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AirPods - page 34

Samsung plans to rip off AirPods next

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AirPods Review
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.

Tim Cook calls AirPods a ‘runaway success’

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airpods
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.

All the ways Apple disappointed us in 2016

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Biggest Disappointments
Apple's 2016 wasn't exactly inspiring.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2016 Year in Review 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.

Every Apple store worldwide is sold out of AirPods

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AirPods sales
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.

With AirPods, Apple gets back to ‘it just works’ [Review]

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lost AirPods
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?

AirPods teardown hints at reason for delay

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AirPods-teardown
AirPods get pulled apart!
Photo: iFixit

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.

AirPods unboxing: First look at Apple’s new wireless headphones

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AirPods
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 alternatives and the best TV shows of 2016 on The CultCast

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AirPods aren't the only wireless buds in the game.
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.

How to charge, connect and customize Apple’s AirPods

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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:

AirPods finally available with shipping in time for Christmas

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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.

Audio glitches keep Apple from shipping AirPods

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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.

Hackintosh monster Macs and iPhone 8’s marquee feature, on The CultCast

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Could this be the next Mac Pro?
Could this be the next Mac Pro?
Photo: Nvidia

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.

Retailers expect AirPods to ship this month

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AirPods could finally be arriving soon.
Photo: Apple

Some rumors have warned that we might have to wait until the new year for AirPods to arrive, but a number of retailers expect them to arrive much sooner. According to one, they’ll start shipping before the end of the month.

AirPods supposedly land in Apple stores next week

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airpods
Is the wait almost over?
Photo: Apple

Apple still hasn’t officially told us when its AirPods will finally become available, but according to one customer, some stores will begin receiving stock next week.

AirPods were originally scheduled to make their debut in October, but since Apple announced a delay, the company has kept quiet about when the wireless headphones will go on sale.

AirPods might get delayed until 2017

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airpods
AirPods were originally scheduled to arrive in October.
Photo: Apple

If you had AirPods on your Christmas list, it might be time to cross them off. A new report claims we could be waiting until January next year for Apple’s fancy new wireless earphones to go on sale.

Enter to win two sets of Apple AirPods [Deals]

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AirPods
The second-best wireless headphones for iPhone.
Photo: Apple

iPhone 7 made it official: When it comes to portable music, wires are out and Bluetooth is in. If you’re wondering how or when you’ll make the switch, we’ve got an easy answer: Take your shot at winning a pair of brand new Apple AirPods for free at Cult of Mac Deals. Announced this week, the AirPods are bit delayed but we still have you covered!

Everything we wanted from Apple’s MacBook Pro event but got denied

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You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest laptop in the world ... MacBook Pro!
You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest laptop in the world ... MacBook Pro!
Photo: Apple

Anybody watching Apple’s “Hello Again” event probably suspected we’d get “one more thing” in addition to the long-rumored Touch Bar and the recently leaked TV app. Or maybe a couple more things.

Instead we got … a Final Cut Pro update and a new accessibility website?

Underwhelming! And cruelly disappointing to all the Apple faithful hoping against hope for new hardware. Here are all the other things we wanted — but got so viciously denied — during Apple’s MacBook Pro event today.

Jaybird X3 Bluetooth headphones give AirPods a run for their money

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Jaybird X3 wireless earbuds
Jaybird's X3 wireless earbuds sing like two birdies in your ears.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

SAN FRANCISCO — Rene Oehlerking is positively stoked that Apple killed the headphone jack on the iPhone 7.

That’s because, as chief marketing officer of Jaybird, he’s been touting the winning combo of killer audio and wireless freedom for years. With its controversial move, Apple made Bluetooth headphones the new normal virtually overnight.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Oehlerking said during a demo of his company’s latest headphones, the Jaybird X3. “It puts pressure on everyone to just buck up.”

What to expect at Apple’s ‘Hello again’ Mac event

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MacBook Pro
Are you excited for the Magic of the OLED Toolbar?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s been more than 500 days since the last MacBook Pro release, but Apple’s
“Hello again” Mac event will change that this week.

So what should you be expecting to see? Here’s a rundown of everything we predict Apple will reveal at the eagerly anticipated event, which takes place Thursday at Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop campus.

AirPods point to Apple’s domination of ‘ambient paradigm’

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AirPods may miss Christmas while Apple works out audio problems.
Photo: Apple

The Apple Watch and new AirPods may seam like silly side projects to fans, but some analysts on Wall Street believe the company is using the two new products to lay the groundwork for the next era of personal technology.

While Silicon Valley is obssessed with virtual reality headsets, Apple is obsessed with making gadgetry less visible. UBS analysts Steven Milunovich and Benjamin Wilson told clients that while many firms see a lot of downside for Apple, the company’s “ambient paradigm” could be a huge money maker.

Not into Apple’s new ear-fangs, er, buds? Try these instead. [Deals]

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1Voice
These wireless Bluetooth earbuds bring the noise without the need for bling or a big pricetag.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With the new iPhone came the news that your standard headphones and earbuds are obsolete — sorry about that. Along with that announcement came the release of Apple’s own solution to the conundrum they’d created, namely a pair of earbuds that look a little like little futuristic earplugs your ears, with a price that has some people covering their eyes. Whether or not you’re committed to getting the iPhone 7, Bluetooth earbuds are here to stay, and if you’re looking for another choice you should consider these innocuous wireless buds from 1Voice. And right now you can get them for just $52.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.