4 ms·

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 the

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.

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.