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

241–250 of 966 posts

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#241

Post by falcolas »

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.

> not nearly as reliable as the (albeit annoying) ethernet cable.

I keep one plugged into an inexpensive USB-C "dock" at my desk, and it's wonderful. That and wired headphones mean I always sound decent, don't break up when the microwave's in use, and never have to play the "can you hear me now" game.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#242

Post by tpict »

I swear that the automatic switching feature was almost flawless when it first shipped, but at some point the "is the user paying attention to this audio source" heuristics were changed. It now seems very eager to switch to my phone and reluctant to switch to my Mac.

There was also a bug for a period of months–I need to check to see if this still happens, I've conditioned myself not to trigger it–where

1. I put in my AirPods

2. I click them in the audio drop-down in the Mac menu bar to connect

3. The "Connect to AirPods" notification appears

4. I click "connect" because I'm already connected and it's the biggest target to dismiss the notification

5. the AirPods DISCONNECT! Come on...

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#243

Post by awestroke »

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…

Funny, I've had all those problems and more with my Airpods Pro.

The most annoying one is that if I pair my Airpods to my mac, they stop auto connecting to my android phone even when they are not in range of my mac. Probably by design

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#244

Post by eadmund »

You know what always just works? Plugging headphones into a headphone jack.

It also uses significantly more well-developed technology which does not require the use of rare earth metals and eye-wateringly complex semiconductor manufacturing processes.

And those wired headphones will still be in use years or even decades after those AirPods have corroded to nasty plastic and metal lumps in a landfill somewhere.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#245

Post by thebean11 »

KptMarchewa wrote: post #209
prox wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a Sony that does BT and wired, I love the whynotboth movement personally. Why do we have to choose?

WH-1000xm3 sound much worse when wired. They are made to use internal DAC.

Wouldn't wired use the DAC on the device rather than the headphones? I thought the 3.5mm jack carried an analog signal.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#246

Post by aceazzameen »

KptMarchewa wrote: post #209
prox wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a Sony that does BT and wired, I love the whynotboth movement personally. Why do we have to choose?

WH-1000xm3 sound much worse when wired. They are made to use internal DAC.

I use my xm3 daily and don't notice a difference. I use both methods of connection because sometimes it's quicker to just plug in on some devices, and others it pairs right away. Love these headphones.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#247

Post by tapoxi »

nemacol wrote: post #124

It is my opinion that bluetooth headphones are garbage. I have several - cheap, expensive, ear buds, over ear. They all suffer from issues between devices, one device out of range weird noises, can't decide which device to connect to. Some of the issues I blame on my phone (Pixel3a). I spend so much time walking around my house turning BT off on all but one device so I can go outside and listen to something. Much eas…

I'm a Bose QC-35 II convert. Slide forward on the power button and it'll switch the paired device. Also excellent sound quality and ridiculous battery life.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#248

Post by Wowfunhappy »

thebean11 wrote: post #234
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That also further increases the interoperability problem though, if I can't use my headphones with non-Apple devices even after going through the pairing dance. (Unless Apple uses some other open protocol, which I doubt!)

I hope it's an open protocol that operates on WiFi spectrum. Every implementation of Bluetooth is horrible, and you start to wonder if the Bluetooth spec itself is the issue..

Fwiw, Bluetooth does operate on the same spectrum as WiFi. But I agree about the Bluetooth spec.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#249

Post by throwaway287391 »

ushakov wrote: post #7

my personal complaint: sometimes the left earpod doesn’t boot both are fully charged, but when i put them into ears, only the right one actually connects i have to put the left one back into the case and take it out again to get it to connect i assume this is a software issue

If you're within the warranty period (or have AppleCare) you should definitely bring them into an Apple store. It might be a hardware issue. If you describe the problem to them they will almost certainly take your word for it and give you a free replacement left AirPod. Even if it's not a hardware issue you'll get a fresh new battery for one ear :) I've done this several times between my two pairs of airpods.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#250

Post by criddell »

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...

> Their battery life was infinite.

That's true, but only because they used your device's battery.

It takes more power for your phone to drive headphones than it does to transmit a bluetooth signal. This is not such a big issue any more since recent phones have crazy long battery life as do recent bluetooth headphones. In 2017 it was a bigger issue.

Post reply on HN