AirPods Delay Attributed to Apple Ensuring Both Earpieces Receive Audio at Same Time [Updated]

[69Mustang]

Well you brought up the floppy disk example. I'm the iPhone user that rarely runs out of power so I want a much thinner and lighter device. Most people do. The only way to get there is by removing unnecessary components that take up a lot of space. I consider the headphone jack unnecessary especially since most people don't use it and/or are happy to use lightning port instead.

Thinner and lighter. Some want that. I'm quite skeptical of your "most people do". Especially since the thinness and lightness changes are measured in millimeter and gram amounts that are minuscule and arguably inconsequential. You do like word "most" don't you? Do you only use it when it mirrors Apple's decisions? Apple likes thinner/lighter - most people do too. Apple removes headphone jack - most people don't use it. If Apple removes the screen will most people not need that as well? Just busting your chops. But you could do with letting go of the "most" qualification.

 

[Mildredop]

Or, and just hear me out here, they could improve their product so they have so many visitors to the site each day that they could charge advertisers enough to cover their costs and even make a profit. Shoot, I'd be willing to bet that their numbers would be even higher if they'd drop the pay wall!

If Apple just gave away their iPhones, they'd make more from icloud, Apple Music, fees on apps etc. Shoot, I'd be willing to bet that their market share would increase significantly if they dropped their silly prices!

 

[iLunar]

Sad, they seem to be taking more time to QA the AirPods then they did with their 2016 MBPs.

Why? I bet more people will use AirPods than MBPs.

 

[Analog Kid]

the group incharge with product testing/development found a problem and they're addressing it. Why should anyone be fired? thats ridiculous.

Actually, we should be praising the person with the fortitude to withhold their sign off in the meeting where everyone was saying "we taking endless sh*t for removing the headphone jack, Phil promised a release date on stage, and Christmas is coming." That's the person I want leading me into battle.

 

[69Mustang]

And?

Thank you. I phrased my quote specifically to elicit this response or something similar.

As it relates to the issue of the AirPods, my quote is irrelevant. Whether the 3.5mm jack was still included on the iP7 it wouldn't change the problem of the delayed AirPods. The fact that there are other BT headsets out there is equally irrelevant. People aren't complaining about a lack of BT headsets. They're complaining about the lack of the delayed AirPods. The one's they actually want.

Neither my missing 3.5mm jack quote or your other BT headset quote have any relevancy regarding the AirPods.

 

[citysnaps]

You don't seem to understand the point that many are attempting to make.

The issue is NOT that there is a (significant) delay in availability over what was announced. The issue is that any problem of the apparent magnitude of the AirPod delay should have been dealt with, or at least the possibility recognized, prior to a big PR splash raising expectations of a potential huge customer base.

And BTW, before you blast me for not knowing what I'm talking about, I spent my entire adult life (I'm 70 now) in the software development field, so I am intimately aware of last minute bugs and glitches.

As the article is a rumor, and an unsourced one at that, the magnitude of the issue (as well as the issue itself) is pure speculation.

What if the amount of the audio delay issue was subtle, and crept in during other last minute technical changes, which often occurs as a result, after the announcement but before release. What is your proposal for dealing with the issue? This happens more than you think having developed tech products, btw.

Let it go, hoping people wouldn't notice and then recall for those that do and complain?

 

[Mascots]

But beside that, like I said, TC hasn't released ONE product that has set the industry on fire. So whatever product ship dates that were missed -- I can only recall two off the top of my head that were not due to Moto's lying about PPC availability - the original MacBook Pro and the white iPhone 4 -- he still moved the company forward. And none were multiple misses inside of two years like TC (talking about the original AW and EarPods).

I didn't realize that because you can only "recall two off the top of your head", those must be the only product delays in Apple's time before Cook - you must not have been paying attention to Software. I wonder why it is that your mind can remember the events of recent time more clearly than events spanning back to the 80s...

 

[ipedro]

You're making a ton of assumptions and putting a lot of words in my mouth. I'd be happy to pay a reasonable amount for a WSJ app that includes their content. Your 99 cents suggestion is nowhere near the reality. Let's take a look at what it would cost to pay for the access to that article. Even assuming we take advantage of the "generous" 50% off offer for 6 months, a subscription to the WSJ website still costs $16.50 a month. After the 6 months, you're talking an incredulous $33 a month. For online articles.

The problem isn't paying for content, it's an incredibly outdated business model that tries to put an unrealistic value on pixels.

The value isn't in the pixels. It's in employing people that are very good at what they do, researching and writing an article.
You found so much value in that particular article that you wanted to access it. Pay for it or go find free content some place else. You'll get what you pay for.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

So Apple is announcing product releases before they've even completed the design and engineering phase?

No. But obviously when they got the initial units out in the field, they discovered an issue that was serious enough (for them) to delay the launch.

Would you rather they just blew them out anyway, just to get a few more Holiday sales?

 

[PowerGala]

It doesn't sound like you've given wireless a try recently but we all have our own experiences. Personally, I hear no difference at all in sound quality unless I'm listening to something orchestral. Battery drain using bluetooth LE is so minimal, turning off anything else would save you much more power. Sure you have to charge it just like your phone, watch, etc. I get a few months or years out of each pair and it doesn't bother me because they are so cheap and I look forward to improvements and new designs anyway. The whole reason I got into running was because of wireless headphones. Having your arms free and being abler to bend over an tie your shoes without tripping over wires is worth it to me. i would probably pay 2x for wireless if I had to.

Different people have different wants and needs. It sounds to me like you value convenience. I value quality, reliability and longevity.

I have never liked Bluetooth headsets because they're lower quality, not always reliable and do not last. I have some really good headphones that are over 8 years old and they're great. With something like the Airpods the batteries don't appear to be user replaceable and in my view the battery life is atrocious. These silly things will probably end up in some landfill in 2-3 years from now even though Lithium is hazardous waste.

There is room for both camps. People who value convenience can still get their products, but that doesn't have to be at the expense of other consumers.

I didn't upgrade my iPhone this year because they removed the jack and I doubt anyone picked up the 7 because it was removed.

 

[Al'sDad]

As the article is a rumor, and an unsourced one at that, the magnitude of the issue (as well as the issue itself) is pure speculation.

What if the amount of the audio delay issue was subtle, and crept in during other last minute technical changes, which often occurs as a result, after the announcement but before release. What is your proposal for dealing with the issue? This happens more than you think having developed tech products, btw.

Let it go, hoping people wouldn't notice and then recall for those that do and complain?

The magnitude of the issue is quite apparent given the hoopla surrounding the initial announcement and availability followed by the missing of the biggest gift purchasing season of the year.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

This makes no physical sense what so ever. These buds are, what a foot apart and bluetooth happens at the speed of ***** light. Receiving the signal at the same time is nonsense. If it is two independent signals and the problem is that the earbuds aren't receiving the right signals at the right time, its because the right signals aren't being broadcast at the right time.

And honestly, how is such a simple problem such a huge obstacle for Apple? For how long have we been broadcasting simultaneous stereo radio signals?

Why don't you go fix the issue then?

 

[shareef777]

Why? I bet more people will use AirPods than MBPs.

Really!? You're asking why a machine that people invest more then $2k into and is significantly more complex needs more QA then a pair of $160 headphones?

 

[ipedro]

I'll happily pay for quality apps, but I have virtually zero tolerance for advertising.

If you hate ads, then you should stop benefiting from websites that only exist because they can monetize their content through advertising. MacRumors is one of those sites. Why are you here?

 

[TechGuy327]

I really wanted to get these but I got tired of waiting so I bought Beats Solo3 headphones.

Anyone looking to get the Solo3 should check out Costco. They're selling them for $219.99.

 

[rGiskard]

It's great they're perfecting them, but they needed to be perfected and on sale when the jackless iPhone debuted. This is a colossal failure of planning. It would have been far more appropriate to leave the audio jack on the iPhone 7 and release the Airpods this winter whenever they're ready. Limit the early supplies so if any issues show up they can be resolved without pissing off too many customers. Then remove the jack on the next iPhone, after the Airpods are ubiquitous and build a reputation for excellence.

This single management failure is enough to fire Cook. Undoubtedly more are to blame, but Cook should be held responsible so the next CEO understands the consequences for such poor management.

 

[MH01]

So review units were/are good but the final product isn't? That makes no sense.

how can you say they were good? Apple engineers find a fatal flaw that prevents the product from going on sale and you assume they are fine cause a handful of reviewers did not find an issue. Are you assuming apple is telling us the real reason?

Since everyone raves about the Samsung note 7 episode , not a single one exploded or caught fire in a review, do you see my pattern of thought?

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

The magnitude of the issue is quite apparent given the hoopla surrounding the initial announcement and availability followed by the missing of the biggest gift purchasing season of the year.

Maybe the delay isn't consistent, and it causes a really annoying "wandering" stereo image.

I'd want that fixed, because otherwise, you'd likely want to throw up from nausea everytime you put them on...

 

[yaxomoxay]

Maybe the delay isn't consistent, and it causes a really annoying "wandering" stereo image.

I'd want that fixed, because otherwise, you'd likely want to throw up from nausea everytime you put them on...

It's the Roller Coaster feature (TM).

 

[rGiskard]

Interesting that those with review units didn't notice the issue... must have cropped up in rare instances.

More likely a few reviewers notified Apple but kept that flaw out of their reviews so they could continue to review future Apple products before official release.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

The ball got dropped somewhere, and it's just the latest example of what seems to be less attention to detail than what customers expect from Apple and their premium products.

If Apple had "less attention to detail", they would have simply pushed these out the door, technical glitch or no.

What they are doing is EXACTLY "Attention to detail". Sorry if you think otherwise.
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What's causing the delay of BeatsX then?

Probably supplier issues with the W1 chip. Not enough production yet.

 

[Bacillus]

Meanwhile, in the Cupertino boardroom:
Tim: Hey you guys, today I was to announce that we shipped a stellar record number of AirPods...
Phil: We didn't. As I told you, we had to recall the whole thing.
Tim: Well, that's a record anyway.
Greg: But Wallstreet will not take that. They shouldn't even know that we're about to miss the Christmas season.
Tim: But we didn't mention WHEN we would ship, so no problem. And Eddy will laugh the whole thing away as he finds new shirts in his Christmas tree.
Eddy: Greg, now get the software working ASAP !
Tim: Don't disturb Greg. He's busy transforming the iPhone 7's bugs into iPhone 8's features.
Greg: Never mind. The SW is OK. But it doesn't like the Chinese hardware.
Eddy: Then let Tim call Donald Trump to put pressure on those Chinese troublemakers
Tim: Donald will force us to produce in the US, adding another year waiting time...
Eddy: That's unacceptable. It would be detrimental to the success of my Apple Music Store
Greg: But you can stream at a lower rate for another year. Nobody will notice.
Tim: Can't we put something else in the Christmas trees ? iPod socks ? Watchbands ?
Angela: That wouldn't contribute to our marketing strategy. WatchBands are labeled jewellery now - you can't put that in Christmas trees.
Greg: Then let Joni make the trees thinner so nothing will fit in it.
Phil: Great idea. We call this the SlimTree concept. A sensible hybrid between no tree and no presents.
Tim: Great plan, Phil. Our shareholders will love it. Less material. Less investments. Higher margins. Basically, we sell air.
Eddy: And we can avoid another headphone port
Tim: Right ! A truly wireless concept. Without charging issues. Phil, prepare a marketing plan. This is the incredible result of our sincere dedication and continuing 20 billion yearly R&D expenditures.
Phil: Ehh, Joni was to say that. So I will wake up Joni first. No plan goes without his signature...

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

Yes, if you buy a first gen of anything you are a beta tester.

There. Fixed that for you.

 

[Johnny907]

Ok, so what's the reason for the BeatsX delay? Is Apple worried about losing potential AirPod customers to it if they release it first?

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

I am just saying, don't botch stuff until the replacement/alternative solution is ready to ship.
It's like botching the floppy drive just to have a six month delay on the Cd-rom......

Pretty easy to sit there an criticize, isn't it?

Oh, and you had to go back to 1997 to find a (ridiculous) second "example"? Personally, I'd call that a pretty stellar track-record!