Roundup: AirPower Removed From AirPods Page, AirPods 3 Possibly 2020, iOS 12.2 Arrives Next Week, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple today unveiled second-generation AirPods with a new H1 chip that enables hands-free Siri and up to an extra hour of talk time, and there are a handful of details worth mentioning surrounding the announcement.

Apple removed this AirPower image from its AirPods page today​

Five thoughts:The new AirPods require iOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2, or macOS 10.14.4 and later, which are all currently in beta testing. With the new AirPods arriving to customers early next week, this means the software updates should be publicly released on or around March 25 event day.
Apple removed an image of its AirPower wireless charging mat from its AirPods page today. However, many sources believe the AirPower is coming soon. Apple announced new iPads on Monday, new iMacs on Tuesday, and new AirPods on Wednesday, so it is possible the AirPower could follow on Thursday or Friday, but no reliable rumors have indicated that will be the case.
Apple has discontinued the original AirPods. The new lineup includes the second-generation AirPods paired with either a wired charging case for $159 or with a wireless charging case for $199. The wireless case is also sold separately for $79 and is compatible with the original AirPods.
According to Mark Gurman, these AirPods were initially planned to go on sale last year. As he has previously reported, Gurman says Apple is working on a subsequent pair of AirPods with noise cancellation and water resistance that were originally planned for release later this year, but he now speculates that they could arrive in 2020.
MacRumors received a tip earlier this month claiming that Apple would announce new iPads, iMacs, and iPods on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, and while most of this information proved to be accurate, new AirPods ended up arriving on Wednesday instead of a new iPod touch. Multiple sources still expect a new iPod touch, but announcement timing is unclear.For more details about the new AirPods, read our earlier coverage of the announcement.

Article Link: Roundup: AirPower Removed From AirPods Page, AirPods 3 Possibly 2020, iOS 12.2 Arrives Next Week, and More

 

[Oohara]

They should just change the name to AirUnicorn.

 

[willzyx]

So they really couldn't figure out how to make AirPower work. lol. Dead Before Arrival.

 

[immortalwind]

So much hype for a charger.. It's just a charger you guys!!

 

[AngerDanger]

• Apple removed an image of its AirPower wireless charging mat from its AirPods page today. However, many sources believe the AirPower is coming soon. Apple announced new iPads on Monday, new iMacs on Tuesday, and new AirPods on Wednesday, so it is possible the AirPowercould follow on Thursday or Friday, but no reliable rumors have indicated that will be the case.

To me, this can only mean one thing: AirPower is coming but looks very different from original depictions.

It's the only way they could get it to work.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I still think we are getting iPods and AirPower on Thursday and Friday. Guess we will see.

 

[oneMadRssn]

If the new AirPods look the same as the old AirPods, how are people with old AirPods supposed to know that I'm better than them when I buy the new AirPods?

 

[StellarVixen]

Has there ever been this much drama about any other Apple product?

I mean, this is becoming absurd.

 

[Ballis]

Air Nukem

 

[JohnDoe98]

So they really couldn't figure out how to make AirPower work. lol. Dead Before Arrival.

Sure looks that way, but then Apple should do the grown up thing and just come out and say it already. The project was a bust and abandoned. No shame in being honest, plenty of shame in pretending they never announced it.

 

[fumi2014]

It could just be that the final product looks significantly different after all this time.
I guess we will see soon enough.

 

[WiseAJ]

Looks like they mixed up new iPods with new AirPods, still a "Pod" product

 

[69Mustang]

If the new AirPods look the same as the old AirPods, how are people with old AirPods supposed to know that I'm better than them when I buy the new AirPods?

Do what I do. Walk around in buttless chaps and roller skates. Don't forget to hold your head high. That really sells the superiority aspects of the outfit.

 

[brendu]

A very rare case of Apple vapor ware. I hope they learned their lesson.

 

[Nautilus007]

To me, this can only mean one thing: AirPower is coming but looks very different from original depictions.

I would love for it to be able to sit upright....

 

[Nozuka]

Or they just made the AirPod page from scratch and removed the AirPower, because they knew they will announce it a day later. I'm actually surprised they left it there for so long.

 

[Scooz]

Slap in the face with a charging mat. That‘s innovation.

 

[69Mustang]

To me, this can only mean one thing: AirPower is coming but looks very different from original depictions.

Yeah, I think it may arrive with scaled back capabilities. At this point I just want them to say something, release something, or drop the idea altogether. Poop or get off the pot.

 

[lunarworks]

Has there ever been this much drama about any other Apple product?

Mac Pro

 

[alexandr]

they probably rebranded it. it may be called AirThunder or AirRainbow or AirBeacon or AirBACON!!!

 

[millerlite]

AirPower sucks. It's worse than a wired charger. How? Because you can't pick up your phone/air pods/watch without the device's stop getting a charge. When I pick up a phone that's being charged with a wired charger, as long as I don't unplug it, it keeps charging. I can use my phone in bed overnight and it won't stop charging when I do so.

 

[David1964]

It could just be that the final product looks significantly different after all this time.
I guess we will see soon enough.

How ‘different’ can a charging mat look?

 

[oneMadRssn]

Do what I do. Walk around in buttless chaps and roller skates. Don't forget to hold your head high. That really sells the superiority aspects of the outfit.

Hmm, I'll give that a try. Which new Apple product should be inserted into my butt?

 

[psac]

Hmm, I'll give that a try. Which new Apple product should be inserted into my butt?

12.9" iPad Pro of course.

 

[Packdude]

...When I pick up a phone that's being charged with a wired charger, as long as I don't unplug it, it keeps charging. I can use my phone in bed overnight and it won't stop charging when I do so.

Just because wireless charging doesn't work for you doesn't mean that it sucks. I love being able to get in bed and just lay my phone down or pick it up without worrying about plugging/unplugging. Even more so, I love being able to move my phone in and out of the charger in my car without having to plug/unplug. I still have cables available on the off chance that I need to charge and use my phone at the same time, but that hasn't come up in the months since I bought my XS Max and I doubt that it ever will. YMMV
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How ‘different’ can a charging mat look?

It could be round, square, etc., versus the rectangular oval they were advertising. Could be a totally different design, as someone else suggested (i.e. not a mat). Not a big deal for me, since I currently just have the iPhone and even though I'm hoping to purchase the 2nd Gen AirPods soon, the AirPower mat would probably not be of use to me.