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How does it know when you’re falling asleep?
That’s what I want to know also. I’ll speculate,
1 if it’s linked to an Apple Watch it could tell via heartbeat,
2. Sound of your breathing perhaps.
3. Detect snoring (probably not).
4. Listen to parter ask, “honey are you sleeping” “…….” Equals sleep (problematic 😏)
 
Answer: You’re the passenger.

I’m also not so sure that listening to music with pass through enabled is necessarily illegal. It depends on how the law is written. And it wouldn’t be unsafe, right?
These things can be used as low level hearing aids as well.

But yes, generally speaking you’re supposed to be driving as best you can within reason. Just because someone has worse hearing then you don’t make what you’re doing legal (ymmv).
Good point. I wonder if noise cancellation with no music could actually reduce fatigue and or allow better awareness of say a siren?
 
Should people really be listening to music on AirPods while driving a machine that can easily kill pedestrians — and the driver himself?

[Foreboding music]
 
Can y'all actually fall asleep with AirPods in? Serious question. I don't think I could, because ironically, my ears get tired of them being in there after a few hours.
I sleep on my side and wear an AirPod in my top ear. Pillow blocks sound of my right ear, AirPod blocks my left ear.

Usually at some point in the night I’ll wake up and put it on my night stand.
 
How does it know when you’re falling asleep?
Heartbeat is easily detected in the ear canal. Possibly there is a percentage of people who can actually HEAR their own heartbeat under certain conditions, and without augmentation. I know I can hear mine when under stress.
This is my question as well, I wonder how well it will work
See above.
Isn't driving with earbuds illegal and unsafe?? How is Keep Audio in Headphones in CarPlay a feature?
Many states in the US have restrictions saying that you can't make or receive a call while driving without using a hands-free device. I don't think you can do that and THEN also restrict the hands-free device. That would likely be rejected the first time it gets to a US District court or a higher court.
That’s what I want to know also. I’ll speculate,
1 if it’s linked to an Apple Watch it could tell via heartbeat,
Yes. But the blood vessels in the ear canals have thinner walls and can possibly be heard by a close microphone. Why not? After all, some of us can hear our own heartbeats.
2. Sound of your breathing perhaps.
3. Detect snoring (probably not).
Sure, why not to all of that? The iPods all have very good microphones in them.
4. Listen to parter ask, “honey are you sleeping” “…….” Equals sleep (problematic 😏)
Haha, bonus points for thinking of this one!
 
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I'm curious how they define "studio quality audio" - I work in pro audio, when I dump recordings to WAV files what numbers should I use to avoid a translation?

It sounds like marketing BS to me.

'Studio Quality' isn't a thing, especially 'studio quality on-the-go'. A crap microphone in a bad setup, with a person talking off-mic is still 'studio quality'. The only thing that a studio would offer in terms of quality, is sound proofing (to remove sounds outside the room) and sound treatments, to reduce echo and room noise.

The automatic noise reduction during recording is also giving 'professional quality' photos from an iPhone vibes. Turns out, they still look like over-processed iphone photos, with no depth of field, floating green blobs around point light sources (useless at night, especially video), and shadows that somehow manage to be grainy and mushy at the same time.

I don't think anyone will have an issue with improved audio quality. But if they call it 'studio quality' now when it's clearly not, then what will the next improvement in audio quality be called?
 
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It sounds like marketing BS to me.

'Studio Quality' isn't a thing, especially 'studio quality on-the-go'. A crap microphone in a bad setup, with a person talking off-mic is still 'studio quality'. The only thing that a studio would offer in terms of quality, is sound proofing (to remove sounds outside the room) and sound treatments, to reduce echo and room noise.

The automatic noise reduction during recording is also giving 'professional quality' photos from an iPhone vibes. Turns out, they still look like over-processed iphone photos, with no depth of field, floating green blobs around point light sources (useless at night, especially video), and shadows that somehow manage to be grainy and mushy at the same time.

I don't think anyone will have an issue with improved audio quality. But if they call it 'studio quality' now when it's clearly not, then what will the next improvement in audio quality be called?
The change is dramatically better. There’s already A/B examples out there. It’s surprising that they didn’t just keep this for AirPods Pro 3.
 
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Using it as a camera remote will be nice in certain scenarios. Improvements to audio are always welcome.
 
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“With ‌iOS 26‌, Apple is adding an option to more easily install beta updates on AirPods.”

Does it also work for non-beta firmware releases?
 
I surely hope for a better battery life, much better microphones for calls and recordings and a little bit of bass "upgrade"
 
iOS needs a "Keep Audio on my iPhone" option too. When I'm driving my wife's car she'll be scrolling through Facebook or other apps while the radio is playing but if she comes across a video playing CarPlay will blast it through the speakers - so annoying! Other than turning off bluetooth and wifi on her phone (which is a pain to have to remember to do), this option would be really helpful!
 


iOS 26 adds new functionality to the AirPods, which will be available this fall when Apple releases iOS 26 and new AirPods firmware to the public.

6-AirPods-Changes-Coming-in-iOS-26-Feature.jpg

Camera Remote

The AirPods can be used as a camera remote for the Camera app or third-party iOS camera apps. Just connect your AirPods to your iPhone, open the Camera app, and then press and hold on the AirPods stem to take a photo or start a video recording.

When you're finished, a second press and hold gesture will stop the recording. If you have an Apple Watch, you can already control your iPhone remotely from your wrist, but the AirPods have the potential to be even quicker since it's a physical gesture rather than a series of steps that include opening an Apple Watch app.

Studio-Quality Recording

The AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 support recording studio-quality audio for interviews, podcasts, songs, videos, and more. Apple says that the feature can be used to record high-quality vocals while on the go, with background sounds filtered out thanks to Voice Isolation.

You can record higher-quality audio when making videos or using your devices to do things like record a podcast.

Improved Audio Quality

The H2 chip in the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 brings more natural vocal texture and clarity to iPhone calls, FaceTime calls, and all CallKit-enabled apps like Zoom.

Studio-quality audio recording and improved call quality are available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and support the Camera app, Voice Memos, Messages dictation, third-party camera apps, and video conferencing apps.

Beta Updates

With iOS 26, Apple is adding an option to more easily install beta updates on AirPods. There's a new update interface when you connect your AirPods to your iPhone and tap into them in the Settings app.

Pause Audio for Sleep

If you're listening to music, a podcast, or a book while you're in bed and you're wearing AirPods, the AirPods will pause your audio when you fall asleep if you toggle on the new "Pause Media When Falling Asleep" option.

You'll find it in the AirPods settings after connecting your AirPods to your iPhone, but you'll need the new AirPods firmware and iOS 26. In addition to saving your spot in an audiobook or podcast, it will also preserve battery by turning your AirPods off so they're not running all night.

This feature also works with Beats earbuds.

Keep Audio in Headphones

iOS 26 addresses an irritating issue that happens with CarPlay and AirPods. There's a new "Keep Audio in Headphones" option that prevents audio from switching to car speakers or Bluetooth speakers when you're listening to music through the AirPods.

With the option on, your music will continue playing in your AirPods when you get in the car. You can turn it on in iOS 26 by going to Settings > General > AirPlay and Continuity.

Read More

We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.

Article Link: 6 AirPods Changes Coming in iOS 26
Okay MacRumors i see you getting creative with that AirPod positioned like a 6
 
iOS needs a "Keep Audio on my iPhone" option too. When I'm driving my wife's car she'll be scrolling through Facebook or other apps while the radio is playing but if she comes across a video playing CarPlay will blast it through the speakers - so annoying! Other than turning off bluetooth and wifi on her phone (which is a pain to have to remember to do), this option would be really helpful!

Conversation with you must be really boring your wife - is a new wife an option?
 
iOS needs a "Keep Audio on my iPhone" option too. When I'm driving my wife's car she'll be scrolling through Facebook or other apps while the radio is playing but if she comes across a video playing CarPlay will blast it through the speakers - so annoying! Other than turning off bluetooth and wifi on her phone (which is a pain to have to remember to do), this option would be really helpful!
And I hope that android devices do this as well. How many conversations are interrupted with the 2025 equivalent of “can you hear me now?” when somebody on the phone gets into their car.
 
iOS needs a "Keep Audio on my iPhone" option too. When I'm driving my wife's car she'll be scrolling through Facebook or other apps while the radio is playing but if she comes across a video playing CarPlay will blast it through the speakers - so annoying! Other than turning off bluetooth and wifi on her phone (which is a pain to have to remember to do), this option would be really helpful!
This is why I don’t use wireless CarPlay, even though my wife’s car supports it. There’s no confusion as to whose phone is hooked up. The driver’s phone gets plugged in to CarPlay for navigation and music, and the passenger’s phone never interferes with that.
 
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This is why I don’t use wireless CarPlay, even though my wife’s car supports it. There’s no confusion as to whose phone is hooked up. The driver’s phone gets plugged in to CarPlay for navigation and music, and the passenger’s phone never interferes with that.
My wife's car has wireless carplay (hense the issue) and wireless charging so is more convenient for her. I don't connect my phone via bluetooth to her car as she gets annoyed when mine take s presidence over hers - if I drive it without my wife in, I plug my phone in for carplay to kick in so I can use the phone hands free.
 
Apple cant even make it work when I manually select iPhone audio for a call while connected to Bluetooth devices, they always switch to the Bluetooth device anyway. Or do we think this is them fixing their crappy code?
 
I wish the “keep audio” feature extended to the browser. It is SO annoying to be listening to Apple Music while surfing the web in safari and have almost every site “take over” the audio with a clip. I am constantly having to go back and hit play again on the music. Unless someone has a solution I am missing it is very frustrating.
 
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Would be great if the AirPods would at least have good microphone quality. It's my 3rd pair now with AirPods Pro 2 and there are always issues with FaceTime calls or calls, that people can't always hear me or the sound quality is really bad. Will be my last pair of AirPods. All 3 I've had, were bad quality.
 
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