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Apple Delays AirPods, October Launch No Longer Happening
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Well that changes everything! /s
I haven't been in a store recently, just going off the original pre-order ship dates online. Well that's a slight improvement over going almost two months with no in-ear W1 chipped wireless headphones for a phone that doesn't have a headphone jack.
I agree that they should've launched them with the phone, but really...wireless earbuds and headphones already existed.
Obviously. But why would I buy any old wireless headphones with the iPhone 7 knowing there are superior W1 chipped headsets designed to work with Apple products, especially if I had already tried wireless headphones and decided they were too much trouble, and not reliable enough?
The W1 chipped headphones are a critical part of transitioning away from the headphone jack, and Apple totally botched it, compounded by the fact there's no way to use Lightning headphones on a Mac.
This is literally the question of the year for iPhone 7/+ owners. Do I just go with the hassles of regular bluetooth and thats why I never switched in the first place? Or do we wait an eternity for the w1 headphones that do everything we want with the phone we use??
So very disappointed to not have AirPods in my ears, the AirPods were literally one of the most exciting announcements from Apple since the watch for me.
I may be mistaken, but weren't the Beats Solo 3 headsets (with W1) available right at launch? Clearly there were not NO options.
I'm not saying I don't agree that these options should have been available at launch. Just saying that they did have AN option.
Did I state there were no options?
No I stated there were no in-ear options, which are by far the preferred choice in mobile headphones, you know to use with a mobile phone.
The Solo3 are also $300 -- twice the price of the most affordable AirPods, and Beats X, or even PowerBeats 3. Not only that, but they are large, heavy and bulky, and can't be stuffed in pockets or easily into small bags. And they require carrying a separate micro-USB cable for charging, in as much as they include a W1 chip only compatible with Apple products. Interestingly the only Beats offerings that have a Lightning port for charging are the Beats X which are not available with no ETA in sight.
So yes, if somebody actually wanted to use their new iPhone 7 without a headphone jack, they could spend twice as much on headphones they don't want, just to get reasonable wireless functionality in exchange for the inconvenience of losing the headphone jack, with the added inconvenience of using a non-Apple cable to charge them -- or they could keep using their old wired headphones with the added inconvenience of an adapter, since Lightning headphones don't work on anything else.
That's some choice. Thank you Apple?
Well, they did include lightning EarPods and an adapter for any other earbuds anyone wants to use.
Right. And sense the Lightning EarPods can't be used with ANYTHING else besides an iPhone 7 and some iOS devices, it's basically useless for many people. That leaves the free $9 adapter to use with their old headphones, thus encouraging people to continue to use the old and obsolete 3.5mm headphone jack Apple decide as antiquated technology that had to go, with all the inconvenience of an adaptor. And for some who only use the included Apple EarPods, they might actually look forward to upgrading to the next iPhone, in part to get a nice fresh pair to replace their old damaged ones -- which the Lightning pair do nothing to help since they don't work with anything else.
Hard to believe we're almost two months into the iPhone 7, and there's not a single hint of a Lightning headphone adapter coming to market.
While this will all certainly work itself out, I don't know how anybody can say this is going well.
It can be used with the hundreds of millions of iOS devices that include a lightning port.
Which is moot. The included earpods are 99% used with the device it came with, same as the non-lighning earpods were.
I think the biggest thing to do is try the regular EarPods and see if they are comfortable for starters. If they are, see if they actually hold well during movement. Likely the Airpods will be very similar
In style.
The biggest adjustment is comfortability. If they are not comfortable, you won't wear them. At least you would have 14 days to test and return them if they don't meet your expectations.
Oh, so only 2 1/2 months after the primary product that needs them went on sale? Not to mention after Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, where most people get their holiday shopping done. And, only 24 days before they're needed. Based on Apple's usual supply problems, I can't imagine there won't be a lot of disappointed customers on Christmas Day if these go on sale just in time for last minute holiday gifts.
If they wait until 11/30, they might as well put it off until after New Years. Of course that will be almost 1/3 of the iPhone 7's time of flagship status on the market, but who needs improved BT headphones designed to work with Apple products to mitigate the loss of the headphone jack anyway? Besides, what's a major inconvenience for the third of the time a customer owns a device they upgrade every year? Seems perfectly reasonable to me. /s ;-)
Airpods would be a terrible choice for any where you aren't stationary. No way they stay in your ear.
Earbuds on a loop/cord are a much better idea for exercise the commute.
You can get your W1 experience with $199.99 Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones now in 5 colors. Or wait for the $149.99 Beats X Earphones (coming soon). They won't fall down and bounce inside the treadmill.
Every single reviews has shown otherwise. Why is this so hard to believe for people?
Well in the plus column, you'll get 40 hours out of one charge. In the minus column, you'll have to carry around a micro-USB cable for when you do need to charge them.
They didn't have a choice. They had to mitigate the damage announcing the removal of the headphone jack was going to do.
Yes, that's pretty annoying but no point waiting for Solo4.
Other than that they're well-reviewed. Not sure if on-ear is for me but may as well try them while I'm waiting for the AirPods.
I'm in the same situation (using the Solo3 while waiting for the AirPods). The charging cable is safely at home, and the 40 hour charge the S3 holds ensures I'll be able to charge them there. Pairing to my iP7+ was amazing, it sounds terrific, and it's linked to my Apple TV as well (great to watch movies later at night without waking up the house).
My use case remains to get the AirPods for work and taking phone calls, and the Solo3 for stuff around the house (mowing the lawn, walking the dog, late-night TV, etc.). Currently using the supplied lightning EarPods at work, and really looking forward to going fully wireless (not a fan of wires around my neck, so I will pass on the PowerBeats3).
Spoke to my local Apple retailer and she was saying "end December if lucky”. 
Stock of black aluminum series 2 Apple Watches are also practically nonexistent. Online shipping shows 2 weeks.
What is going on with Apple manufacturing?
Stock of black aluminum series 2 Apple Watches are also practically nonexistent. Online shipping shows 2 weeks.
What is going on with Apple manufacturing?
