No Apple ear tubes for you this year.

[wvjohn]

Lol. I would think that synch issues would have been an obvious engineering 101 type problem.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/12/ ... s---report

Apple having trouble syncing audio between wireless AirPods - report
By Neil Hughes
Friday, December 09, 2016, 09:06 am PT (12:06 pm ET)

Continued delays for Apple's completely wireless AirPods headphones are reportedly related to troubles in syncing audio between the two separate earpieces, according to a new report.




Citing a person familiar with development of the AirPods, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Apple's stumbling block is the wireless connectivity between the left and right parts.

Unlike with most headphones, Apple's AirPods are completely wireless, with each earpiece unattached to the other. This requires the two parts to stay in sync, otherwise stereo sound would become disorienting.

In addition, the same person reportedly said that beyond audio sync issues, Apple is also still working out what to do when a user loses one of the AirPods, or if the battery dies in just one of the units.

First announced alongside the iPhone 7 in September, Apple's AirPods were originally due to launch in October. But Apple missed that launch window, and has since said that the headphones will debut later this year.




AppleInsider's own sources said in November that AirPods remained on track to launch before the end of 2016. With with more than a week down in the month of December, Apple's window for launch before Christmas and the start of 2017 is dwindling.

Certain selected reviewers were provided AirPods by Apple back in September. And retail stores around the country already have demo units onhand awaiting a launch.

The latest indications could suggest that those units in the wild may need a software update to address nagging problems related to syncing the wireless earpieces.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook allegedly sent an email to a customer in late November telling them to expect AirPods to begin shipping in the "next few weeks."

Apple's AirPods, Powerbeats 3, Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones all feature a the Apple-designed W1 chip that makes it easier to pair with multiple Apple devices. In addition to the W1, AirPods also include beam-forming microphones, accelerometers, infrared sensors, and a small charging and carrying case that will provide more power on the go as well as the mechanism to sync with the iPhone 7.

[FlyingPenguin]

Bluetooth sucks. It's a horrible standard, and to make matters worse its usually poorly implemented. Not surprising they're having issues.

[Err]

I read a rumor that Samsung may drop its 3.5 jack also. If this trend keeps up, I'm going to eventually buy a FIIO X3.

[wvjohn]

just saw somewhere that they are now shipping first ones but OOS now. Amazon has a bunch of aftermarket wired clip on to keep them from disappearing.

[Pugsley]

How soon before people start wedging them in ears and getting them stuck and going to the emergency room to have them removed?

[Err]

iFixit teardown:http://arstechnica.com/apple/2016/12/yo ... ff-inside/

You can't fix these things.

[wvjohn]