Apple said to be upgrading AirPods with 'Hey Siri' & better water resistance
Apple is reportedly planning to treat AirPods like its flagship devices, releasing relatively frequent iterations -- beginning with an update this year.
The next pair is allegedly codenamed "B288," and expected to let people trigger Siri by saying "Hey Siri," Bloomberg sources said on Thursday. Currently, owners must tap one of the earbuds.
The product is also anticipated to get an upgrade from the Apple-designed W1 wireless chip. The company could conceivably use the W2, found in the Apple Watch Series 3.
A subsequent 2019 upgrade will be "water-resistant" -- resistant to splashes, but not being submerged, the sources said. That statement is problematic, as AirPods are at least partly water-resistant already. They're worn by many gym-goers, and user tests have seen them survive being submerged. It could be that Apple plans to further toughen them, though that wouldn't be a marquee feature.
The first-generation AirPods have been a smash hit, often in such demand that even now it can take a week or more for an online order to ship. The product should be relatively easy to find at retail stores though, and many competing wireless earbuds are on the market.
The next pair is allegedly codenamed "B288," and expected to let people trigger Siri by saying "Hey Siri," Bloomberg sources said on Thursday. Currently, owners must tap one of the earbuds.
The product is also anticipated to get an upgrade from the Apple-designed W1 wireless chip. The company could conceivably use the W2, found in the Apple Watch Series 3.
A subsequent 2019 upgrade will be "water-resistant" -- resistant to splashes, but not being submerged, the sources said. That statement is problematic, as AirPods are at least partly water-resistant already. They're worn by many gym-goers, and user tests have seen them survive being submerged. It could be that Apple plans to further toughen them, though that wouldn't be a marquee feature.
The first-generation AirPods have been a smash hit, often in such demand that even now it can take a week or more for an online order to ship. The product should be relatively easy to find at retail stores though, and many competing wireless earbuds are on the market.
Comments
So long as it still works, no one if forcing you to upgrade. I'm onto the 4th year of my iPhone 6. Just because Apple releases a product upgrade every year, doesn't mean you have to upgrade every year or every other year. Most products (At least electronics) get updated every year even though you may not see any difference.
I'm still using, and right now, wearing my Original Apple Watch. Even though there's been a Apple Watch 1, 2 and now 3 since then.
I personally have the Beats X because I like the fit ( because of what I described above ) but to say design over function is a bit of an overstatement in my opinion. They don't suit your needs, but millions of others are love them...
These look quite durable. Try eBay.
Wow, millions of people who like “horrible” headphones, huh? Are they just stupid and inferior to your expertise?
Have they stopped working?
As is, you look completely ignorant. Nothing has made my over-a-year-old APs stop working, and a newer version won't either.
Nooope. Seal just fine here. Not a clear example of form over function. They're slick. I wear them for work, workouts, and recreation every day. Sorry they don't fit your ears.
I'm not concerned even today. Torture tests have submerged them for extended periods of time. Rain and sweat aren't a problem.
The HP does support other music services -- as with any AirPlay wifi speaker, you can beam any audio source to it as normal. Your son can open his Spotify app and send his music on over to the HP. So what if he doesn't get voice control over it and "has" to use the app? This was entirely normal and not a supposed issue until this month.