AirPods • Hacker News Board

Re: AirPods

#91

Post by samdixon » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:21 PM UTC

bluetidepro wrote: post #49

> Put them in your ears and they connect immediately, immersing you in rich, high-quality sound. Just like magic. I completely disagree with this. It isn’t magic at all. Mine hardly ever work this smooth. Especially transitioning from my iPhone to MacBook Pro. I constantly have to go into bluetooth, manually select them, and even that usually takes a few tries. I like my Earpods from a sound quality perspective but t…

I wouldn't say it never goes as smoothly as they describe, at least in my experience. My experience with the iphone xs + airpods is about: 50% as they describe 49% have to go through bluetooth menu for instant pair 1% they never connect, extreme frustration, have to completely re-pair (no different than any other bluetooth product here, just don't experience it as often with airpods).

With Macbook I almost always have to go into bluetooth. There is no switching experience as they originally showed in the airpods keynote. They actually ended up rescinding the statement that they would do this after the keynote, which is super disappointing.

Re: AirPods

#92

Post by jasonlotito » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:23 PM UTC

jonheller wrote: post #68

bluetidepro wrote: post #49

> Put them in your ears and they connect immediately, immersing you in rich, high-quality sound. Just like magic. I completely disagree with this. It isn’t magic at all. Mine hardly ever work this smooth. Especially transitioning from my iPhone to MacBook Pro. I constantly have to go into bluetooth, manually select them, and even that usually takes a few tries. I like my Earpods from a sound quality perspective but t…

What do you see as being the ideal UX for switching between devices?

Not OP, but...

Start by listening to something on my iPhone. Sit down and turn off music on my iPhone. Open up my laptop. It unlocks with my Apple Watch. I pop open iTunes or Spotify, hit play with my Air Pods still in. This could also work with my iPad as well. I open my iPad, stop playing stuff on my iPhone, and start playing something on my iPad. I shouldn't have to swap.

Apple knows it's me and knows which device I'm actively using.

Re: AirPods

#93

Post by jon889 » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:23 PM UTC

bluetidepro wrote: post #49

> Put them in your ears and they connect immediately, immersing you in rich, high-quality sound. Just like magic. I completely disagree with this. It isn’t magic at all. Mine hardly ever work this smooth. Especially transitioning from my iPhone to MacBook Pro. I constantly have to go into bluetooth, manually select them, and even that usually takes a few tries. I like my Earpods from a sound quality perspective but t…

They say that switching between Mac and iOS isn't as smooth and you have to go to the bluetooth menus. But switching between my iPad/iPhone/aTV has pretty much always been smooth for me. I do wish they'd do this for Mac too though.

Re: AirPods

#94

Post by tnorthcutt » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:23 PM UTC

tsukurimashou wrote: post #73

sb8244 wrote: post #34

Any word on additional waterproofing capabilities? I can't find any mention

Since another comment is talking about replacing them a 2nd time because of sweat I think it is safe to assume they're not very waterproof

That comment was about the first generation AirPods; the poster you replied to is asking about the just-announced second generation.

Re: AirPods

#95

Post by malshe » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:26 PM UTC

AirPods are my best purchase in the last two years. I talk to my research collaborators and clients on Skype almost every morning. The calls can go on for hours. I love the freedom I have to walk around the office while on call, airpods connected to mac. I also use them in the gym connecting them to the ipad while doing eliptical and switching to iphone while doing weights.

Re: AirPods

#96

Post by chongli » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:28 PM UTC

Improvotter wrote: post #80

gumby wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They hardly insist -- you can just get an adaptor to lightning if you'd prefer, which isn't much compared to the price of the iPad.

That's yet another stupid adapter you have to take with you everywhere. Even though I personally use wireless headphones, I wouldn't want to buy something new when _already_ getting a new phone or whatever.

My iPhone came with one of those adapters. I just leave it attached to my headphones. Not a big deal.

Re: AirPods

#97

Post by lbacaj » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:29 PM UTC

Svoka wrote: post #85

lbacaj wrote: post #66

I really believe the AirPods are an amazing New platform.. I think people are far more on the go lately and so the AirPods are a perfect way to consume content, that isn’t just music. It started as a silly joke that everyone made fun of but now, at least where I live in NYC, seemingly everyone on every train has them on. I am a little disappointed in Apple for not adding storage to these though, it wouldn’t be very h…

You can pair them with Apple Watch for similar effect. But yeah, not having to have a second device would be nice;

Absolutely and the tech is there but likely a battery issue.

Re: AirPods

#98

Post by metafunctor » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:29 PM UTC

dkersten wrote: post #29

Apple's insistence that I should use wireless for my ear/headphone needs is a large reason why I'm giving up on Apple products. I love my 2016 iPad Pro and would love to replace it with the 11" 2018 model, but I also love my Sony MDR 7506 headphones and I'm unwilling to trash them for wireless earpods that cost a good bit more than I paid for my Sony headphones. No thanks. Similar deal for iPhone (and the shit keyboa…

Apple's insistence that I should use wireless for audio is a large reason I'm doubling down on Apple products. I don't need the tangled messes of headphone wires or the extra opportunities for water ingress. Please please let's get rid of wired audio!

Re: AirPods

#99

Post by mstolpm » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:29 PM UTC

dkersten wrote: post #87

gumby wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They hardly insist -- you can just get an adaptor to lightning if you'd prefer, which isn't much compared to the price of the iPad.

Just what I need, another adapter that I have to remember to bring with me, not lose etc. Plus the one on Apples website doesn't allow you to charge while the adapter is plugged in, so its either headphone jack or charging cable. No, I do not want this. Besides, for all of Apples space/thin-saving attempts, requiring me to use an adapter negates all of these completely.

It seems to me that not Apple is forcing you to go wireless, you just don't want change. If I look around me in the streets, I see more wireless earpieces (not only from Apple) than wired ones in use. Looks like the mainstream loves going the Bluetooth route (and ditching cables and dongles).

Re: AirPods

#100

Post by elagost » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 1:29 PM UTC

These are not good headphones. The battery life is kind of bad, the charging system is finicky, the sound is poor, and there's not even passive noise isolation. I have a $50 pair of over-ear bluetooth headphones that have week-long battery life, sound pretty good, can be charged while being listened to, and have a 3.5mm plug for passive wired listening when the battery runs out.

Like everyone else, I bought and used a set of AirPods for a while, but I ended up going back to the wired headphones when I wanted tiny little earbuds while walking or biking. My wired headphones work everywhere (including my iPod, which I use every day) and the AirPods are finicky, frequently lost connection between themselves, and required charging all the time. Much easier just to tuck a wired set down my sweatshirt and use the in-line remote to control volume (which the airpods can't do).