FMJ compatibility problems with new iPhone 4

[lagunatic]

This is the second time I am posting these issues in this forum. Someone, either the previous original thread owner or the forum Moderators deleted the previous thread and posts regarding FMJ compatibility issues with the new iPhone. Mods... please do NOT delete this thread! Other FMJ and iPhone 4 owners need to know about these issues and be able to discuss them freely.

Info about my gear:
- iPhone 4 with iOS 4.01
- iPhone 3G with iOS 4.01
- NEW Skullcandy Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) in-ear headphones with inline mic
- 2 pair of Apple headphones with inline mic. One pair came with the older iPhone 3G and another newer model (with volume control) that came with the iPhone 4.

Here are the current issues I am currently experiencing:

1) FMJ button controls do not work with iPhone 4. When I receive an incoming call and press the button, nothing happens. When listening to the iPod App, pressing the button does not pause or advance the track as designed. If I hold down the button while listening to a song, the volume increases/spikes really loud until I release the button.

2) FMJ inline microphone does not work with iPhone 4. When I make a call out with the iPhone 4 with the FMJs, the microphone does not work and no audio is sent to the other person on the call.

3) FMJ inline microphone causes volume level to auto-increase or 'spike' when it picks up loud ambient noises while listening to music with the iPod App. If I am listening to a song on the iPhone 4 with the FMJ headphones, occasionally the volume will auto-increase, becoming dangerously loud for a second, then returning back to the normal set volume level. This is not just annoying, but extremely dangerous and a law-suit waiting to happen. With my testing, I found that if you blow into the inline mic or make a loud noise (like a clap) while listening to music, the volume level instantly spikes then returns to normal.

4) FMJ headphones have faint clicking noise in background when listening to music. It's barely noticeable, but in between songs I can hear the clicking sound. Again, this only occurs when using the FMJs with the newer iPhone 4. The clicking noise does not happen with the iPhone 3G. Apple headphones work fine.

Testing... I tested the same pair of FMJ headphones on my older iPhone 3G and they work perfectly. Both the control button and mic work as designed on the 3G but do NOT work on the iPhone 4. I tested the stock Apple headphones with the iPhone 4 and they work perfectly as designed.

Theory... My theory for why the FMJs are incompatible with the iPhone 4 is that the iPhone 4 change the specification for headphones with inline mics. The previous model iPhone 3 came with a set of headphones that had an inline mic with a single control button (that would pause and advance tracks in the iPod App, as well as answer/hang-up phone calls). The new iPhone 4 has a new and different headphone that still contains an inline mic, but has apparently added volume control buttons (+/-) as well the control button. So, we went from essentially a 3-function headset (audio,mic,control button) to a 5-function headset (audio,mic,control button,volume-up button,volume-down button).

Solutions... I am not an engineer, but there are probably a few solutions that would fix this problem. Apple could add code to iOS 4 for the headphone jack control that recognizes the type of headphone being used. If an older 3-function headphone is being used, then the phone would switch to using a compatible mode for the headphone controls automatically.
The other solution would be for Skullcandy to redesign their FMJ headphones to use the exact same spec as the new Apple 5-function headphones (with volume control).

Either way, Skullcandy should acknowledge this issue and make it clear to potential buyers of the FMJs they are not compatible with the iPhone 4.

Note: I am fairly certain that there are no problems with my FMJs since they are brand new. I originally called Skullcandy tech support and they issued an RMA thinking there was a problem with my headphones. So, this is my second pair (the first pair probably worked just fine).

I would be very interested to hear if anyone else is experiencing this issue or not.

[solwind]

I have a Titan and it has same problem.
In-line mic and button do not work although the site sold the earphone says it is compatible with iPhone4.
The receiver is working, but the mic is not working and the mic on iPhone4 is still active.

My guess is that the plug is not compatible physically with iPhone4 and the terminal for mic may be not properly connected to iPhone4 because the mic of iPhone4 is still active.

It is disappointing to me because I like the sound of Titan and its sound isolation.

[solwind]

I have same problem...