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Bragi Unveils Wireless 'Headphone' Earbuds Ahead of Apple Event
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Is it unreasonable to ask that people understand that these devices would exist whether Apple removed the headphone jack or didn't, and focus this thread on the Bragi devices and their kin and not turn it into another thread about how much Apple is doomed for removing the headphone jack? I feel we have enough of those threads...
Wireless audio company Bragi has today announced a new pair of Bluetooth earbuds simply called the "Headphone". Based on the firm's original crowdfunded Dash earpieces, the Headphone buds boast the same overall design, but lose some features in favor of a more affordable price tag.
According to Bragi, the main physical difference is the Headphone's three physical buttons, which replace the touch controls found on the Dash for controlling playback, audio transparency, volume, and taking calls.
The activity tracking features native to the $300 Dash buds are also missing in the new earpieces, but their removal shores up battery life on the Headphone, with Bragi promising up to six hours of operation on a single charge, rather than the three hours Dash users will be accustomed to. Bragi also claims the Headphone buds feature a stronger Bluetooth connection than the Dash.
The Bragi Headphone buds are poised to launch in November and will cost $150, with pre-orders starting today at the lower price of $119.
In addition to the new earpieces, Bragi today announced a firmware update to the original Dash buds which the company says improves the accuracy of the devices' heart-rate tracking, while also bolstering the strength of the Bluetooth connection.
With Apple's event just days away, Bragi is unlikely to be the last accessory firm to announce wireless products this week, as the industry shifts gears in anticipation of a new iPhone widely believed to lack a headphone jack.
Apple will provide a live stream of the September 7 keynote on the Apple TV and on iOS and Mac devices through its website. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through the @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.
Read: What to Expect From Apple's September 7 Event
Article Link: Bragi Unveils Wireless 'Headphone' Earbuds Ahead of Apple Event
Yeah, no. Just drop the douche plugs.
I think Apple is getting rid of the headphones this year to unveil wireless charging next year. Everyone will love the new sound quality but will wish all year that they could charge their phone at the same time like with the older iPhones. Then, boom, AirCharge with the option Magic Dock. Suddenly, a magical solution to a problem that could have been addressed earlier, but alas it's the 
way.
way.
I do wonder what Apple will charge to replace a lost bud.
I think Apple is getting rid of the headphones this year to unveil wireless charging next year. Everyone will love the new sound quality but will wish all year that they could charge their phone at the same time like with the older iPhones. Then, boom, AirCharge with the option Magic Dock. Suddenly, a magical solution to a problem that could have been addressed earlier, but alas it's the
Seriously, you can't think of one single way in which the iPhone can be charged simultaneously while listening to Lightning headphones?
If wireless is really so much better than wired, why not just wait for it to naturally displace wired earphones?
Sure, forcing the industry to innovate by removing the jack might speed things up a bit, but basically that's just making us subsidize the R&D with high-cost early implementations which we are forced to buy because our existing earphones no longer work. I'd rather have the industry take a couple more years to reach the new tech on its own than be forced to subsidize its development via these early implementations.
Sure, forcing the industry to innovate by removing the jack might speed things up a bit, but basically that's just making us subsidize the R&D with high-cost early implementations which we are forced to buy because our existing earphones no longer work. I'd rather have the industry take a couple more years to reach the new tech on its own than be forced to subsidize its development via these early implementations.
Not at all. I've been using various earbuds since 2010-11. I still have a pair of Jaybird X Freedom something's I got in 2011 that work extremely well. They're earbuds with a mic for hands free calls. I primiaily use them when lifting/working out since they're wireless. Great sound quality. Some have complained of quality issues but I've owned a few pair from them and they've been great.
I'm really keen on buying the Airpods if Apple indeed does release them, and am certain they will.
The pricing however should be 100-200$ or else it would be hard buy for me..
..knowing that I just lost my wireless skull candy's.
The pricing however should be 100-200$ or else it would be hard buy for me..
..knowing that I just lost my wireless skull candy's.
Aside from the so so sound quality using bluetooth, the upside is, one should be able to lose these individual ear pods easily, and on a regular basis.
I'm pretty sure people will be cheering for improved lenses, battery life, base storage options and at least a couple unanticipated features/enhancements.
Personally, I rarely use headphones with my phone. I don't recall a single instance where I was using my headphones and charging simultaneously. YMMV.
Yes, but they've never been very good. And, there's the rumor of Apple removing the audio port.
No kidding. I'm sure someone at Apple will actually believe the BS too.
Umm... no, it's not the same at all. Your ears can't use the digital signal, so you have to do the D/A somewhere. Your ears are analog, FYI. The question is whether you want to do it in the phone or outside the phone. D/A costs money, so that means more expensive accessories, or lower quality. The Lightening connector, aside from being much more fragile, is NOT a standard of any kind, and it would be replacing an audio standard nearly a century old. (At least if it were USB-C... they might be able to begin to make an argument.)
And, while there was a pretty good reason to drop the floppy and CD, there's no reason I know of to drop the 3.5mm other than someone's obsession at Apple.
Adapters are a pain, though sometimes necessary. The problem here is that it isn't necessary at all. And, I'd read up a bit on epigenetic.
(Adapters on a desktop, or maybe even laptop are one thing... a whole other thing for something you're sticking in your pocket... can you say, broken?)
Oh sure, there will be cheap versions, and yes, BT can be handy for a hand's free call now and then. I wouldn't use it regularly though. But, also consider some listen to music.
True. Good point regarding exposed connectors. Saw this patient filing earlier.
http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...n-system-for-headphones-possibly-airpods.html
I'm excited to see how they solve these challenges.
I doubt they'll be cheering, but there's a good chance this will earn the patented "slow confused why are we clapping oh because it's Apple" reaction. Can't wait to watch the live feed for that.
$49.99, unless you have Apple Care, and then it will be $45.99.
Yes, with some adapter for $69.99.
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Hey, at this point, I'll settle for pretty much anything better than dancing emojis.
Saw this on Twitter:
I'm going to guess any wireless Apple earbuds won't be less than $199.
Abdel Ibrahim (@abdophoto)
9/4/16, 7:01 PM
On latest @atpfm @marcoarment speculates that Apple’s AirPods would cost $100. If what Ive heard is true, they’ll be a lot more than that.
I'm going to guess any wireless Apple earbuds won't be less than $199.
Too bad the majority of reviews I have read tell me one thing, they suck! Clearly not ready for prime time, too bad, great design!
Forgive me for not reading the full articles, but couldn't the issue of charging both be resolved by a simple adjustable cord connecting each as earbuds currently use? It would also keep them together.
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That would be insanity. You can get a good set for $100 or less already. The first problem: using Apple earbuds.
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That would be insanity. You can get a good set for $100 or less already. The first problem: using Apple earbuds.
I'm going to guess the wireless apple ear buds will be about just as bad as their other headphones. Better to make the investment with some high fidelity earphones, like weststone, shure, or Etymotic.
Blue tooth as it is now sounds bad. This is especially true in the treble or when the music gets complex. I don't see how anyone who cares at all about music could say otherwise.
You know what they say about opinions
. Best to try them firsthand before making a decision.Wireless earbuds from Apple, with the current price of wireless Beats 'buds? It's bound to be ca. $300...
The problem is how they are used. I go through a pair of headphones about every 6mo - 1yr because of having my iPod in my pocket while working (listening mostly to podcasts... don't need the quality there, but same point). I've never spent a lot on them, but IMO, the original white ones that came with the disc-based iPods were the best from Apple yet (both in durability and sound quality).
But, for sure, if you care about hifi music listening, you're better off just getting some good over-the-ear headphones, and probably an external amp.
I don't think most people really care about sound-quality anymore though.
I think the next BT standard will at least be capable of pretty high-quality sound (i.e.: the quality at least getting to the amp/speakers. But, anything like this with reasonable battery life simply isn't going to sound that great... it's kind of physics.
Really? Wasn't BT for wireless headphones and headsets built in into the iPhone 4??? Its not like Apple added new things to the iPhone 7. They removed something.