In the never-ending quest to make consumer’s lives ever easier, free from thought and calorie burning, Apple is eliminating the earbud cord and the jack it plugs into on its iPhone and Apple Watch. It has been a while in the coming and not unexpected as the goal of consumers seems to be living cord and cable free. They don’t seem to care how many devices they carry around with them, but heaven forbid they be connected old school.
Called AirPods, the wireless headphones reportedly use “advanced technology that reinvents how we listen to music, make phone calls, enjoy TV shows and movies, play games, and interact with Siri.” Users need only pop open the AirPods case, give a tap, and they are set up to work with an iPhone or Apple Watch.
Apple's AirPod wireless earbuds, a.k.a., earphones.
The earphones employ some unique sensors that can tell when one is listening or not and either automatically play music or pause sound. A double tap accesses Siri.
These miracles of ease-and-awe are achieved via Apple’s recently designed ultra-low power Apple W1 chip. The device is said to deliver high-quality audio and highly impressive battery life. AirPods provide up to five hours of listening time on a single charge. The charging case holds additional charges, for a total listening time greater than 24 hours.
The W1 chip operates with optical sensors and accelerometers that detect when the AirPods are in the user’s ears and start the music. Removing them from the ears automatically pauses the music, which resumes when the earphones are back in the listener’s ears.
Actually, wireless headphones are not that new. There are several examples dating back several years. Here are a few examples.
Panasonic AM/FM headphones
SONY wireless radio headphones
Sennheiser wireless headphones for television
Now, of course, these are not as cool as the AirPods. Even in their own time they caught on like liver-flavored ice cream. However, it goes to show that the concept is not very different.
AirPods including charging case will be available late October, priced at $159. Click HERE for more ease-and-awe. ~MD
