Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing? • Hacker News Board

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

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Post by hrktb » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 7:28 PM UTC

WiseWeasel wrote: post #445

hrktb wrote: post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sony’s bet was that they could overcome the strategy tax by sheer talent. They could for a while (2 decades ?) but ended up losing when software became a major part of the business. Software has always been their Achiles heel. Their laptop where cool but running widows with super custom drivers. Their music players were cool but running weird formats with proprietary interfaces. Anything that needs software intercomp…

Sony's PlayStation is a popular consumer software platform, showing they’re not completely incapable of providing usable software. I'd point more towards the competitiveness of the digital music market making their aggressive attempts to lock customers into their own narrowly focused music platform much less appealing. In game consoles, proprietary content is the point; not so much in audio gear.

Playstation is basically embedded software though, and everything that runs on it has been custom made for it (it’s also interesting that it spun from a Nintendo cooperation, which makes it a very special division compared to the others)

In that respect their MD player was also running decent software, it just didn’t talk to anything not Sony produced.

Anecdotally, they also have a joint venture with Docomo that worked on NFC payment solutions that was super successful with genuinely strong software.

On the music market, I think the lockin wasn’t so much an issue (iPods also locked you in to some extent) than Sony’s desktop software being utter garbage.

I actually bought a Net Walkman at that time because I liked the hardware more, and it was hell: I’m not even sure there was any mac support, I might have run a VM for that, and even in a proper windows environment it was still buggy, extremely time consumming to move tacks to the player, yet limited and low quality. I personally think Sony lost to itself, more than the competition coming for Sony.

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

#662

Post by morganvachon » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 7:42 PM UTC

paulddraper wrote: post #364

morganvachon wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just the numbers, there are other wild assumptions going on. > That means almost all iPhone users are still either using wired earphones or none at all. I'm sorry, what? Non-Apple branded Bluetooth earphones (including AirPod knockoffs) are ubiquitous, and far outnumber wired earphones (in part thanks to Apple and many Android OEMs dropping headset jacks).

Imagine thinking that AirPods were the first wireless headset.

When did I say or imply that?

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

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Post by gideon_b » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 8:00 PM UTC

ikeboy wrote: post #315

addicted wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I strongly disagree about the fashion bit. The iPod was better than any competitor it faced ever. The UI with the click wheel was completely unmatched. Maybe the Zune, years later, came close, but Apple absolutely crushed it with the iPhone and iPod touch. The iPhone was leaps and bounds ahead of its time, to the point that the then King of the hill, BlackBerry, didn’t even think it was possible. And the smoothness o…

My understanding is that the Airpods are not better than the high-end competition. There's plenty of $100-150 Bluetooth earbuds that have better sound quality, and a handful of sub-$100 ones that are just as good. You're paying for the name. https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-airpods-review-wireles... >The biggest downside? Their sound is just OK. AirPods produce a perfectly average sound that's clear in the mid-t…

Airpods dominate because when you put them in your ears, they work immediately. They also have a great case, which means you usually have them with you when you need them.

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

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Post by hk__2 » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 8:00 PM UTC

Grazester wrote: post #480

hk__2 wrote: post #318

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> I think primary because it doesn't have a dedicated back button. Why is this an issue? Do you need dedicated back and forward buttons to browse through your pictures? Of course not, you just swipe left and right. That’s how the iPhone handles the “back” movement.

facepalm I just clicked on an album in "Photos", I could scroll through them swiping left and right to go through the photos but now I have to rely on the arrow at the top left of the screen to go back to view all albums. I like having a back button always present on the buttom of my screen in Android for this.

> facepalm

Sorry if it sounded sarcastic, this was a sincere question.

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

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Post by scarface74 » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 9:03 PM UTC

JoBrad wrote: post #542

scarface74 wrote: post #529

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven’t needed to connect an iOS device to iTunes since iOS 5 in 2011.

It’s pretty much the main way to get any movies from a Windows personal drive on an iPad, etc., unless you’re using something like Plex. Edit: added Windows clarification

Also; Now you can copy media directly from a USB attached hard drive or a network share using the Files App.

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

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Post by wiredfool » Wed, Jan 08, 2020, 9:14 PM UTC

read_if_gay_ wrote: post #89

wiredfool wrote: post #33

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The batteries in the other items are replaceable, it’s just not easy. In my understanding, the AirPods batteries simply aren’t replaceable at all.

Then it’s just a matter of what you think is easy enough to be called replaceable. I would wager for most consumers a MacBook battery is not in that category.

No, not really.

Practically, an iPhone battery is replaceable in you average mall tech shop in a mid sized town. In the 5/6 era, it was a 30 minute job if you’re being slow and careful. (I’ve got 3 screen replacements and 2 battery swaps under my belt from that era).

My understanding of the AirPods is that the complexity level is more akin to component level fixes for a main phone board. I’d expect that there are people who can do it, but they’re rare, and they’ve got specialized equipment, and it’s probably not worth it for an earphone battery.

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

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Post by Aromasin » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 1:30 AM UTC

grumple wrote: post #616

Aromasin wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. I'd be more specific and say Apple invented the first fashionable wireless earbuds . I owned a pair of the first Jabra earbuds (of which the latest edition I still use and love) and plenty of those horrid looking, wrap-around, sports ones before Apple came along; I never had anyone say "I want a set of those" until I wore my AirPods for the first time though. They just seem to nail the aesthetics every time.

They don’t look good. They are a status symbol that says you’re willing to spend money on a premium product and drink the Kool aid.

Your speaking objectively about something that could not be more subjective...? Is part of it a status symbol? Yes of course. I dislike the rabid Apple fandom as much as the next person - but that does not detract from the fact that they have comparatively decent sound quality, a white colour-way that looks clean and distinct, are compact enough to carry in a very small pocket, all while staying affordable enough that the average first-world person could buy a pair.

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

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Post by NikolaNovak » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 4:04 AM UTC

Lewton wrote: post #579

NikolaNovak wrote: post #568

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In my environment we tend to call "Headset" something that is set up for quality conversations (think gaming or office headsets - large earmuffs and microphone boom being defining quality) and "Headphones" things that are intended primarily for consuming/listening (which may incidentally have a microphone, typically inferior). Understanding that may not be wider usage, I feel there exists a need (or at least benefit)…

AirPods are intended (and great) for talking

They are absolutely great... for person with the AirPods. For the rest of the poor suckers on the call, it's headache time.

As I'm currently in operations, vast majority of my team spends 4+++ hrs a day on calls and conference calls. We'll take a $20 3.5mm Logitech with a boom over a $100 bluetooth with a boom over $200 bluetooth without a boom in a heart beat. Anybody with airpods [or Samsung etc equivalents] has been taken out to the back alley and shot by now.

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

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Post by sh87 » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 6:45 AM UTC

filoleg wrote: post #446

ikeboy wrote: post #423

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What exactly is this seamless pairing that Airpods do so much better than everyone else? I've not noticed much in the way of seams on the other wireless earbuds I've tried. Connect on device, it works, and autoconnects next time.

Have you tried using any of them with multiple devices? Not at the same time, obviously, but in scenarios like "listening to them connected to phone while on the bus, getting into your office, switching to listening to them on your laptop". If not, I recommend you testing out this specific scenario. For a lot of the ones I tested, it becomes an exercise in patience and frustration. There were even some that refused t…

I came here looking for excuses folks spending 200 odd bucks on apple headphones tell themselves... aaaand found it! Seams!

Talking about seamless, the 3.5mm jack is far more seamless and robust to me. I wonder how long before they seal that hole on the only apple product (of the ones I use) that has it yet ... the macbook.

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

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Post by szemy2 » Thu, Jan 09, 2020, 7:50 AM UTC

ganstyles wrote: post #457

gmaster1440 wrote: post #9

Impressive figures no doubt, but in my opinion flawed to consider Airpods as a standalone business and compare to other businesses. It's so successful specifically because Apple built bespoke chips, software, and integration across their ecosystem for the Airpods. This is something a brand new company building just the Airpods product would never be able to accomplish.

I am on my third "generation" (Airpods, AP wireless, Airpods Pro) of Airpods and have never been otherwise in the Apple ecosystem. I use Android. I think there are probably some advantages like quick pairing and being able to see battery level quickly, but so far haven't specifically needed this information. Really love the Airpods, previous had several pairs of in ear earbuds like the Google Pixel Buds, Beats, and o…

Even for Android you can simply download an app that gives very similar features.