Apple Delays AirPods Beyond Original 'Late October' Window (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Apple's new wireless, $180 AirPods have less than a week to meet their original shipping target of "late October," and now the company has confirmed that such a launch is officially off the table. A Wednesday statement, given to Ars Technica just one day ahead of the company's latest Mac-related press event, confirmed Apple's decision to delay the wireless headphones' launch. In the statement, Apple tells Ars that the company "needs a little more time before AirPods are ready for our customers." "The early response to AirPods has been incredible," the Apple statement reads. "We don't believe in shipping a product before it's ready." Apple declined to offer any estimate or release window information about when to expect the AirPods' official launch.

Comments

Courage

[Jason1729]

Timmy needs to find the courage to get his supply chain under control.

Re:Courage

[ASDFnz]

Yeah, he should just shove things through whether they are ready or not, Samsung did do just that and they haven't had a problem yet right?

I am not really trying to defend Apple, I am just pointing out that unless something is ready the end user experience can be flammable at times.

Re:Courage

[Spazmania]

What battery tech is in these devices you stick in your ear? Did they choose Lithium Ion?

Re: Courage

[Anonymous Coward]

I know first hand. The battery tech isn't completed. Right now, the prototype EarPods only last 15 minutes. The right EarPod with the controller and button lasts only 10 minutes. These also heat up quite a bit during discharge specifically with phone calls.

We were hoping the new battery tech would be ready lipo2 but the fast charge capabilities of the battery greatly reduce the endurance.

We are now trying a much slower charging lithium ion tech but requires a change in the weight and form factor.

Re:Courage

[Jason1729]

Are you seriously implying that Apple announced a product would be on the market the next month without having the design done and production well underway?

You really think they would expect to finish a design, get it produced in China and into customers hands in America in six weeks?

There is now shoving though, it was done on September 1st. This delay is a 100% manufacturing and logistics f-up. And that was supposed to be Timmy's specialty as the former COO and chief bean counter. If the idiot can't even get that right, what use is he?

Re:Courage

[ASDFnz]

You are guessing what the problem is, you actually have no idea.

I don't know either but I wont pretend to. For all you know it might be a battery issue that causes them to burst into flames, late production problems happen so who knows.

Re:Courage

[stealth_finger]

No problem. Just fall back on your wir.....Oh yeah.

Re:Courage

[Anonymous Coward]

Is that conjecture or known fact? Because I conjecture - clear speculation - that it went something more like this. We know that reviewers have had the "pre-production" units in their hands for daily use for more than a month. Those reviewers have been constrained from actually reviewing yet, but have shown that they have them in public and in videos. They probably gave Apple feedback like "falls out of your ears when running; would not buy" or the like. And of course Apple, wary of another "you're holding it wrong" incident followed by a "oops, here's your free case to make the phone actually work as a phone" took it seriously. Maybe they are quickly producing a snap on band that goes over the ear and behind the head like most other BT headphones have. Maybe they are trying to get that to fit in existing charging cases or re-doing the case too to fit a band. Anyway, just conjecture but it seems just as plausible as a manufacturing and logistics snafu.

Re:Courage

[AmiMoJo]

It's got to be lithium, nothing else will get you the energy density and form factor. At least you have to remove them from your body before charging them. Lots of people charge their phones in their pockets from a second lithium battery.

Re:Courage

[Custard Horse]

That's a fair point but this isn't Kickstarter we're talking about, it's Apple. Knowing the market as they do, you would have expected final production to be underway before the announcement.

I'm not being particularly critical - as long as Apple can supply in time for Christmas all will be well.

Re:Courage

[Anonymous Coward]

It's really unfortunate that the iPhone doesn't have an alternative to minijack for wired headphones. The fact that the Air Pods were going to be the first bluetooth headphones ever makes things even worse.

At least Apple should have included an adapter or something with the new iPhone.

Amazing

[110010001000]

Amazing that the richest company in the world can't coordinate product launches with each other. Yet AI and self-driving cars are right around the corner and we are going to colonize Mars soon. Right?

Re:Amazing

[AHuxley]

The really great staff now have to look after the average new staff. With less of the really great staff getting real work done, issues start to be seen in public.

Re:Amazing

[Maritz]

Yet AI and self-driving cars are right around the corner and we are going to colonize Mars soon. Right?

Still obsessed with Mars eh?

Who says AI is right around the corner? Depends what AI you mean. Nobody with intelligence is saying strong AI is around the corner. AI like Watson is already here. Self-driving cars are already here.

Apple can't get their wireless ear buds in time for launch with phone? I'll just file that one under D for DGAF. Doesn't really prove anything wider to be honest.

An idea for Apple

[Bueller_007]

Next time you feel like doing something brash, like removing a ubiquitous, standardized, and completely functional feature from your products, such as the headphone jack in order to promote wireless listening, why don't you go ahead and make the Bluetooth headphones available FIRST?

Or better yet, don't eliminate the jack at all. This isn't the 3.5" floppy in the age of CDs that we're talking about here. The headphone jack works well, it's standard, and it's on literally almost EVERYTHING that outputs sound.

And now Apple is set to announce tomorrow that its professional line of laptops will be moving completely to USB-C.

This company has lost its way and its mind.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

Next time you feel like doing something brash, like removing a ubiquitous, standardized, and completely functional feature from your products, such as the headphone jack in order to promote wireless listening, why don't you go ahead and make the Bluetooth headphones available FIRST?

Bluetooth headphones have literally been available for years. These are just the first Apple-branded bluetooth earphones. iPhone 7s come with Lightning Earpods in the box, and you have the option of using any of the thousands of different Bluetooth earphones that have been on the market for years. This delay is not the disaster you are making it out to be.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't forget, Apple will also be eliminating the Escape key from their Professional laptop line as well.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

And yet iPhones users have been buying/using 3.5mm corded headphones by the hundreds of millions, WHILE bluetooth has been available.

For something soooooo superior, you'd think no one would be using corded headphones.

Yet another device to plug in, and other synced devices to pull away the iPhone from your bluetooth headphones. That simply means it's not ready yet.

Re:An idea for Apple

[uncqual]

You also have to be careful to use the correct drill bit - titanium nitrite is recommended as it improves the signal quality once the headphone jack has been exposed.

Any drill bit you use will leave trace material on the surface of the hole and this of course effects the quality of the signal (the residue acts as an unpredictable unbalanced shield -- obviously bad news).

Although titanium nitrite bits result in much higher sound quality than HSS bits, some experts suggest using Monster drill bits to be sure to get the best quality sound, Although my experiments indicate this only yields a minor improvement over titanium nitrite bits, the true audiophile may want to make the investment in spite of the cost of the Monster bits. One reason they work better is that Monster bits have a more even proprietary coating on them so it rubs off more evenly and Monster tests each bit using scientific quality assurance methods to insure each bit meets their standards.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

This company has lost its way and its mind.

You can thank the SJWs; they're toxic.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

So the laptops will be getting lightening ports as well? Probably not, so you won't be able to use the corded headphones you got or bought for your phone with your laptop.

While I like cordless headphones, I think as user there is absolutely no benefit that they removed the 3.5mm headphone jack. It made life easier for their engineers, but that should have been their problem, not ours.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

Bluetooth headphones have been available for over a decade.

Or since you are complaining about a lack of tiny earbud headphones, you could use the wired headphones of the exact same form factor that are included free in the box.

Or you can take any superior headphones using the standard 3.5mm connector, which as a separate thing you are already carrying around, connect the included free in the box lightning adapter to them and still continue to have only one separate thing to carry around, and plug those in as well.

There is literally only one valid complaint about having to use the lightning connector for audio, that you then can not use the charging adapter at the same time, and that isn't even an issue you raised.

Complaining you will lose your headphones with the adapter attached to them, yet won't lose the same headphones without the adapter attached, sounds dubious.
Complaining about a lack of earbud headphones you want, yet claiming you hate earbud headphones, also sounds dubious.
Complaining about a lack of Bluetooth headphones on the market is just silly.

The worst of which however is complaining about feature changes on a device that you swore years ago you would never be caught dead owning.
Removing or adding back the built in headphone jack will not change the fact it is an Apple iPhone, which is your deciding factor for not buying one. So what difference could it possibly make?

Re:An idea for Apple

[stealth_finger]

Nah, you can just use a hammer and nail. Get a 3,5mm(ish) nail, find the right hole and give it a bloody good smack and job's a goodun'

Re:An idea for Apple

[stealth_finger]

They could have included a special plug the fill the 3.5mm jack if you don't need it and want improved waterproofness. Although waterproof 3.5mm jacks exist and are barely more expensive than a non waterproof one, the contacts inside can still corrode due to salt in sweat for example.

What are you dong with your phone that you get sweat in the jack?

Re:An idea for Apple

[Gussington]

The headphone jack works well, it's standard, and it's on literally almost EVERYTHING that outputs sound.

And it's better quality. The limitations with Bluetooth mean it has to be compressed. So in true Apple fashion, it cost more, does less.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Zontar The Mindless]

He's using it while making the arduous climb from his mother's basement, of course.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Maritz]

Bluetooth headphones have literally been available for years.

Bluetooth headphones are shit.

Re:An idea for Apple

[jabuzz]

Right because fully waterproof to IP68 3.5mm jack sockets have not been available for years already?

Sony have been doing waterproof phones now since early 2013 at the latest with waterproof jack sockets that required no plug and/or cover. By the time they got to the Z5 they even had waterproof microUSB sockets that don't need a cover as well.

The claims about needing to do it for waterproofing is just utter rubbish that Apple fan boys lap up because they don't know any better.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Maritz]

Complaining about a lack of Bluetooth headphones on the market is just silly.

Anyone who cares about audio and has tried Bluetooth headphones knows that audio on BT is fucking shite.

It's fun to see all the mental gymnastics of people though. Keep going.

Re:An idea for Apple

[Custard Horse]

All the iphone owners I know (mostly my kids and their friends) get through many sets of earphones a year. They are always replaced with another set of wired headphones at minimal cost. I've not seen a bluetooth replacement being favoured.

As for the listening and charging issue - I didn't foresee that being a problem (I don't listen to music on my phone) but those users I have spoken to say that it's a deal breaker.

Not being able to listen with wired headphones whilst charging the phone is a real problem. I guess if you view the phone as your social and media hub, you need to be able to charge it whatever you happen to be doing. That's just not possible with the iphone 7 unless you are forced to use BT headphones. That's not the complete solution as your headphones are discharging whilst you are charging your phone which means you need a wired set for when the BT headphones die and your phone is charged.

Re:An idea for Apple

[ausekilis]

Most iPhone users just use the ones that came in the box. And they'll do the same with the Lightning ones.

This right here is the rub. Apple made a huge deal about removing the headphone jack (COURAGE!) and suggesting the real replacement for their iBuds (or whatever) were to be these bluetooth headphones for $169. They manufactured an inconvenience to entice their customers to spend more money. It's really like getting that new shiny $2000 MacBook, then they say "Oh, you want to be able to charge it? well, we can sell you this $500 wireless charger because we did away with the charging port. We needed the space to put in this handy piece of plastic."

So now they are saying "Remember all that courage we showed when we removed the headphone jack and promised that these $170 headphones of the savior would be all you need? Yea... about that.... the headphones suck and we can't sell them to you yet".

Re:An idea for Apple

[LynnwoodRooster]

How appropriate: "You are in the Apple Ecosystem. There is no Escape."

Re:An idea for Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

Bluetooth headphones are shit.

I've owned several bluetooth headphones over the past 10 years that sound just as good as wired. It's not the sound quality that the problem, it's the price.

Re: An idea for Apple

[Type44Q]

Well, you're obviously a complete cunt and you weren't being ironic with the use of the term... I think you may be onto something, there. ;)

Re:An idea for Apple

[tsqr]

Most iPhone users just use the ones that came in the box. And they'll do the same with the Lightning ones.

84,000,000 headphones were sold in the US in 2015, 64% earbuds. Do you really think they were all bought by Android users?

Re:An idea for Apple

[SvnLyrBrto]

> audio on BT is fucking shite.

Yeah. And if you were even a pretend audiophile, you'd be making the same complaint about:

1) mp3/AAC audio files (lossy compression)
2) Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, or any other streaming service (lossy compression plus buffering and internet streaming artifacts)
3) The cheap little D/A chipset that's compact and low-power enough to fit in any phone. (Not isolated enough from other electronics to prevent artifacts)
4) The cheap little amp circuit that's compact and low-power enough to fit in any phone. (More of the above.)
5) The fact that the vast bulk of 3.5mm corded headphones are crap, even if you're listening to lossless audio on a high-end stereo with good D/A conversion and a tube amp.
6) The fact that even if the headphones themselves are good, the actual cable on most 3.5mm headphones is woefully sucepptable to picking up electrinoc noise from just about anything.

Since you failed to make any of these complaints, but zeroed in on the one thing that's unique (for now) to Apple; it's pretty clear that you aren't even a real poseur, much less a ture audiophile. You're just looking for an excuse, any excuse, to bitch about Apple. Nothing but more of the same that you lot have been doing pretty much since there's *been* an Apple. I hear that profits are down vs. last year. For your next trick, will you be bringing the "beleaguered" and "shut it down and return the money to the shareholders" lines back out of the closet? Maybe you can even go for the "only idiots too dumb to use the command line use a mouse" routine too.

Oh, they aren't out yet.

[GuB-42]

That's why I didn't see reports of AirPods being lost.

Re:Oh, they aren't out yet.

[Maritz]

Who cares if they get lost? They're only $95 each.

They don't want to hurt iPhone 7 sales

[HumanEmulator]

My theory is that the headphones are ready, but Apple is worried that when people realize Bluetooth headphones are fundamentally unreliable, it will hurt iPhone 7 sales. Better to wait until further into the holiday shopping season and prevent any bad press or YouTube videos from impacting phone sales, then drop the headphones closer to the holidays so bad reviews haven't had time to sink into the public consciousness to hurt the gift-giving headphone sales.

It's not that I think these are going to be bad headphones, as much as Bluetooth headphones just don't work a lot of places and a lot of people are going to be disappointed.

I guess they lost them!

[BrianTarbox]

The airpods aren't delayed because they're not ready, Apple simply lost them.

$180 for earphones?

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

$180 for earphones that will (sooner or later) die because the battery degrades? Seriously?

Wow, the "sucker market" is way bigger than I realized. This makes my helium-filled anchor look downright silly.