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AirPods don't “just work”

philip.design

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Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#471

Post by carb »

jensensbutton wrote: post #211
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…

Get some jabra 75Ts. Problems solved.

Also agreed. I have been using Jabra earbuds daily for about four years and they would perfectly.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#472

Post by wtetzner »

yoz-y wrote: post #113
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...

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 used to just put the cable under my shirt.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#473

Post by drewzero1 »

FunnyLookinHat wrote: post #212
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.

This is exactly why I have the old-school style with a wire connecting them that sits on the back of your neck. I had my toddler rip an earbud out just once for me to realize that was a design feature I had to have. As an added bonus, I find they're way easier to throw on and off (just loop them around your neck and tuck them in your shirt) in between tasks. Something like this: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/headphone…

I had the opposite experience - I had the ones with a wire between them when my kid was a baby and had to stop using them as soon as he was able to grab things. That wire was so tantalizing and the buds got forcibly ripped out of my ears every time! I switched to some very cheap (and relatively large = easier to grab out of a small mouth if necessary) AirPod knockoffs and only put in the ear on the other shoulder from where I was holding the baby.

Now he's older and when he gets hold of them he tries to put them in his ear rather than his mouth. I've been cutting down on wearing them when I'm around him anyway, since he's copying everything now.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#474

Post by strogonoff »

grp000 wrote: post #421
strogonoff wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having cycled through WH1000XM3, XM4, AirPods Pro, I am back to my trusty Shure SE215 that I use wired. — They never deafen me with connected/disconnected sounds (which can never be configured quiet enough) or music briefly playing at insane volume after switching or connecting. — I know I get the source quality. — I would never lose one randomly (always a chance with “true wireless” models). — I don’t get weird phas…

As far as their SE215 model goes, the sound, isolation, and ergonomics are great, but I've always had issues with the cable breaking at the ear curve next to the connection point to the earbuds.

Now that you say it, I’m not using the original cable, and I don’t recall what happened to it because it’s been so long ago (could’ve been a similar issue to the one you described).

I couldn’t find a Shure original cable to replace mine with right away, so I got a compatible one and been rolling with it ever since. It’s slightly thinner, more flexible and without the thicker malleable parts near earbud connections. I was cautious about those differences at first, but in the end grown to prefer it more than the original, these thin wires wrap around my ears just fine.

As a side note, one of the things I treasure about the design of these IEMs is the replaceability of the cable. The IEMs themselves can probably survive for ages, which gives a nice feeling among the increasingly disposable electronics—I just hope the model would still exist on the market when something eventually happens to my unit.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#475

Post by dont__panic »

mattnewton wrote: post #459
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.

There are pros to wireless headphones and the right choice for many people, but the choice has been made for all people who do not experience that. I personally use Bose over ear heaphones that have an optional cable you can attach and connect and it has come up an incredible number of times. There is so much pain if you switch for more than two devices, forget to charge, at unsure something is paired, etc that all g…

Exactly. Removing the headphone jack is incredibly hostile to those of us who want to use wired headphones, and clearly motivated by the insane profits of wireless earbuds. And the worst part? It's working. Just look at the AirPods business and you'll see exactly why Apple does it.

For myself, I'm sticking with an older phone and IEMs with replaceable cables. Super happy with it because I'm OK with the tradeoff of dealing with the wire instead of dealing with batteries and replacements every 2-3 years. So sure, Apple has made some profit off of wireless buds. But they could make even more profit by adding a headphone jack and allowing folks who want wireless buds to use them. (no, dongles and lightning headphones do not solve this issue -- I want to be able to use the same connector for all my devices, and I want to be able to use it while charging) At least add it to the SE, for Pete's sake.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#476

Post by wtetzner »

dpark wrote: post #467
mattnewton wrote: post #459

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are pros to wireless headphones and the right choice for many people, but the choice has been made for all people who do not experience that. I personally use Bose over ear heaphones that have an optional cable you can attach and connect and it has come up an incredible number of times. There is so much pain if you switch for more than two devices, forget to charge, at unsure something is paired, etc that all g…

> but the choice has been made for all people who do not experience that What are you talking about? Is someone stopping you from using wired earbuds?

You're not technically stopped, you just have to pay extra money to get an adapter, with the additional downside that you can no longer charge the phone while using those headphones.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#477

Post by connerpeirce »

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

I love my aeropex, but i’d be half inspired to write a similarly styled article about the annoying uniform beep notification UX- especially if you’ve paired with multiple devices and one is not quite in range.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#478

Post by rattray »

seized wrote: post #450
rattray wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Which ones are you referring to?

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#479

Post by dpark »

dont__panic wrote: post #475
mattnewton wrote: post #459

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are pros to wireless headphones and the right choice for many people, but the choice has been made for all people who do not experience that. I personally use Bose over ear heaphones that have an optional cable you can attach and connect and it has come up an incredible number of times. There is so much pain if you switch for more than two devices, forget to charge, at unsure something is paired, etc that all g…

Exactly. Removing the headphone jack is incredibly hostile to those of us who want to use wired headphones, and clearly motivated by the insane profits of wireless earbuds. And the worst part? It's working. Just look at the AirPods business and you'll see exactly why Apple does it. For myself, I'm sticking with an older phone and IEMs with replaceable cables. Super happy with it because I'm OK with the tradeoff of de…

> But they could make even more profit by adding a headphone jack and allowing folks who want wireless buds to use them.

How would this generate more profit for Apple?

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#480

Post by dont__panic »

jeffwass wrote: post #297
neutronicus wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, and Bluetooth phones / buds are much better for running. I used to jerk my wired earbuds out of the jack all the time.

Do you wear a headband or something else to secure them? I haven’t tried running with my AirPods yet, as I feared they would eventually fall out.

I used to run with AirPods multiple times a week, and used them while walking around and on public transit. I've done the same with AirPods pro borrowed from my S.O.

Did they ever fall out? Only a small portion of the time. Half the time I noticed it and caught them.

Was the idea of them falling out stressful? Hell yeah. Nothing like a $50+ bud to stress the hell out of you when you're trying to get a run in and it just will. not. sit. in. your. ear. correctly. Add sweat to the equation and things get messy quick. And the fact that in some places, like public transit, you have a good chance of losing the bud forever if it falls out.

I am much happier with the IEMs I've been using for a half a year or so now. They hook over my ears optionally, so they're never really in danger of falling out and I never have to mess with them. And they're wired to me anyway even if they do fall.

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