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AirPods don't “just work”

philip.design

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Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#441

Post by germinalphrase »

dannyw wrote: post #80
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #47

I generally enjoy my AirPods. They are occasionally quirky, but most of the time they really do “just work” for me. The annoyances are annoying when they happen, though. The strangest part is that the annoyances aren’t getting any better over time. At first I assumed that they were growing pains of an early product launch. Yet now we’re years into the AirPods experience and they continue to be just as quirky as when…

Apple seems to only improve peripherals (like the AirPods) with new hardware releases; not software updates. They make money based on units of AirPods moved.

Not strictly true in this case. Apple added a lot of additional functionality to the airpod pros over time. The tuning is hidden under the accessibility settings, but it’s there.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#442

Post by cybertim »

TYPE_FASTER wrote: post #374

Annoyance 1 - you can configure auto-connect per device. I have three computers and an iPhone that have been paired with my AirPods. I only have my iPhone configured to connect to my AirPods automatically. Annoyance 2 - since you hear the "connect" tone when the AirPods connect to a device, my guess is the author's AirPods have connected to a device they are not looking at. This is what was happening to me before I r…

And to add to this, i learned to not use the 'bluetooth' icon to manage the AirPods, instead use the 'triangle with broadcast signal'-icon found next to the volume in the control centre or on many other different locations on your ipad, iphone or apple tv.

Just turn off the auto-connect feature and start using that icon, all the mentioned 'annoyances' will go away :)

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#443

Post by ineedasername »

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...

What's a headphone jack?

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#444

Post by gregd »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #96
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…

Got some Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for my birthday and they're honestly one of the best tech products I've ever used. The case recharges them, the setup with a phone was very easy and worked well, they pair perfectly with my Ubuntu laptop as well. Taking them out of the case they automatically activate, put them in the case automatically shut off. And so on. They do just work.

I have the Galaxy Buds as well as the 2nd Gen AirPods. I cannot get the Buds to stay in my ears with any regularity because all of the weight of the Buds, is out at the end that is not in your ear. The AirPods have all of their mass inside of your ear and stay put.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#445

Post by germinalphrase »

hbn wrote: post #306
thenerdhead wrote: post #191

Here's a few more: - Airpods sometimes do not charge when in the case. Usually need to pull it out and put back in again. - Knowing what airpod(s) and case are charging. The UI on the phone, the open the case sliding window, the widgets, and the case light itself are not very useful. - Spatial audio working on some apps but you're not usually aware if it's on until you tilt an ear one way to confirm. - Out of ear det…

Am I crazy or have Airpods gotten worse recently? I didn't get mine until recently (November?) and for the first month or so they kinda did work perfectly. The auto-pairing was annoying like the article mentions (switching from my Mac where I want it to my phone cause I pulled it out to look at something), but I turned that off and it was all good. But at some point in December I started constantly getting the issue…

Clearly, no one at Apple considered cold weather when designing the pinch based Airpod Pro interface. Just about impossible with gloves.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#446

Post by somehnguy »

muttled wrote: post #292
somehnguy wrote: post #230

I absolutely love my AirPods, so much so that when my original AirPods battery started dying early during meetings I bought a new set of AirPod Pro without even thinking. That said, I experience all of these issues too. Another one to add to the list that I really don't understand. If I'm listening to a podcast on my phone and remove an airpod for a moment (to speak to someone or whatever) the podcast pauses as expec…

I've noticed when it doesn't resume, often the music player also isn't on the lock screen. I'm wondering if it's getting kicked out of memory if it happens to be in a non-active paused state when the device decides it needs to free some memory up?

If I had to place a bet - my money would be on your theory. I've noticed the exact same thing, which makes it even worse as I then have to pull up the app drawer and go back to my player app. At least it never gets totally kicked out in that the state is preserved/not reloading like a fresh open.

I guess my question from there would be why does the device suddenly feel the need to release resources when the music/podcast pauses? I'm experiencing it on an iPhone 13 Pro which should have no shortage.

If it was a once in a blue moon thing I would brush it off as just unlucky timing, but it happens very regularly.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#447

Post by gabeio »

lajosbacs wrote: post #155
onphonenow wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Doesn't it still make the noise when you use the onscreen switch?

Either way it's horrible, all of these noises seem to be at a fixed or separate volume level than the media volume (which actually is common for apple). Siri used to have a separate volume than media (still might?), and then you also have ringtone volume, and sound in settings barely even hints that all these separate volumes exist.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#448

Post by mavhc »

pjc50 wrote: post #337
toyg wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I have a pair which have a cord between them and hooks over the outside of the ears, because regular headphones don't retain in my ears. I don't think I could last even a day with airpods without losing one of them.

Do you have the model number?

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#449

Post by spacemadness »

thenerdhead wrote: post #191

Here's a few more: - Airpods sometimes do not charge when in the case. Usually need to pull it out and put back in again. - Knowing what airpod(s) and case are charging. The UI on the phone, the open the case sliding window, the widgets, and the case light itself are not very useful. - Spatial audio working on some apps but you're not usually aware if it's on until you tilt an ear one way to confirm. - Out of ear det…

Out of ear detection is my biggest gripe. If I take them out quick and place them on a table because I don’t have the case handy, they try to reconnect when I’m receiving a call or using audio in any way without them. I have to look for the icon in control center and manually remove them. It’s incredibly annoying.

I also noticed the membrane sounds like it’s getting blown out when they attempt to deal with loud noises in the environment.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#450

Post by seized »

rattray wrote: post #261
toyg wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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

Shure as well, one you use the over the ear loop style it's hard to downgrade to anything else.
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