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AirPods don't “just work”

philip.design

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Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#651

Post by tonymet »

ho_schi wrote: post #564

3.5 mm jack Nasty. Yes ;) I'm sorry but it solves these problems and I think most of us have more prominent issues. Bluetooth - and even overpriced Apple products - are usually working well with one connection only. And the headset profile needs to sacrifice quality for voice input. This is to large degrees a question about priority of the user. If you need good or even excellent quality - opt for a good headset and…

Let's stop to admire the excellent UX of the 3.5mm jack * tactile feedback when connected (it clicks, you hear it & feel it). * "find my device" : just pull on the wire * quickly switch between devices * instant pairing

We just need a marketing guru to sell people on the 3.5mm wired headphones

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#652

Post by lanstin »

davidmurdoch wrote: post #260
uzbit wrote: post #231

I think most of these annoyances can be taken broadly from the fact that everything about any Bluetooth experience is just absolute trash. Why does it take several tries to pair sometimes? When paired, why does it sometimes auto-connect and sometimes not? Why does it just never pair at all? What's with that pair code that it says to enter, but auto fills (sometimes)? And only sometimes do you have to use that code (w…

How have consumers let companies get away with "premium" phones being the ones with fewer features?

Because it is, statistically, an easier and more pleasant experience. I really get tired of taking twenty minutes to configure a bunch of settings for each marginally novel piece of tech I acquire.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#654

Post by criddell »

recursive wrote: post #626
criddell wrote: post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You still have that option but you might need to buy an adapter which doesn't seem like such a big deal. Those wired headphones with noise cancelling and transparency modes probably do require eye-wateringly complex semiconductors.

You'll never need an adapter if you never buy an audio-producing device lacking a jack. Passive attenuation seems to be almost as good as active in my experience. And when you factor in that the headphones no longer need a battery, it's a net benefit in my book.

Most people aren't upgrading their phone for audio functionality (I believe cameras are the biggest driver of upgrades). The fact that you need an adapter to continue using your favorite headphones isn't going to raise many eyebrows among the general public, especially when they are mostly moving to wireless headphones anyway.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#655

Post by plonkus »

A few commenters have mentioned the service program -- I think it's worth mentioning that if you're experiencing sound issues (buzzing, crackling) Apple will repair/replace AirPods Pro even if they're out of warranty (up to three years after the sale, which currently includes all AirPods Pro). I just sent mine in this week.

https://support.apple.com/airpods-pro-service-program-sound-...

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#656

Post by jrm4 »

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...

And also, you could pair them with your handheld device in 1980.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#657

Post by foogazi »

heleninboodler wrote: post #483
foogazi wrote: post #455

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And this is why I’m currently typing my comment on an iPhone 6S... You can get aux adapters for newer iphones for around $10 - great for when you can’t find your airpods

I thought this was a pretty reasonable compromise, except that whenever I need mine I can't find it. Today, I know exactly where it is, but that's 15 miles away. The funny thing about this problem is that the experience only suffers on Apple devices when I can't find the dongle. I can use my nice fancy favorite headphones everywhere else with no problem. Apple is not about to convince me to toss my favorite headphone…

You can use a wireless charger for this exact scenario

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#659

Post by [deleted] »

loginatnine wrote: post #647
JohnBooty wrote: post #639

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm back to wired Same here. Absolutely don't understand the appeal of wireless headsets for people who are sitting at a desk. I've snapped up a bunch of used Bose QC25s from eBay, their last model that used a removable standard AAA battery. Great sound, solid noise canceling, the wired mic is fine, they work even if the battery is drained, sound is better than Bluetooth. I keep a little AAA battery charger on my des…

Yea I went wired at the beginning of the pandemic, QC-35 wired with a wired antlion mic, works like a charm. 3 main reasons I went with this setup : 1- Reduce the audio lag (bluetooth comes with a noticeable lag in video conferencing) 2- Not having to worry about battery life (going wired vastly improved the QC-35 battery life) 3- Keep the stellar comfort (at least for me) of the QC-35. I personally don't understand…

[deleted]

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#660

Post by symlinkk »

COGlory wrote: post #635
arcticbull wrote: post #620

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Extend that to AirPods Pro. My right ear cup crashes periodically - then I can only hear out of the left side until the watchdog timer engages and nukes the left cup too. I frequently have to reset it by holding down the buttons for 10 seconds in order to get it to connect to anything. It frequently disconnects and refuses to reconnect if I take off my mask out from under it. It stops detecting my head occasionally.…

Can I ask why you purchased them in the first place? They seemed very obviously to not be a $600 product from their announcement.

Are there any other over the ear headphones that provide great sound quality, noise cancellation, pair with computers and smartphones, and have a solid mic?

I’ve looked at the Sony XM1000’s and from what I understand there is some issue with Windows where if you enable the mic, it goes into some different Bluetooth mode that degrades the audio quality coming out of the headphones. Many wireless headphones are advertised to only work with smartphones.

I just want something that does it all, connects to all my devices, and works.

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