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AirPods - page 25

AirPod saved from subway suicide with makeshift sticky stick

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AirPod-subway-suicide
This lucky AirPod will live to see another day.
Photo: Ashley Mayer

It’s frustrating when an AirPod falls out of your ear — especially if it decides it has had enough of being an AirPod and it jumps onto the subway tracks. That’s exactly what happened for Ashley Mayer.

But thanks to a makeshift sticky stick (duct tape on the end of a broom), this particular bud will live to see another day … or play another song?

This little adapter lets you use AirPods with almost anything

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RHA-Wireless-Audio-Adapter-AirPods
Add Bluetooth to your old iPod and more.
Photo: RHA

AirPods might just be the most convenient wireless headphones money can buy. But because they rely on Bluetooth, you can’t use them with everything. This little adapter from RHA hopes to change that.

The Wireless Flight Adapter plugs into any 3.5mm headphone jack to make it wireless. It’ll work with in-flight entertainment systems — as its name suggests — as well as the Nintendo Switch, TVs, old iPods, and more.

Apple’s ‘two spiritual soulmates’ have left the building

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Walter-Isaacson-Jony-Ive
Without Jobs and Ive, Apple can’t design, Isaacson says.
Photo: CNBC

Walter Isaacson says Apple has lost “these two spiritual soulmates who just lived and breathed the beauty of products.”

The Steve Jobs biographer believes the company still know how to execute, but that it has missed out on a number of opportunities for exciting new products — including an Apple TV set.

Sony’s answer to AirPods boasts one big advantage

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Sony-wireless-buds
But they’re not cheap.
Photo: Sony

Sony’s new wireless earbuds are ready to take on AirPods.

The horribly named WF-1000XM3 promise the same impressive audio quality as Sony’s best-selling headphones — but in an earbud form factor. And they boast one big advantage.

Here’s why you might want to avoid Apple’s hottest accessory and pick up these instead.

Frustrated HomePod owners aren’t happy with latest AirPods ad

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AirPods-bounce-ad
It can be a real pain.
Photo: Apple

HomePod owners are becoming increasingly frustrated with the latest AirPods ad. The full version of the “Bounce” commercial keeps triggering “Hey Siri” on Apple’s pricey smart speaker.

Some say they end up hearing the “crappiest” music, while others say their HomePod randomly calls out “I’m here.”

Unique iPhone battery case charges AirPods, too

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Power1 iPhone battery case also stores and charges AirPods
The Power1 is an iPhone battery case and AirPods charging case in one.
Photo: Power1

People who carry their iPhone and AirPods everywhere might really use the Power1. Not only does this battery case charge the handset, it includes a built-in AirPods charging case.

It’s just been fully funded on Kickstarter, but there are still pre-release specials available.

AirPods top Galaxy Buds in new water test

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Galaxy buds
The Galaxy Buds are bulkier than AirPods but not as durable.
Photo: Samsung

Apple’s wireless earbuds face some new competition from Samsung’s cheaper Galaxy Buds, but a new water-damage test shows the cheaper price tag comes at a cost.

Neither AirPods or Galaxy Buds boast waterproofing but do have some water resistance. The folks at CNET pitted the two earbuds against each other in a new real-world test along with the new Powerbeats Pro and the results were pretty bad for Samsung lovers.

Stylish ‘Bounce’ ad depicts the wireless joy of using AirPods

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Bounce ad for AirPods1
One of Apple's more stylish recent ads.
Photo: Apple

Apple has debuted a slick, black-and-white ad showcasing its massively popular AirPods.

Titled “Bounce,” the ad shows an AirPods wearer springing through the streets. It’s intended to show off the unencumbered, wireless freedom of the iconic earbuds. (Including the new AirPods’ wireless charging capabilities.) And you know what? It’s pretty darn great.

Apple Watch will continue to dominate for years to come

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Apple Watch Series 4 Solar System Watch Face
Apple Watch won’t have serious rivals in the foreseeable future.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch has the lion’s share of smart watch sales today, and that’ll hold true through at least 2023, according to a market-research firm. This ultra-mobile computer will stay in the lead as the entire market for wrist-worn wearables grows strongly.

Sales of AirPods and other hearables are also expected see healthy growth in the coming years.

PSA: Wearing AirPods during sex will get you an earful

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AirPods 2. AirPods S, more like.
Get yours before the discount disappears.
Photo: Apple

Can’t agree on the music to get you and your partner in the mood? That’s what AirPods are for.

A survey exploring the intersection of sex and music turned up this fun little finding. Out of 1,010 people surveyed, 17 percent said they wore AirPods during sex.

Microsoft could take on Apple Pencil with stylus and wireless earbud in one

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Microsoft stylus and earpiece
What the...? Microsoft’s stylus and earpiece combination looks decidedly odd.
Photo: Apple/Microsoft/Cult of Mac

Microsoft proposes combining two very different peripherals. It dreamed up a tablet stylus that when not in use wraps around the user’s ear to become a wireless headset.

Is there a point to such a stylus? It’s debatable.

AirPods 2 launch was kind of a dud

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airpods
Deals on first-generation AirPods cut into sales of the new version.
Photo: Ste Smith/ Cult of Mac

The debut of Apple’s second-generation AirPods didn’t trigger a huge surge in first-day sales, according to new data from a market-research company.

Still, the whole Q1 hearables market grew 40 percent over the previous quarter.

Swimmer breaks a record with AirPods in her ears

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Swimmer races with AirPods
Delfina Pignatiello was so pumped up for her race, she forgot to take out her AirPods before the starter's pistol.
Screenshot: Fernando Cicutti/Twitter

Apple recommends keeping AirPods out of the water. But an Argentine swimmer evidently forgot she had them in her ears when she proceeded to break her own record during an international race in France.

Despite finishing second in the 800-meter freestyle, Delfina Pignatiello broke her own national record with a time of 8:24.33. Her AirPods were in her ears tucked under her swim cap the whole way.

Are the Powerbeats Pro better than AirPods? [Review]

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Powerbeat Pro in charging case
Order yours now!
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Back in 2014 – long before the AirPods – I picked up what would become my go-to fitness earbuds – the PowerBeats2. A year and a half later, the AirPods came out, replacing my PowerBeats2 that were literally falling apart.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve been using my AirPods – both my first gen, and more recently, my second gen – in almost every situation. I use them all the time and carry them almost everywhere I go. But sometimes I hate my AirPods. No matter how simple and convenient they are, they insist on slipping just a little when I wear them while exercising. And if there’s any background noise or wind, even the loudest volume is inaudible while wearing the AirPods.

Even with those minor drawbacks, they were my favorite headphones. Then I got the new Powerbeats Pro.

Teen creates DIY AirPods for just $4

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DIY AirPods
We’ve never seen AirPods like these.
Photo: Sam Cashbook

Forking over $200 for new AirPods that you’re probably just going to lose anyway seems like a bad investment. A 15-year old boy found a brilliant and cheap work around though that turns Apple’s wired EarPods into AirPods for just $4.

After seeing one of his friends get gifted a set of AirPods, Sam Cashbook decided to make his own. Using a cheap bone conduction headset he found on eBay, Cashbook managed to hot glue together his DIY AirPods.

They’re ugly, but they work:

Order Powerbeats Pro in the U.K., France and Germany today

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Powerbeats Pro
They’ll start arriving in June.
Photo: Apple

You can now order Apple’s new Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones in the U.K., France, and Germany.

They’re only available in black for now, with other color options coming this summer, and it seems that stock is limited. You can expect delivery around June 6 if you’re fast enough.

Apple earns biggest Q1 market share for wearables

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AirPods art challenge
Apple is the Goliath of the wearables market.
Photo: @SCOTUSPlaces/Twitter

Apple’s lineup of wearables for this year’s first quarter earned the company the largest share of an exploding wearable devices market, according to a report from the International Data Corp.

Shipments of Apple Watches, AirPods and Beats headphones totaled 12.8 million for a 25.8 percent Q1 market share. While its share slipped a 1 percent, its year-over-year growth nearly topped 50 percent, according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker.

Global shipments reached 49.6 million, up 55 percent from the previous year.

Preorder Powerbeats Pro on May 31 in U.K., France, Germany

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Powerbeats Pro navy
The wait is almost over.
Photo: Apple

You’ll be able to preorder Apple’s new Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones this Friday in the U.K., France, and Germany.

Apple has posted a new promotional video on social media to confirm their arrival. The 15-second clip features British boxer Anthony Joshua wearing an ivory pair while he trains.

Special tool rescues lost AirPods from train tracks

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lost AirPods
Not everyone has the ears for AirPods
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

An AirPod falling out of your ear is not a question of if, but when.

The when for many unlucky souls in the San Francisco Bay Area offers the rest of us a warning to not wear wireless earbuds anywhere near train or subway tracks. Still, when one falls on the tracks, it isn’t the end of the world. Or even sometimes the AirPod itself.

Powerbeats Pro preorders will arrive early for some

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Powerbeats Pro
When will yours turn up?
Photo: Beats

Some lucky Apple fans who preordered its new Powerbeats Pro buds are set to enjoy early deliveries.

Apple originally stated a delivery date of May 13 for its latest Beats headphones. However, many customers are now expecting to receive theirs on Friday, May 10.

‘AirPods 3’ could bring big design changes this year

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AirPods 2 with box on desk
AirPods Pro could be more affordable thank you think.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple’s third-generation AirPods could bring big internal design changes, according to a new report.

Supply chain sources claim Apple will switch to system-in-package (SiP) technology that frees up space inside each bud. The move could allow other components to be squeezed inside the tiny wireless headphones.

AirPod survives trip through man who swallowed it

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AirPods sales
Do not eat your AirPods.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple may need to update the specs for AirPods to include one new surprising feature: “stomach-proof”.

One unlucky Taiwanese man discovered this the hard way. After falling asleep, Ben Hsu woke up with one of his AirPods missing. Using Find My iPhone to track down the missing earbud, he started hearing a beeping sound that followed him around the room and realized he made a serious mistake. The AirPod was in his stomach.

Ridiculous modern offices fueled AirPods’ success

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AirPods in ear
“Don’t talk to me, I’m wearing AirPods” said just about everyone who’s ever worked in an open office.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Open offices were supposed to get employees to interact with each other more, but a recent study shows it hasn’t worked out that way. Instead, workers have turned to AirPods to give themselves some privacy.

This has helped fuel the rise of wireless hearables, especially Apple’s.

What we learned from Apple’s surprising earnings report

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European Commission could get even tougher on tech in 2020
European Commission could get even tougher on tech in 2020
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Wall Street received surprisingly better-than-expected news from Apple’s Q2 2019 earnings report today — and the stock is soaring in after-hours trading.

iPhone sales remain down, but pretty much every other facet of the company’s business is firing on all cylinders. Customers are falling in love with the iPad all over again. Services are booming. And Apple’s wearables business is now the size of a Fortune 200 company.

Despite plenty of doom and gloom from analysts over the last 12 months, Apple’s future is looking bright again.