Apple's new ads celebrates its new AirPods. Photo: Apple
Apple debuted new ads for its freshly-released AirPods over the weekend, demonstrating features like instant pairing and Siri, while getting across the joy that comes with Apple’s wireless dream through a musical dance number.
Starring Los Angeles-based dancer and model Lil Buck, and set to the song “Down” by Marian Hill, the four black-and-white spots debuted on Apple’s YouTube channel.
iOS sales are about to hit a major milestone. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s revenues generated from the iOS ecosystem will surpass $1 trillion sometime this year, according to one analyst.
By mid-2017, the company is forecast to have sold a whopping 1.2 billion iPhones, while collective sales of all iOS devices will surpass 1.75 billion units.
"Finder for AirPods" has been pulled by Apple. Photo: Deucks
Apple has pulled a third-party app that helped users locate lost AirPods.
“Finder for AirPods” first landed on the App Store last week and used a Bluetooth signal to track down missing earpieces. But just days later, it’s gone, with Apple telling its creator that it is “not appropriate for the App Store.”
Nuheara IQbuds work like regular wireless earbuds, but add "augmented hearing" to the mix so you can focus on a conversation. Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple packed some amazing tech into its weird-looking AirPods. But to Nuheara co-founder David Cannington, Apple’s white-hot wireless earphones are just “dumb wireless.”
Sure, AirPods let you listen to music, take phone calls and tap into Siri, but they represent a missed opportunity because they don’t solve a crucial problem faced by many people in the modern world: hearing what’s going on around them.
As you might have guessed, Cannington’s company tackled this problem with a new product that launched at CES this week. Nuheara’s IQbuds are smart, truly wireless earbuds that do more than just make calls and deliver high-fidelity audio to your ears. They make it possible to carry on conversations in noisy environments like restaurants, bars and even massive Las Vegas trade shows.
The biggest problem with the iPhone 7 has been solved. Photo: Incipio
iPhone 7 users no longer must choose between charging their device or listening to headphones, thanks to a new case that restores the headphone jack to its rightful place.
Getting a headphone jack back on the iPhone 7 comes at the cost of some serious bulk, but with Incipio’s new OX case, at least you won’t have to carry around a dongle anymore.
AirPods should offer around 5 hours of use between charges. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
AirPods offer some of the best battery life you can get from wireless earphones, but many users have been unable to enjoy it. An apparent glitch is causing some units to drain power when they’re not in use, but a simple reset could fix it.
The ultimate companions for your iPhone. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
This year’s iPhone upgrade might have been a little dull, but we saw plenty of exciting accessories for Apple’s iconic smartphone in 2016.
From awesome new AirPods to ultraportable virtual reality headsets, they all helped make iPhone 7 more exciting. Here are our favorite iPhone accessories of the year.
Affordable first drones and our favorite gadgets on The CultCast! Photo: 3DR
This week on The CultCast: It’s our epic final episode of 2016! We’ll wrap up the year with our hands-on review of the hotness themselves, Apple’s AirPods. Then … is Apple’s “Golden Era” drawing to a close? We discuss. And finally, ya’ll know we review a lot of products during the year — we’ll reveal our absolute favorite gadgets of 2016!
AirPods are selling like hot cakes. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple manufacturing partner Inventec is planning to expand its AirPods production capacity to meet strong demand from consumers.
Impressive sales of the hot new wireless earphones over the holiday period are expected to give the Taiwanese firm a boost in revenue, but its plants are already working overtime to deliver Apple’s orders.
2016 wasn't all missed deadlines and mysterious battery problems for Apple. Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple pissed off a lot of people in 2016. In hindsight, some of Cupertino’s moves look clumsy, and others seem truly clueless, but Tim Cook and Co. also made some brilliant moves during this turbulent year.
Let’s go to our happy place and relive the smartest moves made by Apple in 2016.
Samsung's ready to take on AirPods. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Samsung is planning to take on Apple’s fancy new AirPods with its own wireless earbuds that will launch alongside the Galaxy S8, according to a new report.
It’s thought Samsung is unlikely to follow Apple’s decision to drop the 3.5mm headphone jack, but it will still push wireless alternatives as they become increasingly popular.
Getting your hands on AirPods is almost impossible. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple CEO Tim Cook was all smiles during a brief appearance at the New York Stock Exchange this morning. While taking a quick tour of the floor with his nephew, Cook revealed that AirPods are so popular Apple can’t make them fast enough.
Apple's 2016 wasn't exactly inspiring. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
2016 hasn’t been Apple’s best year by a long shot. While the company is still making money hand over fist and has seen its Services division go from strength to strength, Apple also consistently stumbled for the first time in years.
While we remain loyal to the Apple brand, here are our picks for the year’s biggest disappointments.
This is a sight you're not likely to see in your local Apple store. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Our take on Apple’s new wireless AirPods may be that they “just work,” but one thing that isn’t quite so seamless is picking up a pair in person at your local Apple store.
That’s according to airpods.isinstock.com, a website dedicated to providing at-a-glance stock levels for Apple’s AirPods at every Apple retail store in the world. The current grand total of stores stocking the AirPods? A big fat zero.
Apple's wireless earphones are easily one of the company's best products of 2016. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s EarPods have always been a go-to favorite for me. They’re included with every iPhone, always sound good enough for what I need, and I’ve always found them comfortable. Even going back to the good old iPod days, I’ve always kept a pair close to hand.
But now Apple’s moving on into the “wireless future” with its new AirPods. These completely wireless earphones let you listen to music and podcasts, make phone calls and talk to Siri. But just how do they measure up?
Keeping track of your AirPods may be a problem. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Losing an AirPod can be a pricey mistake, but if you’re not afraid of a little body modification, there’s a way to ensure Apple’s new buds stay in your ear forever.
Apple’s swanky new AirPods are finally shipping, which means the teardown experts at iFixit have pulled them apart to give us a glimpse at their internals.
The AirPods themselves are filled with tiny components and copious amounts of glue, while an X-ray scan of their charging case could reveal the reason behind the lengthy shipping delay.
Apple's wireless AirPods have finally been released! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s AirPods were due for release in late October, but the wireless headphones didn’t become available until last week from stores and via online orders (expect a six-week wait for the latter!)
Fortunately, we were able to get hold of a pair first thing today. Check out the video below to see what’s inside the box and get our first impressions.
AirPods aren't the only wireless buds in the game. Photo: TBS
This week on The CultCast: An honest look at Super Mario Run; we review better-sounding AirPods alternatives; the cool new stuff in the iOS and tvOS updates; and we reveal the hands-down best TV shows of 2016!
This episode supported by: Jamf Now, the affordable, cloud-based solution you can rely on to manage the iPads, iPhones and Macs in your workplace. Manage three devices for free at jamf.com/CultCast.
Losing one of Apple’s tiny new AirPods will probably be an unfortunately common occurrence for customers/ Apple already has a plan in place that will allow you to buy a replacement pod when you invetiably lose one, but it won’t be cheap.
AirPods arrived just in time for Christmas. Photo: Apple
Apple’s new AirPods have finally arrived after months of waiting.
Shipping estimates for the new wireless earbuds have already been pushed back to 2017, thanks to the overwhelming demand, but if you’re lucky enough to get them in your ears this week, you’ll need some tips on getting started.
Here’s everything you need to know to use AirPods:
Apple won't miss out on the all-important holiday market after all! Photo: Apple
Update: Well that didn’t last long! Already it seems that AirPod demand has exceeded supply, as shipping times have been pushed back past Christmas into 2017.
Apple’s long-awaited, sometimes derided wireless AirPods are finally available to buy through Apple’s online store — priced at $159.
While it’s not known when they’ll be available for sale in brick-and-mortar Apple retail stores, you can breathe a sigh of relief, since orders placed through Apple’s online store are currently showing a pre-Christmas delivery date of December 21.
Apple's really not having a good year when it comes to earphones! Photo: Apple
Despite being listed on Apple’s website as “coming this Fall,” Apple’s new BeatsX in-ear headphones won’t be available for months, according to a retailer.
AirPods may miss Christmas while Apple works out audio problems. Photo: Apple
People griped when Apple launched the iPhone 7 without an earphone jack and asked the world to get excited about AirPods, the company’s cordless earphones designed for the brave new “wireless future.”
Apparently, cutting the cord hasn’t been so easy for Apple, either.
The AirPods, skewered on social media within seconds of being introduced at Apple’s product launch in September, remain in a holding pattern because of audio glitches — and could miss the crucial 2016 holiday shopping season entirely.
This week on The CultCast: Why building a Hackintosh can get you the monster Mac you’ve always wanted. Plus: Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals iPhone 8’s marquee feature; AirPods ship date is finally revealed; and stick around for our top Apple AirPort router replacement picks!
Our thanks to Casper for supporting this episode. Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them. Learn why and save $50 off your order at casper.com/cultcast.