Apple now has EarPods. For your ear holes. And you know what? They're not half bad, especially considering they're only $29. Actually, they're pretty darn good.
But what about using them on Android devices? Will they curl up their cute little white cables and slink away, their cries of "Noooooooooooooooo!!!" echoing in the distance? Of course not. That'd be, well, crazy.
So how do they sound? And how well do they work? Keep on keepin' on for a few more thoughts.
Here's the way we're looking at these things: They're going to be everywhere soon enough. The EarPods will be included with the new iPhone 5, iPod nano and iPod touch. Separately, they cost just $29. So chances are you're going to run across them, whether you like it or not.
Get over the fact that they're Apple's. Get over the fact that if you're using them, folks are going to think you've got an iPhone, buying music from iTunes. These are a damn good pair of $29 EarPods. There's actually some bass to them. Highs come through crisp and clear. Justin Bieber has never sounded so good.
What's more, they actually feel good. Or, at least, they don't feel bad. They don't make us feel like there's a damned Ceti Eel working its way in (or, worse, out). The crazy futuristic design -- three years in the making, Apple will be more than proud to tell anyone who asks -- works. And works well.
Where Android currently loses out is in functionality of the microphone dongle. Pressing the center button will play and pause music, and a couple of quick presses (or one long one) will redial the last number you called. But that's it. The volume controls don't even work. The mic itself does work, though, so at least you can use it for calls.
That's all out of the box, though. Nor is it really surprising. Will we see more functionality in the future? Who knows. (We'd love to see it standard across platforms and products, but we're dreamers like that.) For now, if you're looking for a cheap set of in-ear auditory listening devices, Apple's EarPods aren't a bad buy.
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