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Would you find apple watch even more useful with the air pods?

The Game 161

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
31,397
20,651
UK
For me when my watch was acting up yesterday before I unpaired it and now works good. The issue was considering I’m getting the air pods how much easier it will be to control things with my apple watch for music and even podcasts. I certainly wouldn’t use the siri controls that much if there’s people around least with the apple watch I think this will be a perfect combo. Big plus of course of the air pods is no wire issues but least it will be nice not to need any use of my phone in my hand when travelling/walking.
 
I use bluetooth headphones with my watch and iPhone quite often. Most of the time probably for listening to podcasts, and I find I almost always use the watch for controlling playback.

I think AirPods will be nice in that with the W1 they will seamlessly switch between devices.
 
The airpods are meant to have the same sound quality as the earpods (rubbish) so they're a no for me. But I do like Apple's implementation of the W1 chip for easier BT connection (although obviously I haven't tried them out). I have 2 sets of in-ear BT phones: some Sonys and B & O Play H5 which sound very good, especially the B & O.

And I own a pair of Sennheisser over ear PXC-550 headphones with the capacitive touch ear panel which are great. Wireless really is the future.
 
Ffosse said:
The airpods are meant to have the same sound quality as the earpods (rubbish) so they're a no for me. But I do like Apple's implementation of the W1 chip for easier BT connection (although obviously I haven't tried them out). I have 2 sets of in-ear BT phones: some Sonys and B & O Play H5 which sound very good, especially the B & O.

And I own a pair of Sennheisser over ear PXC-550 headphones with the capacitive touch ear panel which are great. Wireless really is the future.
Click to expand...

To be fair though, it's not exactly hard to pair without the W1 chip, bit of a gimmick if you ask me.

Totally agree that they'll sound pants for people that actually value sound quality. B&W P7 Wireless all the way for a decent sounding pair of bluetooth headphones.

B&O H5 sounded too bright for me personally even after maxing out the warm setting on the app, they also didn't stay in my ears. I'm still trying to find a decent pair of in ear bluetooth headphones, but they're pretty hard to find. No, I don't fall for the marketing of Bose or Beats.
 
Yeah the H5 are a tad bright but I found a setting I like on the app.

I really love my Sennheisers - it seems they crammed just about everything into them. And I appreciate 20 to 30 hour battery life versus the 5 hours the H5 get. Charging the latter is cool, though.
 
Ffosse said:
Yeah the H5 are a tad bright but I found a setting I like on the app.

I really love my Sennheisers - it seems they crammed just about everything into them. And I appreciate 20 to 30 battery life versus the 5 hours the H5 get. Charging the latter is cool, though.
Click to expand...

The charging cube is pretty cool, have to say!
 
The Game 161 said:
Big plus of course of the air pods is no wire issues but least it will be nice not to need any use of my phone in my hand when travelling/walking.
Click to expand...

I've been using Bluetooth headphones with my Apple Watch for awhile now. I have the Phiaton BT 220 NC and Parrot Zik 2s... that I use between my Mac, iPad, iPhone & Apple Watch.

My only complaint with the Apple Watch in regards to Bluetooth discussion is the ability to disconnect the device. As of now the only option it gives is "forget device." For which nearly all of Apple Devices now have the ability to disconnect device except the Apple Watch.
 
abdulkar.im said:
To be fair though, it's not exactly hard to pair without the W1 chip, bit of a gimmick if you ask me.

Totally agree that they'll sound pants for people that actually value sound quality. B&W P7 Wireless all the way for a decent sounding pair of bluetooth headphones.

B&O H5 sounded too bright for me personally even after maxing out the warm setting on the app, they also didn't stay in my ears. I'm still trying to find a decent pair of in ear bluetooth headphones, but they're pretty hard to find. No, I don't fall for the marketing of Bose or Beats.
Click to expand...

Yes there is a dearth of good in-ear BT phones....I searched everywhere online and in B & M stores before I bought the H5. I consider them the best I could get but still with a few flaws.
 
I can't say I'm a huge fan of the Apple EarPods design. Which is sad because I am usually a big fan of Apple designed products.

They look a bit strange to me and I know that the regular Apple buds fall out of MY ears very easily so these pods aren't that appealing.

I have a pair of beats Bluetooth in-ear headphones (sport model with the loop that goes over the ears) and they stay in place and sound good enough for me. (Yes I know beats "suck" and are overpriced)

For running and the gym the EarPods just don't seem practical enough.
 
Personally, I just couldn't spend £159 on earphones that sound awful. I gave away the ones that came with my iPhone 7.
 
profets said:
I use bluetooth headphones with my watch and iPhone quite often. Most of the time probably for listening to podcasts, and I find I almost always use the watch for controlling playback.

I think AirPods will be nice in that with the W1 they will seamlessly switch between devices.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The W1 chip will be a huge Convenience factor for alternating between devices.
 
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right now i don't use my watch for music at all as i always have my phone with me. in the future, i'm unlikely to buy airpods but i may get myself some powerbeats 3s to replace my powerbeats 2s... same convenience of the W1 chip.
 
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Looking forward to recieve my airpods in a couple of days, and yes, I expect i'll use my watch even more now as my "now playing" controller.

But I would love to use it even more as a audio source if only 3. Party apps would step up and offer wireless music and podcast sync to the watch for untethered use :)
I HATE apple's own music app and the way you offline sync music to your phone (1998 anyone?). So I use PLEX instead because of it's easy wireless sync - but there's no apple watch app/sync available.
Dont get me started on the watch not handling podcasts at all :)

About the airpods:
I don't know what apple was thinking with "siri only" controls on the airpods??? Chessus what a great example of feature/design over function. Who want's to Doubletap, talk, wait and wait for Siri over and over to find tracks or adjust volume? They must have been smoking something heavy the day they decided this.
 
Der Keyser said:
Looking forward to recieve my airpods in a couple of days, and yes, I expect i'll use my watch even more now as my "now playing" controller.

But I would love to use it even more as a audio source if only 3. Party apps would step up and offer wireless music and podcast sync to the watch for untethered use :)
I HATE apple's own music app and the way you offline sync music to your phone (1998 anyone?). So I use PLEX instead because of it's easy wireless sync - but there's no apple watch app/sync available.
Dont get me started on the watch not handling podcasts at all :)

About the airpods:
I don't know what apple was thinking with "siri only" controls on the airpods??? Chessus what a great example of feature/design over function. Who want's to Doubletap, talk, wait and wait for Siri over and over to find tracks or adjust volume? They must have been smoking something heavy the day they decided this.
Click to expand...

Honest question - how would you go about implementing physical controls on the AirPods for changing tracks and volume in a reliable way? I see many complain about it, but never any thoughtful alternative to it.
 
I find that quite easy using the built in accelerometers (used for tapping).
Simply differentiate between right an left
Fx:
On tap right = volume up
Two taps right = next track
On tap left = volume down
Two taps let = previous track

Perhaps a firmware update would allow for such usage instead of activating siri. Pause and stop is already done by removing a airpod from your ear.
 
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Der Keyser said:
I find that quite easy using the built in accelerometers (used for tapping).
Simply differentiate between right an left
Fx:
On tap right = volume up
Two taps right = next track
On tap left = volume down
Two taps let = previous track

Perhaps a firmware update would allow for such usage instead of activating siri. Pause and stop is already done by removing a airpod from your ear.
Click to expand...

Good thought. The only issue is when using a single AirPod.

Also I believe they let you choose between Siri and Play/Pause in the settings.

Actually double tap is for Siri or Play/Pause. What does single tap do?
 
profets said:
Good thought. The only issue is when using a single AirPod.

Also I believe they let you choose between Siri and Play/Pause in the settings.

Actually double tap is for Siri or Play/Pause. What does single tap do?
Click to expand...

Thanks, and yeah, single ipod usage would be a little restricted... :)
Maybe a solution measuring the time between taps then?
One tap = play/pause
Two taps fast = vol up
Two taps slow = vol down
Three taps fast = next
Three taps slow = previous.

I don't think single tap has any features right now.
 
Der Keyser said:
Thanks, and yeah, single ipod usage would be a little restricted... :)
Maybe a solution measuring the time between taps then?
One tap = play/pause
Two taps fast = vol up
Two taps slow = vol down
Three taps fast = next
Three taps slow = previous.

I don't think single tap has any features right now.
Click to expand...

That's funny how they have double tap and they let you choose whether it invokes Siri or acts as play/pause, yet they don't enable single tap. I'd imagine they've been testing out different options. Maybe they've had usability issues with single taps occurring when adjusting the pods or something.
 
I suspect a single tap is not used as an actionable command because it could too easily happen by accident. A double tap is a much more deliberate action so less likely to be triggered without it being intended.
 
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KennethS said:
I suspect a single tap is not used as an actionable command because it could too easily happen by accident. A double tap is a much more deliberate action so less likely to be triggered without it being intended.
Click to expand...

Yeah that sound plausible. I would imagine though that one could separate a lot of these issues by requiring a slightly more "powerfull" tap, but that's just guessing :)
 
abdulkar.im said:
They are not exactly audiophiles are they. Check out Head-Fi Forum or other reputable sites.

Anyway, people are entitled to their own opinion, just because it doesn't agree with yours doesn't mean it's wrong.
Click to expand...
I'd have to say that audiophiles are a lot like wine connoisseurs. Sure they appreciate the fine distinction and subtleties of different and expensive wines ... but for the average person they will be just as happy (or more so even) with a $15 dollar bottle of wine that is popular/recommended.

For most of us the regular headphones are certainly more than "good enough" for our needs.

I am usually listening to music while running/working out and/or shovelling snow this time of year. High end audio isn't really needed for those activities
 
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profets said:
That's funny how they have double tap and they let you choose whether it invokes Siri or acts as play/pause, yet they don't enable single tap. I'd imagine they've been testing out different options. Maybe they've had usability issues with single taps occurring when adjusting the pods or something.
Click to expand...
Der Keyser said:
I find that quite easy using the built in accelerometers (used for tapping).
Simply differentiate between right an left
Fx:
On tap right = volume up
Two taps right = next track
On tap left = volume down
Two taps let = previous track

Perhaps a firmware update would allow for such usage instead of activating siri. Pause and stop is already done by removing a airpod from your ear.
Click to expand...
It's probably do-able. Bragi Dash already has a similar scheme with tons of commands, but I found it too complicated to be useful. It reminded me of morse code. You need a really good memory and good tapping skills:

Touch-controls---ALL.png


And I kept triggering random commands whenever I simply adjusted the units in my ears. It was then a pain undoing those commands (assuming I knew what they were in the first place and what tap sequence was needed to undo it). Exasperating to say the least.
 
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