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AirPods don't “just work”

philip.design

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Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#281

Post by elondaits »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #213
dimmke wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also pretty much confirmed at this point that the next pair of AirPods won't be using bluetooth - which they will get a lot of shit for but is probably necessary to address a lot of these issues.

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 understand it’d be an issue to many people, but I had Airpods for 5? years now and not even once paired them to anything other than an Apple device. I have non-apple BT speakers but don’t have any BT transmitting devices that aren’t Apple… my LG TV maybe (which I use with an Apple TV) but I assume pairing them would be a pain.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#282

Post by openknot »

dspillett wrote: post #203
nisegami wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use the right tool for the job. Sometimes that's wired headphones. Sometimes that's bluetooth headphones.

Though being able to use the right tool, in circumstances where that is a wired set, can be a problem on some platforms.

This is true (iPhones, iPads, and plenty of Android phones these days), but can be mitigated by carrying a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adapter in the pouch that contains the IEMs. I wish people didn't have to, but it's a straightforward solution that widely improves wired compatibility.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#284

Post by jdpedrie »

toyg wrote: post #177
yoz-y wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, the fact that I no longer snag my earphones on random protrusions, like doorknobs and bus ticket validating machines is a bliss. Cables inside at a desk: sure, why not. Cables outside: hard pass.

I agree, but the awkward "omg an airpod fell off after bumping into something/someone" is also a real thing. They should have an optional cord between the pair.

From a sibling comment:

> Aftershokz Aeropex, silly name aside, is a decent product that gets you a Bluetooth device you can wear all day without losing

Make sure if you get bone induction headphones that you test them out in louder environments before running or getting them dirty. For me, I had to turn them up so high when outside with normal street noise that they gave me a pretty terrible headache.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#285

Post by vxNsr »

loevborg wrote: post #108

I don't have AirPods, but every time I've had a meeting with someone who does, the microphone quality has been terrible, even in quiet environments. The sounds has been muffled to the point where, while I could still understand the person, it took me 50% more cognitive effort to make out what they were saying because of the low quality. It's almost always much better when I ask them to switch to the built-in MacBook…

It’s not just you, but please let them know. I was experiencing this as the AirPods user but wasn’t aware, it’s kinda hard to know because even if you turn on “listen to this device” it’s not quite what zoom/teams sends.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#286

Post by saberience »

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've broken at least three or four pairs of wired headphones in the gym/while working out getting them caught in something and then the cable being jerked and broken, not the mention the intense annoyance of the cable always ending up in a horrible knot in my pocket.

With my Airpods Pro, my original pair are working great, no breakages, amazing for working out with, no cable to get tangled. I love them.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#287

Post by lowercased »

Nextgrid wrote: post #173
jdminhbg wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In case you don’t know this, since it isn’t obvious, you have to set them not to automatically connect on each device they are paired to. And if you unpair and re-pair them you have to do it again. This is annoying but not as annoying as auto-pairing.

I hope it works for the parent, but in my case even that doesn't work. Whatever extra protocol or other crap they introduced with this "automatic switching" feature is garbage and worsens the experience even if you disable the new functionality. The audio menu and connection/disconnection being slow as molasses is a new thing introduced by this change.

Yeah, doesn't work.

"Connect to this iphone" in bluetooth settings..

Options are "automatically" and "when last connected to thi..."

These don't even make sense as options, imo.

What I think they're meaning is "automatically connect..." and the options are "automatically" and "when last connected". But.. if the software is broken, and it 'magically' connects when I don't want it to, then that will be the last time it connected anyway.

"NEVER" needs to be an option.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#288

Post by mcronce »

megapolitics wrote: post #196
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. However, the life of the cable was a few months at best in my experience.

What were you doing with your headphone cables? I've been using the same one with my current pair since I bought them three years ago. Prior to switching to cans, I used the same set of cheap wired earbuds for five years - and they're still working

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#289

Post by atombender »

Annoyance 1: Go into the AirPods settings (which are, paradoxically, in your phone's Bluetooth settings, and only when connected) and set "Connect to This iPhone" to "When Last Connected to This iPhone". This will disable the wonky automation.

I've never experienced 2, 2a, or 2b.

3: This is a Zoom problem, I believe. I find that Zoom periodically enables the microphone even though I'm not in a meeting, and you can see this in the latest macOS by looking for the orange dot in the upper right corner of the screen. The workaround is to quit Zoom, or go into Zoom's settings and change the microphone device to your Mac's.

6: You may have hit a hardware problem with early models. Happened to me, and I also often experienced a screaming feedback tone when I put the earbuds in my ears. Apple will replace them for free.

4, 5, 7: Definitely.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#290

Post by striking »

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.

You can turn them on, and they will use the wired input but pass it through the nice internal DAC.
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