(Photo credit: Susie Ochs)
After a long wait, Apple AirPods, the first wireless earbuds made by Apple, are finally available,and according to reviews, they are unlike anything we have ever seen.
Apple AirPods aren’t merely a set of earbuds that let you listen to music from an iPhone or iPod. They can be setup to be paired automatically with any Apple device, provided the availability of Bluetooth.
According to a review by Pocket Lint, Apple AirPods are just as easy to setup as advertised. Once configured with an iCloud account, all that’s needed is to get them close to an iPhone, iPad or MacBook with Bluetooth connectivity, and the sound will begin to stream automatically through the crystal-clear speakers inside each AirPods.
Unlike any earbuds or headphones prior, AirPods feature the ability to automatically detect when one AirPod is being removed, which will automatically stop the music. The same will happen in the event of incoming phone calls, FaceTime calls, and other predefined events.
Among other cool feats, Apple’s new audio accessory features dual beamforming microphones, and up to 5 hours of talk time, which can be extended by charging the AirPods in their carrying case. Also, siri is accessible directly through the AirPods, via double-tap.
How are these wireless earbuds capable of all this and more?
Apple has long established itself as a chip manufacturer, at least for its own products, with its proprietary mobile processors, such as the A-Series, powering iPhone, iPod and iPad, the S-Series, powering the Apple Watch, the T-Series chip powering the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, and the W-Series, powering Apple’s newest wireless audio accessory.
Much like many other chips made by Apple, the W1 powering Apple AirPods is a SoC, or “System-on-Chip”, which means that the W1 is not only a processor, it also integrates all the functions typically performed by a variety of hardware components found on your average computer’s mainboard.
Anything from memory, to graphics processing, local storage, and more is all packed into one compact chip, with minimal power requirements.
Among some of the functions that the W1 chip is designed for, include the ability to detect if the AirPods are worn or not, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. The W1 can also detect and recognize voice patterns, block background noise while speaking, activate and interface with Siri, the latter of which means just that. AirPods-to-Siri direct communication, without the need for tethering audio through another device.
Volume can also be controlled by using your voice, and automatic synchronization across multiple devices is also part of the W1 chip’s tasks.
Best of all, the W1 chip is designed for intelligent power consumption, which allows for up to 5 hours of talk/playback time.
Here is the tough question: amidst concerns from everyone on the Internet who did not try Apple AirPods themselves, in regard to the potential for losing the accessory while jogging, or during other activities, will Apple’s brand new wireless accessories stay tucked in your ear?
According to MacWorld’s Susie Ochs, the answer is a resounding yes: “...Not only did I dance, I headbanged. I shook my head side to side, I tossed my hair, I jogged in place, and I looked silly doing all of it. The AirPods stayed put, and they stayed loud....”.
So there you have it: the last piece of information needed by those still on the fence about trying out the new Apple AirPods.
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Apple AirPods are the most innovative audio accessory for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Wirelessly stream all your music, voice calls, and multimedia content through AirPods powerful, crystal-clear dual speakers, and let your voice be heard, through dual, beamforming microphones..