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Apple Obsoletes Older Beats Models as Push Towards Wireless Continues

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Apple updated its vintage and obsolete products list today with the addition of some older Beats wired headphones and accessories, including select first- or second-generation Heartbeats, Mixr, Powerbeats, Pro, Solo, Solo HD, Studio and Tour models. One old wireless model was also obsoleted.

Apple products on the vintage and obsolete list are no longer eligible for hardware service, with a few exceptions. Apple defines obsolete products as those that have not been manufactured for more than seven years, while vintage products are those that were discontinued more than five but less than seven years ago.

Beats-Solo-HD.jpg

The following Beats headphones and accessories are now obsolete in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America:Heartbeats (2nd gen.): black, white
Mixr: black, white
Powerbeats (1st gen.): black, red, white
Pro: black, Detox, white
Solo (1st gen.): black, white, HTC white
Solo HD: black, black-gold, purple, red, white, Yao Ming
Studio (1st g.): Red Sox, black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, silver, white
Tour (1st gen.): black, white
Urbeats (1st gen.): black, matte white
Wireless (1.5): black, whiteApple obsoleting many of the older Beats wired models listed above is largely unsurprising, but it comes at a time when the company is expected to make a big push towards wireless connectivity on its flagship product.

Multiple reports claim the iPhone 7 will not have a headphone jack, but rather an all-in-one Lightning port for docking and audio. iPhone 7 users would be able to pair wireless headphones over Bluetooth, use Lightning-equipped headphones or connect headphones with traditional 3.5mm jacks with a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter.

Apple may release Lightning-equipped EarPods, and the company already offers Powerbeats 2, Solo2 and Studio wireless headphones through its Beats brand. It is also rumored the iPhone 7 will feature wireless charging, allowing for the smartphone to be charged at the same time Lightning-equipped headphones are being used.

iPhone-7-Headphone-vs-Lightning.jpg

Apple is also said to be developing new wireless headphones ahead of the iPhone 7's likely September unveiling.

Article Link: Apple Obsoletes Older Beats Models as Push Towards Wireless Continues
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/12/apple-obsoletes-older-beats-models/
I'm all for wireless connectivity, but my gripe with it remains that Bluetooth audio is largely inferior to that of even a basic wired connection over 3.5mm, and unless Apple is going to be open to a lot more DAC/Amp makers using the Lightning connection on iOS devices for raw digital output, then a lot of audiophiles like myself may be a bit squicked by the lack of a headphone jack.

Where's the rumor they'll finally adapt AptX, or AptX lossless? If going wireless means being forced back into the realm of AAC, I'll pass and run as many janky adaptors as needed for analog out to my existing P5s; if, on the other hand, I can enjoy my ALAC files over wireless, I'll gladly replace/upgrade my P5s for it, if only to free myself of this terrible, easily broken cable.
 
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iPhone 6S - 7.1mm
iPhone 6 - 6.9mm
iPod Touch - 6.1mm
Oppo R5 - 4.85mm (link) -> no headphone jack

It seems there's still room for improvement with the headphone port in place, but not that much. The iPhone 4 was the worlds thinnest phone at the time, now they probably want to do it again.

And no, using bumps does not count.
 
dynamojoe said:
I wish "obsoletes" meant "fire sale". I could use another set of headphones.

(YES, I know they suck, YES, I know there are better on the market, NO, I don't bloody well care)
Click to expand...
Then just go and buy some headphones today that cost the same as Beats would in a fire sale, and you'll get roughly the same quality.
 
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As it should.

Not that I think everyone should jump on the wireless headphone bandwagon, but if anyone should do it it should be Apple. They really need to turn that Beats investment into some game changing stuff. Wireless Beats earpods with every iPod/iPhone if you ask me.

Or maybe I'm being a bit irrational.
 
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Most of Apple's products are active (powered) devices, so they depend on chips and other components that go obsolete themselves. However, with passive devices, it's reasonable to provide parts and service for a longer period of time.

As much as I don't care for the sound of Beats headphones, I'm disappointed Apple's not supporting these premium-priced headphones for longer.
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Digital Skunk said:
As it should.

Not that I think everyone should jump on the wireless headphone bandwagon, but if anyone should do it it should be Apple. They really need to turn that Beats investment into some game changing stuff. Wireless Beats earpods with every iPod/iPhone if you ask me.

Or maybe I'm being a bit irrational.
Click to expand...
It didn't work too well for HTC, but maybe it will for Apple?
 
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I bought Studio Wireless last month and they suck, constantly dropping like when you whack a cd player and it stops for a second. I dunno why it's always doing it but I noticed if I cover up the top antenna it drops completely....

So I dunno if it's the headphones or if the iPhone 6s just has **** bluetooth.
 
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sunapple said:
iPhone 6S - 7.1mm
iPhone 6 - 6.9mm
iPod Touch - 6.1mm
Oppo R5 - 4.85mm (link) -> no headphone jack

It seems there's still room for improvement with the headphone port in place, but not that much. The iPhone 4 was the worlds thinnest phone at the time, now they probably want to do it again.

And no, using bumps does not count.
Click to expand...
So the bump for the camera is ok but the one for the jack no? This is racism at its finest!
 
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scaramoosh said:
I bought Studio Wireless last month and they suck, constantly dropping like when you whack a cd player and it stops for a second. I dunno why it's always doing it but I noticed if I cover up the top antenna it drops completely....

So I dunno if it's the headphones or if the iPhone 6s just has **** bluetooth.
Click to expand...

I don't think that is a Beats issue. My Jaybird bluetooth earbuds do the same thing. Maybe worse than the Studio Beats, hard to quantify. One time my Studio Wireless did the buffeting sound (like one car window open) and I had to take them off and put them back on so the noise cancellation could right itself.

As an aside, a coworker was telling me how great his Bose Wireless headset are at canceling noise on the plane. After some research I was able to determine that his wireless headset does not have noise cancellation. (And I think none of Bose wireless headsets have noise cancellation. It is either wireless or noise canceling.)
 
bstpierre said:
I don't think that is a Beats issue. My Jaybird bluetooth earbuds do the same thing. Maybe worse than the Studio Beats, hard to quantify. One time my Studio Wireless did the buffeting sound (like one car window open) and I had to take them off and put them back on so the noise cancellation could right itself.

As an aside, a coworker was telling me how great his Bose Wireless headset are at canceling noise on the plane. After some research I was able to determine that his wireless headset does not have noise cancellation. (And I think none of Bose wireless headsets have noise cancellation. It is either wireless or noise canceling.)
Click to expand...

All I know is I'm now using a £15 Sony sbh20 and it doesn't do it, the Beats were just unlistenable, it'll do it like 3 or 4 times per song. I have to be perfectly still sitting indoors for it not to do it, but the whole reason I got them is to listen to stuff while I'm at work or walking the dog.
 
69Mustang said:
Profit disagrees with you. Apple likes profit.
Click to expand...

Maybe I understood that different, but I also wish they would obsolete Beats - the name, not the product. Apple has completed messed up their product naming and I don't think this is a marketing thing.

Phones have number years and S years
Laptops have airs and books and pros
iPads have numbers then new then minis then airs then numbered airs and now pros
desktops have screen sizes
for earphones we have pods and beats and solos

Someone please get over there and clean up their product naming.

Personally, I like the concept of product and a descriptor to suggest size. So --

iPhone (M)ini/(S)tandard/Plus equal to today's 5s/6s/6s+
iPad (M)ini/(S)tandard/Plus equal to today's mini/air2/pro
MacBook (M)ini/(S)tandard/Plus equal to today's air/book/pro

For the earphones you have (I)n ear/(O)n ear/O(V)er ear

Of course you may like a different convention. My point is just that a convention is needed versus what they have now.
 
JustThinkin' said:
Most of Apple's products are active (powered) devices, so they depend on chips and other components that go obsolete themselves. However, with passive devices, it's reasonable to provide parts and service for a longer period of time.

As much as I don't care for the sound of Beats headphones, I'm disappointed Apple's not supporting these premium-priced headphones for longer.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. Sennheiser still sells spare parts for the very first set of headphones I ever owned (HD414s- such amazing headphones for the time: purchased 1983) and the second set (HD480s - 1991). Agreed, computers and other electronics have a limited shelf life, but this sort of hardware should continue to be supported.
 
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Cuban Missles said:
Maybe I understood that different, but I also wish they would obsolete Beats - the name, not the product. Apple has completed messed up their product naming and I don't think this is a marketing thing.
...snip...Someone please get over there and clean up their product naming.
Click to expand...
The naming convention is probably more of personal issue for you than it is for people who buy Beats gear.

In the end, it appears the gear is being purchased regardless of your personal standings on naming conventions.
 
sinsin07 said:
The naming convention is probably more of personal issue for you than it is for people who buy Beats gear.

In the end, it appears the gear is being purchased regardless of your personal standings on naming conventions.
Click to expand...
Nothing I stated suggested that people were not buying because of the naming convention. However, I am very sure it causes confusion. I was in the Apple store earlier this week, getting my iphone 6s replaced (circuit board fried - never had that happen) and I sat at the genius bar, I heard a lot of non techies asking a lot of questions. Among the questions I would hear things like what the difference between x and y. (Actually mostly around air vs book, but my point stands)
 
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Cuban Missles said:
Maybe I understood that different, but I also wish they would obsolete Beats - the name, not the product. Apple has completed messed up their product naming and I don't think this is a marketing thing.

Phones have number years and S years
Laptops have airs and books and pros
iPads have numbers then new then minis then airs then numbered airs and now pros
desktops have screen sizes
for earphones we have pods and beats and solos

Someone please get over there and clean up their product naming.

Personally, I like the concept of product and a descriptor to suggest size. So --

iPhone (M)ini/(S)tandard/Plus equal to today's 5s/6s/6s+
iPad (M)ini/(S)tandard/Plus equal to today's mini/air2/pro
MacBook (M)ini/(S)tandard/Plus equal to today's air/book/pro

For the earphones you have (I)n ear/(O)n ear/O(V)er ear

Of course you may like a different convention. My point is just that a convention is needed versus what they have now.
Click to expand...
Mums could have been referring to the name Beats. Fair point. Even if that's the case, getting rid of the Beats name would be a mistake in my opinion. Beats is a stand alone brand name who's success in not dependent upon Apple. That type of worldwide brand recognition is hard to come by. Only Bose comes close in brand recognition in that arena. Renaming Beats to, let's say, i-Whatever would negatively affect the sales; again imo. Apple branded products are known for working inside Apple's ecosystem. The assumption with a renamed product would be they only work inside the "walled garden". The Beats name is ecosystem agnostic. People buy Beats for Beats, not Apple. As long as the remain as popular and profitable as they have, Apple has no reason to rename Beats. Eventually, we all know they will rename Beats. But if it's me... I'd be in no rush.
 
I don't understand... they are still selling many of those on the Apple Store as we speak. My bet is that Apple labeled them vintage to attract the hipster crowd.
 
Poisednoise said:
Completely agree. Sennheiser still sells spare parts for the very first set of headphones I ever owned (HD414s- such amazing headphones for the time: purchased 1983) and the second set (HD480s - 1991). Agreed, computers and other electronics have a limited shelf life, but this sort of hardware should continue to be supported.
Click to expand...
Sennheiser is who I had in mind, in fact - I think they may still have support for even my lower-end HD400s.
 
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