Apple's Camera-Equipped AirPods Ultra: What to Expect

[Woyzeck]

I'm pretty sure that those will be illegal in many countries - especially in the EU - and that for a good reason.

 

[MichaelAdam]

This could be really useful for people who are blind… 🤷

True but glasses will be less intrusive imo

 

[underthere]

I don’t think I would wear these, personally.

 

[johnnyenv]

I cant possibly see what value cameras are in AirPods assuming you have an Apple Watch, What data could it possibly need.

 

[redskr]

Too vague and limited little detail to make a proper impression about their place in the Apple echo system. AirPods are about sound quality, so it begs the question how cameras could improve music listening. The pro 3s already add sensors to track a workout. Would the cameras be in the same realm or it’s all about AI? I don’t want AI pushed down my throat now that Siri works better in 27.

 

[djplong]

I can't imagine cameras in AirPods.

What I *can* imagine are things like ultrasonic sensors that would be helpful to visually impaired people to warn them about obstacles while walking around, directions - use cases like that.

I'd like to think that the rumors are either semi-false plants by Apple personnel or a lack of imagination on the part of the leakers (there's a hole here in the design - it MUST be a camera!)

 

[clg82]

If they release these, I will consider shorting AAPL.

This product will largely not be allowed in schools, hospitals, and universities--a core target market.

I find it quite sketch when anyone wears META glasses.

I also feel that constant airpod wearing is often socially disrespectful.

I agree with this 1000%. Unfortunately this seems to be the new norm. I may be the old guy in the room at work (I'm 43), but I'm looking around at software developers in meetings with airpods in their ears and think to myself what are they listening to that they need those in during a meeting? Also don't get me started on the hallways filled with younger people with them in. No "good mornings" or smiles anymore. Just them staring face down into their phone with airpods in. A sad reality really.

 

[kerr]

Cameras? Lights? Action?

They sound lame and stupid. Talk about adding features that no one is asking for.

 

[andiwm2003]

You better take those camera Airpods off when you're in the gym or similar settings and go to the bathroom/locker room. If they start recording you are in felony territory in several countries or states.

 

[andiwm2003]

We're going to need some kind of public camera regulation when it comes to personal devices at some point. Smartphones are enough, we don't need cameras embedded in glasses, earbuds and so on. We cannot trust a social media and 'content creator' obsessed society with this kind of spy technology that is only going to advance.

All camera embedded devices should require a bright LED whenever the camera is on and make it so the camera does not work via sensors if the LED is covered. I am glad that Apple is adding this LED to these AirPods, but I hope they don't allow the user to cover or prevent the LED from coming on.

Privacy is a human right and should not be compromised or decided by fellow civilians who find the need to place wearable cameras on themselves, and limiting regulation to just how the data can be used and shared will not be enough or effective. As technology enters its Wild West era, it's becoming more concerning than fun or exciting as it used to be.

Yeah this is not going to happen. Certain areas like bathrooms already have laws that forbid any kind of recording. But in general public there will be no meaningful laws to stop this.
Also, even if apple or samsung were to have this bright LED lights to indicate recording, 5 month later a chinese knock off brand will have versions that don't have LED's or allow to cover them up. They already sell miniature cameras on temu that fit into a buttonhole on your shirt.

 

[uacd]

Ugh, not only earphones are all wireless now, they are cameras! The theory of enshi***fication of everything is right here. Who would have thought in 2013 that Apple will uglify iPhone cameras with algorithms, add cameras to headphones and will be making phones that rival iPad in terms of size?

Seriously, I want Apple to get back to the roots. This isn’t going anywhere where my favorite company should go

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Yeah this is not going to happen. Certain areas like bathrooms already have laws that forbid any kind of recording. But in general public there will be no meaningful laws to stop this.
Also, even if apple or samsung were to have this bright LED lights to indicate recording, 5 month later a chinese knock off brand will have versions that don't have LED's or allow to cover them up. They already sell miniature cameras on temu that fit into a buttonhole on your shirt.

Perhaps had you read the article, it would spare us of these ridiculous "recording" comments of yours.

The article literally says "Users aren't likely to be able to use the cameras to capture photos and videos." Cannot capture being the key words here, hence no recording.

You're creating a fake scenario.

 

[teaneedz]

Perhaps had you read the article, it would spare us of these ridiculous "recording" comments of yours.

The article literally says "Users aren't likely to be able to use the cameras to capture photos and videos." Cannot capture being the key words here, hence no recording.

You're creating a fake scenario.

no pics but the concern is NIR capturing biometric data with face detection and there are laws on that.

[update] if there wasn't a privacy concern there wouldn't be a need for an LED when it actively is in use or uploading would there?

 

[citysnaps]

I would agree honestly. My imagination isn't all that great but one situation that I thought it could be useful for is for blind or people with poor eyesight. The cameras could alert such a user to a curb or some other danger they can't see and tell them via the APP's speakers.

An excellent use! One more... as I'm walking through a museum (say San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art) looking at paintings/sculptures/etc it would be great listening to detailed narratives of whatever I'm looking at. And being able to ask questions about whatever I'm looking at for additional information.

There are many dozens/hundreds more potential uses in different environments. It seems many here can't go beyond thinking of uses relating to creeping on people.

 

[Ghengis LeMond]

This is going to bring a whole new level of confusion and bizarre responses from our challenged friend Siri:

“The cameras in the AirPods will be used for sending data about the wearer's surroundings to Siri, giving Siri more information about where the user is and what's nearby”

 

[Ankaa]

One more... as I'm walking through a museum (say San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art) looking at paintings/sculptures/etc it would be great listening to detailed narratives of whatever I'm looking at. And being able to ask questions about whatever I'm looking at for additional information.

Once upon a time ...

Audio guides already exist in most if not all museums and museum staff and volunteers are typically not only more than happy but more than eager to answer questions, provide more info, etc. While introvert-me can see the appeal of getting this right from my device, we more and more do lose the human connection in favor of AI.

As I said before: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[citysnaps]

Once upon a time ...

Audio guides already exist in most if not all museums and museum staff and volunteers are typically not only more than happy but more than eager to answer questions, provide more info, etc. While introvert-me can see the appeal of getting this right from my device, we more and more do lose the human connection in favor of AI.

As I said before: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

I'm talking about going much further beyond what one normally finds in museums (ie staff, playback-onlydevices with headphones, etc). Where a user can pose questions that are not covered. And what I wrote above is just one of many potential so-called use cases. I could come up with dozens more without spending too much time.

Again... most people here seem to think camera Air Pods are only useful for creeping on people - as that's what the discussion usually and quickly devolves to.

 

[teaneedz]

I'm talking about going much further beyond what one normally finds in museums (ie staff, playback-onlydevices with headphones, etc). Where a user can pose questions that are not covered. And what I wrote above is just one of many potential so-called use cases. I could come up with dozens more without spending too much time.

Again... most people here seem to think camera Air Pods are only useful for creeping on people - as that's what the discussion usually and quickly devolves to.

incorrect. just because a product might have some benefits in certain use cases--it is not a license or waiver for possibly violating another's privacy. the biometric aspect of near infrared sensors should be a real concern and how Apple handles this discussion will be interesting.

 

[kerr]

An excellent use! One more... as I'm walking through a museum (say San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art) looking at paintings/sculptures/etc it would be great listening to detailed narratives of whatever I'm looking at. And being able to ask questions about whatever I'm looking at for additional information.

A very small use case and one that is not relevant to the vast majority of people. Which is not to say it's not important, it just seems like the target market for this product is very, very small. For most of us that do not use Siri with our AirPods and don't envision doing so in the near future, or talking to an AI bot, I don't really see the purpose of the next gen AirPods Pro.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I'm still waiting for Apple to introduce better drivers for the AirPods Pro model. That's why I want Apple to buy Status Audio and apply Status' triple driver setup into future AirPods Pro models.

 

[DENZIE]

as if having strangers’ smart phone cameras in our faces everyday in public wasn’t already enough. bs

 

[Doug.J]

Are Silicon Valley people, especially CEOs like Larry Page, Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg, and now Tim Cook, unaware of just how creepy it is to have cameras in things like glasses and earbuds?

They are also not aware that we didn't choose to have the entire world changed and governed by 6 billionaires. Them controlling AI, buying Nuclear facilities, etc...

 

[MichaelAdam]

They are also not aware that we didn't choose to have the entire world changed and governed by 6 billionaires. Them controlling AI, buying Nuclear facilities, etc...

Owning more satelittes than any other countries …

 

[The Game 161]

shame these aren't coming until 2027

 

[zapmymac]

I bought a few Anker/Soundcore earbud models, in search for something better than the latest Beat$ earbuds that didn't fit right, and they have all impressed me.

The noice cancellation while wearing in older/noisier car …hands down noticeable better than my 2nd gen AirPod pro 2’s 👌