Tim Cook Says He Expects AirPods to Ship Over 'Next Few Weeks' in Email to Customer

[MacRumors]

Many customers are anxiously anticipating the release of Apple's wireless AirPods, originally slated to launch in October but later delayed. Fortunately, the wait may soon be over.

MacRumors has been forwarded an email in which Apple CEO Tim Cook, responding to a customer, allegedly said he anticipates AirPods to begin shipping "over the next few weeks."

Customer's comment: "Give us a release date. I really bought in to the wireless vision you painted. Now I'm stuck waiting with my EarPods but can't charge my 7 at the same time which I need to do at work. Let us know if it's a month or 6 months, because then I'll just buy some other wireless headphones."

Tim Cook's response: "Thanks for your note. Sorry for the delay---we are finalizing them and I anticipate we will begin to ship over the next few weeks."

MacRumors has verified the email's full headers appear to originate from Apple's corporate servers, while Apple executives are known to respond to customers on occasion, but as a boilerplate disclaimer, it should be noted these emails can of course be faked. Apple did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Apple has so far only said it needed "a little more time" before AirPods are ready for customers, while conflicting rumors have pointed towards release dates between December and January, offering little clarity. AirPods remain listed as both "coming soon" and "currently unavailable" on different sections of Apple's website.

Article Link: Tim Cook Says He Expects AirPods to Ship Over 'Next Few Weeks' in Email to Customer

 

[Geert76]

Tim: ''begin to ship over the next few weeks''

So the rumours were 100% right, release Q1 2017

 

[arggg14]

Few? Still vague.... How many weeks Tim? 2? 4? 6? 8?

 

[xraydoc]

Hoping this is true. Hard to stop myself from ordering a different set of wireless ear buds.

 

[bluespark]

The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.

 

[Robert.Walter]

How about shipping an actual Pro Mac? (e.g. any/all of: 32 GB RAM option MBP, 17" MBP, Mac Pro, new mini etc?)

And I thought this was a thread about AirPods...

 

[thadoggfather]

Surprised he didn't just say "I've been using them since before iPhone 7 launch, to my recollection not once have they fallen out of my ears, they're the BEST earbuds we've EVER created -- thanks for asking" and leave it at that,

 

[Schwyz]

I wish Tim would tell us the intelligence behind removing the headphone jack.

Oh wait, there isn't any.

EDIT: I'm eagerly awaiting AirPods release to buy them. I'm just saying it was quite a bit too early for the jack's removal.

 

[imaginex20]

Take my money now!

 

[Appleaker]

I'm surprised he responded to that.

 

[thadoggfather]

This really is lame, "a few weeks" coincides with either making the Christmas/holiday deadline, or not

 

[Brookzy]

Basically, the odds of them being out and about by Christmas are slim-to-none.

 

[willmtaylor]

This really is lame, "a few weeks" coincides with either making the Christmas/holiday deadline, or not

Yup. I'm guessing a few might get lucky, but that they won't be available en masse. This way, Apple technically released them in the time frame they originally quoted.

 

[Eduardo1971]

Surprised Tim responded.

The person who wrote to him was so rude-very unprofessional.

 

[2457282]

Not only do we not know when they are coming, we still don't know why they are delayed. Things are probably really bad for Tim after Trump won

 

[Corrode]

The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.

Seriously? If this is what you deem "incredibly rude", you must not spend much time on the internet.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Surprised Tim responded.

The person who wrote to him was so rude-very unprofessional.

If you write to Apple's CEO (or MS or any big corp or government agency) you don't exchange pleasantries. A CEO skims through the emails that are passed to him by his staff... You have to be as direct as possible; the CEO's time is very valuable both in term of money and needs. Not filling the email with crap is actually a form of respect.
That email was not rude, it was direct.

 

[thekeyring]

I wish Tim would tell us the intelligence behind removing the headphone jack.

Oh wait, there isn't any.

If the iPhone 7 had shipped with AirPods in the box I feel you would have been more understanding.

 

[Fall Under Cerulean Kites]

Too bad the person who wrote Tim sounded like a whiny little bit*h.

 

[sorinc03]

The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.

How was it rude? Apple has been terrible recently at shipping products. They "underestimated" iPhone demand and many got their phones a month or more after launch, AirPods are still not out, MacBooks took a month to ship. When people want to pay Apple for their shiny new products and the company simply doesn't deliver per expectations, it makes sense to be upset, frustrated, and show it.

Why would you expect people to be nice and understanding about it? Apple should know better.

 

[Cigsm]

I wish Sony would tell us the intelligence behind removing the built in VCR from
Their TV's. Oh wait, there isn't any.

I wish Tim would tell us the intelligence behind removing the headphone jack.

Oh wait, there isn't any.

 

[DCJ001]

I wish Tim would tell us the intelligence behind removing the headphone jack.

Oh wait, there isn't any.

iPhone 7/7 Plus have headphone jacks.

Apple calls them Lightning ports. If you have headphones with an outdated 3.5mm jack, iPhone 7/7 Plus comes with an adapter for you.

That was easy!

 

[jonnysods]

Man they are going to miss out on a lot of Christmas sales.

 

[DCJ001]

Basically, the odds of them being out and about by Christmas are slim-to-none.

Basically, the odds of them being out and about by Christmas - possible.

It is possible that AirPods will be out by Christmas.

 

[jdpruitt]

Few? Still vague.... How many weeks Tim? 2? 4? 6? 8?

52 weeks