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Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

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Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#81

Post by agumonkey »

djrogers wrote: post #54
agumonkey wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My biggest complaints is that they are in-ear. I really wonder how they will stay in place outside of a desk chair or a couch. At least with a cable you had a chance to catch it when it fell. An ear-clip version would be great.

Then perhaps you should read any of the many reviews by people who have had preproduction units... They pretty strongly lean towards them being comfortable and hard to dislodge - to a surprising extent. Tests in reviews I've seen have included running, dancing, headbanging, and jumping up and down intentionally trying to dislodge them. Seems that the fact there's no cord to pull on them, and all of the mass is inside…

I didn't see preprod reviews. I'll dig for it.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#82

Post by jonlucc »

jdietrich wrote: post #59
jonlucc wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. I work in a lab (biology), and I listen to podcasts, books, and music for a large part of most days. I currently use wired headphones, but the cord tugs at them all day. In addition, wires get caught. Just today, I was stooping down to put something on the bottom shelf of a freezer, and when I started to stand up, the cord caught on my knee and yanked the headphone right off my ear. This kind of thing hap…

Run the cable down the back of your shirt, secured at the collar with a bobby pin.

I have to take them on and off a lot for various meetings and encounters. There is probably some solution, but wireless is likely to be the most simple, in my opinion.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#83

Post by brodie »

UVB-76 wrote: post #34
tarikjn wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you mind elaborating the flaws you see in them? Curious to see other point of views. Personally, I am more of an in-ear earphones user, so I am more drawn to e.g. Bragi earphones, but even then I am missing the option of custom in-ear moulds, so I am sticking with shure audio drivers + Westone bluetooth cable. I do welcome Apple entrance because I could see how they might be able to push development of the sect…

I also prefer in-ear headphones when out and about, so would compare the AirPods to something like the Klipsch S4i [1] Compared to the Klipsch earphones, the AirPods: 1) Are more than twice as expensive ($159 vs. $69) 2) Have significantly worse sound quality 3) Look ugly as sin; wired earphones like the Klipsch ones look just fine, and come in colors other than white 4) Require regular charging (only 5 hours of list…

The sound quality of the EarPods, which presumably the AirPods are based on, is good but definitely a very subjective thing. I've found them to be excellent for the price/form factor. Things I like:

- Great, deep bass response (when you position them to create a good seal between your ears and the outside world).

- Reasonably detailed mids.

- Somewhat diminished but still relatively detailed highs.

- Comfortable for wearing for long periods of time.

- Isolation isn't too strong, even with a good seal (helpful for maintaining situational awareness).

My only complaint is that between different pairs, the ability to get a comfortable seal can be inconsistent. However, I wouldn't consider them high end, and while their lack of noise isolation can be a downside at times, given the cost and the excellent bass and overall clarity, I think they're a great earphones.

If the AirPods have better SQ, that'd be awesome; but if they have the same sound quality but without the wires and with good (and hopefully passthrough when possible) audio compression, I'll be eager to buy a pair. And I think as more and more people wear them, they'll quickly become fashionable to wear.

On a related note, I hope Apple and others are eventually able to move to lossless, even lower latency compression for wireless audio. I absolutely love the lossless compression the AirPort Express provides via AirPlay.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#84

Post by mountaineer22 »

jonlucc wrote: post #42
jonny_eh wrote: post #10

What are the odds they just cancel the product? I haven't seen much excitement for them (since they're pricey and can be so easily lost), and if they're having trouble making them, I could see them just cancelling them and going back to the drawing board.

I'd guess very very low, but I'm not sure. I think they are barging ahead with a wireless future, evidenced by the lack of headphone port on iPhone7 and iPhone7+. If they drop the AirPods that were supposed to make the iPhone 7 such a pleasure to use, they're abandoning a major selling point from their most recent keynote.

3D Touch does not seem to be gaining much traction.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#85

Post by Zarel »

Johnie wrote: post #24

I remember a comic strip with two highways: one pointing to road deprecated and other sign says "not ready yet"

Kind of only tangentially related, but I see this sort of thing all the time.

KeyboardEvent.keyCode: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/KeyboardEve...

> Deprecated, please use KeyboardEvent.code

KeyboardEvent.code: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/KeyboardEve...

> Internet Explorer: No support

> Microsoft Edge: No support

> Safari: No support

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#86

Post by jonlucc »

mountaineer22 wrote: post #84
jonlucc wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd guess very very low, but I'm not sure. I think they are barging ahead with a wireless future, evidenced by the lack of headphone port on iPhone7 and iPhone7+. If they drop the AirPods that were supposed to make the iPhone 7 such a pleasure to use, they're abandoning a major selling point from their most recent keynote.

3D Touch does not seem to be gaining much traction.

I don't know what that has to do with wireless, but I'm new to iPhone, so I might be missing something.

Regardless, I think a lot of people love 3D touch, and it shows in /r/iPhone. The problem (especially because I'm new to iPhone) is that it is very hard to predict what it will do and which apps have made use and where. That will take time to stabilize (as right-click has) and become the norm, I suspect.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#88

Post by NPSpace »

beedogs wrote: post #38

Bluetooth headphones are a solution in search of a problem.

I disagree. I box for sport, and I prefer to listen to my own music when hitting the heavy bag. Wraparound bluetooth headphones are the way to go because I can leave my device in my duffel bag several feet away.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#89

Post by apercu »

philfrasty wrote: post #13

I have tested at least a dozen Bluetooth-headphones for sports (running, gym, etc.) and they all died due to sweat after max. 2 months. Anyone has a good suggestion? (was really looking forward to buying the AirPods even though not sure about sweat-resistance...)

I had the same thing happen with 2 pair of wired sony headphones with the around the ear holder. In both times just one channel fried though :(

Have you used any non-bluetooth headphones that lasted?

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#90

Post by djrogers »

adventurer wrote: post #65
djrogers wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pricey? They are by far the least expensive wireless 2-ear headphones you can buy outside of some no-name alibaba ones with 1-2 hour battery life. On top of the price, you're getting almost 2x the battery life of the Samsungs, seamless multi-device paring, beam-forming microphones aided by motion sensors to only turn on when your jaw is moving, etc etc... I think you may have a bit of an echo chamber problem if you d…

The jaybird X2's run half that price now.

And have a wire between the ears...
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