Apple filing shows initial stab at AirPods with magnetic hooks
An Apple patent application published on Thursday may hint at an abandoned AirPods design that aimed to keep the earbuds more firmly in place.
The patent describes a series of hooks that would not only attach around the ear but magnetically attract each other from opposite sides of the ear wall, preventing earbuds from falling out. Apple first submitted the idea in June.
It's not certain if the concept was born with the AirPods in mind -- one diagram shows a conventional wired set of earbuds -- but Apple's filing does mention wireless antenna assemblies.
Keeping AirPods in the ear has been a key concern of prospective buyers, though most initial tests suggest they are unlikely to fall out without a wire attached. Some third-party accessory makers are even selling add-on cables that keep them physically connected.
Conceivably, Apple may have decided against hooks for aesthetic reasons, simpler use, and/or making charging easier. In their final design the AirPods are charged by inserting them into a small battery case -- something that wouldn't have worked with hooks in the way.
The company does use hooks in its Powerbeats line, but those are more consciously fitness-focused and originated prior to Apple's takeover of Beats in 2014.
The patent describes a series of hooks that would not only attach around the ear but magnetically attract each other from opposite sides of the ear wall, preventing earbuds from falling out. Apple first submitted the idea in June.
It's not certain if the concept was born with the AirPods in mind -- one diagram shows a conventional wired set of earbuds -- but Apple's filing does mention wireless antenna assemblies.
Keeping AirPods in the ear has been a key concern of prospective buyers, though most initial tests suggest they are unlikely to fall out without a wire attached. Some third-party accessory makers are even selling add-on cables that keep them physically connected.
Conceivably, Apple may have decided against hooks for aesthetic reasons, simpler use, and/or making charging easier. In their final design the AirPods are charged by inserting them into a small battery case -- something that wouldn't have worked with hooks in the way.
The company does use hooks in its Powerbeats line, but those are more consciously fitness-focused and originated prior to Apple's takeover of Beats in 2014.
Comments
BeastX offer wingtips which offer another point of tension.
They thankfully fit my ears perfectly. Yet I've seen some tech reviewers demonstrate some people who's ears pop their Airpods/EarPods out of the ear by merely smiling, let alone shaking their head around. It's definitely a one size fits most approach.
That said, I do hope Apple can find an elegant solution to account for different ear shapes so more people can enjoy them.
Pull down in earlobe.
Push AirPod firmly into ear.
Let go of earlobe.
I suffer from a condition called Congenital Weirdness which means my ears are completely different in both size and shape. I'm not even going to try AirPods because one of my ears will be outside the 80%.