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Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Ahead of Hearing Aid Feature Launch
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Is the case USB C or lightning?
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I rarely post on news articles but genuinely feel that I have something to add here. I have moderate to severe hearing loss with Tinnitus. My over-the-ear hearing aids cost slightly over $6,500. I set up the AirPods using the audiogram from my last professional hearing test. Here are a few observations, beginning with the positives:
- This is a game-changer at the gym and between Zoom meetings. I wear the AirPods at the gym because audio streaming with the hearing aids is a poor experience. Unfortunately, this meant that if anybody asked me if I was done with the weights, I couldn’t understand them. Now I can.
- Likewise, if I have a few minutes between meetings. I was previously unable to understand questions asked by team members nearby without switching back to my hearing aids for a minute before the next meeting. This is a major quality of life improvement.
- It’s clear that Apple doesn’t have experience in this market segment. All audio is amplified, even background noise. My hearing aids are far better when I’m in a space with background noise or crowded spaces with multiple people talking.
- No features for people with ugly side-effects of hearing loss, such as Tinnitus. My hearing aids play fractal tones, which conditions my brain to ignore the ear-splitting ringing I hear 24/7. Apps like Dark Noise help, but they’re not a substitute.
usually don’t respond to petty **** like this bc it’s not worth it. I’m just curious, do you know anyone with hearing loss? have you ever met someone born with 50% hearing loss? do you have any older relatives who are so deaf that they can’t even participate in a two-person conversation in a quiet environment without having their hearing aids in?
have you witnessed firsthand the kind of isolation and pain that level of deafness causes?
hearing loss is a serious ****ing issue. more serious than it seems like anyone wants to take it. Apple is trying to do something about it when they sell the #1 pair of wireless earbuds in the world. go buy some Bose earbuds if you care that much about Apple drastically lowering the bar for access to hearing aids. can’t imagine anyone else reading this who’s been personally affected by hearing loss cares for this insanely tasteless comment but maybe that’s just me
I’ve been wondering this same thing. How is it different?
I can confirm that it works on iPhone and Mac. Didn’t try on iPad but likely
It’s not just you and thank you for responding. Very well stated and a levelheaded response about a serious issue that affects a lot of people.
Same here in Denmark. It's been available for me since at least Wednesday running 18.1RC and AirPods Pro 2 on 7A305.
For those eager to update, start by charging your AirPods Pro fully. Open the case lid with your iPhone unlocked. When the AirPods overlay connection prompt appears, remove one AirPod briefly, then return it to the case. Leave the case lid open for about a minute — that should do it.
Mine updated to 7B13d like others have seen, which I’m assuming is a beta version, which is strange since I’ve never installed betas on my AirPods. I assume it’s a mistake by Apple. At some point after putting it on the charger, it should update to the correct version.
Note that the hearing aid version worked before this firmware update because I took the hearing test and set things up Monday when the 18.1 release candidate came out.
Note that the hearing aid version worked before this firmware update because I took the hearing test and set things up Monday when the 18.1 release candidate came out.
For us without option maybe it's possible to spoof location to US with iTools. I'll try and let you know.
I am in Germany, phone set to German.
Yesterday evening i updated to 3B19. Case is 71.7.0.
I have the buttons to do the test and activate hearing aid.
Yesterday evening i updated to 3B19. Case is 71.7.0.
I have the buttons to do the test and activate hearing aid.
These are all great points. I suggest making these improvements known to Apple through their feedback and bug reporting app. I would love to see these things you are asking for. The more Apple gets feedback like this, the more likely they are to implement them since they are very inexperienced in this market. I have a bit of tinnitus myself, though I’ve trained myself to ignore it for the most part. While my hearing isn’t nearly as bad as yours, I find myself thinking more and more about hearing aids. I’m hoping these will work well for me.
I’m positive the 7B13d firmware version is a mistake, likely a beta version Apple accidentally set as a release version. I set my AirPods Pro 2 that had been updated to this version back on the charger. After about fifteen minutes, I heard the case beep as the AirPods rebooted. It is now on the correct version, 7B19.
I do find it odd that the release notes say that this release is intended to enable the hearing features since I was able to access them on the older firmware with iOS 18.1 release candidate. Maybe the RC is different from the official 18.1 public release and that firmware does some additional checking for OS version.
I do find it odd that the release notes say that this release is intended to enable the hearing features since I was able to access them on the older firmware with iOS 18.1 release candidate. Maybe the RC is different from the official 18.1 public release and that firmware does some additional checking for OS version.
Yeah, I actually wear a hearing aid and it told me the same thing, despite the sharp drop off right where my loss is.