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Gurman: Higher-End AirPods to Launch in 2019, New HomePod and Over-Ear Headphones Also Likely Next Year

If Apple is going to make these things water resistant then they better devise some sort of way to keep them in our ears better.
 
Hey Apple, you really want to make AirPods high end?

Here's a feature: Create a Handoff feature for the AirPods to switch their connection between the iPhone and the Mac more seamlessly.
 
Apple’s decision to buy Beats is continuing to pay dividends and look like a genius move in retrospect. Not only did it get Apple a quick entry into the music streaming model with Apple Music, saving Apple’s plummeting influence that it held with iTunes for over a decade, it also gave us AirPods and HomePod and has paid for itself with continuous revenue from Beats’ own headphone and speaker business.

Rather than an increased price for the high end AirPods, it opens up the possibility for the existing AirPods to drop in price and/or to be included with iPhones rather than the Lightning EarPods.
 
It used to be that Apple added new features to a product but kept the price the same with each update. Now when they update a line with new features, they tend to charge extra for those new features. I like their old way better. Lol
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Rogifan said:
All of those new AirPods features should come to a second generation of AirPods without having to create another product line. It’s a natural progression of the product. Of course when the obsession is finding ways to get customers to spend more money then the solution is to create pro versions and charge more money for them. It’s one thing to do it with Macs and iOS devices, it’s stupid to do it with accessories.
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Exactly
 
Love the AirPods as does everyone I know who uses them. Better battery life or improved fit, sure, but not a deal breaker or reason to rush out and purchase new ones.

I don't see much value in a new HomePod. We really like ours, but what it needs is improved functionality through Siri, not a redesign.
 
i Bought the AirPods when they were first announced since i got tired of the wires of regular apple headphones. I fell in love with my AirPods on the first day, so easy to use and no more wires with totally okay sound for me. I have forgot to charge my case a few times and thats my only issue.

If they release a pro version with a small improvement in sound, battery wireless charging case, hello Siri and biometric sensor it will be an instant buy from my side.
 
calstanford said:
Everything with Apple is always next year next year. Airpods, Airpower, new Macbooks, new iPad, god forbid a Mac Pro or Mac Mini, etc etc
Only consistent thing they care about is the yearly iPhone release (with major new features always coming 'next year')
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I think it’s because the products are getting harder and harder to make such is the level of minituarization and functionality involved.

If you look back at the Apple of 10 years ago, what they’re doing now is way way harder than the products back then.

I think if we all had to go back to using the iPhone 3G and Phone OS 2 and OS X Leopard, we’d have a real shock!

We’d probably appreciate using the MP cheese grater though.

Of course, this doesn’t excuse Apple from announcing products way way before they are ready (HomePod & AirPower).

Nor does it include mistakes/shooting itself in the foot that Apple makes itself (current MBP).
 
I wish even cared about Apple rumors anymore..

"New HomePod"?

Add a 3.5mm in and normal BT connection option and open it up to more things and maybe I'll be interested, but even then it's too expensive (for me - not everyone - I realize that)

"Hey Siri" support on AirPods?

There simply couldn't be anything I want less than "more Siri", especially on AirPods (which I love!).
 
MacRumors said:


For the AirPods, next year's model is believed to be water resistant "to protect against rain and perspiration," which Bloomberg previously reported in February.

Article Link: Gurman: Higher-End AirPods to Launch in 2019, New HomePod and Over-Ear Headphones Also Likely Next Year
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I'm pretty sure they are already water resistant, even though they don't advertise it. I washed mine in the laundry, and they still work fine. I also dropped one of the airpods outside when it was raining and found it next to my car door, and it still works fine after being in the rain for hours. :) Or I'm just lucky. haha.
 
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TimmeyCook said:
What's "they don't have a good AI"?

The HomePod's AI is as good as any other in the market, and more secure for Home Automation, speaking of which, HomeKit simply kills Google and Amazons offerings, no chance.

For asking random questions, people don't do that, and it's better Siri silence than false information that Google's device says.
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You are wrong.
 
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Abazigal said:
...like that my are extremely portable...
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Mine, pronoun, used to refer to a thing or things belonging to or associated with the speaker. :rolleyes:
Abazigal said:
.. let's face it - the best sounding headphones is moot if they are so uncomfortable that I won't wear them.
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This is a fallacious argument, more specifically, Excluded Middle (False Dichotomy, Faulty Dilemma, Bifurcation): assuming there are only two alternatives when in fact there are more.

There are numerous examples of headphones that are both excellent "sounding" and comfortable. Hence, your implication that a consumer should be satisfied with one while sacrificing the other is disingenuous at best. ;)
 
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My prediction :)

New bionic Airpods

v07rocl21004.jpg
 
I would really appreciate if Apple could finally decide to build f*ing computers once in a while.

They are earnestly intent on descending to become a home entertainment company.
 
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macduke said:
If Apple is going to make these things water resistant then they better devise some sort of way to keep them in our ears better.
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Two things:

1.) I think AirPods are already underrated as they are when it comes to water resistance, many have use theirs in the rain, in the gym, etc without issue. Mainly because there is really isn’t many areas for the water to penetrate if they’re already inside your ear. And if they do get wet for any reason, I just wipe them down with a microfiber cloth and I never had issues. I think many will attest that the Airpods are fairly water resistant, but they don’t acquire the water resistant rating.

(Random Side Note: The AirPods make me think of the iPhone 6s, the 6s was not water resistant rated, but many found it to be fairly water resistant due to the adhesive, until Apple actually officially use the water resistance with the iPhone 7. )

2.) The more subjective thing about the AirPods is how they fit everyone differently. I find they fit me perfectly, but obviously that’s not everybody else’s experience. Its not possible to have AirPods to have fit one size, as there are alternatives for gel tips, etc. But I like not having the weight of the wires attached, which makes a significant difference in how light they feel inside your ear for longer periods of time.
 
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Fidgetyrat said:
I bought my wife a set of air pods and we love them. I, sadly, am way too large to use them and they don't stay in my ear at all. Most other ear buds offer silicone sizers, but due to the way the charging case is molded to the pods you can't charge them with sizers installed.

I'd love to get myself a set, but this one size fits few approach is not going to cut it.
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Waiting to see responses blaming the customer for not having the right anatomy to fit Apple devices. :D

Is it possible to make earphones where the outer diameter can be adjusted by turning the base, like a drill chuck?
 
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Relentless Power said:
Two things:

1.) I think AirPods are already underrated as they are when it comes to water resistance, many have use theirs in the rain, in the gym, etc without issue. Mainly because there is really isn’t many areas for the water to penetrate if they’re already inside your ear. And if they do get wet for any reason, I just wipe them down with a microfiber cloth and I never had issues. I think many will attest that the Airpods are fairly water resistant, but they don’t acquire the water resistant rating.

(Random Side Note: The AirPods make me think of the iPhone 6s, the 6s was not water resistant rated, but many found it to be fairly water resistant due to the adhesive, until Apple actually officially use the water resistance with the iPhone 7. )

2.) The more subjective thing about the AirPods is how they fit everyone differently. I find they fit me perfectly, but obviously that’s not everybody else’s experience. Its not possible to have AirPods to have fit one size, as there are alternatives for gel tips, etc. But I like not having the weight of the wires attached, which makes a significant difference in how light they feel inside your ear for longer periods of time.
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They remind me of the original Apple Watch which was also water proof but not really until Series 1/2 that have the swim mode that expels water. I've only worn my AirPods in sprinkles and once in moderate rain that caught me outside and they were fine. I often wear a sweat band because I sweat so much it's just streaming down my face and glasses in the summer (sexy I know) and it hasn't been a problem. However I do have a lot of problems with the fit and use dermatological adhesive strips designed to keep earbuds in the ears that I have to replace every 1-2 weeks, but you get hundreds in a pack (I cut them in half) so they last a long time. The downside is they start to look grody. I'd buy premium AirPods (AirPod Plus?) if they were specifically water proof, sounded even better, included the wireless charging case, but above all else supported some sort of tips or hook system. I've purchased some third party hooks but they wear out in just a couple weeks because you have to take them off each time you put them in the case to charge so they stretch and don't stay attached. It's also annoying to put on/remove and store them separately each time I'd love it if Apple would make a case that could fit such attachments, or allowed an MFi-like program for AirPod chargers to address this issue.

As an additional note, I'm curious as to whether Apple is just going to upgrade the existing AirPods or make two models. It would be neat if they kept the original model specs but dropped to $99-129 and made the premium ones $199-249. The AirPods are the surprise Apple product of the last several years for me that I absolutely use nearly every single day and really enjoy. I just hope a premium version would help out those of us who need tips or hooks because I'd pay for that alone easily.
 
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bbednarz said:
Yeah, because as a consumer why would I want more choices? Why does it bother people when a near trillion dollar company has a lot of SKUs? I dont understand that complaint, at all.
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Choices? Between douche and turd? LOL, what a 'choice.'

Come back when they have meaningful differences between products and not dumping outdated technology as a 'choice.'
 
I love the AirPods for certain activities ie around the house, popping them in for a call or podcasts in quiet environments. However, the complete absence of noise isolation, never mind cancellation, means for a lot of other activities I use other head/earphones. I don’t know how people use AirPods at the gym given you must have to turn up volume very high to hear anything, assuming your gym plays it’s own music.

I’m very pleased with the Libratone Track+ I got the other week. More in line with BeatsX, except IP4 water resistant and, impressively, 3 levels of noise cancellation. The NC isn’t as good as eg Bose QC35, but it’s very good indeed for the form factor. Battery life is the stated 8 hours with minimal NC, about 6 hours with max NC. More than enough for my daily usage anyway. Also, doesn’t have the stupidly long wire like the BeatsX, and stays connected to multiple devices eg iPad and iPhone, without the need to switch via the settings menu. The Beats earbud line would benefit from similar features.

Micro usb sadly, but fully charges in an hour.
 
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