Headphones with a decent remote

[tw3609]

I just upgraded (downgraded) from a N760. One of the best things I liked was the remote control attached to the headphones to control audioplayer. Has anyone found or currently use anything comparable?

[mvfrancisco]

The closest you can probably get to that is a pair of headphones with inline volume control like the Sony Fontopia ear buds:

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=tddgX169p8NgWGGlvLJqVBGwQ95cY54rChY=?CatalogCategoryID=hqEKC0%2eN7hEAAAD2z3nZ7HTA&ProductID=j7oKC0%2eNCqgAAAD2DzbZ7HTD&Dept=pa

to control stop/play and FWD/RWD, you're stuck with the jog dial or other hardkeys.

[tw3609]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[s_n_m]

Go to radioshack and you can get the little volume control on a short headphone extension.

[tw3609]

s_n_m,

I could not find it on RS's website. Do you have a model # or something?

[mkrueger]

I made the same upgrade a couple months ago (N760 to TG50). The lack of a remote was one of the things that kept me from upgrading a lot sooner. Of course the recent pricing of the TG50 was worth the wait :-)

One thing I learned to do from another post, and I know this is crazy:

I reach into my jacket pocket and slide the switch from hold, then I can adjust volume from the wheel. I then depress the wheel for 2 seconds, and can change tracks by rolling one notch and clicking the wheel. Then I can hold for 2 seconds again to get back to volume control. Don't forget to slide the switch back to hold.

I know it probably sounds insane, but you can get quite good at it with practice. I find this technique way better then pulling it out, opening the cover, tap-tap, etc. It's also more convenient when in places where you don't want to flash your expensive gear.

Anway, I totally love my TG50, and the remote thing turns out to not be as big of a deal as I once thought. Stupid of Sony to remove that feature in some models though. It should be there across the board in keeping with their "multimedia" theme.

[s_n_m]

The RS website doesn't reflect their inventory. Go there, it should be with the patch cables and stuff.

I don't know the serial.

[tw3609]

I will check out RS today.

mkrueger:

The process does sound a bit crazy, but I will give it a try. Although the reason I upgraded to the TG50 was because my hold button on my n760 went ballastic and had a mind of its own. I think it was from to much use so be wary. Sony said it was my MB and wanted to charge me an arm and a leg to fix it.

[mvfrancisco]

Sony should just have dedicated audioplayer buttons on the side.

I think I wrote a post on this site like the one you described, the two second hold. But i'm looking at another solution now.

I've got keyquick, and it allows you to map hard buttons to the audio player functions. I've been trying that out now and it works pretty well, I just thought I'd mention it in case you weren't satisfied with the jog dial thing.

[mkrueger]

Thanks, mvfrancisco. I really appreciated your instructions, it's been working pretty well for me. I'm sure my rendition of your instructions was much less clear than the original :-)

I've also tried keyquick for the audio functions, without much success (although I LOVE the sticky-key feature). How did you end up configuring keyquick for the audio? Which button for which feature? (I'm assuming you aren't looking at the screen)

It looks like Sony managed to leave out the audio remote in another new Clie, the UX50. So many more people will be asking this same question :-(

Originally posted by mvfrancisco
Sony should just have dedicated audioplayer buttons on the side.

I think I wrote a post on this site like the one you described, the two second hold. But i'm looking at another solution now.

I've got keyquick, and it allows you to map hard buttons to the audio player functions. I've been trying that out now and it works pretty well, I just thought I'd mention it in case you weren't satisfied with the jog dial thing.

[orol]

i've just bought the sony MDR-E829V
and at least I've got the volume controler on it .. and actually I prefered it much more the the headphones with remote => they are way too heavy

[orol]

well they are a bit more expensive (paid $15) but have great bass, what really surprised me..

[Unregistered]

oral, i have the same headphones too

[orol]

vrr I'm orol!!
orol orol orol, and it means eagle ..

[ir803]

I use this hold for two seconds technique and it works well when you get used to it, works well in the car aswell when the TG's plugged into a cassete adaptor in my car stereo. I have the TG in a holder on the dash and I can just scroll through the tracks and press the one I want. Cool.

[mvfrancisco]

I think sony changed the site a little, so i updated that link to the MDR-E829V. If it goes 404 again, i guess you can always google it.

i'm not exactly sure how I want to map the keys, I just wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone had any suggestions. Right now I have them mapped out as a "plus" centered on the v and the space bar mapped out to "stop", so my layout using the letters "g", "c", "v", "b", ";," and the space bar are mapped to this layout. (I hope this shows up right)

XXXXX [VOL+] XXXX

[RWD] [PLAY] [FWD]

XXXXX [VOL-] XXXX

[ - STOP - ]

It works pretty well with the transparent half-lid, but I still have to take it out to look at it. Maybe placing the buttons along the side or at the corners would work better.

I was thinking of playing around with those sticky keys to raise the level of the mapped buttons so they're easier to feel around for (maybe use the yellow sticky keys so they're easier to see too), but with the UX50 coming out, I might wait.