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Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

kevinrooke.com

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Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#91

Post by ryanmcbride »

rolltiide wrote: post #62
gz5 wrote: post #40

Amazing how Apple managed to make the first cool MP3 player, then the first cool smartphone and now the first cool bluetooth headset. For almost 20 years now, Apple has owned electronic fashion. Sony for example was unable to parlay its Walkman dominance into similar positions with new devices. And make no mistake about it - a huge portion of these sales are people buying Apple's marketing - not buying the tech itsel…

The tech is cool too Zero people have been swayed by the observation that the components can be acquired for cheaper And the non-iOS phone users that are married to “how much control they have” have touched an iphone since 2014.

I was an android hold out for a good while because I didn't like the lack of control iphones had. At some point it flipped and I got sick of how much fiddling I constantly had to do with my phone to get it to work the way I wanted. And even then by the time I got it working well, it wouldn't get updates anymore. I switched to iphone, and while once in a while I'll miss being able to tweak everything, I'm much less frustrated at my phone than before.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#92

Post by misterprime »

rolltiide wrote: post #62
gz5 wrote: post #40

Amazing how Apple managed to make the first cool MP3 player, then the first cool smartphone and now the first cool bluetooth headset. For almost 20 years now, Apple has owned electronic fashion. Sony for example was unable to parlay its Walkman dominance into similar positions with new devices. And make no mistake about it - a huge portion of these sales are people buying Apple's marketing - not buying the tech itsel…

The tech is cool too Zero people have been swayed by the observation that the components can be acquired for cheaper And the non-iOS phone users that are married to “how much control they have” have touched an iphone since 2014.

>And the non-iOS phone users that are married to “how much control they have” have touched an iphone since 2014.

I don't even tinker that much and my foray into iOS lasted only 1 year with the 10S Max. The inability to arrange items freely on the desktop (leave a blank space) was frustrating. The lack of control over default apps was occasionally problematic. The inability to natively link to a Windows computer and transfer files is also something I use.

That said, there are a ton of benefits of iOS over Android that I recognize (iMessage, Apple Wallet, the screen responsiveness, etc).

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#94

Post by _bxg1 »

lordnacho wrote: post #37

How does this compare to Apple Watch? Sounds to me like this is a fairly big upside surprise. If you were given the choice beforehand, which of the two would you want to have managed? I would have guessed Watch but it looks like I'm wrong. Pretty astonishing that people will throw an extra quarter on top of the price of their phone for this, especially given that I've used noise cancelling headphones before. My guess…

A couple of key things make the experience fundamentally different from traditional headphones, for me:

- I can carry the little dental-floss-case around with me everywhere in my pocket. Even if I don't plan on using them, I have them there just in case. Especially when it comes to noise-cancelling, this has a major effect on day-to-day life for me as unexpected use cases pop up.

- It's not just the lack of a wire: one entire step is eliminated from starting and stopping using your headphones. You just put them in your ears, or take them out. There's no messing with a cord or even a menu on your phone. Something easy is made effortless, which matters.

- Once in, they stay out of the way so well that you can leave them in even if you're not using them. Then when you do unexpectedly decide to watch a video, or take a call, your phone is already plugged directly into your headspace, no extra step necessary.

- All the little details. The fact that taking one out of your ear pauses your media and placing it back in resumes it is essential for wearing them passively while out and about; ordering a coffee, etc. No fumbling with your phone for a pause button; the social signal for "I'm listening" is paired with what you want your media to be doing at that moment.

All of this combines into an experience so frictionless it's mindblowing.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#95

Post by signalremotefac »

And uber and wework and well...take your pick...zoom, that other one and that other one. You know the one with the logo. slack. Is it called podhop? hoppod? Airbnb, put them in too.

Thinking about it... I probably make more money than Spotify, Twitter, Snapchat and shopify.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#96

Post by notimetorelax »

Waterluvian wrote: post #26

Has anyone found any info/study on "average likelihood of losing or damaging an airpod in a given year"? That's all that's stopping me from buying this and other premium products. I love premium products but not if I have to replace them every year.

I used to be scared to lose mine while running. They never came close to falling out. Also the new generation of the AirPods is more secure in the ear.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#97

Post by speleo »

maximente wrote: post #64
qsymmachus wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Always in ear What percentage of Airpods owners do you reckon _always_ have them inside their ears?

probably pretty high - apparently 17% of people in one survey said they have left them in during sex, so there's that

I'm going to need sauce on that.

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#98

Post by ouid »

gz5 wrote: post #40

Amazing how Apple managed to make the first cool MP3 player, then the first cool smartphone and now the first cool bluetooth headset. For almost 20 years now, Apple has owned electronic fashion. Sony for example was unable to parlay its Walkman dominance into similar positions with new devices. And make no mistake about it - a huge portion of these sales are people buying Apple's marketing - not buying the tech itsel…

WHY ARE AIRPODS POPULAR?!?!??!

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#99

Post by warp »

Operyl wrote: post #12
sadmann1 wrote: post #3

Are airpods really worth it or is it just marketing

I have really enjoyed using my pairs (had a 1st gen, bought the 2nd gen later on for the much quicker connections). They work absolutely amazingly with my iPhone, iPad, Macbook Pro. The switchover is mostly glitch free, and I can pair them to "standard bluetooth devices" pretty easily (like my complex's gym equipment). I think the investment has been pretty great, but you have to own products that make sense with the…

Adjusting the volume is very convenient if you're wearing an Apple Watch.

(so I agree, they're great IF you're already using at least the iPhone).

Re: Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?

#100

Post by _bxg1 »

Waterluvian wrote: post #26

Has anyone found any info/study on "average likelihood of losing or damaging an airpod in a given year"? That's all that's stopping me from buying this and other premium products. I love premium products but not if I have to replace them every year.

All you have to do is put them in the case whenever you aren't wearing them. The case isn't so small that you're going to lose it. Plus, that way they're always charging.
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