Hi, planb77. Thanks for replying!
I've been testing the earpods with my girlfriend's HTC mobile and the central button works using "Jays Headset Control" app, so I can play, pause, change volume and tracks... It´s very strange it doesn´t work in the iPod shuffle 3rd gen, because the minijack has the same shape and number of rings in it.
It's quite odd, because last week the compatible list was larger but today the only iPod shuffle wich indicates it's compatible is the 4th gen (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD827/apple-earpods-with-remote-and-mic).
If you look at these other tables, the second and the third (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3310), the other two headphones with remote and mic are compatible with 3rd and 4th generations of iPod shuffle, except for the mic, obviously, and the earpods are not compatible with the 3rd even in audio which is not true (I can't use the remote control but I can listen to music). If you look at notes under the tables, functionallity depends on software version.
And finally, in the earpods manual which come inside the box, you can read:
"You can use the earphones with these models:
iPod shuffle (3rd generation or later), iPod nano (4th generation or later), iPod clasic (120GB and 160GB), iPod touch (2nd generation or later), iPhone 3GS or later, iPad (any generation).
Important: Not all features listed bellow are supported by all models. Check your product's user guide for more information". I guess they say about features supported because of the mic.
The information is not clear enough. I hope that Apple could find a solution for 3rd gen users, because I love new earpods.
Anybody else have been testing? The central button works in this guy's earpods (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4369253?answerId=19910983022#19910983022). Anybody else?
Thanks and greetings!