Apple AirPods

Samsung has launched a slew of products at its virtual Unpacked event today including its latest smartphones, smartwatch, fully-wireless earbuds, and more. The new devices offer some compelling features ahead of Apple unveiling the iPhone 12 and new Apple Watch later this year.

Koss, the US company which created the first-ever high-fidelity stereo headphones, is suing Apple, accusing the AirPods maker of infringing five patents on wireless headphones. The claim is made against both AirPods and Beats wireless headphones.

Much of the court filing reads like an extended ad for the company’s achievements, and the specific claims suggest that the company is making a rather ambitious play …

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Apple continues to expand its optimized battery charging capability. With iOS 14, Apple says that AirPods will now learn from your charging routine and wait to charge past 80% until you need to use them.

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Yesterday, Kuo released his roadmap for Apple’s ARM Mac transition, which is set to be officially announced in just a few hours. And today, the TF Securities analyst continues his reporting with an update on AirPods.

Kuo believes that Apple will continue to sell second-generation AirPods through this year’s holiday season. The company will replace them with AirPods 3 in the first half of 2021. Kuo describes the AirPods 3 as featuring a new form factor design “similar to AirPods Pro”.

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Apple Watch sales fell year-on-year during the first quarter, reports Canalys. The market intelligence firm estimates that shipments fell from 6M in Q1 2019 to 5.2M in the same quarter this year.

Apple’s market share also fell sharply, from 46.7% last year to 36.3% this year …

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In May, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo raised the idea that Apple is not planning to include its wired EarPod earbuds in the iPhone 12 box, as it has done with all previous iPhone models.

Now, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is also saying that he is hearing the same: “our checks that likely no wired EarPods will come in the iPhone 12 box/packaging”. Ultimately, this will help Apple drive sales of its wireless AirPods earbuds ever higher.

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Growth in wearables is expected to slow dramatically this year for three reasons, all coronavirus related.

First, there is arguably less need for things like smartwatches while people are under lockdown at home. Fitness functionality is less relevant when gyms are closed and many people are unable to exercise as much as usual …

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Apple has earned the award for Best in Show at the 99th ADC Awards for its playful and fun AirPods ad, “Bounce.” Apple also took home the award for Client of the Year and its partner TBWA\Media Arts Lab won Best Ad Agency of the Year.

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A report today suggests that Apple may not include free EarPods in the iPhone 12 box.

While Kuo indicates that this is intended to boost sales of AirPods, I personally don’t think it would do that. What it will do is reduce pointless waste …

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According to the latest report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple may not include the wired EarPods headphones in the box of the iPhone 12. This would naturally drive sales of Apple’s second-generation AirPods, as customers would no longer be getting free headphones with their new phones.

Kuo suggests that Apple may heavily promote or discount the AirPods this holiday season, with no new models of AirPods or AirPods Pro expected until 2021.

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For people who have been calling on Apple to offer AirPods in different colors, HTC is listening. According to images that passed through regulatory agencies in the United States and Taiwan, HTC is preparing to launch a pair of black truly wireless earbuds that look very much like AirPods.

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Apple’s VP of product marketing Greg Joswiak recently talked with Wired about the runaway success of AirPods. According to the Apple executive, the spread of AirPods throughout society has been “almost like wildfire.”

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A new report today says that AirPods will be made in Vietnam for the first time this quarter, as Apple accelerates plans to diversify production outside China.

It also suggests the company is preparing for a fall in demand for AirPods in the current quarter due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis …

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Update: Kuo has issued an update to his report, saying that AirPods 3 will go into mass production during the first half of 2021, not the first half of 2020. We’ve updated our piece below as well.

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has published a new investor note today focused on Apple’s growing AirPods business. According to the analyst, Apple’s over-ear headphones will enter mass production sometime this summer. There are also new AirPods and AirPods Pro on the way.

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Monday morning arrived this week before I was ready for it. Fortunately the weather outdoors was more inviting than the day before. I took the opportunity to break my recent unhealthy habit of nearly-no-fitness to go outside, listen to a few podcasts, and take a walk.

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Piper Sandler is out today with its latest semiannual survey highlighting teen interest in brands and spending habits. According to the the latest Taking Stock With Teens survey, iPhone ownership has hit a new all-time high of 85%, up from 83% in the same survey last year.

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Apple today released a fun new commercial for its new AirPods Pro wireless earbuds, released last October. The ad centers around an AirPods Pro wearing woman who uses transparency mode to do errands around the city whilst switching to noise cancellation mode to be transported into the music.

Not that the AirPods Pro particularly need marketing, the buds have been sold out basically since launch. Apple currently quotes a month-long delivery delay if you order now from the Apple Online Store. Watch the ad after the break …

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Logitech has launched a new three three-in-one wireless charging dock for the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch.

Beautifully crafted and meticulously engineered, the $129.99 Logitech POWERED 3-in-1 Dock offers a new home for your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all at once. Finally, you can have a seamless charging experience worthy of the products you rely on every day—all in a compact form that fits perfectly on your nightstand or desk. POWERED 3-in-1  Dock is available in graphite and white.

Two other products were announced at the same time …

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