Apple linked to 'AirPods,' unannounced iPhone & Apple Watch models in Eurasian regulatory filing

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware
A series of regulatory filings published by the Eurasian Economic Commission on Monday suggests Apple is readying a pair of wireless headphones dubbed "AirPods," two new iPhone models and a total of ten Apple Watch models.




Apple presumably tendered six notifications to the EEC last week, which were subsequently published in a regularly updated registry whose title roughly translates to the "Unified Registry of notifications concerning characteristics of encryption tools and products. Russian website Mobiltelefon.ru discovered the filings on Tuesday.

The EEC is the main regulatory body for the Eurasian Economic Union, which consists of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. A wide scope of policy issues fall under the EEC's purview, including trade, competition, energy, currency, transportation and, germane to today's findings, trademarks and patents.

Seen above, Apple gained "active" certification status for a wireless headphone product dubbed "AirPods" alongside three other models to be marketed under the Beats brand.

The AirPods moniker, thought to a be a cheeky take on Apple's EarPods headphones, first appeared in government recordsin 2015, but until today has not been linked directly to Apple. At the time, Entertainment in Flight applied for ownership of the mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

An amendment to the original application aroused suspicions, however, as the document carried the signature of a manager who seemed to have connections to Apple, suggesting the Cupertino tech giant had set up a shell company to keep the project secret.

AirPods intrigue sparked speculation that Apple was, in fact, preparing to release a set of branded wireless headphones to go along with its iPhone lineup. The AirPods rumors came amidst the first flurry of reports indicating Apple had plans to delete the venerable 3.5mm headphone jack from its upcoming "iPhone 7" design.

Some industry watchers believed Apple would bundle a pair of AirPods in each iPhone 7 package, or at least offer the device for sale as a first-party accessory. More recently, however, evidence of working Lightning EarPods made its way to the web, suggesting Apple might go that route instead.

As for the other EEC certifications, Apple is named in a notification covering smartphones designated A1778 and A1784, model numbers that follow Apple's numbering conventions but do not match any existing devices. Interestingly, the term "iOS software version 10" is appended to the entry, perhaps indicating that the named devices are variants of an iPhone expected to debut at a special event next week.

The EEC registry splits the ten assumed Apple Watch models into three different notifications for "Personal portable electronic devices." Again using an Apple-esque numbering scheme, models A1831, A1832, A1831 and A1834 are mentioned in one entry, while a second includes the numbers A1757, A1758, A1816 and A1817. A third notification contains designators A1802 and A1803.

Curiously, each of the three notifications refer to "watchOS software version 2," the current iteration of Apple's Watch operating system. Apple is working to release watchOS 3, the next-generation wearable OS announced at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Traditionally, Apple launches a fresh OS when it debuts a category flagship device, for example iPhone 7 and iOS 10. Considering watchOS 3 is slated for release this fall, it is unclear as to what devices the EEC documents refer.

The latest next-gen Apple Watch scuttlebutt points to at least two separate models set for release later this year.

According to well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the first version will contain minor internal enhancements like an improved TSMC processor built on the 16nm process and slightly improved waterproofing. The second "Apple Watch 2" version is also expected to share a design similar to current models, but will include a GPS radio, barometer and higher capacity battery.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    If Apple included such bluetooth AirPods in the iPhone box that would really make people less annoyed with the removal of the headphone jack. It would also make it more alluring to upgrade for people still on the fence (because, you know, 'boring'). Sadly, I don't see that coming, though. I think Apple will only bundle a pair of Lightning EarPods and maybe a 3.5 mm jack adapter. I would be really pleased if they decided to surprise us with a pair of wireless earbuds bundled (oh, well. One can dream!)
    ronn
  • Reply 2 of 7
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    chazbcn said:
    If Apple included such bluetooth AirPods in the iPhone box that would really make people less annoyed with the removal of the headphone jack. It would also make it more alluring to upgrade for people still on the fence (because, you know, 'boring'). Sadly, I don't see that coming, though. I think Apple will only bundle a pair of Lightning EarPods and maybe a 3.5 mm jack adapter. I would be really pleased if they decided to surprise us with a pair of wireless earbuds bundled (oh, well. One can dream!)
    Lightning EarPods yes. 3.5mm adapter, no. That would defeat the entire purpose of ditching the earphone jack. A 3.5mm adapter will be available but it will not be included and will not be free.

    As for the change itself we will just have to wait and see. Samsung decided to follow Apple by sealing in the battery of their flagship and removing the SD card slot. Fans were apoplectic and screamed bloody murder. I’m not sure but I think the SD card slot is back but not the replaceable battery.
    edited August 2016 TurboPGT
  • Reply 3 of 7
    lkrupp said:
    chazbcn said:
    If Apple included such bluetooth AirPods in the iPhone box that would really make people less annoyed with the removal of the headphone jack. It would also make it more alluring to upgrade for people still on the fence (because, you know, 'boring'). Sadly, I don't see that coming, though. I think Apple will only bundle a pair of Lightning EarPods and maybe a 3.5 mm jack adapter. I would be really pleased if they decided to surprise us with a pair of wireless earbuds bundled (oh, well. One can dream!)
    Lightning EarPods yes. 3.5mm adapter, no. That would defeat the entire purpose of ditching the earphone jack. A 3.5mm adapter will be available but it will not be included and will not be free.
    Lightning in the box so they can upsell you on wireless and overcharge for a stupid adapter. Only question is how will Schiller be able to spin the Lightning headphones as better than current headphones? Especially if you no longer can use headphones and charge the device at the same time. A lot of people do that, I know I do.
  • Reply 4 of 7
    lkrupp said:
    chazbcn said:
    If Apple included such bluetooth AirPods in the iPhone box that would really make people less annoyed with the removal of the headphone jack. It would also make it more alluring to upgrade for people still on the fence (because, you know, 'boring'). Sadly, I don't see that coming, though. I think Apple will only bundle a pair of Lightning EarPods and maybe a 3.5 mm jack adapter. I would be really pleased if they decided to surprise us with a pair of wireless earbuds bundled (oh, well. One can dream!)
    Lightning EarPods yes. 3.5mm adapter, no. That would defeat the entire purpose of ditching the earphone jack. A 3.5mm adapter will be available but it will not be included and will not be free.
    Lightning in the box so they can upsell you on wireless and overcharge for a stupid adapter. Only question is how will Schiller be able to spin the Lightning headphones as better than current headphones? Especially if you no longer can use headphones and charge the device at the same time. A lot of people do that, I know I do.
    No one cares about anything of this. Lightning in the box because thats all they've ever included, and ever needed to include: headphones for the iPhone.

    Get over. No one cares about your headphone collection.
    nolamacguy
  • Reply 5 of 7
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    lkrupp said:
    chazbcn said:
    If Apple included such bluetooth AirPods in the iPhone box that would really make people less annoyed with the removal of the headphone jack. It would also make it more alluring to upgrade for people still on the fence (because, you know, 'boring'). Sadly, I don't see that coming, though. I think Apple will only bundle a pair of Lightning EarPods and maybe a 3.5 mm jack adapter. I would be really pleased if they decided to surprise us with a pair of wireless earbuds bundled (oh, well. One can dream!)
    Lightning EarPods yes. 3.5mm adapter, no. That would defeat the entire purpose of ditching the earphone jack. A 3.5mm adapter will be available but it will not be included and will not be free.
    Lightning in the box so they can upsell you on wireless and overcharge for a stupid adapter. Only question is how will Schiller be able to spin the Lightning headphones as better than current headphones? Especially if you no longer can use headphones and charge the device at the same time. A lot of people do that, I know I do.
    Once again your complete lack of imagination is astounding.

    Exactly why won't you be able to charge your iPhone while listening if they include Lightning headphones in the box? A simple charging cable with Lightning passthrough plug is all that would be necessary.
    edited August 2016 TurboPGTnolamacguy
  • Reply 6 of 7
    nolamacguynolamacguy Posts: 4,758member
    lkrupp said:
    chazbcn said:
    If Apple included such bluetooth AirPods in the iPhone box that would really make people less annoyed with the removal of the headphone jack. It would also make it more alluring to upgrade for people still on the fence (because, you know, 'boring'). Sadly, I don't see that coming, though. I think Apple will only bundle a pair of Lightning EarPods and maybe a 3.5 mm jack adapter. I would be really pleased if they decided to surprise us with a pair of wireless earbuds bundled (oh, well. One can dream!)
    Lightning EarPods yes. 3.5mm adapter, no. That would defeat the entire purpose of ditching the earphone jack. A 3.5mm adapter will be available but it will not be included and will not be free.
    Lightning in the box so they can upsell you on wireless and overcharge for a stupid adapter. Only question is how will Schiller be able to spin the Lightning headphones as better than current headphones? Especially if you no longer can use headphones and charge the device at the same time. A lot of people do that, I know I do.
    again with your complaint of capitalistic corporations charging money for things...the nerve!

    its real simple. if your needs are like most people's needs, use the wired thing in the box as people have done for almost 10 years now. end of suffering. if your needs are such that you prefer wireless, buy the more expensive wireless thing and give the wired ones to your mom. end of suffering. 

    in no version of our current reality, are you entitled to the more costly item for free. 
    edited August 2016 badmonk
  • Reply 7 of 7

    There was a time long back, when I was holding off buying a MBP thinking the next version may have a Blu-ray drive. I got over that pretty soon.

    This time around, this is a complete non-issue for me. I have a pair of Beats Solo Wireless in Space Grey and a pair of PowerBeats2. It's been ages since I used the headphone jack. And I have not removed the earphones packaged with the iPhone since the 4S. They are all sitting neatly in their iPhone boxes still.

    Unlike Blu-ray, the headphone jack isn't a "bundle of hurt" so I know that Apple wouldn't remove it unless they thought it was for the best.

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