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AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

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Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#441

Post by lrem »

vlovich123 wrote: post #377
cafed00d wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of this has a super simple explanation: the shitty products always have org structures that treat software dev as shitty cost centers. It took a long time to realize that the most compelling devices have good, well maintained software. I don’t mean to say that software devs are geniuses or that these orgs have to hire the best of the best. No, they just need to create an org that prioritizes software dev. Low att…

It's also possible that their Bluetooth stack for the AirPods is likely sharing a lot of code with their battle-tested iOS stack which puts even Android's to shame (I worked at both places and even Googler's acknowledged Android has some serious problems and Apple kicked there ass here). A sibling noted the H1 chip and whatnot. I don't know how much the specific chip matters for that piece (certainly key for battery…

There is a widespread belief in a simple explanation among Googlers: device makers test against iPhone. Whenever Apple strays off spec, they'll choose to be compatible with Apple's implementation rather than the standard.

TBF, can't blame them. Apple has pretty much a single stack. Android is about as fragmented as the PC world.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#442

Post by lostlogin »

wvenable wrote: post #252
cafed00d wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of this has a super simple explanation: the shitty products always have org structures that treat software dev as shitty cost centers. It took a long time to realize that the most compelling devices have good, well maintained software. I don’t mean to say that software devs are geniuses or that these orgs have to hire the best of the best. No, they just need to create an org that prioritizes software dev. Low att…

Apple's key to success is that they're the best hardware company at doing software.

Which company is the best software company? I used to have an answer, but don’t anymore.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#443

Post by can16358p »

aqme28 wrote: post #232
8ytecoder wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve seen people minimize the usability of the AirPods. My dad who’s quite technology-averse, figured it out in 2 minutes while I helped him over FaceTime. The only reason he agreed to even try it was because the wired EarPods broke. Since then he just loves his AirPods.

This is Apple’s strength in general. Much easier for older folks to use.

Not just older folks. As a dev and tech enthusiast, even if I dig into technical bits of many things, at the end of the day I want something that works, battle-tested, and reliable. (okay a few failures in past years like keyboard failures, but still better than competition)

Apple just gives me that.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#445

Post by dzhiurgis »

Larrikin wrote: post #204
dzhiurgis wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have XM3. Hold power for 7 seconds and it will enter pairing mode. Fairly minor issue for me as I mostly use them for coding. Amazing headphones otherwise.

Also if you have a phone with NFC (or possibly any device with NFC other than an iPhone) you can just slide the device over the NFC logo and it will switch over to being paired with that device. Really convenient when switching from my computer to phone.

Will have to try. Strange Apple refuses to put NFC in macbooks.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#446

Post by mort96 »

moe wrote: post #406
xirdstl wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is my complaint as well. On multiple pairs, the microphone becomes unreliable after some number of months. If I'm lucky, it's within the warranty period.

The mic is pretty bad anyway. And to add insult to injury, your listening audio quality also gets degraded whenever it's on... So it's a lose-lose for both sides every time you use it. My main complaint is that OSX has no setting to completely disable it. I have to manually switch to the Macbook internal mic basically before every call. I wish they would just sell a model without the crappy mic. I would even happily…

The audio quality thing is a Bluetooth limitation AFAIK. There is no standard which lets you stream high quality audio bidirectionally, their high fidelity mode has only one audio stream going to the headphones.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#447

Post by bschwindHN »

Negitivefrags wrote: post #146
kapsel wrote: post #12

I love my AirPod Pros, but I hate how unreliable charging in the case is. The AirPods will often think they are out of the case, when they are, and discharge themselves, while connected to my phone/laptop. Then they will re-charge, emptying the battery in the case, so I will end up with a dead pair of AirPods after a couple of days in the pocket, not using them. I guess their tolerances are too tight, hopefully somet…

This issue is very bad, and I've had it on all 3 of the sets of AirPods pros I have owned. Another issue I have had on all three is that the noise cancelling degrades over time. When you get a new set, it's kind of night and day how good they are at first. After about 6 months I would say that they noticably suck compared to how they are when you first get them, and they just continue to degrade over time. My guess i…

> My guess is just wax and gunk getting to the external microphone mesh over time, but there is no way to deal with it

I haven't tried this myself but someone on reddit mentioned you can use blu tack (sp?) - press it on the external mics, then pull off to clean it. I imagine it works but as I said, haven't tried it personally.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#448

Post by nikau »

hardwaregeek wrote: post #26

It's wild how much money Apple has made from Bluetooth headphones that don't suck. That's literally it. They're portable, pair easily and (somewhat) work with multiple devices. I have top of the line Bose Bluetooth headphones that still, in 2022, have issues with multiple devices. I can't count how many times I've started playing music on my iPhone only to realize that the headphones think my laptop is playing, so th…

Except they do stuck - at least as the other person having to listen to their awful microphone quality.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#449

Post by doix »

ramraj07 wrote: post #400
jeremy_wiebe wrote: post #372

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A cord used to plug into whichever device you want to listen to would also work and be correct 100% of the time… barring user error.

The AirPods are the best recent example of people who haven’t tried the new thing crapping on it saying the old ways work fine. Multiple times people have crapped on the AirPods and I gift them one and they realize how amazing it is to not have wires at all. Last time this happened was with the OG iPhone of course. Still remember Maddox’s tear down of the iPhone lol. https://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=iphone/

Back in December 2019, the company I worked for gave everyone AirPods Pros for Xmas. Lots of people tried them and complained a lot. I have a pair and rarely use them, only with devices that don't have a headphone jack.

Having no wires was not life changing, I don't really care about that. Running out of battery sucks though. The noise canceling really is great, but they never last a full flight, so I always need backup headphones.

Re: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

#450

Post by balakk »

caeril wrote: post #332
jmspring wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I ended up giving my airpod pros to my partner. I found both the connectivity and sound quality (as well as noise canceling) much better on my Sony WF-1000MX4s. edit: isolation replaced with canceling

The WF-1000MX4s are absolutely PERFECT with the sole exception of the non-tactile controls. If they replaced the touch sensors with actual buttons, they would be the best earbuds on the market.

I have a pair, but haven't used too many gestures, since it seems somewhat limited. I was very surprised that you cant even accept/reject a call with a gesture. Just curious, why would you get buttons instead of sensors?
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