Bragi Unveils Wireless 'Headphone' Earbuds Ahead of Apple Event

[Nippi2000]

How on earth is plugging headphones into a lighting port instead of a 3.5mm port a better customer experience ? Sorry that made me laugh.

Or is that better customer experience, me still using analogue headphones, no difference in sound quality but having to use an Adopter?

Or is that me having to go out and buy wireless headphones...

The 3.5mm is being REMOVED, for a proprietary connector, that does the SAME thing end result, more profits for apple. All you are doing on these forums is cheer-leading the introduction of a proprietary connector (lightning audio), which has existed since iphone 5, but now we are forced to use it, as apple is removing the 3.5mm. My iphone 6S will be able to offer me exactly the same experience audio wise as the 7, it will actually be better cause the DAC inside it is superior to what will be in the 7. So out of the box, the 6S is superior sound wise, with the limiting factor being the apple earbuds.

And as your theory the 3.5mm is ancient tech that must go. Ive had usb headphones for years, they suck!

How can you be cheer-leading something that technically is not changing, its just the movement of the DAC from one place to the other to create an proprietary connector. its as Stupid as Sony Memory cards, no benefit to the user, but Sony wanted more profits.....how that play out?

April 2015, Cupertino.

Tim: "We have decided that in order to fullfil Jony's request to make the device thinner, we have to remove some components like the audio jack. Phil, can you think of a strategy to mitigate the consumers anger over this move?"

Phil:"We could send some of our loyal office stuff online to some tech forums to make them post 24-7 some propaganda regarding how this move would be beneficial. I know a person, he is very eager.

 

[Count Blah]

2016: bashes Apple for removing 1950's technology from the iPhone
2018: claims move to wireless was obvious

MAYBE by 2018, they'll get bluetooth right. The way it is right now, it's certainly no adequate replacement for 3.5mm, for MANY people.

 

[s1m]

I don't want two radio transmitters mounted in my ears, unless I am already deaf. I don't want two extra batteries that I have to worry about being charged. I don't want to have to look for two small ear bugs when they fall out on the plane. And most of all I don't want two DACs that will sound horrible in order to make the wireless ear bugs last all day long.

They don't fall out.

 

[Analog Kid]

Well let's not jump the gun.

Oh, come on, everyone's doing it...

 

[Michael Goff]

Yes, I am worried about WiFi too, but I don't strap my WiFi routers to my ears! RF degrades exponentially based on distance. I also can't make WiFI stop, but I can easily choose not to use a BT headset all the time. (Actually, you're better off using a BT headset than holding the phone to your ear... but either for a limited time.)



I agree... if the plan is to go port-less and wireless (i.e.: short-term), then yes. I think that would be an even bigger mistake though. But, if we're headed to one port, then USB-C.



Priceless comeback! However, I think you missed the point.



Well, really than anything of much importance. But, to be fair, this is an Apple-oriented forum. But, I hear you, critical thinking and weighty matters aren't part of the thinking of many these days.

BT radiation is probably somewhat low on the list of concerns in the big picture of cancer, but I'm not taking any more chances than necessary. But, the average American diet will get people well before BT. Combined though, it might not be a pretty picture.



Heh, pairing will be tricky (pun intended).



The problem is, we just don't know. I'm in the 'better safe than sorry' camp, especially when it's something pretty pointless. BTW, I'm also a bit sick of people who don't know about electronics, RF, epigenetics, etc. saying there's nothing to worry about! It's Bill Nye / Neil deGrasse Tyson Science™ type baloney, and it's dangerous because these idiots are seen as the new priesthood by the masses who can't be bothered to stop and think for a minute.



Yes, but distance matters a lot. For sure, you're better off using a BT headset WHEN YOU MAKE PHONE CALLS than holding the phone to your ear. But, that's different than having them in your ears all day while listening to music or whatever. And, I AM very concerned by how much I see people holding the phones to their ears.

The point is that you don't understand that some things can kill sperm and not be dangerous otherwise.

 

[jonnysods]

Wow. When you got to no ports at all, you could start thinking about basically casting the phone into a solid block of (very special) glass. Interesting idea. Speakers, microphones, and heat dissapation would still be problems to work out.

I know there was a lot of anger at the time towards the iPhone 4 with its two glass sides, but I found it to be a thing of simplistic beauty. With a bumper on, it was like a block of glass with a protective edge that kept it from getting roughed up by any surface it laid on, and nothing stuck to the surface, it could always be wiped clean. I heard an explanation, way back when, that the glass on two sides, which many ridiculed as some sort of amateur design flaw ("who would do that? it can break twice as much!") actually made it less susceptible to front screen cracks, because the front and back rippled/compressed in an equal way when faced with the shock of dropping on an edge, while your typical aluminum/glass phone forces all that energy into the screen. In any case, mine never broke.
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I'm guessing that's a carrying case that doubles as a recharger - has a battery of its own that charges the tiny batteries in the earphones whenever you're not wearing them (of course, then you have to charge the box, too). Looks kinda bulky to carry in a pocket.

If you look at the video every person using them has that box around their neck on a lanyard or in their hand. Must be the noise cancelling component or something.

 

[s1m]

I do that every day, as the phone (iPod touch in my case) is in my pocket.

I think you intentionally missed my point - people complain that the BT range isnt enough for them to be able to move around separated from their phone - an act which is impossible with a wired connection - but continue to try and score petty points if you want.

I just want to provide accurate information based on having used wireless ear buds for the past six months.

 

[Foggydog]

Bluetooth kills sperm and you guys still want to use these things.

https://www.rfsafe.com/new-studies-...rm-cells-even-causes-erectile-dysfunction-ed/

 

[s1m]

These things are going to be falling out of peeps ears everywhere. Dropping in puddles, drinks and getting stepped on. I hope they are hardy products.

They don't fall out. In six months of use they have not fallen out once - not walking around, not sitting down, not on a plane and not on a train. I have even fallen asleep in bed with them in and have slept through the dogs banging on the laundry door where they sleep. Please only make statements of fact if you actually have the facts.

 

[Tompkinson]

BT radiation is probably somewhat low on the list of concerns in the big picture of cancer, but I'm not taking any more chances than necessary.

The problem is, we just don't know. I'm in the 'better safe than sorry' camp, especially when it's something pretty pointless.

But, that's different than having them in your ears all day while listening to music or whatever. And, I AM very concerned by how much I see people holding the phones to their ears.

Are you concerned at all by music in your ears all day and possible damage to hearing? There were discussions and warning about this a few years ago by world health org and others, I don't know what today's standpoint is. If you are the better-safe-than-sorry type: do you turn down the volume and take a 15 minute break every 45 mins - as was recommended a few years ago?
I get my ears tested annually, they're slightly worse every time, don't know whether this is due to headphone or playing in too loud bands when younger. probably a combination.

 

[CarlJ]

But hard to compare this against their push of the Lightning port on their own devices. What is the advantage of Lightning over microUSB or USB-C other than lock-in? Is there a power-saving advantage? Performance advantage? Flexibility advantage? Quality control advantage?

Lightning is worlds better than the 30-pin connector it replaced. And, sorry, but it's worlds better than MicroUSB - it's reversible, it's a better physical connection, and the pins are software reassignable - the device and the cable have a very short conversation every time power is applied, with the chip in the connector requesting that the device provide specific signals on specific pins. It was designed this way to be adaptable for anything that came up in the future (a different cable can request entirely different signals on the pins). The word at the time was, "the 30-pin connector lasted for the past ten years, and the Lightning connector is designed to last for the next ten years", and it was informed by everything they'd learnt dealing with the limitations of the 30-pin connector. Now, USB-C is a far better connector, and standard, than any of the previous USB designs. And it owes quite a bit to the Lightning connector. Apple had considerable input to the USB-C design, from what I've heard. It's not an Apple connector, it's the USB Consortium's, but it's better for Apple's influence. Now, if USB-C had existed when Apple decided they needed a new connector to replace the 30-pin connector, they probably would have just gone with that. It's a bit bigger, but it is fantastically capable.

Now Apple is in a situation where they can stay with their existing connector around which an substantial industry has sprung up, and for which there has been an expectation that it would be around a long time, or they could jump over to USB-C, which, sure, would make them look a bit bad, but more importantly would upset the industry built up around the Lightning connector - keep in mind this doesn't just mean cable makers: every case and stand designed to just barely fit the Lightning connector won't fit a USB-C connector. Telling millions of people, "your new phone is exactly the same dimensions as your old phone, but your case and your car mount won't work any more because you can't plug anything in now" wouldn't go over very well (remember the uproar when they switched away from the 30-pin connector?). The order in which events happened has left Apple a bit stuck, as far as connectors go. Unfortunate.

I'd love to see the iPhone switch to USB-C (despite having a bunch of Lightning cables I'd have to replace), but I don't expect them to make the change any time soon, given the reasoning above.

 

[s1m]

If you look at the video every person using them has that box around their neck on a lanyard or in their hand. Must be the noise cancelling component or something.

It is the carrying case that houses the charger (which needs to be connected to a power source to charge the headphones). I do not have anything like that for my Dash - and I am glad about that as they look stupid.
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Are you concerned at all by music in your ears all day and possible damage to hearing? There were discussions and warning about this a few years ago by world health org and others, I don't know what today's standpoint is. If you are the better-safe-than-sorry type: do you turn down the volume and take a 15 minute break every 45 mins - as was recommended a few years ago?
I get my ears tested annually, they're slightly worse every time, don't know whether this is due to headphone or playing in too loud bands when younger. probably a combination.

They Dash have an audio setting that previously would not allow the volume to be broadcast above a European standard that was deemed to be safe. At the request of some users that restriction has been removed and you get an audible warning when you get to the safe volume level. However the volume heard is dependent on the sound level of your music - I have some songs that I can barely hear at the safe level and some I listen to way below the safe level.

 

[Shirasaki]

We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent.

Yet they still makes their own decisions.

 

[s1m]

Well that is certainly a great feature, sound like a candidate for the Darwin Awards.

One guy is worried about his sperm count, the other delighted that he's oblivious to the bullets whizzing around him...

Are the snide comments really necessary. Should I go back to amend the post with a more factual - "I can't hear the screaming children, loud chattering people, blaring music from fashion stores and spruikers selling products over a microphone".

Could we get back to facts rather than point scoring and bolstering your own ego?

 

[newyorkone]

I think when Apple talks about the reasoning for removing the headphone jack, it will mainly be for waterproofing reasons. Samsung's implementation of "waterproof" smart devices has been hit or miss (i.e. half-baked)...

http://www.itechpost.com/articles/2...proof-test-phone-declared-more-vulnerable.htm

 

[Tompkinson]

Are the snide comments really necessary. Should I go back to amend the post with a more factual - "I can't hear the screaming children, loud chattering people, blaring music from fashion stores and spruikers selling products over a microphone".

Could we get back to facts rather than point scoring and bolstering your own ego?

Oh, don't so touchy, I wasn't criticising you personally, just a flippant observation on how quality is measured.
If you are so thin-skinned that you require an apology - here you go: I apologise.
Now remind me: which 'facts' is this forum concentrating on?
Or is it perhaps more a melange of rambling observations and personal points of view?
Have a nice evening, may your posts thrive without snide interjections!
Back to the facts!

 

[Shirasaki]

If wireless is really so much better than wired, why not just wait for it to naturally displace wired earphones?

See wifi, there is still a long way to go to "replace" wired Ethernet. Bluetooth goes out for over a year but still, niche market for music listening, and decent market for phone call purposes. Plus the price is generally higher than wired headphones. Good.

 

[Mac 128]

I think you intentionally missed my point - people complain that the BT range isnt enough for them to be able to move around separated from their phone - an act which is impossible with a wired connection - but continue to try and score petty points if you want.

Ha! Dragging around a 100 foot headphone cable is so 1970s.

I had one of those in the 80s, so I could watch TV late at night, and go to the kitchen and bathroom. I can't tell you how much stuff I got hung up on and knocked over doing that. One night someone knocked on the door unexpectedly and the dog ran through the house, got caught in the headphone wire, pulled the headphone off my head, and almost pulled the TV off the shelf.

Yup, that's so much better than BT. LOL

 

[PlainviewX]

Can you please explain how moving the D/A from inside the phone to the outside makes it 'with the times'? AFAIK, human ears are still analog.

Not sure what that has to do with what I posted?

 

[bbbb4b]

Have to admit, I have not had much interest in wireless earphones for an iPhone. But I took a look at the web site (both models) and I am (on the surface) pretty impressed. And I'm surprised at that.
Going to be very interesting to see where this all goes.
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Haven't Bluetooth headphones been around for years?

They've probably been around as long as Bluetooth has been around. But that doesn't really say very much.
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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.

Easy enough to find them again though.

 

[truthertech]

They don't fall out.

Good news. You can just use the new lightning equipped headphones they'll give you, like most people will do. Or you can put the adapter plug on whatever other set you want to use that don't currently have a lightning plug, and go on your way. It's a set and forget. Or you can stream to any device you want. The concern is greatly overblown.

 

[Shirasaki]

Such a shame that technology is becoming so disposable.

And so why scientists believe those enterprises care nothing about sustainability and human future.

 

[MaloCS]

kill you sperm! Kill your brain! Buy Bluetooth devices, it's the future!

That's extremely difficult to do in cases where the risk of induction is probably extremely low and the latency period is long. Are you also going to avoid environments with Wi-Fi and other RF radiation, not to mention exposure to carcinogens in your air, water, and food? I'm not saying that these things are risk-free, but they're nearly impossible to avoid.

YES! We all should demand adequate testing. You may be fine bring a test subject, I'm not.

 

[bbbb4b]

Bragi gets it. If Apple's Airpods have a fixed wire, they're severely behind the times.

Stupid. Apple is not going to include a $150 pair of earbuds with each phone.
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Not really. Humans are fallible, and some people have active, busy lifestyles with kids, pets and parties. Older people often have memory problems. Eyesight also deteriorates as we age which means it's easier to mislay things. We're not all ultra careful owners of our valuable items - even if we like to think we are...what are the chances one of these will pop out while jogging/in the pool/in the car. I'm also not buying your 'Mr I Never Lost Anything In My Life' line - sorry.

I think the greater point is, it's much more likely that one would lose their phone than earbuds. (and nobody squealing about that)
In any case, these will be much easier to find than, say, losing your wired earbuds.

 

[Shirasaki]

Glad you have it all figured out.

Never mind Apple's iPhone sales have fallen three quarters in a row after barely surpassing last year's sales, and they are losing iPhone market share worldwide, despite a global uptick in smartphone sales. And Apple is releasing only a conservative upgrade with few must have features. I'm sure that for all the customers who don't buy the new iPhone because it doesn't have a headphone jack, those adapters and headphones and license fees will make up for them and return them to profitability ... Of course the people most likely to need the adapters are the ones who probably won't buy it, so they're probably not going to make as much money either.

Too bad Apple doesn't have an entire accounting department or CEO who who understands this -- oh wait, they do. Not the most logical move if greed were their only motive.

And Chinese market will plummet again. I mean, sales will go down again at there. They are generally price sensitive, so persuading those guys to buy wireless EarPods is something they would not consider at the first time.