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Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

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Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#61

Post by awinder »

nordsieck wrote: post #10
mgiannopoulos wrote: post #7

Can someone explain? Since everything is done on the cloud what is so special about these buds? Why can't you do the same with a regular headset (which also has a microphone) and Google Assistant running on any Android or iOS device?

I think everyone by now has paid attention to the success of Apple and realized that people will pay much more for hardware than software. As long as Google maintains leadership in this area, there's a lot of benefit to them to tying their software to high-end hardware and not much downside.

I think this possibly understates what people are paying for. They’re paying for fully packaged solutions. You’re paying one price in the hardware that’s accounting for the good software. Apples not selling iPhones as a stalking horse for their ad-funded search & ads business, they’re selling software running on hardware that allows people to pay for content delivery through them. This is total mission / customer alignment, so google pursuing top quality hardware only recognizes a result and not a process.

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#62

Post by lobster_johnson »

mleo wrote: post #59
mullingitover wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The killer feature of AirPods is the form factor and not having an annoying cable connecting the buds Ehh, the ability to lose those things really easily is not what I'd call a killer feature. The cabled bluetooth headphones are easy to keep draped over your neck when not in use. Someone actually sells a $10 string that connects the Earpods so they too can have this convenient feature [0]. [0] http://promo.spigen.c…

I used the AirPods for a week before returning them. It stayed in one ear, but kept falling out of the other ear. The thought to purchase a cord or ear hooks crossed my mind until I realized it would make charging them in the case painful by having to disconnect the attachment before charging them. As such, the AirPods form factor is a killer feature if they fit your ear and stay through activity. If they do not stay…

I find it so weird that Apple keeps making the same ear pod shapes. I've never been able to keep them in my ears. The silicone plugs -- especially the "winged" kind -- that everyone other than Apple (Bose, Shure, Sony etc.) uses are functionally superior. Third parties to provide soft adapters so they can fit in people's ears, but it's so weird that Apple doesn't.

I suspect aesthetics is the only reason Apple doesn't use the soft silicon type. Maybe they found that the hard plugs fit 90% of people and that's good enough.

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#63

Post by amelius »

awinder wrote: post #54
mullingitover wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The killer feature of AirPods is the form factor and not having an annoying cable connecting the buds Ehh, the ability to lose those things really easily is not what I'd call a killer feature. The cabled bluetooth headphones are easy to keep draped over your neck when not in use. Someone actually sells a $10 string that connects the Earpods so they too can have this convenient feature [0]. [0] http://promo.spigen.c…

If only Apple invented some sort of device that held the headphones when they weren’t in your ears. I wanna say like a basket but that’s not it, this thing should fit in a pocket. If they really went nuts I’d say it be cool if the thing also charged the headphones. But I mean, what a crazy world that would be.

How about a piercing in the earlobe, through which you secure the AirPod?

When not in use, your AirPods can double as earrings.

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#64

Post by microtherion »

dclusin wrote: post #46
mullingitover wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The killer feature of AirPods is the form factor and not having an annoying cable connecting the buds Ehh, the ability to lose those things really easily is not what I'd call a killer feature. The cabled bluetooth headphones are easy to keep draped over your neck when not in use. Someone actually sells a $10 string that connects the Earpods so they too can have this convenient feature [0]. [0] http://promo.spigen.c…

Everyone always says this but I feel like it's a non-starter. I haven't ever misplaced my earbuds and I've owned them for several months. House & car keys have a similar form factor and don't have a cable, yet most people don't seem to have problems keeping track of those.

You carry your car keys in your ear? That sounds pretty hardcore.

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#65

Post by harlanlewis »

SirZimzim wrote: post #43
woodrowbarlow wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the cable also means you can't wear just one bud at a time.

Why not? I have used earbuds in one year for decades.

I prefer it, because I bike with one ear in and the other tucked down the front of my shirt. If the bud in my ear falls out it's caught by the other instead of falling into gears or ground.

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#66

Post by calibration263 »

mullingitover wrote: post #38
727374 wrote: post #30

"They’re wired behind the neck but they’re every bit a competitor to Apple’s AirPods" Umm, no. The killer feature of AirPods is the form factor and not having an annoying cable connecting the buds. As other posters have noted, Amazon is full of cabled headphones. Language translation is certainly cool, but for most people that's not an everyday need.

> The killer feature of AirPods is the form factor and not having an annoying cable connecting the buds Ehh, the ability to lose those things really easily is not what I'd call a killer feature. The cabled bluetooth headphones are easy to keep draped over your neck when not in use. Someone actually sells a $10 string that connects the Earpods so they too can have this convenient feature [0]. [0] http://promo.spigen.c…

Before the AirPods came out I had a pair of Jaybird X2's. For me at least being able to hang them around my neck when not in use did not help keep from losing them, it's the REASON I lost them. I lost my Jaybirds in about a month and a half, after having them fall off my neck without me noticing multiple times. They fell off my neck on my walk to/from work at least 4-5 times before I finally didn't notice in time to get back to them before they'd be grabbed up.

My AirPods however I've had since January/February and I still have both. I have never gotten close to losing them the 4-5 times I did with the Jaybirds, because instead of dangling around my shirt/jacket, they go back in the case and into my pocket the second they come out of my ear. I've had some cases where I misplace them at home of course, but they're not just jumping out of my ears, and if they did I'd surely notice my music/podcast stop playing.

I also have found earbuds that are actually wireless(not wired bluetooth earbuds) has been a huge improvement. For example if I pull one out, I don't have a wire hanging and pulling on the other bud uncomfortably. If my buds are getting low, I can recharge one at a time without having to stop my podcast/music. They're also massively more comfortable, the Jaybird wire was kind of tacky and would catch and move jumpily on my neck, putting on a hoodie/jacket would pull on the cable or knock them out of my ears, and putting it in front of my neck was even more annoying. (Constantly having something moving and bumping against my chin was super annoying). Bluetooth wired earbuds are fine, but after having used what was widely regarded at the time as the best pair available, using wireless earbuds makes them feel like a cheap stopgap.

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#67

Post by wilg »

lobster_johnson wrote: post #62
mleo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used the AirPods for a week before returning them. It stayed in one ear, but kept falling out of the other ear. The thought to purchase a cord or ear hooks crossed my mind until I realized it would make charging them in the case painful by having to disconnect the attachment before charging them. As such, the AirPods form factor is a killer feature if they fit your ear and stay through activity. If they do not stay…

I find it so weird that Apple keeps making the same ear pod shapes. I've never been able to keep them in my ears. The silicone plugs -- especially the "winged" kind -- that everyone other than Apple (Bose, Shure, Sony etc.) uses are functionally superior. Third parties to provide soft adapters so they can fit in people's ears, but it's so weird that Apple doesn't. I suspect aesthetics is the only reason Apple doesn't…

They do make them as an optional accessory though: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/ME186LL/A/apple-in-ear-he...

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#68

Post by bitL »

Osmium wrote: post #35
charlesdm wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They _look_ more silly, though! But I love my Airpods.

Give it 10 years and anyone walking around with cables running from their head is going to look plenty silly. If ever there was a look that defined the 2010s... I think there’s an elegance to basically keeping the existing design and just chopping the cables off, even if it is showy. Certainly beats the alternative “black amorphous blob” design of some of the others.

Give it another 10 years and everyone with anything in their ears would look silly. HiFi music to your ears via vibrating bones or just "direct" to your brain.

Re: Google’s Airpods competitor do real-time language translation

#69

Post by jsjohnst »

dclusin wrote: post #46
mullingitover wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The killer feature of AirPods is the form factor and not having an annoying cable connecting the buds Ehh, the ability to lose those things really easily is not what I'd call a killer feature. The cabled bluetooth headphones are easy to keep draped over your neck when not in use. Someone actually sells a $10 string that connects the Earpods so they too can have this convenient feature [0]. [0] http://promo.spigen.c…

Everyone always says this but I feel like it's a non-starter. I haven't ever misplaced my earbuds and I've owned them for several months. House & car keys have a similar form factor and don't have a cable, yet most people don't seem to have problems keeping track of those.

I've lost mine once, but Find My Phone reminded me I left them at the office.
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