New Apple AirPods might launch ‘as soon as this year’

Review: Apple AirPods

The next iteration of the Apple AirPods might come sooner than we think. A new report from Bloomberg claims the company might release the next version of these in-ear wireless headphones “as soon as this year.” The next AirPods will reportedly have upgraded wireless chip designed by Apple to keep its Bluetooth connection. This version will also supposedly be able to rouse Siri just by saying the keywords “Hey, Siri.” You no longer need to physically tap on the AirPods to do so.

On top of this, a water-resistant version might come out as early as 2019. But like the new iPhones, these won’t be built for complete submersion. Instead they’ll be able to handle splashes of water and rain. We might also expect a wireless AirPods charging case soon, as Apple has previously said.

Source: CNET

Apple tests out ‘Find My AirPods’ feature on iOS

Now it’s becoming clear why Apple banned a certain app built to help find its wireless earbuds. Apple is building the feature into iOS. The latest beta version of the mobile operating system now has the “Find My AirPods” feature. It’ll help you locate the misplaced AirPods in a few ways: it’ll either ping them via Bluetooth, within a range of around five to 10 feet, to a device connected to the same iCloud account the AirPods are registered; or show you a map where the AirPods were last connected via Bluetooth; or the app can make the AirPods play a sound. If you’re using the beta version of iOS, you should have access to this feature and hopefully won’t ever lose your AirPods again.

Source: Quartz

Apple bans app for looking for missing AirPods

If you tend to misplace things, losing an AirPod earpiece won’t come as a surprise. That’s why an app designed specifically to help look for said earpiece is useful. But Apple doesn’t seem to think so. Deucks Pty’s Finder for Airpods has been taken down from the App Store and Raajit Sharm, one of the Deucks Pty’s developers says it isn’t coming back. In an email to Fortune, Sharm says: “Apple determined the ‘concept’ of people finding their AirPods with the app was deemed ‘not appropriate for the App Store.’”

This US$3.99 app makes use of the AirPods Bluetooth signal to help you track the earpiece and lets users know if they’re closer or farther to finding the AirPods based on how strong or weak the signal is. It’s not the most effective way to locate the accessory but it’s better than nothing. We can’t quite say what makes this inappropriate for the App Store. But Apple hasn’t released a statement yet about this. What Apple wants you to do when you lose these AirPods is pay US$69 each for a lost earpiece.

Video: Apple AirPods unboxing and first impressions

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

For those who were quick enough to order Apple's anticipated AirPods, they began arriving today and were available in limited quantities at Apple Retail Stores. We received our order today and have just set up the AirPods to work with our main smartphone, the iPhone SE.

Out of the box, the AirPods are encased in their tiny charging case. This small, white case does look like a fancy case for dental floss, contact lenses or some other medical apparatus. There are hints of metal in the design of this case as well as a small recessed button. Apple does provide a lightning charger in the box.

Click to read more ...