Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

AirPods don't “just work”

philip.design

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 966 posts

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#151

Post by dsizzle »

ulzeraj wrote: post #140

Within less than a year of use my AirPod Plus now makes very annoying buzzing sounds when the microphone is used or any other vibration happens. Its like having a wasp inside your ear. This only happens in transparent and noise reduction mode. Assuming its broken not sure if I trust the product enough to buy another.

This happened to me on two separate pairs (!), and Apple replaced them both for free.

https://support.apple.com/airpods-pro-service-program-sound-...

BTW, you mean AirPod Pro (not Plus).

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#152

Post by 323 »

DoingIsLearning wrote: post #52

I would add to the list that it is environmentally negligent to allow for such a complex device to be near irreparable (specifically on battery replacement). Unless you are selling medical devices your electronics should never be thrown away because after-sales cannot swap a battery. Then again Google just dropped the Pixel 3 after just 3 years so this is clearly an issue with the consumer electronics business model.…

How many people do you see using 2010 smartphones with replaceable batteries?

Or put another way: people throw away phones after 3-4 years regardless of if you can replace the battery or not.

You can pretty cheaply replace the battery in any phone at a repair shop. But people don't want that, they want the new phone with new look and new features.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#153

Post by [deleted] »

deltarholamda wrote: post #88
dt2m wrote: post #63

All valid annoyances, but I really think OP should try using another brand of Bluetooth headphones for a week just to get some perspective of how well AirPods "just work" compared to the competition. Manually having to re-pair once in every blue moon, one earbud playing while the other isn't, no automatic device switching without having to go through the Settings app everytime, A/V desync, dodgy mic quality, earbuds…

As much as people hate wires, I have to say that I much appreciate the "just works" aspect of it. Even wifi, while it has improved an awful lot over the years, is not nearly as reliable as the (albeit annoying) ethernet cable. I have the same issue with wireless keyboards and mice. The idea that I have to charge or put batteries into my mouse is infuriating.

[deleted]

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#154

Post by Nextgrid »

Causality1 wrote: post #139

if you instantly play the music you were listening to right before the call by clicking the play button on your keyboard, your music will play at a lower audio quality I don't recall the names of the specific bluetooth profiles, but I wish Airpods and bluetooth headphones in general gave you more control over this. Sure, the older headset profile is noticeably lower quality but it's also virtually lag-free. I have a…

It's AD2P vs HSP profiles. One gives you good (well, compressed but decent enough) stereo audio one way, one provides shitty audio but both ways.

I'm surprised as to why Apple couldn't come up with a better protocol that would manage to do both or switch number of channels & quality seamlessly.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#155

Post by lajosbacs »

onphonenow wrote: post #125
Traubenfuchs wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the big deal here, Apple? People have been complaining about BEING CAUSED PAIN BY AIRPODS for YEARS and they are not doing anything about it! This being the top rated comment here further proves it's a major issue for airpod users. What the fuck, apple? I am absolutely terrified of that painful sound and will regularly check battery to ensure it won't hit me.

Same when switching noise canceling - why so loud?

Your comment made me realise that I actually never switch with the pods button (rather on the display of my phone) because of the loud noise. I don't get why they have not fixed this after years of complains from users.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#156

Post by chii »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #100
dt2m wrote: post #63

All valid annoyances, but I really think OP should try using another brand of Bluetooth headphones for a week just to get some perspective of how well AirPods "just work" compared to the competition. Manually having to re-pair once in every blue moon, one earbud playing while the other isn't, no automatic device switching without having to go through the Settings app everytime, A/V desync, dodgy mic quality, earbuds…

Y’know what headphones really did “just work” though? Wired headphones, circa 2017. Their battery life was infinite. You could “pair” them in seconds to any device with a headphone jack, aka any device, because we’re in 2017. Oh, and they were cheaper and better for the environment. Courage, indeed. And this is why I’m currently typing my comment on an iPhone 6S...

I used to be like you. Then i tried, for real, a pair of bluetooth headphones.

The disadvantages of the bluetooth is by far outweighed by the wireless advantage. The mobility, flexibility and convenience of no tangles and accidental wire pulling and causing phone to drop - all worth it.

And wireless UX is only going to get better. Wired is dead.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#157

Post by dsizzle »

dewey wrote: post #103

I encountered several of these annoyances myself. Turning off auto-switching removed some issues with them randomly jumping between devices but now it's just more manual labor to connect them. Having had my share of annoying buzzing sounds I wrote these up a while ago, since I got them replaced 3 times I don't have any of these any more though: - https://annoying.technology/posts/abea6876cf4f2e13/ - https://annoying.…

I got two pair of AirPod Pros replaced twice too. I wonder if OP knows about the defect and program that Apple will replace them?

https://support.apple.com/airpods-pro-service-program-sound-...

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#159

Post by paines »

throwaway22032 wrote: post #84

I barely ever use my headphones with my laptop, but my Sony headphones on an Android phone work 100% perfectly all of the time. I've never had a hiccup. Okay, I mean, if I'm in an area with thousands of others using headphones, I might get some interference. That's it. Otherwise, totally fine.

>....if I'm in an area with thousands of others using headphones, I might get >some interference. That's it. Otherwise, totally fine.

Which imho is completely unacceptable because it annoys the hell out of me. I was using AirPods with an Xiaomi 8 Pro phone half a year ago. And this happended constanly and most of the time at street crossings in urban areas where 2-3-4 people would cross your way. Since I switched to an iPhone this never happened again.

PS: Why was I using AirPods with a cheapish android mobile phone? I tried lots of air pods like products from various vendors and each and any of them worked nicely for a couple of days until I would charge them overnight which killed the charging box where the headphones resided in or the headphones themself. Or like other useres in this thread described: one headphone would pair the other suddenly not anymore...

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#160

Post by moooo99 »

kayodelycaon wrote: post #4

Apple stuff "just works" until it doesn't. As much as a fan I am of Apple, the lack of feedback when things stop working is absolutely infuriating.

This has been my observation as well. They mostly just work, but when they don’t they are indefinitely more annoying to fix than „regular“ BT headphones.
Post reply on HN