Cybus EarPod

EarPods were devices from a parallel universe created by John Lumic in an effort to make every human a Cyberman.

Functions
EarPods, primarily, were connected to the Cybus Network, (TV: Rise of the Cybermen) Cybus Industries' information network. (PROSE: Lumic) Through the Daily Download, a user could get news, sport, weather, television schedules, lottery numbers, and jokes downloaded directly into the brain. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen)

EarPods could secretly read minds, being able to extract information from a subject's brain by producing two metal prongs that met at the top of the head. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen) They could also control minds, by inducing trances. After the trance was induced they could be controlled by a handheld device, and given orders, such as turning left. Prior to the "upgrading" of humans into Cybermen, the EarPods would place people into a trance, and then force them to willingly walk into a conversion booth. (TV: The Age of Steel) On the Doctor's Earth, the Cybermen used earpieces, specifically to control people. Instead of wearing them, they were drilled straight into the victim's brain. (TV: Army of Ghosts)

History
When the Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, and Mickey Smith arrived in Pete's World, they saw everyone in the street around them stop simultaneously at 2:40PM to receive that day's news. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen)

"ChatGuest1" advised the readers of Defending the Earth! not to use EarPods. (GAME: Cybus Spy)

When the Cybermen entered the Doctor's universe, the earpieces of the Torchwood Institute, specifically worn by at least three known members of Torchwood 1 (Adeola Oshodi, Gareth Evans, and Matt Crane) allowed control in a fashion similar to EarPods, paving the way for the Battle of Canary Wharf. The Doctor realised what was happening, and, with his sonic screwdriver, disrupted the signal, but at a great cost: all three of them screamed in agony and died. (TV: Army of Ghosts)

During their attempted conquest of the Doctor's version of Earth in 1851, the Cybermen made cruder versions of the EarPods to control four workhouse owners. When the workhouse owners were no longer of use to the Cybermen, Miss Hartigan activated a switch which caused their EarPods to electrocute and kill them. (TV: The Next Doctor)

Other information
EarPods also existed as a source of private entertainment on the N-Space Earth. (AUDIO: Cuddlesome)

Behind the scenes

 * The name "Cybus EarPod" seems to be the full name of the device, as given in invalid sources such as About Cybus, but isn't used in any valid source so the name can only be used to conjecturally name this article.
 * Furthermore, the name EarPod fairly obviously takes its inspirations from iPod, an electronic device developed by Apple. In 2012 Apple introduced a new model of earphones named EarPod, and a wireless model – AirPods – in 2016.

Information from invalid sources
On the Cybus Industries website, an article rationalised why Cybus Industries was necessary, reasoned that Cybus EarPods helped people keep in contact with friends and keep them up to date. (NOTVALID: About Cybus)

In another article, which attempted to recruit new employees, Ben Crawford was quoted, specifying that you could get in touch to enquire about jobs though an EarPod, among other things. (NOTVALID: Our Family)

Another article on the Cybus Industries website allowed owners of Cybus EarPods to personalise what content was downloaded into their brain with the next daily download. The content included: Weather; Travel Restrictions; Curfew Information; Film Reviews; Television Reviews; News Headlines; Horoscopes; Lottery Results; and Health and Fitness. (NOTVALID: EarPod)

The Pod was a music festival that was different from convention festivals, as it was set to be broadcast directly to Cybus Earpods. (NOTVALID: The Pod)