphones do, without restricting your range of motion and possibly yanking your headphones out of your ears.
        Flemlord 17y ago
        I've already lost two of those little bluetooth headphones. How about a bluetooth headphone that snaps into my iPod? Then I'll always have a place to put it when I'm finished with it.
        Zev 17y ago
        Why does this have to come built into the iPod? Whats wrong with a case that's retractable or has a dock? Why not have a pair of (sun)glasses with headphones built in or something along those lines? There's a lot more generic ways to go about keeping wires untangled and from being a mess then having it built into the ipod. Plus by making it generic, it would work on a Zune or Zen or any other device out there. To avoid a "Why doesn't Microsoft do this too?" thread.
      - silencio 17y ago
        So ultimately you want headphones built into the device, rather than simply just retracting headphones. In the end, you'd have to cut the cable or lose the device altogether to lose them. This is only a win-win for people who really love their iPod headphones and have never destroyed one somehow. I think that idea is less appealing if not outright repulsive to the people who don't want to use the iPod headphones ever (like me, with my half dozen unopened sets of Apple headphones in a box somewhere). Apple has no incentive to do this either - I'm sure they make a tidy profit from selling replacement iPod headphones and 3rd party headphones in their stores.
mahmud 17y ago
3rd party retracting headphones exist in the market, no need to build that mechanical functionality into the device. http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/05/sonys-three-new-models-of-retractable-headphones/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/05/sonys-three-new-models-of...
- Flemlord 17y ago
  That's a separate gadget, easily lost.
  - mahmud 17y ago
    That's a separate gadget, easily lost. How is a coiling headphone a "separate" gadget? scratch that, I think you're onto something. Give Apple a ring, they're always looking for bright ideas.
eridius 17y ago
As silencio said, it would not appeal to users who don't use the included earbuds. And it would also annoy lots of users who do use the included earbuds. I for one would hate to have my iPod made bulkier simply to include a feature that a significant portion of the userbase wouldn't even use.
- Flemlord 17y ago
  It's a feature I would use if I didn't keep losing my headphones. Also, the external headphone jack can stay.
  - eridius 17y ago
    There exists a third-party gadget that sticks to the back of your iPod and provides a place for you to wind up your earbuds so they don't get lost. Unfortunately I don't remember what it's called, but I'm sure you can find it if you look at iPod accessory sites.
gojomo 17y ago
Why think small? Why I can't get bluetooth cochlear implants, so I can pair my ears to the iPhone, making headphones superfluous?
- rms 17y ago
  It should be possible but medical ethics probably prevents it if you're not deaf.
hop 17y ago
Why do headphones need to be wired anyways?
- jacquesm 17y ago
  Because of three things: - cost - otherwise they'd need a power source - sound quality will degrade if you modulate the audio for transmission and then demodulate again on the receiving side, especially channel crosstalk will increase
jacquesm 17y ago
If you look at the iPod carefully you'll see that they number of mechanical components is cut down to a minimum. The most fragile components are the mechanical ones and the battery, if your iPod fails it is probably because of one of those. The headphone wires are the most fragile bit outside your iPod. I've had many of these fail, if they were an integral part of the iPod you'd lose the whole device, or you'd have to get it repaired.

1 points by Flemlord 17y ago

Seriously. One on each side. Like a clothesline.

Possibly because it wouldn't appeal to all the users who don't use the included iPod/iPhone headphones. I for one use a pair of Motorola S9-HD bluetooth stereo headphones with my iPhone.

Flemlord 17y ago
The headphone jack may remain.
- silencio 17y ago
  The mechanism to retract and store would still have to take up some amount of space. Not all wired headphones have the same type or length of cable. Many of them would just not work ideally, unless it were some open (as opposed to retracting into the device) system to just wind the cable around - and at that point, it is just marginally neater than wrapping the cable around the iPod in the first place.
  - Flemlord 17y ago
    I would happily take an iPod that is 1/4" wider with retractable headphones that don't get lost or tangled. I've lost three corded headphones, and two of those tiny wireless ear buds. I'm good at losing things.
    - eridius 17y ago
      Most people would not. And Apple would definitely not make it wider to include that. If you haven't noticed, one of the reasons the iPod is successful is because Apple is extremely good at removing features that most people don't use in order to leave a much smoother user experience for everything that remains. Making the iPod 1/4th of an inch wider is a definite no-no.
    - Zev 17y ago
      Everyone's welcome to having their own ideal device. Unfortunately for you, the people at Cupertino who design the iPod's don't agree with your sentiments as to what would make the device better and haven't made retractable headphones. Might I suggest you invest in a nice pair of bluetooth headphones instead? It gives you the same lack of a wire-y mess that retractable headphones do, without restricting your range of motion and possibly yanking your headphones out of your ears.
      - Flemlord 17y ago
        I've already lost two of those little bluetooth headphones. How about a bluetooth headphone that snaps into my iPod? Then I'll always have a place to put it when I'm finished with it.
        Zev 17y ago
        Why does this have to come built into the iPod? Whats wrong with a case that's retractable or has a dock? Why not have a pair of (sun)glasses with headphones built in or something along those lines? There's a lot more generic ways to go about keeping wires untangled and from being a mess then having it built into the ipod. Plus by making it generic, it would work on a Zune or Zen or any other device out there. To avoid a "Why doesn't Microsoft do this too?" thread.
    - silencio 17y ago
      So ultimately you want headphones built into the device, rather than simply just retracting headphones. In the end, you'd have to cut the cable or lose the device altogether to lose them. This is only a win-win for people who really love their iPod headphones and have never destroyed one somehow. I think that idea is less appealing if not outright repulsive to the people who don't want to use the iPod headphones ever (like me, with my half dozen unopened sets of Apple headphones in a box somewhere). Apple has no incentive to do this either - I'm sure they make a tidy profit from selling replacement iPod headphones and 3rd party headphones in their stores.

mahmud 17y ago

3rd party retracting headphones exist in the market, no need to build that mechanical functionality into the device. http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/05/sonys-three-new-models-of-retractable-headphones/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/05/sonys-three-new-models-of...

Flemlord 17y ago
That's a separate gadget, easily lost.
- mahmud 17y ago
  That's a separate gadget, easily lost. How is a coiling headphone a "separate" gadget? scratch that, I think you're onto something. Give Apple a ring, they're always looking for bright ideas.

eridius 17y ago

As silencio said, it would not appeal to users who don't use the included earbuds. And it would also annoy lots of users who do use the included earbuds. I for one would hate to have my iPod made bulkier simply to include a feature that a significant portion of the userbase wouldn't even use.

Flemlord 17y ago
It's a feature I would use if I didn't keep losing my headphones. Also, the external headphone jack can stay.
- eridius 17y ago
  There exists a third-party gadget that sticks to the back of your iPod and provides a place for you to wind up your earbuds so they don't get lost. Unfortunately I don't remember what it's called, but I'm sure you can find it if you look at iPod accessory sites.

gojomo 17y ago

Why think small? Why I can't get bluetooth cochlear implants, so I can pair my ears to the iPhone, making headphones superfluous?

rms 17y ago
It should be possible but medical ethics probably prevents it if you're not deaf.

hop 17y ago

Why do headphones need to be wired anyways?

jacquesm 17y ago
Because of three things: - cost - otherwise they'd need a power source - sound quality will degrade if you modulate the audio for transmission and then demodulate again on the receiving side, especially channel crosstalk will increase

jacquesm 17y ago

If you look at the iPod carefully you'll see that they number of mechanical components is cut down to a minimum. The most fragile components are the mechanical ones and the battery, if your iPod fails it is probably because of one of those. The headphone wires are the most fragile bit outside your iPod. I've had many of these fail, if they were an integral part of the iPod you'd lose the whole device, or you'd have to get it repaired.