Inside iOS 11: AirPods controls expand with separate left/right earpiece taps, skip track ...
Apple's AirPods are currently limited to a trio of controls on both earpieces, but their functionality will be greatly enhanced this fall with the release of iOS 11, giving users the ability to give each wireless pod a separate, customizable function with a double tap.
With the iOS 11 beta releases, Apple's AirPods become more functional, thanks to new options found in the Settings app. To change them, dive into the Bluetooth settings, and then tap the "i" button to the right of AirPods when they are coneccted.
There, users will find new control options, including the ability to set different controls for the left and right AirPod. For example, the left AirPod could be set to play or pause a track, while the right one could invoke Siri.
Digging deeper into the settings, users will find that there are two new options for AirPod double-tap controls in iOS 11: "Next Track" and "Previous Track." This joins the existing controls of "Siri," "Play/Pause," and "Off."
Apple has been gradually adding new features to its AirPods since they debuted late last year, including a "Find My AirPods" feature that debuted in iOS 10.3 in January. Whenever AirPods connect to an iPhone or Mac, the finder feature queries the host device's positioning hardware to log the earbuds' location.
For more on Apple's forthcoming operating system update, see AppleInsider's ongoing Inside iOS 11 series.
With the iOS 11 beta releases, Apple's AirPods become more functional, thanks to new options found in the Settings app. To change them, dive into the Bluetooth settings, and then tap the "i" button to the right of AirPods when they are coneccted.
There, users will find new control options, including the ability to set different controls for the left and right AirPod. For example, the left AirPod could be set to play or pause a track, while the right one could invoke Siri.
Digging deeper into the settings, users will find that there are two new options for AirPod double-tap controls in iOS 11: "Next Track" and "Previous Track." This joins the existing controls of "Siri," "Play/Pause," and "Off."
Apple has been gradually adding new features to its AirPods since they debuted late last year, including a "Find My AirPods" feature that debuted in iOS 10.3 in January. Whenever AirPods connect to an iPhone or Mac, the finder feature queries the host device's positioning hardware to log the earbuds' location.
For more on Apple's forthcoming operating system update, see AppleInsider's ongoing Inside iOS 11 series.
Comments
There's a reason why there are only taps and only double ones at that. I agree on triple-taps though, that could be a good addition.
I suspect that the inevitable AirPods 2 will use capacitive touch to "stroke up/down" for controlling volume.
@Lkrupp, what the hell is your deal? Including these preferences doesn't diminish the usefulness for non-nerds, their Airpods continue to work as normal and expected. Meanwhile, I get a nice feature that makes my Airpods more useful. JFC
Having the case charge them was a stroke of brilliance. I would recommend them to anyone.
I use them primarily for listening to Podcasts while trail running coupled with my AppleWatch. But best of all, I don't have to carry an iPhone!
As far as the AirPods go, the only reason I updated iOS to public beta 11 was to get extra functionality out of my AirPods but there isn't much more Apple can or should add to the current AirPods. The reason the trackpad isn't a valid comparison is because it also has a visual dimension to it so that sometimes necessitates more options and features. Once we get to AirPods gen 2 that work with Apple's AR glasses, we will need many more features and Apple will build in sensors more advanced than just accelerometers. There is a rumor that current AirPods have some kind of sensor smarts (like a gyroscope) to determine the motion of the user's head or where they might be looking but I've seen no evidence of that yet.
One of the only good things about using the corded earphones was the play/pause/next track functionality.