This Week's Sponsor:

Kolide

If a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo today!

Posts tagged with "AirPods"

Apple’s Revised AirPods Pro 2 and Lossless Audio Support on Vision Pro→

Soon after Apple’s Wonderlust event, it became clear that the company’s revised AirPods Pro with a USB-C case offered more than an updated connector. As detailed in a press release, the upgraded version of the second-generation AirPods Pro “unlocks powerful 20-bit, 48 kHz Lossless Audio with a massive reduction in audio latency”. But how?

Here’s Joe Rossignol, reporting at MacRumors:

In a video interview with Brian Tong, Apple’s VP of Sensing and Connectivity Ron Huang explained why only the updated second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case support lossless audio with Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset.

Huang revealed that the H2 chip in the USB-C AirPods Pro supports the 5GHz band of wireless frequencies for ultra-low latency and less interference, while the H2 chip in the original second-generation AirPods Pro with a Lightning case is limited to the 2.4GHz band. Apple says it is this 5GHz support that enables the updated AirPods Pro to support lossless audio with the Vision Pro, which is slated for release in the U.S. in early 2024.

You can watch the video below:

The addition of 5GHz wireless makes complete sense in hindsight, and it doesn’t surprise me that Apple prioritized sound quality and latency reduction for a platform where full immersion is key to the experience.

Beyond Vision Pro, however, I wonder whether we’ll ever have any updates on the lossless audio front regarding Apple Music and AirPods Pro.

We know that Apple Music’s lossless catalog supports resolutions “ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) up to 24-bit/192 kHz”. The new AirPods Pro fall short of supporting hi-res lossless playback at 24-bit/192 kHz, but so-called CD Quality lossless playback should now be within the capabilities of the device. Last time Apple gave a statement on the lack of lossless playback in AirPods Pro, they mentioned there are “other elements” to improve sound quality that aren’t necessarily about Bluetooth codecs. Is Apple waiting until they can support full 24-bit/192 kHz playback in future AirPods Pro hardware, or are there more audio-related changes coming with the launch of Vision Pro?

Permalink

Apple’s September 2023 Event: All The Small Things

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Apple covered a lot of ground today, and since the event concluded, more details have emerged about everything announced. We’ve been combing Apple’s product pages, social media, and other sources to learn more about the new iPhones, Apple Watches, and services, which we’ve collected below:

iPhones

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

AirPods Pro

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

  • The new AirPods Pro (2nd generation) include a USB-C port for charging and can be charged by connecting the earbuds directly to an iPhone with a USB-C port
  • The AirPods Pro case is now IP54-rated for added dust protection.
  • The AirPods Pro update supports Lossless Audio at low latency for use with the Apple Vision Pro.
  • An eagle-eyed person on Mastodon spotted an iPod HiFi in the keynote.
  • The AirPods Pro and Apple Watch can be charged by plugging their charger into an iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, or 15 Pro Max phone.

You can follow all of our September 2023 Apple event coverage through our September 2023 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2023 Apple event RSS feed.

AirPods Max Miss Out on Adaptive Audio, New ‘Siri’ Command, and More→

Chance Miller, writing last week at 9to5Mac, notes how Apple’s most expensive AirPods model are going to miss out on two key features announced at WWDC: Adaptive Audio (which blends Active Noise Cancelation and Transparency mode) and the new ‘Siri’ command that does not require saying ‘Hey’.

As my colleague Filipe Espósito also pointed out yesterday, the new “Siri” command is also exclusive to second-generation AirPods Pro. The same also applies to the new Faster Automatic Switching upgrade.

For context, AirPods Max are powered by two H1 chips, with one located in either ear cup. AirPods Pro 2 feature a next-generation H2 chip inside. Unsurprisingly, H1 + H1 does not equal H2.

I like my AirPods Max, but they’re over two years old at this point, and the gap between them and the second-generation AirPods Pro continues to grow.

The performance of noise cancelation is vastly superior on the AirPods Pro. I just had to travel 14+ hours back and forth between Italy and California for WWDC, so I was able to test AirPods Max on a plane for the first time since I bought them. They were fine, but I ultimately preferred using AirPods Pro because they removed more noise.

I hope Apple is working on an AirPods Max revision with support for H2, a foldable design, a new case, and support for the latest software features they just announced.

Permalink

Apple’s September 2022 Event: All The Small Things

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

As usual, Apple covered a lot of ground quickly today, and since the event concluded, more details have emerged about everything announced. We’ve been combing Apple’s product pages, Twitter, and other sources to learn more about its services, iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods Pro, which we’ve collected below:

iPhones

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Apple Watch

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

  • Not technically from today’s event, but yesterday, 9to5Mac reported that Apple is distributing a GymKit Certification Assistant app in the App Store to help gym equipment manufacturers integrate with Apple’s health and fitness products and services.
  • Hardware frames are also available for the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra.
  • MacRumors reports that the Apple Watch Ultra ships with a charger that includes a braided cable, an Apple Watch first.
  • Benjamin Mayo reports for 9to5Mac that the Nike Analogue, Bounce, Compact, Digital and Hybrid watch faces will no longer be tied to Nike versions of the Apple Watch and will be available for everyone when watchOS 9 is released September 12th.
  • I’m not sure there will be too many people pouring one out for the Apple Watch Series 3, which has worn out its welcome in Apple’s lineup, but as Juli Clover reports for MacRumors, it was officially discontinued yesterday.

Third-generation AirPods

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

  • Apple quietly released version of the third-generation AirPods that charges using a Lightning cable only, according to MacRumors.

Services

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

You can follow all of our September 2022 Apple event coverage through our September 2022 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2022 Apple event RSS feed.

Apple’s September 2022 Event: By the Numbers

Apple sprinkled facts, figures, and statistics throughout its presentation today. Here are highlights of some of those metrics from the event that was held online at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California.

iPhone

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

iPhone 14

  • 6.1 and 6.7” displays with 1200 nits peak brightness and 2 million:1 contrast ratio
  • A15 Bionic 6-core processor
  • 12MP TrueDepth camera with a 𝑓/1.9 aperture
  • 12MP Main camera with a 𝑓/1.5 aperture
  • 49% low-light performance improvement with the Main camera and 38% better low-light performance with the front-facing camera
  • Cinematic Mode can shoot video at 4K at 30 fps and 4K at 24 fps (also available on Pro models)
  • Crash detection (also on Pros) with the ability to detect 256 g of force

Read more

Next-Gen AirPods Pro: The MacStories Overview

As rumored, Apple announced a next-generation version of AirPods Pro today. The new AirPods feature a new Apple-designed H2 chip, improvements to sound and battery life, and more.

On the outside, the new AirPods Pro look just like the original model, coming in with exactly the same dimensions but with a case that weighs only about 5 grams more. But don’t let those looks deceive you. There are changes both to the inside and outside of Apple’s popular wireless earbuds.

Read more

Apple’s September 2022 Event: Apple Announces iPhones, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro Availability

Apple announced the following pre-order and availability dates for the products announced today:

iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max

Pre-Order: September 9th
Availability: Friday, September 16th, except for the iPhone 14 Plus which is coming October 7, 2022

Apple Watch Series 8 and SE

Pre-Order: Today
Availability: Friday, September 16th

Apple Watch Ultra

Pre-Order: Today
Availability: Friday, September 23rd

AirPods Pro

Pre-Order: Friday, September 9th
Availability: Friday, September 23rd

You can follow all of our September 2022 Apple event coverage through our September 2022 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2022 Apple event RSS feed.

HiRise 3: Twelve South’s Space-Saving, Three-in-One Charging Solution

Source: Twelve South.

Source: Twelve South.

Not long ago, Twelve South introduced a new 3-in-1 charger for the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro called the HiRise 3. I’ve used a Belkin 3-in-1 charger on my desk for a few years and love it, but it takes up quite a bit of space. So, when Twelve South recently offered to send me the HiRise 3 to test, I jumped at the chance to check out its more compact design. After using the HiRise 3 for the past few weeks, I’m happy with it overall and think it’s a great choice for most users, but it comes with a couple of limitations that you’ll want to consider before buying one yourself.

Read more