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Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

kevinrooke.com

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Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#51

Post by ericjang »

typon wrote: post #36
Waterluvian wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that cart before the horse? The concept of investing is taking a risk. If you want to invest in only successful products after they're developed, there's no wealth delta to be a part of.

I would want to invest in projects that I think will take off. For example, if I had to invest in Tesla, I would not invest in the Cybertruck. In fact, that project turns me off investing in Tesla entirely. But say, the Model Y, on the other hand is something I think will be successful so I would bet on it

If you believe that Tesla as a company is a reasonable capital allocator, and that the Cybertruck will end up being a flop, then you should expect that investing in Tesla will mean investing in the successful segments (Model Y per your prediction) and quickly divesting from the unsuccessful ones (Cybertruck per your prediction).

The same goes for Apple and Airpods.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#52

Post by wuunderbar »

gz5 wrote: post #40

Amazing how Apple managed to make the first cool MP3 player, then the first cool smartphone and now the first cool bluetooth headset. For almost 20 years now, Apple has owned electronic fashion. Sony for example was unable to parlay its Walkman dominance into similar positions with new devices. And make no mistake about it - a huge portion of these sales are people buying Apple's marketing - not buying the tech itsel…

Don't forget about first cool smartwatch.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#53

Post by barkingcat »

jackhalford wrote: post #17

I have a pair of Airpods. What bugs me most is that le lithium battery is not replaceable, and will degrade after a couple years. which makes these a high-end throwaway device...

almost everything apple makes has that feature ... degrades in a few years, throw away, buy another.

ipads, iphones, even some modern mac laptops that have the disks soldered and batteries glued, etc.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#54

Post by mantecademani »

mikece wrote: post #7

What intrigues me more than the features of the AirPods -- especially the new AirPods Pro -- is that these little things have the potential to be a platform to themselves: https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2019/11/19/airpods-are-bec...

> This dynamic could be extended so that a simple tap of an AirPod or a quick voice command can take us to a different location via sound. Utilizing HomePods as sound receivers, an AirPods wearer would be able to “move” from the kitchen to family room.

That idea of transporting yourself to another location through the use of sound is absolutely fascinating. I think developers should and will start to consider how sound enhances existing experiences, and how new experiences can come from looking at audio output and input as tools to be used to reach the user.

Sound has kind of been neglected in more recent times in technology, with apps and operating systems making fewer sounds then they did in the past, since sounds are often intrusive to whatever other thing the user is listening to. But sound has the potential to communicate completely different ideas and experiences to users and that idea in the article to me is one prime example of that sort of interaction that only works through sound.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#56

Post by mrguyorama »

taurath wrote: post #43
Kylekramer wrote: post #22

I've idly thought that Spotify should get into hardware. Headphones and/or speaker, purchase it connected to your account, and one touch button to a stream of music you like. Obviously a million times easier said than done, but has to be a better margin business than where they currently are and would be good lock in.

A “single purpose music box” would be neat to me. Maybe it controls all the speakers in my house, informs me of concerts coming up, let’s me set a mood, and most importantly doesn’t care about anything else. I feel like every gadget being in one is gonna start breaking down now that software interop is more of a thing.

Chromecast is $35 and will play spotify and other apps pretty darn well.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#57

Post by memetomancer »

genS3 wrote: post #39
dsalzman wrote: post #25

Airpods are an integral part of Apple's future medical ambition. Always in ear Airpods constantly taking your Temp, HR, Glucose, GSR, etc. With the kicker that it is only stored locally and securely on your device, all processing done locally via HealthKit. That customized data will change how we think about patient care.

> Always in ear Airpods stopped reading there.

> stopped reading there.

says much more about your limitations than about airpods...

ever heard of hearing aids?

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#60

Post by themagician »

jackhalford wrote: post #17

I have a pair of Airpods. What bugs me most is that le lithium battery is not replaceable, and will degrade after a couple years. which makes these a high-end throwaway device...

Same. After 2 years I had to buy a second pair.

Apple apparently DOES offer battery service for these, but it's $49 PER AirPod. If it was $49 for both I might be up for it.

Apple's battery service across the board is just too damn expensive. I get that it's the labor costs involved, but I wish they would put more thought into this.

I have three older iPads, a few older iPhones and a MacBook Air that are perfectly usable minus the batteries. but it would costs hundreds of dollars to replace them all so they just end up sitting in a bin because I don't have the heart to toss them.

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