Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
They're still ugly IMO, but at least Apple is perfecting their product rather than releasing a product pre-maturely (like Samsung and Microsoft love to do). Unless they just f*cked up, in which case, shame on Apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nazaar and mkeeley
Basically, the odds of them being out and about by Christmas - possible.

It is possible that AirPods will be out by Christmas.
You literally just stated the same as me but in reverse.

"Slim-to-none" does not equal "impossible".
 
Another Apple fail. Anyone else remember the days when Steve used to announce something and you could buy or at least order it when the Apple store came back up after the keynote?

I feel that every time they announce something now it's delayed longer and longer. Order in a few weeks for delivery weeks after. The new iPhones and Macbook Pros are 2-3 weeks delivery for many configs. The TV app was "coming later this year" or words to that effect (and it's still uninspiring despite the delay).

I'm starting to think it's a combination of jumping the gun, rushing things to market, losing their grip on quality and Tim trying to keep inventory close to zero instead of meeting demand.

Just keep these things under wraps until they are ready.
 
Seriously? If this is what you deem "incredibly rude", you must not spend much time on the internet.
Why is it ok because everyone else is more rude "on the internet?" If someone talked to me like that in person, I'd laugh in their face and walk away.

"Give us the release date". The entire tone of the message was rude and childish.

I want these earphones as much as anyone, but emailing the CEO and demanding a release date lets us know that guy is very self entitled. There is a much more professional way to address these concerns directly to the CEO (if you think that's a good way to do it), and he chose not to.
 
I can't say about everyone, but I'm definitely going to place an order as soon as I can.
Hopefully will get them by Jan 2017 at the least.

I'm actually excited about this product, a long overdue for an Apple product in 'bout two years! :)
 
Why is it ok because everyone else is more rude "on the internet?" If someone talked to me like that in person, I'd laugh in their face and walk away.

"Give us the release date". The entire tone of the message was rude and childish.

I want these earphones as much as anyone, but emailing the CEO and demanding a release date lets us know that guy is very self entitled. There is a much more professional way to address these concerns directly to the CEO (if you think that's a good way to do it), and he chose not to.

Have you ever wrote or received a note from someone who's paygrade is way above yours? That email was not rude, it was direct. Let me break it down for you:

Give us a release date. --> The question/request.

I really bought in to the wireless vision you painted. Now I'm stuck waiting with my EarPods but can't charge my 7 at the same time which I need to do at work. --> The reason for the request, both in terms of needs and frustration/satisfaction.

Let us know if it's a month or 6 months, because then I'll just buy some other wireless headphones. --> Reiteration of the question/request, with possible workaround for the person posing the question.
 
Pathetic. He also said they'd be available October 30th as well, and that was about 3-4 weeks before, just like now. If a CEO of a company doesn't have a grasp on a product that he announces to the media will ship on a specific date when that date is only 30 days out, it's a troubling sign. Products go through testing then manufacturing months in advance of a ship date, so to say "They'll be shipping in 30 days" and then almost 3 months pass without any update, something seriously went wrong. It's clear Apple's management is on the wrong track. Style over function nor function over style has never been Apple. It's always been a synergy between style and function. The products lately have been shirting that mantra now for several years, and that sort of behavior is what dooms companies. Look at Best Buy, look at Blackberry... they turned their backs to customer trends and it spelled disaster.
 
Another Apple fail. Anyone else remember the days when Steve used to announce something and you could buy or at least order it when the Apple store came back up after the keynote?

I feel that every time they announce something now it's delayed longer and longer. Order in a few weeks for delivery weeks after. The new iPhones and Macbook Pros are 2-3 weeks delivery for many configs. The TV app was "coming later this year" or words to that effect (and it's still uninspiring despite the delay).

I'm starting to think it's a combination of jumping the gun, rushing things to market, losing their grip on quality and Tim trying to keep inventory close to zero instead of meeting demand.

Just keep these things under wraps until they are ready.

Well, the original iPhone was announced in January and didn't ship until June.
 
  • Like
Reactions: alecgold
If you write to Apple's CEO (or MS or any big corp or government agency) you don't exchange pleasantries. A CEO skims through the emails that are passed to him by his staff... You have to be as direct as possible; the CEO's time is very valuable both in term of money and needs. Not filling the email with crap is actually a form of respect.
That email was not rude, it was direct.

Perhaps. But the E-mail lacked decorum in the least. And when you address a CEO or any superior for that matter, this was not respectful. Firm and subjective? Sure...But I can tell you, If I addressed my Superiors this way in an E-mail, you would be receiving a direct phone call for a one on one meeting. And that's not a room I would want to be sitting in.
 
How was it rude? Apple has been terrible recently at shipping products. They "underestimated" iPhone demand and many got their phones a month or more after launch, AirPods are still not out, MacBooks took a month to ship. When people want to pay Apple for their shiny new products and the company simply doesn't deliver per expectations, it makes sense to be upset, frustrated, and show it.

Why would you expect people to be nice and understanding about it? Apple should know better.

I didn't say or imply that customers should not feel or express frustration, or that they should be understanding. But it's not difficult to express those things politely.
 
The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.
I didn't see any rudeness in the customer's email. I saw someone getting to the point. It's something I can appreciate. As stated, Tim sold a vision. As of yet, he hasn't delivered on that vision. If the product has issues, just say so. Push a new release date of Q2 and keep it moving. If it's ready before then, great. Under promise and over deliver. Maps should have taught Tim that vital lesson.

Apple should take it's own advice and put on it's big boy pants. If it can't deliver on it's promises in a reasonable timeframe, just say so.
 
Perhaps. But the E-mail lacked decorum in the least. And when you address a CEO or any superior for that matter, this was not respectful. Firm and subjective? Sure...But I can tell you, If I addressed my Superiors this way in an E-mail, you would be receiving a direct phone call for a one on one meeting. And that's not a room I would want to be sitting in.

You're not in the condition to initiate a direct conversation with your superiors. You are paid by them and trade your services for the greenbacks. In this case, the customer pays Cook's company.
If your superiors (at CEO/CFO/CIO level) initiate the discussion it's not going to be a "Dear friend Relentless Power, can you please do X Y and Z, we appreciate you? HAve a wonderful day". It's going to be: "RP - We need X Y and Z by EOD." And your reply will be: "Superior - X and Y have been completed. Z is waiting on vendor PO 13831. RP."
 
Another Apple fail. Anyone else remember the days when Steve used to announce something and you could buy or at least order it when the Apple store came back up after the keynote?

I feel that every time they announce something now it's delayed longer and longer. Order in a few weeks for delivery weeks after. The new iPhones and Macbook Pros are 2-3 weeks delivery for many configs. The TV app was "coming later this year" or words to that effect (and it's still uninspiring despite the delay).

I'm starting to think it's a combination of jumping the gun, rushing things to market, losing their grip on quality and Tim trying to keep inventory close to zero instead of meeting demand.

Just keep these things under wraps until they are ready.

Remember the white iPhone 4?
 
Well, the original iPhone was announced in January and didn't ship until June.
There was a reason for that. Certain FCC filings had to be done and that would have given out the info earlier and given Google enough time to rework their upcoming release. So Steve was just beating everyone to the punch.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: aylk and Aldaris
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.