OMG Apple just invented wireless!

"Beats has also developed two new headphones running on the W1 chip. The AirPods will set users back $159, and they'll have to wait until late October to buy them. The new Beats headphones will also be out this fall, and range from $149 to $299"

Interesting:
"...you won’t be able to connect your favorite headphones to the next iPhone without an adapter (which will be included in the box, of course)."

http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/7/12813622/apple-keynote-2016-iphone-7-event-news-recap

 

Didn't @Bill-P have a passthrough USB dongle for his phone that allowed him to run a GOV2 and an external battery at the same time? Surely the same thing must exist for iPhones, so we can still charge and listen to the 3.5mm adapter simultaneously.

 

Yes, "surely"
Apple is all about adhering to standards and opening up their ecosystem...in an alternate universe where Wozniak won, and Apple went out of business in 1982.

 

Eh, I don't care about the Apple snark. I went down the Android rabbit hole more than once and never got the same quality of experience I had with Apple. There's no perfect phone or ecosystem out there. I accept the Apple compromises because for me they are more palatable than the Android/Google compromises.

Anyway, Apple has an MFI certification program. Has no one really used that to make a power passthrough USB adapter? If they haven't yet, I'm sure Belkin and Anker and the bazillion Chinese knockoff companies will be producing them soon.

 

According to the website, it seems to be bluetooth to the headphones and secret sauce between them. I think all non-chorded headphones are doing that, not just Apple. I think the W1 chip is just branding the controller every bluetooth headphone must have.

 

I never own an Android, but my roommate is using an Android phone. Everytime his phone acts weird (short battery life/unstable apps/slowdown/etc), I roll my eyes & say "told you.."

Apple closed & Android open ecosystems have pluses & minuses. Personally I don't bother being in a closed system as long as it can accommodate my needs & perform well.

Secret sauce: I'm not sure what it is about, but I'd bet that it's something with Bluetooth-Apple ID-devices code/security sharing. After you successfully pair AirPods to iPhone, every Apple devices you have (MacBook, iPad, Watch, iPod) are automatically paired with the AirPods. Or maybe more things....

W1: it isn't just "another Bluetooth controller". I believe that it controls the whole sensors (gyroscope, IR, microphone, speakers) to enable the advanced features (double tap to engage Siri, noise cancelling, automatic ON/resume, automatic L/R mono switch, etc). Of course they are unnecessary for general people, but they are cool stuffs for tech people (do we need smartwatches/VR googles/holo googles?)



I don't really understand much hate about ditching 3.5mm port. A adapter is included with every iPhone 7(s). OTOH, external DACs rely on Lightning & some even have ability to apply EQ via apps. Moreover, no one is forced to buy AirPods. Wireless for sports? Get a pair of Beats instead. AirPods aren't for sport. I think Apple is covering broad kind of people, from general user to techy people, with this approach.

I won't say Apple invented wireless; enhanced is more accurate.

 

The w1 manages a ton of "things", but still the airpods' super awesome features are only usable with a limited set of apple devices. In addition to making them completely unusable uninteresting for me personally, I think it's a shitty stupid move as I have lamented above.

Woah back! No need to start fanboy fights. We are talking about this product, not an indictment of all apple. All phones have tradeoffs. If someone really wants to dig in on that whole kerfuffle, I think we have a smartphone subforum somewhere in the "other shit" part of SBAF.

Speaking of, anyone actually plan on getting them? They will work with several existing models of iPhone...

EDIT: to reflect my misunderstanding that these could not function as general bluetooth headphones.

 

I had to get two iPhone 6 phones replaced because of severe battery drain issues. These are companies that sell millions of devices that are computers in the size of a flashcard, filled with complex code. Of course things are going to go wrong from time to time. I've been more satisfied with iPhones than with other smartphones, but that doesn't mean iPhones are perfect or never frustrating. They're simply the least frustrating phone I've found so far. If another company could beat out the iPhone in both quality of hardware and user experience, I'd be using that phone.

Fanboyism doesn't help anyone.

 

Nah, I have no intention to start a fight. Fanboys fight is just plain utter useless. Just responding to merrick

AirPods will work with non-Apple devices with limited features (which features will work, I don't know). https://www.buzzfeed.com/johnpaczko...headphone-jack?utm_term=.xjrEngjQG#.rggpaVoWl

I didn't say that all Android phones are crappy. My friend's phone is because it's stuck with Gingerbread (didn't get newer OS updates - discontinued support).

My constant problem with iPhones is shitty home buttons. I visited Apple store for at least 4 times because of loose home buttons on various models (5S, SE, 6S). Apple secretly acknowledges the problem by getting rid physical home button on iPhone 7. Late, but better than never.

Honestly, I'm considering OnePlus 3 as Android phone. Good hardware, reasonable price.

EDIT: some sources claim that AirPods connection is proprietary; others claim not. Apple only listed Apple devices in compatibility list. Whether "compatibility" means 100% functional or limited, and test them with non-Apple devices, guess we have to wait the reviews.

 

For the sake of iPhone users everywhere, I hope the new Home button doesn't go kaputz on them, like it has on every other iteration. All my friends' iPhones have that on-screen Home button enabled for fear of or because of the physical Home button failing.

 

Whisky Tango Foxtrot!

I am ditching my iPhone 4S anyway because I detest certain things Apple does and I really prefer cable over wireless.

 

Not defending Apple. The reason of sacrificing 3.5mm port is because space requirement for bigger camera modules (they had to move some parts under the camera on 6S to 3.5mm port on 7).

 

Wrong! according to this recode article: The instant/automatic pairing functions may not work, but it appears as if the airpods will work and act like normal bluetooth headphones and can be paired manually with non-Apple devices. With that said, I'm not sure why you'd want to use these with a non-Apple device, when there are plenty of other bluetooth earphone/headphone options available, many of which will most likely sound better than the airpods. And sound quality is why we are all on SBAF anyway, no?

 

Add the anti-false marketing sentiments. There is a reason why some people here go iFixit on audio gear just to measure performance...

 

I think you and I are on the same page. Except I'm thinking 5se. The 64gb is down to $449...

 

Touché apple. I will edit my posts accordingly when not on phone. The more baffling thing is that before making my assertion I read a couple trade pieces and went to the apple store page for these, and it is not at all clear you can use them like normal BT headphones with non apple devices. The "compatibility" section lists only recent iPhones, iPads and macs on Sierra. It's as if apple has taken the position "yeah you can, but why would you! *chortle chortle*"

 

My snark is lovingly intentioned. I do honestly believe that if they didn't have a closed ecosystem and strict adherence to a company "vision" that they would have folded years ago.

Same. If I wanted to spend all my time refining tools instead of using them, I'd run linux, build my own audio gear, and change my own oil. I'm an elitist academic yankee. I ain't got time for that.

Not that I've seen. There are some promising USB-C things that are made me consider a Macbook 12" (but I'm waiting for the new Pro), but I haven't seen anything lightning. I keep all my shit plugged in most of the time, so I'd really like some sort of lightning hub that would charge my iPad / iPhone, let me connect a DAC, maybe an external display, etc. I realize I should just stick with a computer. I'm both embracing the Apple ecosystem and sticking to my 1980s PC enthusiast streak simultaneously. I'm complex.

I've never had a problem with the home button, and I've had 10+ devices with them.

 

My Xperia Z3C was clearly ahead of its time. The headphone port disconnected itself from the main board (out of warranty, naturally), so I've been using a Bluetooth DAC (Sound Blaster E5) at work. If the iPhone 7 plays nice with that, I'm covered.

HF's idea of portable seems to be a brick of electronics rubber banded together, so maybe the future is a phone in one pocket and a DAC/amp in another.

 

Yep. Mine is starting to show its age. 6S should be cheaper now so I figure I'll make the upgrade and buy myself a couple years while they sort out all this wireless business and/or my Geek Wave arrives to function as USB OTG device. I do find some aspects of the new phone compelling (improved displays with DCI-P3 coverage, improved processor and GPU, general level of polish apparent) but for now I can pocket the extra $100 and save myself the headache of dealing with a Lightning dongle or shitty Bluetooth product while the market and Apple sort this out.