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

[andy.ringwood]

So many people are going to lose their airpods!

They really won't. If EarPods don't fall out, these won't. Also, if an EarPod falls out, you realise, so it'll be the same with an AirPod.

Finally, you'd have to be pretty stupid if you didn't realise one fell out.

 

[Time Less]

They do.

They don't. It's lighting to usb a only.

 

[44267547]

If it were $99 I would buy them. It was the best announcement in the last keynote IMO.

I would agree with you on this. It was a nice presentation. To bad with the delay. But finally order a pair today.

 

[PTVMan]

How do I do that?

When you get your shipping tracking information it will tell you how.

 

[ipedro]

Wow.
You are really really enveloped in the RDF

No, I live in that reality and benefit from it. Don't worry, you'll be dragged along into it once the grandma's of the world are talking to their wrists to ask their assistive robots to fetch the laundry basket in the basement.

It's pretty funny how I received something almost exactly like your comment when I predicted in 2007 that the iPhone would inevitably be most people's only computer.

"But how do they get on the web? How do they work with word documents? How do they edit their photos in Photoshop? I need a real computer. You can't do that with a cell phone. You're living in Steve Jobs' reality distortion field"

 

[SBG88]

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

Actually what I did. 29th delivery gives me time.

 

[angelrivz]

I seriously don't understand why people always complain. No matter what the company does, people are never happy. They release the airpods before Christmas and people are angry about shipping dates. If they released Airpods after Christmas, people would have complained about them not being available before Christmas. Also the price- the $159 price is actually very good compared to all other bluetooth headphones on the market.

 

[Traverse]

I casually order it


They don't. It's lighting to usb a only.

Oh, I just saw USB and assumed. My bad.

 

[ultraman982]

Jan. 12, but will try to pickup earlier in a store because I'm impatient like that. Sad day to have slept in lol

 

[jujufreeze]

I seriously don't understand why people always complain. No matter what the company does, people are never happy. They release the airpods before Christmas and people are angry about shipping dates. If they released Airpods after Christmas, people would have complained about them not being available before Christmas. Also the price- the $159 price is actually very good compared to all other bluetooth headphones on the market.

I quite agree in this case, the new W1 chip for superior bluetooth connectivity and price point makes them a very competitive product in the wireless earbud market

 

[Ma2k5]

No, I live in that reality and benefit from it. Don't worry, you'll be dragged along into it once the grandma's of the world are talking to their wrists to ask their assistive robots to fetch the laundry basket in the basement.

It's pretty funny how I received something almost exactly like your comment when I predicted in 2007 that the iPhone would inevitably be most people's only computer.

"But how do they get on the web? How do they work with word documents? How do they edit their photos in Photoshop? I need a real computer. You can't do that with a cell phone. You're living in Steve Jobs' reality distortion field"

I wouldn't say the iPhone is most peoples computer today either - frankly I don't know any, even those who are barely IT literate who use phones only. I really don't think there are a lot of people who just have a phone and no computers - I am also counting people having access to computers at work/school as using a computer - as even before the iPhone, many chose not to keep a computer as they only needed to use one at work/school.

 

[oftheheavens]

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.

You are very right and I see the same thing coming. The smartphone will be looked at like the pager and we will someway/how have even more information available to us such as augmented VR. I don't know exactly which direction everything is going but it is clear that voice interaction and wireless everything is the future.

I wouldn't say the iPhone is most peoples computer today either - frankly I don't know any, even those who are barely IT literate. I really don't think there are a lot of people who just have a phone and no computers - I am also counting people having access to computers at work/school as using a computer - as even before the iPhone, many chose not to keep a computer as they only needed to use one at work/school.

I am almost able to widdle down my devices to my ip7, ipp 9.7 and apple watch. I have an iMac but with how everyone is going the way of the internet, even my graduate program is optimized to be able to use with a touchscreen on an iPad. I can see in another decade or two that desktops won't be around much. I think everyone will have an ultra powered tablet and we will just have docking stations in locations where we need more monitor real-estate.

 

[bibigon]

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

Ah. That would be a sensible policy, yeah. Wanted to get a few as presents, but oh well.

 

[bobob]

All the trolls on here are totally ruining this website.

This.

The mods around here fuss about multiple posts or lack of content over a relevant funny picture - - yet they not only ignore the army of trolls, some seem to enjoy participating themselves.

Page views > rational discussion.

 

[RohirrimV]

If they sold them for £20 I'd consider buying them.

You'd have to be stupid to think that you won't lose them. Also, you're giving up cords in place of some stupid charging case that you'll constantly need to charge... iSheep are hilarious.

You ARE joking....right? Because you can't SERIOUSLY expect Apple to sell these for $20. There are legitimate criticisms that can be leveled against these headphones, but the price is NOT one of them.

I've been waiting for truly wireless earbuds for a while. In all the time that I've looked, I haven't found a SINGLE ONE selling for less than $150. Average-quality earbuds without a dedicated chip or a voice activated assistant or touch controls or a full 5 hours of listening time on a single charge sell for as much or are more expensive than the AirPods. Here are some of the best competitors:

Samsung Gear Icon X--$200
Bragi Dash--$300
Sony Xperia Ear--$200

The closest competitor to the AirPods (in my opinion) are the Xperia Ears. But they cost slightly more, have a shorter battery life, and lack the same degree of integration that Apple has with their ecosystem. Honestly, I'm quite surprised that they seem to have completely nixed the 'Apple tax' on these--or even gone the opposite way. Some people might not like that they're so small and light you could easily loose them, or that they're completely cordless, or find it annoying that they come with a handy charging case....wait, what exactly IS your problem with them?

 

[nighthawk67]

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.

I'd love to sit down and have a conversation with you sir.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

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.

Be careful you might be paying alimony if you divorce.
[doublepost=1481648386][/doublepost]

You ARE joking....right? Because you can't SERIOUSLY expect Apple to sell these for $20. There are legitimate criticisms that can be leveled against these headphones, but the price is NOT one of them.

I've been waiting for truly wireless earbuds for a while. In all the time that I've looked, I haven't found a SINGLE ONE selling for less than $150. Average-quality earbuds without a dedicated chip or a voice activated assistant or touch controls or a full 5 hours of listening time on a single charge sell for as much or are more expensive than the AirPods. Here are some of the best competitors:

Samsung Gear Icon X--$200
Bragi Dash--$300
Sony Xperia Ear--$200

The closest competitor to the AirPods (in my opinion) are the Xperia Ears. But they cost slightly more, have a shorter battery life, and lack the same degree of integration that Apple has with their ecosystem. Honestly, I'm quite surprised that they seem to have completely nixed the 'Apple tax' on these--or even gone the opposite way. Some people might not like that they're so small and light you could easily loose them, or that they're completely cordless, or find it annoying that they come with a handy charging case....wait, what exactly IS your problem with them?

Somebody is getting his jollies by winding you up. Take the higher road.

 

[bunnicula]

Woooo! Ordered two. One for me. One for my son for Christmas.

 

[Lepton]

Tap-Tap "Volume Up". Tap-Tap "Next song".. My ear might ache with all those double taps. I know battery life would probably be halved, but I think I might want to say "Hey Siri next song" sometimes..

 

[democracyrules]

I seriously don't understand why people always complain. No matter what the company does, people are never happy. They release the airpods before Christmas and people are angry about shipping dates. If they released Airpods after Christmas, people would have complained about them not being available before Christmas. Also the price- the $159 price is actually very good compared to all other bluetooth headphones on the market.

Totally agree with the above comments. It appears a lot of posters at macrumors are not satisfied and happy with whatever Apple does. My advice to these type of people: do not buy Apple, go to somewhere else and move on. Please grow up!!

 

[kwandrews]

Just ordered. Arrival estimate now = Jan 12

 

[Nanotyrns]

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

I believe people think that the W1 is not that big a deal but it is really quintessential Apple. Think of AirPort Utility, or AirPlay, AirPrint or cloud syncing. They didn't invent routers, streaming, wireless printing or cloud services but they made the use of those products/capabilities on their devices very easy to use for their customers.

It goes all the way back to when SJ was at NeXT. They have to offer compelling products and services that customers can only get at Apple/NeXT. They still do that very well in spite of a lot of johnny come lately competition. I'm with you. Looking forward to these.

 

[brandonbabz]

Ordered my pair as well. Really looking forward to them. Hoping some thorough reviews come out before receiving - if they perform poorly, would be an easy switch to something on the beats lineup.

edit: my arrival date is set for 2 weeks according to Apple. (Canada)

 

[fortuneteller33]

It also provides 3 hours of charge for every 15 min, or likely 5 min per hour, up to 3 hours (a full 5 takes 2 hours charging). There will be a lot incremental charging going on based on a listeners needs.



I don't see tech journals reaching the 100 million iPhone 7 users who heard about the AirPods, that Apple stores were promoting until Apple missed its ship date. In fact I see them as a very minor portion of the total user base. Based on both how long, and quickly they sold out, I'd say two things here: demand was low, and stock was limited. But I'm certain most of Apples core customers were not among those who wanted to buy a pair.

I'd just say again, a case of different expectations.

 

[tekchic]

Jan 12th for me, since I was fighting traffic to work, blech. At least it's a date!