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AirPods are now available

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Re: AirPods are now available

#441

Post by throwanem »

archagon wrote: post #404
throwanem wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Removing the audio jack also removes a whole market of products that were taking advantage of the audio jack for non-audio purposes (e.g. the Square dongle). Except that it doesn't. Yes, you have to use an adapter now, and that's slightly (but only slightly) more clumsy than before, but "Square readers don't work any more!" is a particularly tired piece of FUD, which it would be nice not to see spread around any mo…

OK, how about things like the Apogee Jam[1] and MIDI adaptors? As far as I can tell, there aren't any MFi-certified Lightning splitters that support both data IO and audio out. (Usually it's just audio out + charge — and poor audio at that.) [1]: http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/jam

Well, how about them? That's a reasonable concern, and a major problem for people who want to use such devices with an iPhone 7. They aren't Square readers, though, or any other kind of device that uses the headphone jack for data, and it's inaccurate, disingenuous, and unhelpful to claim that such devices no longer work.

Re: AirPods are now available

#442

Post by peteretep »

charlesism wrote: post #415
peteretep wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a pair of reasonable quality Bluetooth headphones for running two years ago. Since the first time I used them, I haven't used any of my old normal ones again. The convenience and ease with which they're always in, even if not always on has just blown away the fact they're not particularly high quality. I plug them in at night when I plug my phone in. Yet to misplace them.

Everyone's different. For me, and possibly most people, buying wireless earbuds just taught me I care more about phone earbuds in theory than in practice. In practice, it isn't actually worth it for me to worry about whether they are paired, charged, and not misplaced. Life is less hassle with boring $15 earbuds.

    > and possibly most people
This is where you and Apple disagree, and Apple's record here is pretty good.

Re: AirPods are now available

#443

Post by tribby »

neotek wrote: post #397
tribby wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is a false analogy. the CD drive was an improvement on the 3.5" floppy. the 3.5" floppy was an improvement on the 5" floppy. bluetooth is an improvement in form (no more wires), but a downgrade in function as the audio quality is diminished.

I hear people saying this a lot, but I'd be willing to bet that at least 90% of consumers would be incapable of telling the difference between Bluetooth and wired audio in a blind test. Also, given that the vast majority of earbuds people use are sub-$20, I bet the audio quality isn't that great to begin with.

if 90% of consumers are incapable of telling the difference then why would apple use such an expensive DAC in their phone? I can't speak for everyone, but it's a pretty noticeable difference to me especially considering my hearing isn't very good to begin with.

Re: AirPods are now available

#444

Post by movedx »

hobarrera wrote: post #425
MrQuincle wrote: post #154

They should have used the cigarette butt picture: https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-airpods/preview/ Regarding specs: + Bluetooth + No cables + 5 hours battery life + Charging case with total 24 hours battery life + Automatically turn off when removing from your ears + Key synchronization via iCloud (makes pairing process simpler - and could make sharing process simpler as well - but is Apple-only) + Peripheral to…

> Key synchronization via iCloud (makes pairing process simpler - and could make sharing process simpler as well - but is Apple-only) So you can't actually use these on your [non macOS] laptop? Wow, requiring two pairs of headphones certainly is a huge dis-qualifier.

Who said they couldn't be used with non-Apple devices? The article points out that they can be synced with any other Bluetooth device, because they're Bluetooth.

Re: AirPods are now available

#445

Post by jen729w »

justinator wrote: post #439
jen729w wrote: post #414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's such a cynical, boring view. I'm sorry, but it is. You really think that Apple removed the headphone jack to make a bit more cash? Seriously? Hand-on-heart honestly, you think that's why? Come on. I think it's because they love cool new things. Thank f k they do because, frankly, nobody else seems to be doing anything interesting. I know, I know, they're not perfect. AirPods are late. They're expensive. I know…

But I guarantee you that, come 2020, you will be hard pushed to find a set of wired headphones that resemble those we wear today. Yup, commenting just in case I really want to see if this prediction pans out in only three years : wired earbuds will no longer be sold. Oh! You said, "found". Oh, OK, "found" I'm biased. When I want to put on earphones, I want to hear, not be heard. That's the primary function. Not to be…

Oh, I still fully expect to be wearing the updated version of my Audio Technica ATH-M50s in 2020. When I'm sitting at home, listening to music.

But when I'm out and about, cycling to work, listening to a podcast on the train, at work on a conference call? The AirPods are going to be amazing for that sort of thing. That's what I mean by "hard pushed to find a set of wired headphones that resemble those we wear today".

I wasn't clear in my frothing rage, for which I apologise. ;-)

Re: AirPods are now available

#446

Post by nihonde »

charlesism wrote: post #330
erikpukinskis wrote: post #304

I find this headphone war discussion a bit boring. The AirPods are much more interesting as Apple's first foray into augmented reality. If they add positioning, this product becomes Magic Leap without the visuals. I don't think they see this as a music device, they see it as a new platform for audio. Interesting things start happening when people start leaving one or both in their ears all day. Arrival times in your…

I had a pair of Sony HBH-IS800 and I gave up on them after a week. Apple's product has the same drawbacks (charging, troubleshooting, ease of misplacing, price). This product category is not worth the hassle for the average user. Very few people will buy a second pair of wireless earbuds. Not enough to warrant building all the features you mention.

I have been using Sony MDR-XB80BS for a few weeks now and they are utterly flawless for me. They can't fall out. They are pretty low profile since they hide behind your ear. Long battery life. Water resistant. No dropouts and amazing sound. I am really impressed by these headphones.

Re: AirPods are now available

#447

Post by jen729w »

arcticbull wrote: post #434
jen729w wrote: post #414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's such a cynical, boring view. I'm sorry, but it is. You really think that Apple removed the headphone jack to make a bit more cash? Seriously? Hand-on-heart honestly, you think that's why? Come on. I think it's because they love cool new things. Thank f k they do because, frankly, nobody else seems to be doing anything interesting. I know, I know, they're not perfect. AirPods are late. They're expensive. I know…

Counter: do you think if removing the headphone jack made the product better but net cost Apple money do you think they would have done it? Of course not. It can be both.

They would have just put the price up. Ref: MacBook Pro Late 2016.

Re: AirPods are now available

#448

Post by tsycho »

mynegation wrote: post #326
erikpukinskis wrote: post #304

I find this headphone war discussion a bit boring. The AirPods are much more interesting as Apple's first foray into augmented reality. If they add positioning, this product becomes Magic Leap without the visuals. I don't think they see this as a music device, they see it as a new platform for audio. Interesting things start happening when people start leaving one or both in their ears all day. Arrival times in your…

Forget that they are in?! For my particular shape of ears their hard shell design does not work at all. Every time I have to wear apple earbuds because I cannot find my day to day earbuds, I want to rip them out immediately, and my ears hurt after few minutes of using them. Unless the came up with better design there is no way I am forgetting I am wearing apple earbuds.

I hear you (my wife has a similar problem). The sad answer is that Apple and others don't care for your business. If Airpods work well for the majority of potential customers, that's good business for them. Products don't need to be 100% accessible to be profitable, and while Apple software has been better than many in this department, on a new hardware product/platform such as this, your concerns probably fall quite low down the priority order.

Re: AirPods are now available

#449

Post by kevinstubbs »

brian-armstrong wrote: post #373
kevinstubbs wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Peoples' ears are all different. Apple's earbuds aren't comfortable for me, but they're the first choice for many people that I know. I can easily believe that the AirPods will be so comfortable that some subset of the population will forget they're in.

They don't work for either of us and yet Apple wants to force us into using them

Apple sells wired headphones for the lightning port. I'm personally not interested in upgrading because I don't want to use their headphones or get a lightning port adapter just for the phone. You're not forced to use the AirPods, but you are forced to use the lightning port (bleh) or bluetooth (meh).
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