Accessorizing Your iPad mini - iPad Mini - page 413

weeks. Cheaply made cables have even been linked to electrical malfunctions that damaged
devices or people. Just bite the bullet and buy either Apple's pricey cables or made-for-
iPhone-certified cables from a responsible vendor.
For what it's worth, we've had good luck with cables from Monoprice ( www.monoprice.com )
and Griffin ( www.griffintechnology.com ). An added advantage is that these vendors both
offer cables in various lengths and styles (retractable, extra-long, and so on), at much lower prices
than Apple. Just make sure whatever cable you buy has “Made for iPhone” certification from Apple.
You'll sleep better at night.
Listening and Talking with Earphones,
Headphones, and Headsets
You've surely noticed that your iPad mini didn't include earphones or a headset. That's probably a
blessing because the earphones and headsets Apple has included with iPods and iPhones since time
immemorial aren't all that good. In fact, Bob refers to them as “mediocre and somewhat uncomfort-
able” in almost every article he's written about the iPod or iPhone. Ed agrees.
For what it's worth, Apple's new EarPods with Remote and Mic, which are included with iPhones
these days, are a million times better than the old Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic. But you
won't find them in the box with your iPad mini, either.
When a pair of earphones isn't included, you can select a pair of headphones or earphones or a head-
set that suits your needs and your budget.
Though the new Apple headset is much better than the previous version, if you're
shopping for earphones, you may find third-party options that sound better or that are more
comfortable, or both, for around the same price ($29).
Earphones? Headphones? Headsets?
We refer to headphones and headsets several times and thought you might be wondering whether a
difference exists, and if so, what it is. When we talk about headphones or earphones, we're talking
about the things you use to listen to music. A headset adds a microphone so that you can use it for
voice chatting, schmoozing with Siri, FaceTime video chatting, and (in the case of the iPhone or Inter-
net VoIP services such as Skype) for phone calls. So headphones and earphones are for listening,
and headsets are for both talking and listening.