AirPods with Wireless Charging Case • Hacker News Board

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#211

Post by reaperducer » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:28 PM UTC

asark wrote: post #73

jasongill wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I pre-ordered my Airpods the first day they were available at the end of 2016 and have used them almost exclusively for conference calls. I use them maybe once every day or so, and they sit in their charging case the rest of the time (which gets recharged periodically) I had a call yesterday and the Airpods were beeping that they were dying at the 20min mark, and didn't make it to 30min on the call. I love the form f…

Airpods dying on conference calls has become another common part of the joke that is conference calls generally. Seeing that happen constantly has turned me off buying them :-/ Well, that and the fact that I'd definitely lose one in the first month of ownership.

Airpods dying on conference calls has become another common part of the joke that is conference calls generally. Seeing that happen constantly has turned me off buying them :-/

Like everything in life -- you use the right tool for the job.

If you're on a lot of conference calls, then you buy a headset or something else suited to that task. AirPods are not that item. They're for listening to music while running, or at work, and answering the occasional phone call.

I don't complain that my Hello Kitty-branded eeePC 701 can't run the latest AI framework.

If you want to do business, you buy a business tool.

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#212

Post by AcerbicZero » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:29 PM UTC

lgvln wrote: post #93

I was among the first to receive my AirPods back in end of 2016. They are now down to I’m probably going to use them till the batteries are too degraded and change to BT ANC headphones afterwards.

I actually like the Airpods lack of sound isolation. I use them when I want to be able to hear things around me still, walking/biking/etc.

When I want quiet and music I switch to my Shure SE215's w/Bluetooth. Way better sound quality and with the foam earplug style earbuds they really block out the noise.

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#213

Post by ddeokbokki » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:29 PM UTC

zpeti wrote: post #22

Funny how there's so much criticism everywhere for these products yet you step outside and loads of people have them. Usual reaction to Apple products I guess.

Many people using something is only a direct indication of popularity, assuming the reason for said popularity without external information is wrong.

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#214

Post by PascLeRasc » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:30 PM UTC

melling wrote: post #40

lm28469 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you look at it through the status symbol / fashion statement lens it kind of make sense though. Afaik other companies make similarly priced wireless buds with better sound quality and similar battery life.

Any recommendations? I’m also in the market for a pair of wireless noise canceling headphones.

Check out the Sony WH1000XM3. Ugly name but great noise cancelling, the sound quality is so much better than Bose, and I'm a big fan of the design. USB-C charging and very long battery life.

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#215

Post by cycrutchfield » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:30 PM UTC

eadmund wrote: post #157

mygo wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also use them for conference calls. I think one of the super awesome but barely talked about features of the airpods is how you can use it to handle calls nonstop all day long -- you can just wear one at a time. Both airpods have a microphone. So while you're using one, the other one is in the charging case! You can even switch them out in the middle of a call. So no need to go "oh crap I need to recharge my headse…

I think one of the super awesome features of wired headsets is that one never needs to recharge them. Also, they are a lot cheaper than wireless headsets.

What about the part where your skull is physically tethered to your computer?

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#216

Post by reaperducer » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:31 PM UTC

theonemind wrote: post #20

Daniel_sk wrote: post #5

The issue is that you have tiny chemical batteries inside and they deteriorate with use and time, so it will hardly hold any charge after 3 years (some report much faster deterioration). Does Apple replace those batteries? How much does it cost? And can it be done outside of US? (e.g. in EU countries with no official Apple Store presence). Otherwise it's pretty expensive to pay $200 for a pair headphones and throw th…

I’ve had my AirPods for a while. The battery life has indeed degraded, but they’re pretty good for an hour of listening, and I never really do more. I’d be more disappointed as a heavy user. They’re also the only earphones I can stand while exercising. Before the AirPods, the annoyance of the wire flopping around or on my skin, etc. made me mostly just not listen to anything. So, I don’t really compare them to anythi…

I’ve had my AirPods for a while. The battery life has indeed degraded, but they’re pretty good for an hour of listening.

I've had mine almost two years. I listen at work M-F, 8am-11:30am, then let them recharge at lunch, then use them 1:00pm-4:00pm. So far, so issues.

How long do you think I have before the batteries start to degrade?

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#217

Post by peruvian » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:33 PM UTC

rajataghi wrote: post #19

lskopwol wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah the price doens’t really scale but if you consider your time worthwhile, then add up the total amount of time it has saved you from having to untwist a jumbled mess of earphones / roll up earphones into some easily tangled roll.

you should also consider the time it takes to charge the case and the times when you want to listen to music but alas, you forgot to charge your earphones! The jumbled mess of earphones don't need to be charged.

I’ve never thought of charging my AirPods or the case outside of plugging the case for half an hour once a week. I don’t even check the battery percentage.

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#218

Post by leevlad » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:33 PM UTC

paultopia wrote: post #127

I actually bought these. Yes, it's a pile of money, wireless charging for AirPods probably isn't all that useful (though I may grab a new wireless charger for the desk where my AirPods usually sit anyway), etc. But, reality is: AirPods are by far the most convenient way to casually do anything with apple products and headphones. Stick 'em in a pocket, and if you want to listen to music or be on a conference call, pul…

I've been wearing my AirPods at the gym since I bought them (~1.5 years) and haven't had a single issue. And I sweat a lot during my workouts.

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#219

Post by macintux » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:33 PM UTC

Isamu wrote: post #208

jonawesomegreen wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I own a pair and as well as everything you mentioned, the killer feature for me is not dropping out. Every other pair of bluetooth earbuds I've had were constantly dropping out on me when running through an airport or if I decided to pace around a room on a conference call unless I held my phone just so. I've found the range on AirPods to be fantastic. I work from home and if I want to pace around the house while I'm…

The range is surprising. I've walked to another part of the house and then wondered, where did I leave my phone? Because the airpods just didn't quit.

Tangential but your comment reminded me: years ago (I hope this is no longer true) the iPhone would, when pinged via "Find my iPhone", play the alert sound to the current output.

So if my iPhone was playing music via AirPlay, the alert sound would go to, you guessed it, the AirPlay speakers. Completely pointless.

Re: AirPods with Wireless Charging Case

#220

Post by dajohnson89 » Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 5:34 PM UTC

reaperducer wrote: post #209

dajohnson89 wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Love how the cost of replacing the batteries approaches the cost of buying a new set. Are there any tips to make the batteries last longer?

Love how the cost of replacing the batteries approaches the cost of buying a new set $100 < $200. I wouldn't call half the price "approaches."

That's the earbuds. now throw in the case. also -- $150 approaches the retail cost of the older model.