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Next-Gen AirPods With 'Health Monitoring' Features Said to be Coming in First Half of 2019
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My problem with the NEW AirPods is the same as with the OLD AirPods... they don’t fit in my ears securely so I must wear some sort of cover for them. Easy enough. But to put the EarPods back into the charging case you have to remove the ear adapters. A case redesign should have been made. This is where all of the 3rd party true wireless earbud best Apple
DigiTimes reports today that Apple will release next-generation AirPods that include "health monitoring features" in the first half of 2019.
The mention appears in an article focusing on how wearables are expected to drive rigid-flex PCB market growth in 2019, but the report cites no sources for the AirPods rumor, and only mentions that Tiawan-based printed circuit board makers Zhen Ding Tech and Flexium Interconnect supply components for Apple Watch and AirPods "at the moment."
DigiTimes' sources often provide reliable information, but the site has a mixed track record when it comes to interpreting that information and accurately deciphering Apple's plans. The news site receives a flood of data from the Asian supply chain, some of which it claims pertains to prototypes or test products that never make it to market or change significantly before launch, skewing its accuracy.
With that in mind, and without corroborating sources, DigiTimes could be referring to a prediction from well-connected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that new AirPods with a wireless charging case would debut late in the fourth quarter of 2018 or early in the first quarter of 2019. Kuo later clarified that report to say that he expects new wireless AirPods in early 2019.
Listings for New AirPods were added to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group's regulatory database in November, suggesting a refreshed version of the accessory could well be coming soon. No new features are listed, but upcoming AirPods in the database do support the Bluetooth 5.0 specification, compared to Bluetooth 4.0 in the prior-generation AirPods.
Apple is also said working on third-generation AirPods that are set to be released in 2020 with a new design and perhaps improved water resistance that will allow the AirPods to hold up to "splashes of water and rain."
The AirPods aren't likely to be entirely water resistant, however, and won't be able to be submerged in liquid. These third-generation AirPods are also rumored to include noise cancellation features and increase the distance that AirPods can be listened to away from an iPhone or iPad.
Article Link: Next-Gen AirPods With 'Health Monitoring' Features Said to be Coming in First Half of 2019
They could drastically improve the sound quality. Right now they sound terrible.
The best thing Apple has made in years! its hard to imagine how their going to make them better but I am very excited! I use my gen1 Airpods as a Bluetooth gaming headset for my PC but unfortunately a limitation in the codec means that to use the mic simultaneously with the speakers the audio quality is downgraded and its mono not stereo.
The limitations is also present in IOS, you can't say listen to high quality music and record your voice at the same time, your phones microphone is used. I would love it if they found a workaround for this, simultaneous high quality input and output data transfer.
The limitations is also present in IOS, you can't say listen to high quality music and record your voice at the same time, your phones microphone is used. I would love it if they found a workaround for this, simultaneous high quality input and output data transfer.
That is my issue as well. If they made some sport-variant which grip better in-ear, I'd be sold.
I am currently using a Jabra Elite 65T Active - and so far it's been very good (and fits like a glove).
Wish they made some with silicone tips 
I hate the hard plastic ones
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I hate the hard plastic ones [doublepost=1548253320][/doublepost]
Me too!!!
I bought a pair of AirPods and I love them. I use them one at a time for phone calls and audio books and both at the same time when listening to music. They sound great and have survived several drops on the floor. The left earpiece seems to drain faster than the right one. Other than that, they have held up well under intense use of 12 to 16 hours a day. I will definitely buy the new ones when they are released.
I suppose it could monitor temperature, kind of like those infrared in-ear thermometers. Those kinds of thermometers usually require pulling the earlobe to get line-of-sight to the ear drum, but maybe Apple found a different way?
What other vitals could be measured?
Heart rate - probably not - that's already done by the watch...unless they want to entice people who want that feature but don't own a watch?
Blood pressure - I don't know if this is possible in the ear
Breathing - can this be measured indirectly through the ear?
Total sound/decibel exposure - "hearing health"; possible I suppose.
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I just got replacements gen 1 airpods because the right AirPod went dead and I wasn’t about to purchase a $80 AirPod for the other one to go out when I could just get a new pair for $160. But imo wireless charging doesn’t justify a new purchase. I rarely see myself saying I wish I could wireless charges these. In fact most charging happens in my car. A gen 3 redesign with noise canceling features would justify a new purchase.
Ahhh, good point! Something I hadn't actually considered regarding the Airpods.Wish they made some with silicone tips
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Me too!!!
All my in-ear headphones have silicone tips.
Although they must still be way better than the original Apple headphones which used to hurt my ears because of their shape.
I'll have to try out my EarPods (which I've never used) to see how comfortable they are.
For not being water resistant, they certainly hold up well enough to the stuff. I've put my AIrPods through the laundry with my jeans...
Twice...
And they still work fine.
Yeah mine went to the washer and it worked.
[doublepost=1548254896][/doublepost]how about battery life? How about colors?
What’s their expected longevity (battery)? Honest question. Anything less than 4 years of at least 2-3 hours charge is a fail imho. Would like to know, I may courageously consider a gen-1 set.
My many 10+ year old 1/8” jack earbuds continue to provide me faithful service, instant-on and with no charge hassle. Thus my continued ire of removing the jack and having to buy/wrangle/keep track of those @$!&?! lightning/jack adapters.
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Yes, unfortunately all the ones that sit in that part of the ear, just don’t work for me
Not really interested in "health monitoring features". Would not that require to have also an iPhone or Apple Watch? I have neither and I do not plan to buy any.
What about adding some touch controls on them? Like volume increase/decrease by sliding a finger on their surface. Unless I miss something, current AirPods do not have such functionality. Can anyone confirm?
What about adding some touch controls on them? Like volume increase/decrease by sliding a finger on their surface. Unless I miss something, current AirPods do not have such functionality. Can anyone confirm?
