AirPods Launch on Apple Store for $159 With December 21 Delivery

[oftheheavens]

Aw man! I missed this so now I got in after the 4-weeks delay.

I wouldn't worry. First, I think that the shipping dates will lower as the UK still has a 12/19 date. There is plenty of stock out there so hopefully the "supply chain expert" gets them moving in time for xmas. Secondly, if it doesn't improve I am pretty sure that the apple store will have them next Monday or Tuesday at the latest. Just be there at open on a weekday and you will more than likely walk out with a pair without waiting in a stupid long line and cancel your online order.

Yep, nobrainer to buy a few extra. Apple keeps on giving

Kinda sucks that people do this because people that actually want them are getting slipping shipping dates, but there is always going to be someone that scalps anything that will bring the money so I guess you can't really blame them.

 

[ipedro]

Ordered.

AirPods are a part of the move to a new paradigm in computing.

Before the iPhone, a phone or even a PDA were inferior to a laptop. Nobody could imagine how such a small screen could be just as productive as a full computer, how a phone could access the "real internet" and not some WAP limited version. The iPhone introduced a new paradigm on how we interact with computers. We didn't need a mouse and cursor UI and a large physical keyboard. Multi touch gestures and apps designed for the small screen made productivity on a phone possible. Eventually, most people stopped having to carry around laptops for everything. For them, a slab of glass in their pockets fulfills their computer needs.

That takes us to ubiquitous wearable computing. Again, we're seeing critics suggest that a small screen on a Watch or no screen in AirPods can never outdo a touch screen of an iPhone. That's because they're trying to imagine how a multi touch user interface can fit on a small Watch face just like the generation before tried to imagine a mouse and cursor UI with desktop designed apps on a PDA.

The new paradigm is an omnipresent voice based UI. Apple Watch was the first step to a Siri based user interface very much like in the movie "Her".

I can raise my wrist and issue a command or ask a question. It's become such a daily part of my life that I've forgotten how it's not a usual thing yet. People see me talking to my wrist to set the lights in my house to get ready for dinner and they stare at me like: "did you just do that?"

What has been missing is reliable voice feedback. That's where AirPods comes in. Fast forward to 2 or 3 generations of AirPods and Apple Watches down the road and Siri will be built-in to both devices and independent of an iPhone. You'll be able to ask Siri questions and issue commands like you do to a real life assistant. Video and picture activities could be AirPlayed to a nearby display such as a TV or an iPad if you have one nearby.

In the meantime, today, with AirPods and AppleWatch, I'll be able to leave my phone at home for limited uses such as going to the gym or taking my dog for a walk in the neighbourhood. I'll have my music and will still get intermittent access to my information as I pass WiFi hotspots along the way or reach a cafe or the gym which I'm logged in to.

I look forward to seeing this new paradigm grow like multi touch UI did after Steve introduced the iPhone in 2007.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Ordered.

AirPods are a part of the move to a new paradigm in computing.

Before the iPhone, a phone or even a PDA were inferior to a laptop. Nobody could imagine how such a small screen could be just as productive as a full computer, how a phone could access the "real internet" and not some WAP limited version. The iPhone introduced a new paradigm on how we interact with computers. We didn't need a mouse and cursor UI and a large physical keyboard. Multi touch gestures and apps designed for the small screen made productivity on a phone possible. Eventually, most people stopped having to carry around laptops for everything. For them, a slab of glass in their pockets fulfills their computer needs.

That takes us to ubiquitous wearable computing. Again, we're seeing critics suggest that a small screen on a Watch or no screen in AirPods can never outdo a touch screen of an iPhone. That's because they're trying to imagine how a multi touch user interface is cumbersome on a small Watch face just like the generation before tried to imagine a mouse and cursor UI with desktop designed apps on a PDA.

The new paradigm is an omnipresent voice based UI. Apple Watch was the first step to a Siri based user interface very much like in the movie "Her".

I can raise my wrist and issue a command or ask a question. It's become such a daily part of my life that I've forgotten how it's not a usual thing yet. People see me talking to my wrist to set the lights in my house to get ready for dinner and they stare at me like: "did you just do that?"

What has been missing is reliable voice feedback. That's where AirPods comes in. Fast forward to 2 or 3 generations of AirPods and Apple Watches down the road and Siri will be built-in to both devices and independent of an iPhone. You'll be able to ask Siri questions and issue commands like you do to a real life assistant. Video and picture activities could be AirPlayed to a nearby display such as a TV or an iPad if you have one nearby.

In the meantime, today, with AirPods and AppleWatch, I'll be able to leave my phone at home for limited uses such as going to the gym or taking my dog for a walk in the neighbourhood. I'll have my music and will still get intermittent access to my information as I pass WiFi hotspots along the way or reach a cafe or the gym which I'm logged in to.

I look forward to seeing this new paradigm grow like multi touch UI did after Steve introduced the iPhone in 2007.

Wow.
You are really really enveloped in the RDF

 

[GlenK]

In late, got Jan 12 delivery. Still excited to try them!!

 

[44267547]

says mine will arrive on monday 19th december

Lucky you. I just now was reading through Macrumors articles and saw this. Quickly ordered. January 12 for my delivery. That's still a better delivery than I expected. Let us know how you like them.

 

[Oman]

just checked the UK apple Website and they still have a Delivery date of Dec 19.... Bullllllls....

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MMEF2ZM/A/airpods

 

[Ma2k5]

Yeah - exactly. They are to concerned with their margins and earnings instead of making products people actually want. They have left people that have supported this company through it all with macs that are outdated, a sore attempt at a fashion company, an iPhone and iPad that you cannot plug into a new Macbook pro straight out of the box without an adapter, and one that you can't listen to music on without buying a new pair of headphones.

Apple doesn't have courage. They are what we have come to hate. They are what MS once was. Apple owns most media and has locked it down via iTunes store.. and control all access to it via their devices.

Maybe if Apple actually released a decent laptop, or updated their iMac line, I would feel differently. Now they are just a mobile corporate sucking profit margin price gouging conglomerate with a fan base of people that buy computers because they are pretty.

Sorry Apple - I am done with you.

I feel similar in a way, but until Google/Microsoft have created a comparable eco-system, why jump *shrug*.

2017/18 will be interesting years, to see whether either of those giants can convince me to switch .

 

[jujufreeze]

Subjective aesthetics aside these are competitively priced and the new W1 chip is real innovation. Looking forward to these.

 

[The Game 161]

Lucky you. I just now was reading through Macrumors articles and saw this. Quickly order. January 12 for my delivery. That's still a better delivery than I expected. Let us know how you like them.

Might have a go at doing a YouTube unboxing. Never done anything on YouTube but will try it. Granted will be on my phone or tablet lol so I'm hardly a pro. But it's a start i guess

 

[AEdouard]

Think I have a really good chance of just going in next monday to the apple store and seeing if they have any. I think we will know the actual release date before the weekend though.


me as well

Different countries have different stock relative to demand I guess.

 

[nt5672]

. . . .
I just don't see wireless headphones trumping wired ones, particularly in regards to sound quality and consistency (no audio dropouts). And the slippery hard plastic will slide right out of sweaty ears, so I'm not sure about that either, especially in warm/humid climates.
. . . .

You won't have any choice. If these sell really well then at some point Apple will remove the ability to use wired ones. It makes the device itself cheaper to manufacture. Right now on new devices you can't listen to wired and charge at the same time. You know at your desk, when you are working.

 

[SBG88]

These could be great, but the way Apple has been going of late, I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole for at least a few months. Need to hear testimonials from real world users...

Hehe, the first thought that came to mind as well.

 

[44267547]

Might have a go at doing a YouTube unboxing. Never done anything on YouTube but will try it. Granted will be on my phone or tablet lol so I'm hardly a pro. But it's a start i guess

Please do. I'll tune in.

 

[Quu]

Excellent. Ordered mine, coming December 19th

 

[turbineseaplane]

Hehe, the first thought that came to mind as well.

Might as well order now, as the delivery just keep sleeping anyways and you can observe the reviews and still cancel if you want.

 

[stan1028]

Ordered it in Singapore and delivery date is 20th Dec.

 

[The Game 161]

Please do. I'll tune in.

It might suck but worth a try ha

 

[atlatnesiti]

Yeah - exactly. They are to concerned with their margins and earnings instead of making products people actually want. They have left people that have supported this company through it all with macs that are outdated, a sore attempt at a fashion company, an iPhone and iPad that you cannot plug into a new Macbook pro straight out of the box without an adapter, and one that you can't listen to music on without buying a new pair of headphones.

Apple doesn't have courage. They are what we have come to hate. They are what MS once was. Apple owns most media and has locked it down via iTunes store.. and control all access to it via their devices.

Maybe if Apple actually released a decent laptop, or updated their iMac line, I would feel differently. Now they are just a mobile corporate sucking profit margin price gouging conglomerate with a fan base of people that buy computers because they are pretty.

Sorry Apple - I am done with you.

So hopefully, if you're really "done" with Apple, you'll stop posting here..?

 

[Brookzy]

just checked the UK apple Website and they still have a Delivery date of Dec 19.... Bullllllls....

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MMEF2ZM/A/airpods

They've also been on sale for less time, and less well publicised (no UK press release). And I bet the US still got more stock (both absolutely and proportionately).

 

[Shane1892]

Do the current one's ever pop out of your ears alone? I've never had that happen; they only ever pull out if I accidentally pull on the cord or something. So I doubt this should be a problem.

Cut cord of an old pair and just had bud in my right ear all week in work (partner said I shouldn't tell anyone that embarrassing story)didn't fall out once , wired ones fall out multiple times a day ..........mine coming 21st

 

[Traverse]

It should come with a lightning to USB C cable IMO

They do.

 

[Zirel]

If Google came up with them and sold them for this price I'd say the same thing. If they sold them for £20 I'd consider buying them.

So these are only worth as the most basic and crappy chinese earphones you can get on ebay from China?

 

[bibigon]

Bought four pairs (had to split into two orders) for the December 21 ship date, on the assumption they'd sell out in minutes.

 

[Brookzy]

Bought four pairs (had to split into two orders) for the December 21 ship date, on the assumption they'd sell out in minutes.

I'm pretty sure if the limit is 2 (as it was), one of those orders will be cancelled.

 

[Nanotyrns]

Not sure about this, sounds like a rush job to get out around Christmas and we know what happens when companies rush a product to market. I think a lot of people are going to find problems with this first delivery batch. It would be better if Apple just declared they missed their holiday target and instead focused on 100% quality rather then rushing to fulfill preorders just barely in time for Christmas. How many of them will be returned early 2017 for an updated batch?

From all the leaky news bits surrounding their delay, it sounds like they were just very difficult to make in high yield and pass Q/A//Q/C. Which means they've probably been cranking them out for a month or two just to get to a decent release quantity. So really the delay is about making sure the batch sold is actually ready for prime time. It's already something of an embarrassment for them to be this late. They wouldn't compound that by releasing them with poor quality just to meet a Christmas deadline. Remember, these will sell very well but they will just be a blip on the profit radar in the grand scheme of things for Apple.