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AirPods are now available

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Re: AirPods are now available

#431

Post by enraged_camel »

rplst8 wrote: post #416
untog wrote: post #372

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except this comes back to same problem most things do these days: battery life. You're going to need to return these to their case every few hours, so no one is going to wear them uninterrupted for a day.

This should be the top answer. The product is simply not ready - as evidenced by a two month delay.

Is the two month delay evidence that the product is not ready now, or is it evidence that it was not ready two months ago?

(This is a rhetorical question. You don't have to answer, because the answer is self-evident.)

Re: AirPods are now available

#432

Post by eltoozero »

kevinstubbs wrote: post #362
brian-armstrong wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to echo what others are saying. I don't see how you could possibly forget they're in. I've had issues with every Apple earbud design falling out when I lean over or even just move the wrong way. I'd be constantly worried these would fall out and be damaged. If anything, I'd be constantly reminded I'm wearing them.

Peoples' ears are all different. Apple's earbuds aren't comfortable for me, but they're the first choice for many people that I know. I can easily believe that the AirPods will be so comfortable that some subset of the population will forget they're in.

There's no such thing as comfortable earbuds.

You wear them, they ache until your ears adjust, then it's second nature.

Assuming you wear them more than 10 minutes at a time.

I can't be the only one who used those garbage earbuds included with the game boy for years afterwards.

Re: AirPods are now available

#433

Post by monkmartinez »

jen729w wrote: post #414
apsdsm wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they see this as a music device either. I think they see it as a way of making money from their decision to remove the audio jack from the phone. That said, you're spot on with your forecasts of how great this could be, the AR of audio is potentially awesome.

That's such a cynical, boring view. I'm sorry, but it is. You really think that Apple removed the headphone jack to make a bit more cash? Seriously? Hand-on-heart honestly, you think that's why? Come on. I think it's because they love cool new things. Thank f k they do because, frankly, nobody else seems to be doing anything interesting. I know, I know, they're not perfect. AirPods are late. They're expensive. I know…

There is nothing wrong with cynical view. I have zero problems with bluetooth speakers and earbuds... yet many people find them irritating to pair and not very user friendly.

Siri sucks. Once you've spoken to Google via "Ok Google" you quickly realize how bad Siri is.

The world doesn't need Airpods. I get that you want them, but the overwhelming majority in the _world_ can not afford Airpod. I would bet that sales of Airpods will be as transparent as the iWatch... as in completely opaque.

Re: AirPods are now available

#434

Post by arcticbull »

jen729w wrote: post #414
apsdsm wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they see this as a music device either. I think they see it as a way of making money from their decision to remove the audio jack from the phone. That said, you're spot on with your forecasts of how great this could be, the AR of audio is potentially awesome.

That's such a cynical, boring view. I'm sorry, but it is. You really think that Apple removed the headphone jack to make a bit more cash? Seriously? Hand-on-heart honestly, you think that's why? Come on. I think it's because they love cool new things. Thank f k they do because, frankly, nobody else seems to be doing anything interesting. I know, I know, they're not perfect. AirPods are late. They're expensive. I know…

Counter: do you think if removing the headphone jack made the product better but net cost Apple money do you think they would have done it? Of course not. It can be both.

Re: AirPods are now available

#435

Post by brokenmachine »

erikpukinskis wrote: post #304

I find this headphone war discussion a bit boring. The AirPods are much more interesting as Apple's first foray into augmented reality. If they add positioning, this product becomes Magic Leap without the visuals. I don't think they see this as a music device, they see it as a new platform for audio. Interesting things start happening when people start leaving one or both in their ears all day. Arrival times in your…

I don't see how heavier than normal, wireless earbuds would be any easier to forget than normal earbuds.

I don't have a problem with a cable. I actually don't understand why people would want to replace a cheap, robust, simple technology like a cable with non-replaceable batteries and signal-degrading wireless.

Also I don't need my phone to talk at me all day.

But, "courage".

Re: AirPods are now available

#436

Post by rl3 »

amlib wrote: post #331
erikpukinskis wrote: post #304

I find this headphone war discussion a bit boring. The AirPods are much more interesting as Apple's first foray into augmented reality. If they add positioning, this product becomes Magic Leap without the visuals. I don't think they see this as a music device, they see it as a new platform for audio. Interesting things start happening when people start leaving one or both in their ears all day. Arrival times in your…

But what about the possibility of losing the earpieces? They don't have a cable and don't secure into your ear like a hearing aid or even a normal bluetooth device. If they are so comfortable to the point of the user "forgetting they are there" the rate at which people will lose these things might be huge. They don't dangle from a cable when falling like normal headphones or Bluetooth headphones that have a cable bet…

>Since it's also so comfortable, the user might not even notice they lost an earpiece immediately if they are not listening to anything.

Is it possible Apple could implement some sort of loss alert mechanism for this?

Ideally each earpiece would have a low-power heartbeat even when in your pocket to continually verify they haven't been lost.

Re: AirPods are now available

#437

Post by monkmartinez »

MBCook wrote: post #317
brazzledazzle wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious how well the battery life claims hold up. It's impressive but sometimes the real world battery life doesn't measure up. The new MacBook Pros are a good example of this (even if the current battery life is temporary and may be fixed by OS updates).

Apple tends to be highly accurate on battery life measurements. If they 5 hours playing music I believe them. The problem with the MBP is its 10 hours of a 'light workload'. And it meets that. But a HEAVY workload may be 4 hours and they don't advertise that. I don't remember reviewers saying anything bad about battery life on the AirPods back in October.

Eh, you said it... YOU believe them. A lot of people here don't anymore.

Let's wait to see what real world use looks like. I mean, if you take the emoji touch bar at face value it's the coolest thing since sliced bread. However, real world use indicates that it might not be as useful as Apple wants it to be.

Re: AirPods are now available

#438

Post by angli »

eric_h wrote: post #338
amlib wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But what about the possibility of losing the earpieces? They don't have a cable and don't secure into your ear like a hearing aid or even a normal bluetooth device. If they are so comfortable to the point of the user "forgetting they are there" the rate at which people will lose these things might be huge. They don't dangle from a cable when falling like normal headphones or Bluetooth headphones that have a cable bet…

I would imagine that the cable itself contributes more to the headphone falling out than the weight of the headphone itself. Also, I imagine you mean "likely lose just one of the pair", as losing one pair means losing both of them (not intended as a dig, just helping to clarify; your intentions seemed clear)

In retrospect the fact that the cable is responsible for making headphones fall out makes so much sense, and I've even experienced it while running, but I hadn't thought of it. Thank you!

I don't think I'm alone in that though, which is great for Apple: if they're working better than expected, then consumers will love it. Expectations are everything.

Re: AirPods are now available

#439

Post by justinator »

jen729w wrote: post #414
apsdsm wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they see this as a music device either. I think they see it as a way of making money from their decision to remove the audio jack from the phone. That said, you're spot on with your forecasts of how great this could be, the AR of audio is potentially awesome.

That's such a cynical, boring view. I'm sorry, but it is. You really think that Apple removed the headphone jack to make a bit more cash? Seriously? Hand-on-heart honestly, you think that's why? Come on. I think it's because they love cool new things. Thank f k they do because, frankly, nobody else seems to be doing anything interesting. I know, I know, they're not perfect. AirPods are late. They're expensive. I know…

    But I guarantee you that, come 2020, you will be hard pushed to find a set of wired headphones that resemble those we wear today.
Yup, commenting just in case I really want to see if this prediction pans out in only three years: wired earbuds will no longer be sold. Oh! You said, "found". Oh, OK, "found"

I'm biased. When I want to put on earphones, I want to hear, not be heard. That's the primary function. Not to be some bizarre com. THESE Airbuds are totally useless to me, even if I have a device that supports them. Can I take them running, or cycling? That's a good majority of my "not sleeping, not working" time. I don't need another attempt at augmented reality, I need to remember I used to go to places to talk to people, not manipulate a screen, or talk to a computer assistant.

I remember when Bluetooth headsets came out. They were decidedly not cool. Like, "look at the crazy person talking to themself while walking" not cool.

    (†Not currently all that much, but hey.)
It's more than me. I'm taking the bet.

Re: AirPods are now available

#440

Post by brokenmachine »

cwisecarver wrote: post #351
erikpukinskis wrote: post #304

I find this headphone war discussion a bit boring. The AirPods are much more interesting as Apple's first foray into augmented reality. If they add positioning, this product becomes Magic Leap without the visuals. I don't think they see this as a music device, they see it as a new platform for audio. Interesting things start happening when people start leaving one or both in their ears all day. Arrival times in your…

I'm really hoping that Apple opens up an API to them. They have built in mics like here-one and the new Bose headphones. I would really like to see what app developers can do on a (somewhat) open platform. Intelligent noise cancelling, lowering the volume automatically when it detects someone talking to you, etc.

I would bet my bottom dollar it's not going to be an open platform. Apple is going to licence it to companies silly enough to pay.
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