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

[Chupa Chupa]

The list is just as comparable to the list as Jobs' extensive list of fups. Don't kid yourself, this isn't a Cook exclusive thing.

Not as I recall and I've been following Apple since the late 80s. But if you have a list to bolster your claim feel free to post it -- again talking about frequent product not shipping on time.

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).

 

[Mildredop]

This is embarrassing for Apple, but it's still much better to not release them until they're ready.

It'd have been better to not even announce them until they're ready.

And even better to not remove the headphone jack until they're ready.

But, you know, courage.

 

[yaxomoxay]

You're saying whatever unnamed technical issues they have run into should have been fixed before announcing. I'm saying you know NOTHING about what is involved in a product launch and the technical issues as well as the logistical and manufacturing issues.

So tell us mere mortals specifically how to roll out a product and take care of all the things that can and do go wrong. Please enlighten us with your vast knowledge and experience. We're waiting....

That doesn't excuse Apple. If a company says : "Delivery date is X" and/or "Net Pay 30 days"; that is the acceptable and accepted deadline. A second later, and it becomes a "delayed product". Two months later, it's a "failed launch" and in the business world this is usually unacceptable.
No one forced apple to name a date, no one forced apple to do anything. The reason for the failure is not a random guy posting on MacRumors, but it's within Apple's walls.

 

[macfacts]

Stereo sound, magically invented in California.

 

[galrito]

Anyone have a mirror to the article without the greedy paywall?

Hey, do want to work for me without your greedy salary?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

You're saying whatever unnamed technical issues they have run into should have been fixed before announcing. I'm saying you know NOTHING about what is involved in a product launch and the technical issues as well as the logistical and manufacturing issues.

So tell us mere mortals specifically how to roll out a product and take care of all the things that can and do go wrong. Please enlighten us with your vast knowledge and experience. We're waiting....

You can say what you want but sorry it's not about me. This is about Apple. And yes, companies generally announce product when they are ready to ship unless they are desperate to announce something because of investor pressure so they make some slick graphics and a non-working prototype. Those products are called vaporware.

Credible companies have professionals that line up logistics before announcing a ship date, yes. To say one is going to do something by X day when they know they cannot is called, well, lying or being dishonest.

 

[lw9090]

Too late Apple, I picked up the Jabra Sport Elite last night at Best Buy

 

[tkukoc]

Under Jobs' leadership, the Power Mac Cube developed cracks in the housing, Apple delivered a completely circular mouse, Apple around the millennium missed the demand for CD burners, the iPod Nano's screen scratched easily, the iPod Shuffle ended up with no buttons at all until the next revision, Mobile Me happened or maybe didn't happen, iPhone 4 suffered an antenna problem, Apple took forever to figure out how to make a white iPhone and iPod Socks. Not to mention several other big and little flubs.

Should he have been fired, too?

Agreed! The thing that made Steve so good wasn't that he could showcase a new product.. it was showing there were flaws and they've been addressed. He did it several times, usually at the beginning of keynotes.. or in the case of iphone 4 with the signal, really putting out that Apple made mistakes but they are working on them. This is something that Cook just doesn't do. He showcases products but when there's an issue or delay he fluffs it off as no big deal. Well sure, you're Apple.. you can easily toss aside negatives and move forward. However, its not how hard you hit.. but how you get back up and keep moving forward. I'd just like to see Tim get on the user level and tell people the truth! Apple has made mistakes.. here's what we are currently doing to fix them. I don't think anyone is asking for the guy to come out and tell everyone what is coming up as far as new products. He usually just says software this and software that. With the issues with the iphone 6 and 6s batteries.. and of course AirPods.. it would have been nice to see him hold a mini keynote to just discuss these issues so people can see the videos and know oh ok I should check into this. Again this to me is why Steve was so good at what he did. Sure he came up with brilliant things.. but when something didn't work he would crack jokes and take the hits.. all the time moving forward and explaining to people this stuff doesn't happen over night.. We know our users and we care about them... if Tim did a small shred of that I think more people would be happy with him these days. I think he's doing what he can but he doesn't come off as someone who's even interested in what Apple produces anymore.

 

[A MacBook lover]

But never at the frequency that it seems to be happening at TC's Apple. And also in the absence of any other really great new product being released during his tenure. I didn't even list all the half-baked product that were released when they were but should not have like iMaps.



What does my ability to do anything have to do with Apple announcing a product that it knows it cannot ship when it says it can? Total non-sequitur.



Two wrongs do not make a right, sorry. Both situations are bad. One obviously worse but that doesn't give Apple an excuse just the same.

Two wrongs?

So they were wrong to delay it? Or wrong to announce a premature date?

Seems like just one wrong. The wrong being that they announced a premature date and now are doing the right thing by taking their time and releasing when it's ready.

I mean, my $30 taotronics Bluetooth buds are great placeholders until then, plus the many of other Bluetooth headphones saturating the market. Headphone jack or not, plenty of options out there.

 

[citysnaps]

how was this not among the first things addressed in its development?

Likely it was.

You may not understand that product development is a lengthy process and usually entail's many changes, including feature set changes, performance improvements, UI changes, and much more, over the development phase. Changes to any aspect can introduce unwanted consequences that initially may be so slight to be unnoticed, but are discovered late in the process, even in pre-production beta. It's likely just another undiscovered bug that needs to be fixed.

Not a big deal, it's mice nuts and happens all the time with the development of all tech devices by all companies, and is something the public does not normally hear about.

Still, now that it has been revealed to the public, as an unsourced rumor no less, it get's super amplified in the tech press with some people getting all frothed up along with a severe case of the shakes, and provides a great opportunity for the afflicted to trash apple, calling for Tim Cook's ouster, and on and on, and providing a bit of rush of power to someone who otherwise does not have any in their lives.

 

[akbarali.ch]

A cable to each one would solve this instantly.

That is already solved, called earpods, the problem is about cutting the wires, which is called AirPods.

 

[zukeveui]

Did someone on the internet just insult me? Na...couldn't be.

Start believing.

 

[akbarali.ch]

i wish they improve the quality of the speakers. for $159 they better sound good.

 

[belvdr]

That is already solved, called earpods, the problem is about cutting the wires, which is called AirPods.

I think that was a joke you replied to.

 

[Return Zero]

how was this not among the first things addressed in its development?

To your point, I highly doubt this is the actual reason. Just looks like more speculation if you ask me. These rumors always come from unnamed or otherwise anonymous sources.

Maybe they should have had these completely ready to go before removing the headphone jack on their phone?

I ABSOLUTELY agree. I have been loving my iPhone 7, and I was ready to buy the AirPods day 1. This was a big missed opportunity to sell a hell of a lot more during the launch hype.

 

[robbyx]

But this? Cook took the most important product - actually, the only real moneymaker - removed a standard function to sell an alternative (obviously just to figure out how to increase revenue stream since he's in "trouble") and he botches this so badly? And on top of that, we get defective overpriced Macbooks already behind in technology?

I don't believe the headphone jack was removed simply to sell AirPods. The removal of the headphone jack is a non-issue. They give you lightning headphones with the iPhone, as well as a tiny little adapter that is far less bulky than many headphone cables I've seen. There are plenty of Bluetooth headphone options out there. Apple plans to offer a premium option with AirPods, but they are hardly the reason the jack was removed.

Sometimes things take longer than planned. It's not the end of the world.

 

[bigjnyc]

Apple must ensure that both earpieces receive audio at the same time

Really? and this didn't come up when they were initially spec'ing out these headphones lol! Lets announce them to the world and then decide that we have to make sure both earpieces play audio at the same time.

 

[Ghost31]

Too late Apple, I picked up the Jabra Sport Elite last night at Best Buy

Gimme a mini review!

 

[latweek]

This is a new low, in a year of lows....

Apple is advising customers of a temporary workaround to surgically move one of their ears.

A spokesman says that the fix is "on their list".


...In a related story, Apple has delayed its Mac Pro refresh to ensure that:

"the computer will start up at the same time the power button is pressed".

Check back for updates.

 

[TB422]

I'd imagine they're having trouble with cold weather testing as well. My Solo 3s are shutting down after 10 minutes or so outdoors. 30F or so in Chicago.

Support asked me to "update firmware", which was current. Have another call tomorrow.

Imagine how quickly these will **** down with so little protection.

 

[MH01]

Or it's so subtle that the reviewers didn't notice.

Seems to be subtle enough to delay launch... I like all the excuses on this forum that the issue does not exist, it's so subtle etc etc....though seems apple disagrees

Could it be reviewers did not have the final product ? Also where are these reviews people talk about? Do you guys mean the pre-production demo units ?

 

[SeattleMoose]

To have such a basic issue pop so close to release makes me uneasy about their whole design/development process.

 

[bigjnyc]

Unless they appear in shops in the next week (which I doubt), they've totally missed the xmas shopping period. I'm hoping execs at Apple are incredibly annoyed and putting on the pressure.

Like Samsung execs put on the pressure to release the note 7 before the iPhone 7

 

[clangers23]

Marketing over product development again. I'm assuming the battery life will be a third of the claimed figure?

 

[Karma*Police]

Finally, a reason for the delay. Take your time Apple. That's one issue you want to address before you sell to the public. While you're at it, update the software to include customizable left/right tap gestures for ff/rewind and pause/play.