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Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

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Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#41

Post by Relys »

anthony_romeo wrote: post #28
philfrasty wrote: post #13

I have tested at least a dozen Bluetooth-headphones for sports (running, gym, etc.) and they all died due to sweat after max. 2 months. Anyone has a good suggestion? (was really looking forward to buying the AirPods even though not sure about sweat-resistance...)

I was satisfied by the MPOW Swift. I'm a very sweaty guy, and they lasted about eight months of exercise 4-5 days/week before I broke the cheap plastic case. They looked kinda derpy, but they were fine for throwaway $20 exercise earphones. The MPOW Wolverine I bought afterwards to replace them, however, broke after two weeks, so proceed with caution with this company.

I have a pair of the MPOW Magneto's (https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling-...). I found them while looking for an alternative to the JayBird BlueBuds my girlfriend has (which are like $120). The Magneto's have a 6-8 hour battery life (and standby time is days). Bluetooth 4.1. Apt-X codec for higher quality audio. Active noise cancellation. Nifty magnet feature which allows you to pick up calls and ware it around your neck without loosing it. If you're looking for a feature rich pair of Bluetooth headphones that have a decent battery life you honestly can't beat MPOW for the price.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#42

Post by jonlucc »

jonny_eh wrote: post #10

What are the odds they just cancel the product? I haven't seen much excitement for them (since they're pricey and can be so easily lost), and if they're having trouble making them, I could see them just cancelling them and going back to the drawing board.

I'd guess very very low, but I'm not sure. I think they are barging ahead with a wireless future, evidenced by the lack of headphone port on iPhone7 and iPhone7+. If they drop the AirPods that were supposed to make the iPhone 7 such a pleasure to use, they're abandoning a major selling point from their most recent keynote.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#43

Post by r00fus »

philfrasty wrote: post #13

I have tested at least a dozen Bluetooth-headphones for sports (running, gym, etc.) and they all died due to sweat after max. 2 months. Anyone has a good suggestion? (was really looking forward to buying the AirPods even though not sure about sweat-resistance...)

Just get a clip-on BT receiver and use cheap wired headphones. I sweat a LOT and many options e.g. Apple earpods stay in my ear and have not died due to sweat yet after years of workouts (they die for other reasons like me stepping on them).

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#44

Post by 2sk21 »

itp wrote: post #33
philfrasty wrote: post #13

I have tested at least a dozen Bluetooth-headphones for sports (running, gym, etc.) and they all died due to sweat after max. 2 months. Anyone has a good suggestion? (was really looking forward to buying the AirPods even though not sure about sweat-resistance...)

I've been using these $25 TaoTronics headphones for months without any issues (combination of cardio and weightlifting, copious sweating involved). https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Headphones-Earph...

I have these - not bad if you're mostly sitting but if you walk around with them, they move around in your ear resulting in booming noises.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#45

Post by jonlucc »

beedogs wrote: post #38

Bluetooth headphones are a solution in search of a problem.

I disagree. I work in a lab (biology), and I listen to podcasts, books, and music for a large part of most days. I currently use wired headphones, but the cord tugs at them all day. In addition, wires get caught. Just today, I was stooping down to put something on the bottom shelf of a freezer, and when I started to stand up, the cord caught on my knee and yanked the headphone right off my ear. This kind of thing happens to me daily.

If there were a good, long-lasting (battery-wise), decent sounding pair of headphones, I'd gladly jump on board.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#46

Post by djrogers »

jonny_eh wrote: post #10

What are the odds they just cancel the product? I haven't seen much excitement for them (since they're pricey and can be so easily lost), and if they're having trouble making them, I could see them just cancelling them and going back to the drawing board.

Pricey? They are by far the least expensive wireless 2-ear headphones you can buy outside of some no-name alibaba ones with 1-2 hour battery life. On top of the price, you're getting almost 2x the battery life of the Samsungs, seamless multi-device paring, beam-forming microphones aided by motion sensors to only turn on when your jaw is moving, etc etc...

I think you may have a bit of an echo chamber problem if you don't think anyone is waiting for these...

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#47

Post by snarkyturtle »

philfrasty wrote: post #13

I have tested at least a dozen Bluetooth-headphones for sports (running, gym, etc.) and they all died due to sweat after max. 2 months. Anyone has a good suggestion? (was really looking forward to buying the AirPods even though not sure about sweat-resistance...)

I'm using the Trekz Aftershokz Titanium and they seem to be holding up: https://www.amazon.com/Aftershokz-AS600SG-Titanium-Conductio...

Bonus points with allowing you to hear while you run so it's less likely you'll be hit by a car.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#48

Post by djrogers »

potatolicious wrote: post #21
mjsweet wrote: post #3

Would this be a manufacturing or software issue?

The Beats sport earbuds that use the same chipset went on sale today - so presumably it's a hardware issue.

The PowerBeats have the same W1 chip, but they don't have the same motion sensors, beam forming mice, IR sensors, and other hardware and software that goes in to making the EarPods. There's a lot of software involved in tweaking all of that stuff that goes way beyond the W1 chip.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#49

Post by UVB-76 »

intopieces wrote: post #26
UVB-76 wrote: post #9

Hopefully the delay is a chance for the product designers to go back to the drawing board. I simply cannot fathom why anyone would want to own a pair.

You don't see any merit to beam-forming microphones for noise cancellation, seamless paring experience, Siri access, other-earphone awareness, or lack of tangled wires? You don't remember how iconic the white earbuds have been as a status symbol? It's fine, and even expected, to say, "This product doesn't fit my use-case." But to be unable to fathom why any person on the earth would want to buy the product... that ta…

> You don't see any merit to beam-forming microphones for noise cancellation, seamless paring experience, Siri access, other-earphone awareness, or lack of tangled wires

I honestly cannot. They're impressive solutions to problems Apple have created for themselves.

Personally, I don't use the built-in microphones in headphones. If I'm speaking to someone, I either hold the phone to my ear, or use speaker phone.

Taking two seconds to plug my wired headphones into my device is a pretty "seamless pairing experience", and I can use them with whatever device I please, unlike the AirPods.

My wired headphones don't need to be "aware" of each other, because they are connected to each other.

I spend about ten seconds each day ensuring my headphone cable isn't tangled.

> You don't remember how iconic the white earbuds have been as a status symbol?

Where I'm from, white earbuds have only ever been: a) an invitation to thieves looking to steal the device they're connected to; b) a sign that someone doesn't care about audio quality.

> [...] that takes a total disconnection from headphones as a category of device, and I'm not willing to believe that's true.

On the contrary, I think the problem is that I would actually consider a headphone purchase, rather than blindly buying something like the AirPods.

Re: Apple Delays AirPods Wireless Headphones

#50

Post by jonlucc »

agumonkey wrote: post #32
intopieces wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't see any merit to beam-forming microphones for noise cancellation, seamless paring experience, Siri access, other-earphone awareness, or lack of tangled wires? You don't remember how iconic the white earbuds have been as a status symbol? It's fine, and even expected, to say, "This product doesn't fit my use-case." But to be unable to fathom why any person on the earth would want to buy the product... that ta…

My biggest complaints is that they are in-ear. I really wonder how they will stay in place outside of a desk chair or a couch. At least with a cable you had a chance to catch it when it fell. An ear-clip version would be great.

I'm sympathetic to that concern, but I've heard reporters say they don't really fall out without the cord tugging at them.
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