Latest iOS beta hints at 'AirPods 2' with 'Hey Siri' setup screen
A "Hey Siri" configuration tool found in Apple's latest iOS 12.2 beta suggests Apple is on the verge of releasing a second-generation AirPods model capable of native interactions with the virtual assistant.
Source: 9to5Mac
Discovered by 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo, the setup screen is nearly identical to Apple's existing "Hey Siri" configuration prompt, but for the first time includes mention of AirPods. Currently, the "Set Up 'Hey Siri'" window is restricted to iPhone.
The screen included in Apple's latest iOS beta version for developers is currently obscured from public view, suggesting the company wanted to keep the feature under wraps prior to an unveiling.
According to Rambo, "Hey Siri" for AirPods will be nearly identical to the same feature for iPhone, the difference being AirPods hardware is expected to handle voice recognition. The earbuds will wirelessly transmit commands to a paired iPhone, allowing users to invoke Siri without pulling out and speaking to their handset.
Considering current AirPods components do not support "Hey Siri" functionality, the setup screen's discovery strongly hints at a near future launch for Apple's widely rumored next-generation AirPods model.
Rumblings of an AirPods refresh first circulated in early 2018, when Bloomberg claimed Apple was working on a follow up to its extremely popular wireless headphones. "Hey Siri" functionality was said to be a major feature addition. The report anticipated a 2018 launch, but those estimates proved incorrect.
In December, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted Apple to debut an updated AirPods product with wireless charging and a Bluetooth specification upgrade in the first quarter of 2019. The new device might also incorporate a revised W-series chip, an inclusion anticipated to power Apple's "Hey Siri" feature.
Earlier this week, a report echoed Kuo's claims, but added unspecified health tracking capabilities to the list of improvements.
Source: 9to5Mac
Discovered by 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo, the setup screen is nearly identical to Apple's existing "Hey Siri" configuration prompt, but for the first time includes mention of AirPods. Currently, the "Set Up 'Hey Siri'" window is restricted to iPhone.
The screen included in Apple's latest iOS beta version for developers is currently obscured from public view, suggesting the company wanted to keep the feature under wraps prior to an unveiling.
According to Rambo, "Hey Siri" for AirPods will be nearly identical to the same feature for iPhone, the difference being AirPods hardware is expected to handle voice recognition. The earbuds will wirelessly transmit commands to a paired iPhone, allowing users to invoke Siri without pulling out and speaking to their handset.
Considering current AirPods components do not support "Hey Siri" functionality, the setup screen's discovery strongly hints at a near future launch for Apple's widely rumored next-generation AirPods model.
Rumblings of an AirPods refresh first circulated in early 2018, when Bloomberg claimed Apple was working on a follow up to its extremely popular wireless headphones. "Hey Siri" functionality was said to be a major feature addition. The report anticipated a 2018 launch, but those estimates proved incorrect.
In December, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted Apple to debut an updated AirPods product with wireless charging and a Bluetooth specification upgrade in the first quarter of 2019. The new device might also incorporate a revised W-series chip, an inclusion anticipated to power Apple's "Hey Siri" feature.
Earlier this week, a report echoed Kuo's claims, but added unspecified health tracking capabilities to the list of improvements.
Comments
That said, I am loving them! No regrets...
On my MacBook I have a little app (ToothFairy-just excellent!) in my menu bar that I click and they connect/disconnect very neatly, every time. I do sometimes have a problem with my SE...I wish there was a button to connect. I mostly have to go into the Bluetooth settings.
On the Apple TV I have to go into the Settings app also. Too many steps. I use them to listen to the TV when my GF goes to bed so I don't disturb her!
Since the day I bought them a year and a half ago, I promised that if anything ever happened to them, I wouldn't hesitate to drop another $160 on a pair and that still holds true to this day.
They've survived several drops on concrete floors, sweat, rain, the case is stained from blue jean dye, and the ear sensors no longer work (they think they're in my ears anytime they're out of the case), but the batteries still last longer than advertised and they sound like new.
I'll definitely grab a fresh pair of version 2 of the AirPods as long as they retain the core values of the originals.
if anyone now writes this up I want credit lol.
For those who want Space Gray: https://www.colorware.com/p-1040-colorware-airpods-space-gray.aspx
Skin-tones colored plastic? Ew. Not happening.
Yeah I have an original pair from Day 1, and after daily use the charge cycles have taken their toll, the left pod runs out of juice fairly quick. It's $49 to have a single battery replaced, but I'm going to so I can give them to family at some point.
Nah you just missed it, it was discussed.
I wonder if debris can cover the sensors?
One letter, one number:
W2
Ear detection is accomplished with two infrared transceivers on each AirPod. I can hold the AirPods in front of the foward-facing camera on my iPhone and can see the IR light. The AirPods are clean and the circular windows for these sensors are flat and flush. I can only assume some type of electronic failure. I've tried all the usual resets to no avail. No big deal since I don't use this feature, but it is worth noting that the feature did stop functioning at some point causing me to have to disable "automatic ear detection" in my devices.