I don't have an iPhone, but I understand the problem users have with existing headphones. The iPhone has a silly design error, where the headphone connector is recessed. Many headphone have connectors are too thick to plug in.
The problem doesn't affect just headphones, but also cables for connecting external speakers, stereo sets, and mini FM transmitters (for car use).
The Palm TX has the same silly design error. I have found two solutions:
1. In some cases, I have been able to carve off (with a knife) some of the plastic surrounding the cable's plug. That gives sufficient clearance that the connector now fits.
2. Or, use the problem as an excuse to buy new headphones whose connector clears the obstruction.
A4Tech MK-650-B Headphones
I am always on the search for low-cost, but good sounding headphones. My favorite has been a set by Phillips, which, I noticed this week, now cost half-as-much (around $20) as when I bought them. They do a better job in blocking out noise on airplanes than do "noise reducing" headphones that cost much more -- and they take up much less room in the carry-on luggage.
These sorts of headphones block external noise by being shoved into the ear canal, so are sometimes called canalphones.
Anyhow, last week in Wal-mart, I saw a pair that looked pretty nice and were just $18, so I splurged. Made by A4Tech (image here, mine are black and silver), these sound amazing, along with a bass that's so strong I need to use the music player's equalizer to cut the bass by 6dB. Take that, Bose!
They feel nice, because parts are made of metal. Real steel!
Finally, the connector plug is narrow enough that it fits my Palm TX, and will probably work with the iPhone.
It is, however, possible to buy ones that are too cheap. London Drugs had a set of canalphones from Maxell for $10. Dreadful sound: no low end whatsoever! It did come with a nice little travel pouch. I gave it to my wife for listening to movies on airplanes.
Zune
While in BestBuy in Bellingham (WA USA) yesterday, I finally got to see the Zune (not available in Canada, thankfully). Boy, they sure are ugly. I now see why the brown color was especially panned. Ugly and big looking. In an era where slim defines all things electronic, the Zune is a design disaster.
The reason we were in the USA for a little cross-border shopping was to pick up a wireless network adapter for my son's Xbox 360. "Should have been built-in," my 20-year-old son grumbled. I agree. But then Microsoft couldn't even figure out how to make the power supply tiny and the Xbox unit quiet. This is supposed to be in the family room, but is as noisy as an out-of-warranty dishwasher? "That's innovation," Microsoft would say as explanation.
Anyhow, the wifi adapter is US$100 in the USA, $130 in Canada.
With taxes, the wifi adapter is US$107 in the USA, CDN$147 in Canada.
It felt good saving $40. Especially when the Canada Customs officer decided to split the $107 in "returning goods" between the two of us, and ignored the Canadian taxes owing.
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