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Apple Planning "High-End" Version of AirPods

posted by martyb on Wednesday June 27 2018, @03:21AM   Printer-friendly
from the Hear!-Hear! dept.

takyon writes:

It turns out that the $159 earbuds that Apple was selling weren't actually "high-end":

Apple Inc. is about to pump up the volume on its audio-device strategy, planning higher-end AirPods, a new HomePod and studio-quality over-ear headphones for as early as next year, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Cupertino, California-based company is working on new AirPods with noise-cancellation and water resistance, the people said. Apple is trying to increase the range that AirPods can work away from an iPhone or iPad, one of the people said. You won't be swimming in them though: The water resistance is mainly to protect against rain and perspiration, the people said.

Slated for 2019, the earbuds will likely cost more than the existing $159 pair, and that could push Apple to segment the product line like it does with iPhones, one of the people said. Apple is also working on a wireless charging case that's compatible with the upcoming AirPower charger.

Related: "Finder for Airpods" Not Allowed in Apple's Walled Garden

See also: Google's Pixel Buds are the company's first wireless headphones

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  • (Score: 2) by Rich on Wednesday June 27 2018, @10:20AM (3 children)

    by Rich (945) on Wednesday June 27 2018, @10:20AM (#699212) Journal

    I've been saying for ages that Apple is moving to be in a market with LVMH or Kering, rather than Microsoft or Google. Or maybe a very comfortable monopoly position just in between.

    While it surely applies for the typical post-classic fanboy dork, would you think it's Stockholm Syndrome when a trophy wife buys a Chanel handbag?

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  • (Score: 2) by aiwarrior on Wednesday June 27 2018, @10:45AM (2 children)

    by aiwarrior (1812) on Wednesday June 27 2018, @10:45AM (#699216) Journal

    @Rich, what is a trophy wife? This seems a weird concept. Do you think this is common in the USA

    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Rich on Wednesday June 27 2018, @11:22AM (1 child)

      by Rich (945) on Wednesday June 27 2018, @11:22AM (#699232) Journal

      Rich, what is a trophy wife? This seems a weird concept.

      A visually highly presentable single-customer hooker that accepts payment in goods? e.g. "Darling, you get me the new $299 Apple AirPods when you go downtown later?"

      Do you think this is common in the USA

      It probably correlates with the density of the financial elite.