Hasta La Gadget!

If you have a third generation iPod Shuffle (and if you can still find it), you may be having some trouble with the earbuds. Like all Apple earbuds, those supplied with the tiny, almost-buttonless Shuffle are junk. Unlike the rest of the earbuds, though, Apple is admitting the problem, and will replace them for you up to two years from purchase. The symptoms:

Controls are non-responsive or work intermittently

Unexpected volume increase or decrease

Unexpected playing of voice feedback

The problem is especially annoying on the 3G Shuffle, as there is no way to control it other than through voice-control or the buttons on the inline remote, meaning that you need to buy yet another set of crappy Apple ‘buds when yours fail. To check if you are eligible for the recall, visit the support page and check your Shuffle’s serial number (from xx909xxxxxx to xx952xxxxxx to xx001xxxxxx to xx004xxxxxx) and send off the offending phones. Make sure you send the old ones back, though, or Apple will charge your credit card a “non-return fee”.

Apple Headphones with Remote Replacement Program [Apple via MacRumors]