Apple's 'AirPods' to Use Custom Bluetooth Chip, Target Higher End Than Beats Brand

[KylePowers]

Great, another splintering.. can't use the regular bluetooth chip that everyone else uses to make it universal.. No no.. we have to have our own nonsense again. This is getting old quickly.

I interpreted this as the chip will still utilize the latest Bluetooth protocol, but they're going to custom design the chip rather than grabbing one off the shelf, as they believe they can be more aggressive about power conservation.

The article says "Bluetooth-like", but I can't imagine Apple deviating from the Bluetooth standard. I think custom designed chip makes more sense

 

[Night Spring]

Not sure I see this as an option, with out a headphone Jack, Apple might give us some bluetooth headphones. Why not these?

I am hoping that they will go wireless with the iPhone 7.

Too expensive to include as freebie.

 

[0815]

Great, another splintering.. can't use the regular bluetooth chip that everyone else uses to make it universal.. No no.. we have to have our own nonsense again. This is getting old quickly.

as long as they keep bluetooth chip in the phones (which they currently just can't remove), people can vote with their wallet. People who need/want it can buy that option, others can stick to their current bluetooth setup. However, a few years down the road (if enough people voted for it), they might remove bluetooth like they do with the headphone (not sure if that was a fair vote though).

 

[gigapocket1]

Great, another splintering.. can't use the regular bluetooth chip that everyone else uses to make it universal.. No no.. we have to have our own nonsense again. This is getting old quickly.

Just because they use a custom Bluetooth chip. Doesn't mean that it won't work other devices

 

[Johnny907]

"Higher end?" Um isn't Beats supposed to be "higher end?" Yes I know functionally it's not, but they sure sell and price them that way don't they?

 

[MacFan1957]

Nothing is better then universal, how's that lightning connector working out? Yeah didn't think so. Should have USB or USB-C

Fine for me and I suspect, millions of iPhone/iPad users.

If Apple can make a wireless connection that is better than current Bluetooth connection they should do it. At the moment Bluetooth is hardly the best, no matter how "universal" it might be. I'm quite happy to have a pair of headphones that will only work with my Apple devices.

 

[MACelmore]

This is frustrating on so many levels. All indicators point towards the Apple Watch being pushed as a fitness device, yet those little mock-ups are the worst for running with.

I have an iPhone, iPad, and Macbook and spend most of my time on my Macbook, yet these Apple propriety earbuds won't work with it without a dongle.

Why not keep the headphone jack, introduce bluetooth AirPods and ease us in to this with next year's version. They're pretty much forcing this purchase, or at least forcing us to make some tough trade-offs. As a longtime consumer of Apple, I don't appreciate this at all.

 

[Michael Goff]

Glad it's all about you and not for the greater good..

How is changing a Bluetooth chip going to destroy some mythical greater good? Go ahead. Tell me. Maybe it will be that people can't use these headphones with certain phones? We already can't use the same charger cord with all things. And I'm not even talking about lightning/USB C. There are still Micro USB devices out there with the five or so different types of Micro USB.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Nothing is better then universal, how's that lightning connector working out? Yeah didn't think so. Should have USB or USB-C

Lightning is working out great for me. Much rather have Lightning than Micro USB. No need for USB-C here.

 

[KdParker]

Too expensive to include as freebie.

yeah...sad but true.

 

[nagromme]

Nothing is better then universal, how's that lightning connector working out? Yeah didn't think so. Should have USB or USB-C

Just checking... you're saying nothing can be better than current Bluetooth? Bluetooth is THAT good?

I HATE wires and use Bluetooth daily, but wow, it IS pretty terrible.

Adapters and Lightning earbuds are only a decent stopgap, surely not the real plan. The real plan is wireless, and starting at the high end is how these transitions happen. I'd much rather have Apple lead the way than wait for the world to stumble on something "more standard" that has failed to materialize for endless years. (And a new Bluetooth or alternative from Apple might well still use a standard anyway—but given BT's history, I think I'd have more confidence if it didn't.)

P.S. USB-C is nice (not as rugged as Lightning) but it's new; it didn't EXIST when Lightning came out. If you think people complained when Apple dropped the 30-pin connector after a decade, ask yourself how they'd react to dropping Lightning, which is really good, after less time!

And to suggest iPhones should use pre-C USB is pure trolling. Those connectors are awful and lack Lightning's adaptability/capability.

Lightning, quite obviously, is working out great.

 

[Itsedstech]

Well actually bragi just unveiled a new headphone yesterday, basically the dash stripped of internal storage, and touch gestures as well as the excersie/heart rate stuff. basically same design, but has 3 physical buttons now. still completely wireless, 6 hour battery life too all for $150.

 

[lordofthereef]

I interpreted this as the chip will still utilize the latest Bluetooth protocol, but they're going to custom design the chip rather than grabbing one off the shelf, as they believe they can be more aggressive about power conservation.

The article says "Bluetooth-like", but I can't imagine Apple deviating from the Bluetooth standard. I think custom designed chip makes more sense

Same. I'm unsure why people are automatically assuming. I mean, Apple does have a history of going proprietary, but I don't see them doing that here.

 

[LordQ]

Nothing is better then universal, how's that lightning connector working out? Yeah didn't think so. Should have USB or USB-C

Well, Phil said back in 2012 that Lightning was going to be their standard for the next 10 years so 6 more for a potential USB-C replacement.

 

[MasterRyu2011]

.........how about waiting until it is available and read some reviews before commenting negatively?

That's not how internet forums work.

 

[macduke]

Instead of streaming music to headphones continuously, would it be cheaper/more energy efficient to just have a 32MB buffer in the headphones to store each song? They could be sent wireless to the headphones in a quick burst and then put the radio into standby mode until it gets another signal or it's time to queue the next song. Would that save battery life by having short, high-power bursts instead of long, low-power streams?

Kinda disappointed if these things cost more than Beats. I was hoping to pick some up for around $150.

 

[coolfactor]

Great, another splintering.. can't use the regular bluetooth chip that everyone else uses to make it universal.. No no.. we have to have our own nonsense again. This is getting old quickly.

Bluetooth "chip" and Bluetooth "spec" are two different things. Apple will absolutely be compliant to the spec, but may choose to use its own circuitry (the chip), rather than an off-the-shelf chip. There will be many such chips that companies can choose to use, not just one.

 

[GaryLasereyes]

Great, another splintering.. can't use the regular bluetooth chip that everyone else uses to make it universal.. No no.. we have to have our own nonsense again. This is getting old quickly.

If they used a basic bluetooth chip everyone would complain about battery life.

 

[cmichaelb]

Great, another splintering.. can't use the regular bluetooth chip that everyone else uses to make it universal.. No no.. we have to have our own nonsense again. This is getting old quickly.

If they think they can do better, they should.

Backwards capable most likely if true. Do you really think they would kill everyone's hands-free systems in their cars?

 

[McTaste]

I thought the Beats headphones were pretty expensive - but I am not much of an audiophile. Can someone who knows please comment - what does a really nice pair of wired headphones cost - what is high end?

Nice in-ear buds cost $800 to $1000. More like $1500-2000 to dip your toes into the over / on ear pool.

 

[methaw]

Excellent news. Johny Srouji for the win!

I can see Apple doing well with this especially if battery life, audio quality, and features are substantially better than other products. Guessing around $200-$250.

I would agree with the price. Bragi just announced a more affordable version of their bluetooth headphones at $150. Apple's version will be more expensive. I hope if they mark up the price it will be more reliable, better audio, and better battery life. I was going to pre-order the new Bragi at $120 but will wait to see what Apple has. I think I would top out at $250.

 

[applesith]

I'm not going to consider any bud-only wireless headphones. They will pop out of an ear way too easily and then can fall down the subway tracks. Literally impossible to catch a loose earbud.

 

[coolfactor]

Nothing is better then universal, how's that lightning connector working out? Yeah didn't think so. Should have USB or USB-C

Lightning seems to be working out great for Apple, or why else would they continue investing into it? Thoughts?

 

[jdillings]

So you're telling me Apple removed the headphone jack to increase their revenue?

 

[Gorms]

Beats are going to be the mid-range option? Wow. That's pretty terrifying considering Beats can go for upwards of £300.

Looks like I'll be sticking with some lovely new Lightning headphones that come with the phone.