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riverfreak · May 7, 2003, 07:44 PM

Yes, it's true, I really don't like the iPod remote. I was pretty excited for it when the 20s came out. I think I used mine for like a day. The chord was too long. The clip was so small it never stayed attached to anything. The buttons weren't obvious.

I was really disappointed to see that, aside from the change in the connector, that the remote really hasn't evolved at all in the new iPods.

Shame on you Apple!

< in case you don't realize it, that's a joke, so squelch the flames >

Does anyone have any modification suggestions to actually make it useable? Specifically ideas for making it clippable to something besides a silk blouse (which, being a man, I rarely wear outside the comfort of my own home).

I Bent My Wookiee · May 7, 2003, 07:53 PM

A dsiplay like on low end Discmans would be nice. The the buttons are smooth so you can't tell what they are by the feel.

itai195 · May 7, 2003, 08:06 PM

The remote mostly does its job well enough for me. If the cord is too long, you may prefer to get some short-cord headphones to plug into it.

It certainly isn't near as nice as the remotes for Sony MiniDisk players. Hopefully Apple will get to that level someday, because those remotes are excellent.

riverfreak · May 7, 2003, 08:40 PM

Originally posted by itai195:
The remote mostly does its job well enough for me. If the cord is too long, you may prefer to get some short-cord headphones to plug into it.

It certainly isn't near as nice as the remotes for Sony MiniDisk players. Hopefully Apple will get to that level someday, because those remotes are excellent.

Yes, I agree with you on the Sony remotes. I had one a few years ago and it was excellent. Small, vertical orientation kept the remote in alignment with the cord, out of the way and kept it from sticking on things. It also has a nice little toggle wheel for quickly advancing, changing titles, etc. That's what they need to aspire to.

zigzag · May 7, 2003, 09:27 PM

Yeah, this is one case where I think Steve's sense of style might be a detriment. I like the clip - it's easy on fabric - but I don't like the buttons. It's hard to work them by feel, and even if you're looking at them, you have to stop and think about which button is rewind and which is fast-forward. I also think the metal casing is a bit much - I'd prefer something with a softer feel. But it's hardly a deal-breaker. I love my iPod.

fado · May 8, 2003, 12:22 AM

The reason that the ipod remote is a pain because you do not know which direction is up. Apple should have considered of atleast identifying an up direction by not having the remote geometricly balance. The remote needs to be approached as if you do not need to see it. You know it is there, but there is no need to look at it. For example, we do not look at the television remote each time we change the channel, we automaticly know the set-up.

OAW · May 9, 2003, 12:16 PM

Indeed the iPod remote does suck. I agree with all the criticisms mentioned thus far:

1. The cord is too long. Better yet, why is it separate from the headphones in the first place? It ought to be a part of the headphone cord IMO. Whenever I'm working out or walking around with my iPod I always have to stuff a couple of feet of excess cord somewhere just to use the friggin remote! In fact, I only use the remote in these circumstances since it's such a hassle. An integrated headphone/remote would be ideal.

2. Which way is up? It's way too easy to click the opposite of what you intend because there's no good way to tell which way is up. Even worse, the way the stupid thing plugs in makes in upside down by default! So you have to twist it around 180 degrees to put it in the right position.

3. Will you stay attached already? It's way too easy for the remote to all off your clothing. Furthermore, whenever you try to adjust it you are likely to press one of the buttons on the front and change tracks, adjust volume, etc when you didn't mean to.

I must say that the overall design of the iPod is top notch. But the remote design leaves a lot to be desired.

OAW

maxintosh · May 9, 2003, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by OAW:
Better yet, why is it separate from the headphones in the first place? It ought to be a part of the headphone cord IMO.

God no! I hate the iPod earbuds! I agree the cord should be shorter, but don't solder it to the headphones!!

slider · May 9, 2003, 12:44 PM

You would think a thrid party would have come up with something by now.

I personally like taking the remote off line some times so I am not down with making the head phones and remote a single unit.

Also, as a guy with the way our shirts botton left over right, does anyone else think the clip is backwards. If I clip in on, it's upside down so I always have to fine somewhere else to clip it. Anyone know how to take it apart and flip the the clip?

itai195 · May 9, 2003, 01:16 PM

The real problem with the cord, if I remember correctly, is that the included earbuds don't have a short cord. Very few 3rd party headphone manufacturers sell headphones with shorts cords in the US for some reason, but you can get them from import shops. I got some short cord Sony MDR-EX70 earbuds from an import shop and they work out great. Also came with an extension cord for when you need them to be full length.

kovacs · May 9, 2003, 02:08 PM

Never used mine it's still in the plastic... it looks good though, but the buttons are too small and the placement is strange ( used my brother's remote for a while and I didn't like it )..

icruise · May 9, 2003, 07:26 PM

I use my remote with a pair of Sony headphones that have a short cord, designed specifically for plugging into the remote control of an MD player, discman etc. So the length of the cord is not a problem in my case, but I am frankly astonished that it didn't occur to anyone that including *short* earbuds with the ipod would be a good idea. I mean, using the remote with the included earbuds is essentially impossible, since the cord is easily twice as long as it should be. For a company that is supposedly so concerned about usability, this is very surprising. In addition, I would think it would be very possible to have the song titles displayed on the remote -- much cheaper minidisc players manage it.

The remote itself is ok (aside from its tendency to work itself out of connection from the ipod itself). If you use it with a short-corded pair of headphones, telling up from down is not hard, since the remote will always be hanging right there in easy reach, with the same buttons at the top and bottom.

The clip does suck. But it's much better than when we didn't have any remote at all!

I Bent My Wookiee · May 9, 2003, 08:09 PM

I am not even using my iPod remote as it is so useless. First it is far to long that is looks stupid and second without a display it isn't much use.

RMXO · May 10, 2003, 04:21 AM

why dont u fold & tie up the cord? thats what i did to my earphones & remote cord. i just fold them the a length i liked & tied it up.

chabig · May 10, 2003, 12:01 PM

I agree that you can't tell by feel which side is up. I've sent feedback to apple. I hope all of you have too.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html

Peter · May 10, 2003, 01:34 PM

It needs an LCD. the reason the cord is long is so that it can be used with different types of heaphones, the only problem is then that the cable is very very very long!

THE MAC GOD · May 10, 2003, 02:18 PM

well... i don't have the ipod yet... (JUST shipped) but it sounds like the puck mouse problem...

Yoda's Erotic Piggyback · May 10, 2003, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by THE MAC GOD:
well... i don't have the ipod yet... (JUST shipped) but it sounds like the puck mouse problem...

It is not half as serious as that was.

Gee4orce · May 13, 2003, 07:12 AM

You people will complain about anything. Of course the cord is long - if it was short, what would be the point of having a remote that's only 6 inches away from the main device ?

threestain · May 13, 2003, 07:42 AM

I have to agree - the worst thing with my old MD player (Sony) remote was that it had to be clipped to something at about the level of my jaw. How rubbish is that? Besides, I think the remote does its job very well.

It does however need something to differentiate the buttons - maybe a bump on one of them like on the phone keypads. However, the buttons are great, because they do not get pressed by mistake - they have a large enough resistance.

Shame my ipod is broken!

chabig · May 13, 2003, 08:41 AM

I agree that just a simple bump on one of the buttons would be enough to rectify the remote's main problem.

I'm going to go to see if I can find a small rubber foot at Home Depot or a drug store that will be small enough to just stick on one of the buttons. That should fix it to my satisfaction. I'll let you know if I find one small enough.

Chris

icruise · May 13, 2003, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by Gee4orce:
You people will complain about anything. Of course the cord is long - if it was short, what would be the point of having a remote that's only 6 inches away from the main device ?

Do you grasp the point of the remote? It's not for accessing the device from across the room -- you're always going to have it right there on your person. The point is that you need some way to adjust volume and skip songs without digging in your bag or pocket. Thus, these kinds of remotes are supposed to be around chest level or so, making them easily in reach.

The long ipod headphone cord (if you don't somehow wrap it up) would leave the remote somewhere around your knees. Dumb, especially when there are hundreds of walkman, discman and MD player remotes that get it right.