Tag: AirPods

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Android AirPods users need to head to an Apple Store to update

Typically tech devices receive updates that improve their stability or add new features.

With this in mind, if you’re one of the few AirPods users without any other Apple products like a Mac, iPhone or iPad, you’ve probably been missing out on several important updates since Apple’s wireless earbuds require another device to update their firmware.

Now, according to an updated AirPods support firmware document, Apple suggests that if you don’t have a way to update your AirPods, you can head to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Retailer to get your hands on the latest AirPods update.

While going to an Apple Store just for an update is undeniably annoying, most people who use AirPods probably own an iPhone or MacBook, so this method targets a small number of Android users. That said, Apple’s Beats line of headphones and earbuds can receive software updates via Android devices, and the tech giant likely could have done the same with its AirPods if it really wanted to.

If you’re an iPhone/iPad/MacBook user and you’re wondering why your AirPods haven’t updated recently, the document now states that Apple’s wireless earbuds update automatically when they are charging or if there’s a companion Apple device connected to Wi-Fi nearby.

The latest update to hit the AirPods is firmware, ‘5E133,’ brings bug fixes and other improvements to 2nd-Gen AirPods, 3rd-Gen AirPods, AirPods Pro, 2nd-Gen AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.

Source: Apple Via: MacRumors

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Patent reveals Apple might be working on a touchscreen AirPods case

A new Apple patent offers hints about a potential upcoming AirPods case that could be the company’s most interactive yet.

The new patent, which was published last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, indicates that Apple is interested in developing an AirPods case with a touchscreen display. The case would essentially allow users to control applications connected to the AirPods, like Apple Music, directly from the case.

The patent reveals that it was filed back in September 2021, and credits Darius A. Satongar, William D. Lindmeier and Per Haakan Linus Persson as the inventors.

The case would reportedly allow users to control audio options, provide haptic feedback, display connected devices, show notifications and more.

JBL showed off a similar earbud case at CES this year. Called the JBL Tour Pro 2, the earbud’s case has a touchscreen LCD display that would allow users to customize audio settings. The earbuds are expected to be available this spring.

As for the touchscreen AirPods, it is currently unclear if and when it will come out.

Image credit: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Via: CNET

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Apple is reportedly working on cheaper ‘AirPods Lite’

In an attempt to compete with cheaper wireless earbuds, Apple is reportedly looking to develop its own budget-friendly version of the AirPods, as shared by analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong Intl Tech Research (via 9to5Mac).

Apple already has a wide variety of AirPods that it sells, ranging from the entry-level AirPods for $179, the 3rd-Gen AirPods for $229, the 2nd-Gen AirPods Pro for $329 and the premium AirPods Max for $779. However, according to Jeff Pu, the demand for AirPods is expected to fall by roughly 10 million units in 2023, from 73 million units in 2022 to 63 million units in 2023.

Pu quotes “soft AirPods 3 demand,” alongside speculation that Apple may not release new AirPods this year to be the reason behind the drop. The analyst also claims that the Cupertino-based company is working on ‘AirPods Lite,’ which will likely be a cheaper alternative to the 2nd-gen entry-level AirPods. It’s unclear how much these wireless earbuds will cost.

The move will allow Apple to set its footing in the cheaper wireless earbud market. Specs and other details about the reported ‘AirPods Lite’ are currently unknown. It’s worth noting that if Apple sticks with its previous naming conventions for its cheaper AirPods, they would be called the ‘AirPods SE’ rather than ‘AirPods Lite.’

Via: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

Belkin launches AirPods earwax cleaning kit

If you use Apple’s AirPods or any wireless earbuds for that matter, you’ve likely noticed that they can become covered in earwax after even just a day of use in some cases.

While this unwanted debris can usually be removed with a Q-tip and some sort of cleaning solution (I use rubbing alcohol), accessory maker Belkin has released an official AirPods Cleaning Kit that it claims “restores acoustic performance.” While likely true to some extent, you’d need a lot of earwax and dirt jammed in your AirPods for the audio to degrade in quality.

The kit is specifically designed for every generation of Apple’s standard AirPods that don’t feature silicone tips, though I don’t see why you also couldn’t use it with the AirPods Pro (perhaps the swab won’t fit in the silicone tip?). The ‘AirPods Cleaning Kit’ includes a cleaning brush, an earwax softening solution (gross 🤮), cleaning gel and a microfiber cloth.

The kit seems designed to only be used once given the small quantity of cleaning fluid, which isn’t great given its $14.99 USD (roughly $20.38 CAD) price. With this in mind, the cleaning kit is a tough sell, even for someone who actually likes Apple’s pricey $25 official polishing cloth.

Image credit: Belkin

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Apple discounts AirPods, MacBooks, Watch on Amazon in latest sale

Apple has cut the pricing on several items in its tech arsenal on Amazon. If you’re looking for MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watch, or keyboards, check out the discounts below:

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Source: Amazon Canada

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Shoppers Drug Mart offers AirPods Pro with $100 gift card for Black Friday

Shoppers Drug Mart is getting ready for Black Friday with a few choice tech deals. However, the store’s deals start on Saturday, November 19th and continue through Sunday, so you can’t capitalize on them just yet.

The best deals include a 65-inch 4K TV starting at $499 and first-generation AirPods Pros being discounted to $279. To sweeten the deal, both items also come with a $100 Shoppers gift card.

Following that, the Xbox Series X is dropping down to $319 and comes with a $25 gift card. The 2nd generation AirPods are priced at $179 and come with a $75 gift card.

Other deals include discounts on Xbox Series X/S controllers ($59) and the new PlayStation DualSense controller ($64).

The “wait, there’s more” moment of this deal hasn’t happened yet, but savvy shoppers in the Red Flag Deals forums are predicting a bonus deal in the PC Optimum app. Ideally, it will net people another 20,000 points or so for spending over $75. That said, we won’t know if this is true until the weekend when the personalized offers are reported to arrive.

Last year on Black Friday, the brand also ran a bonus redemption event that offered nice discounts to people looking to buy items with points as well. It’s unclear if this will return in 2022.

You can view your full local Shoppers flyer here.

Source: Shoppers, Red Flag Deals 

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Lost your AirPods again? Here’s how to find them

If you’ve lost your AirPods or are trying to understand how to use Apple’s ‘Find My’ network, you’ve come to the right place.

All AirPod models can be tracked in the Find My app, but depending on the model, advanced tracking features might be available.

Whether your AirPods are separated from their charging case will determine if you see them as a set or as separate items within the Find My app.

From there, you can trigger the AirPods to play a sound or open Maps to get directions to your earphone’s last known location. That said, only the AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd-Gen) and AirPods Pro (all models) can be found with proximity detection if they’re within Bluetooth range.

Like an AirTag, you can use Apple’s high-end Precision Finding to track your case’s exact location using the embedded U1 chip. There’s also a speaker on the case to make finding it via sound possible. If you lose earbuds a lot, this may be your best bet to find them again.

You can also enable a feature in the Find My app that will notify you if you’ve left your AirPods behind, which can also be helpful.

What if I can’t find them?

If you’ve searched and can’t find your lost AirPods, there is one last hope. You can place the earbuds into ‘Lost Mode.’ Just swipe up on the device’s page within the Find My interface and mark them as lost.

When this happens, your earbuds will send a notification to your phone the next time they’re near an Apple device that’s connected to the Find My network. It also prohibits others from using the earbuds, which might deter theft.

Finally, this mode will trigger a message to pop up on whoever’s iPhone finds the earbuds to help them return them to you.

This feature isn’t available on the first generation of AirPods but should work on everything else.

Source: Apple

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Apple to reportedly introduce USB-C charging to AirPods and Mac accessories by 2024

Apple is planning a major transition to USB-C in the wake of the European Union (EU) approving its USB-C mandate. The company is reportedly working towards adopting USB-C charging across AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, according to a new report. Additionally, many Mac accessories will also drop Lightning connectivity.

The EU recently voted to make USB-C a “common port” across the region. The vote was passed in favour of mandating manufacturers to integrate USB-C across new phones, tablets and earbuds/headphones released in the EU by the end of 2024. Further, the mandate requires laptops to support USB-C charging by spring 2026.

Many Apple devices, including its MacBook line, already support USB-C charging. However, not all devices do. For example, the iPhone, AirPods and several Mac accessories still utilize Apple’s proprietary Lightning port. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes that the AirPods line will adopt the USB-C standard by 2024.

Additionally, Mac accessories like Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and the Magic Trackpad will offer USB-C support by as early as 2023. Gurman believes that as Apple looks at the next major refresh for the iMac and Mac Pro, the opportunity for new accessories also opens up. “I think it’s a safe bet that those accessories will move to USB-C in their next incarnation,” Gurman says.

Gurman also expects next year’s iPhone 15 to leverage USB-C charging. “The iPhone 15 is essentially a lock to get USB-C in the fall of 2023,” he says. This would put the iPhone a year ahead of the mandated change per the EU.

With this in mind, USB-C charging may only be a stopgap for Apple’s long-term plan. Gurman says the goal of the Cupertino company is to reach inductive charging “at some point in the next few years.” The further adoption of wireless charging would also sideline the EU’s legislation as the mandate doesn’t currently cover wireless charging.

Source: Bloomberg Via: Engadget

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‘Adaptive Transparency’ isn’t coming to Apple’s older AirPods after all

Despite reports emerging on Reddit that the 1st-gen AirPods Pro now feature an ‘Adaptive Transparency’ toggle after updating to iOS 16.1’s latest beta, it looks like the feature isn’t making its way to Apple’s older buds.

The toggle appears to have been a bug, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, and the next beta version of iOS 16.1 will remove the option entirely. The AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen)’s Adaptive Transparency allows users to hear noises around them without removing the wireless earbuds, adapting to louder sounds and passing them through the wireless earbuds.

The original AirPods feature standard transparency that passes all audio through the wireless earbuds. While useful in some situations, Adaptive Transparency is far better, and I find myself actually enabling it quite frequently when I’m working from the MobileSyrup office.

Given Apple isn’t known for bringing key new features to older products, especially when a new version is recently released, the fact that this is just a glitch isn’t surprising. It’s likely Apple will release a fix for the issue in the coming days.

For more on Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen), check out my review of the high-end wireless earbuds.

Source: @markgurman, Reddit (u/ddpacino) Via: 9to5Mac

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Do Apple’s AirPods really have the best microphones?

Apple’s AirPods line has always had a reputation for featuring a decent microphone. However, as more companies like Google, Samsung and Beats (which is actually just Apple itself) continue to improve the mics in their buds, we decided to test several buds to see which option truly sounds the best.

For the test, we compared the mic featured in the following wireless earbuds:

You can watch the full video below or on our YouTube channel and listen for yourself. If you want to skip to the microphone test it begins at 2:07.

In the end, the AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen) sound the best to us, but regular AirPods and most of the earbuds were still passable. The quality changed a bit when we moved outside in the rain, but that’s likely a rare use case for a lot of people.