Profiling and Critiquing the First Generation Apple AirPods
Profile
The original AirPods were first announced during Apple’s iPhone 7 event on September 7, 2016. This was one of Apple’s biggest events to date because they had revealed their plan to courageously kill off the headphone jack from the iPhone 7. This is a feature that hasn’t been added back nor will it be likely to be added back to any future iPhone. This decision made by Apple resulted in immediate backlash and mockery but AirPods were able to benefit from the decision that was made. AirPods were originally scheduled to launch in October 2016 but due to unexplained audio glitches delayed their shipping date. They officially released December 13, 2016 and once AirPods became more available, it didn’t take long for them to take over.
The goal for AirPods was to bring user’s a wireless audio experience that they haven’t previously had. AirPods were the first headphones to deliver a “breakthrough wireless audio experience” with the W1 chip embedded in them. The W1 chip allowed them to deliver innovative features including high quality sound, good battery life, and the automatic setup feature. AirPods can intelligently and seamlessly switch from a call on a user’s iPhone to then listening to music. AirPods eliminate the hassle of setting up wireless headphones, as soon as the user opens the charging case near their iPhone and begins to put headphones in their ear, the AirPods seamlessly connect to the user’s iPhone.
The W1 chip was first introduced through AirPods but Apple has had so much success and good reviews about the W1 that they started to implement it into their different products such as Beats for an example. Along with the W1, the built in sensors detect when AirPods are inserted into ear canals and when they are removed. This allows users to start or stop their music or podcast they’re listening to by simply removing or inserting an AirPod. The original AirPods featured customization options alongside clever tap controls which made them even easier to use for users. Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing at the time of the launch, crystallized the features that would ultimately make AirPods so successful (CultOfMac).
AirPods are a prime example of ubiquitous computing, I can relate and provide examples from my daily life as I use AirPods heavily. AirPods work so well with the Apple ecosystem which is part of the reason that they are so ubiquitous. With a simple lift of the case and beginning to put one of these wireless headphones into your ear, they immediately begin to connect to your iPhone and prepare options for you like different music and even podcasts to start listening to right away. I have found them great to use and I tend to forget I’m even wearing them while I’m doing an activity such as working out. While working out I am able to use my Apple Watch that is seamlessly working with my AirPods to control my music volume, change the song, or answer any notification that I may receive. They blend so effortlessly into the user’s daily life and this is part of the reason that they have gotten so much recognition and continued support which has allowed Apple to come out with more advanced generations as they grow older.
Critique
After the AirPods released, they were almost immediately mocked and received a great amount of backlash for the design of the headphones and the design of the case they charged in looked like. The original AirPods design looked almost identical to the EarPods that used to be included with the iPhone, just with the wire being cut off of them. There was not much difference between the two but if you compare the original AirPods to the AirPods 3 which are Apple’s most recent release of the product line, you can see how they improved on this design critique. The newest AirPods feature a shorter stem and a new in-ear design which give them a fresher look and users seem to like this new futuristic design. Along with the AirPods themselves, the charging case/ unit included with them also received a great amount of negative comments. The original AirPods charging case was mocked and compared to dental floss, as the two looked very similar to one another. Although Apple didn’t improve on this design critique right away with the AirPods 2, they redesigned the case as well on the AirPods 3 and the AirPods Pro. Apple redesigned the charging case with a more unique oval design and also gave the charging case features to charge with MagSafe. MagSafe is Apple’s magnetic technology that has been built into the internal engineering of iPhone and AirPod models. It was originally created as a safety feature for the MacBook but it is now their new ecosystem accessory for easy attachment and wireless charging.
With the release of AirPods, many consumers sought these wireless headphones out to use them for their different activities such as working out. The first two generations of AirPods were not sweat and water resistant. This quickly became a big problem because any situation in which accidental moisture or heavy sweat got into the internals of the AirPods, this caused irrevocable damage to them (ScreenRant). AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro have been designed to be water and sweat resistant due to these previous issues.
AirPods like all other Apple products launched with a premium price tag of $159. This was no surprise because Apple’s customers know when they’re buying an Apple product that they are going to pay a pretty penny for it. AirPods launch price set the base price for all wireless headphones being released at the time by competing brands as well. With the AirPods 3, they were launched at a price of $179. As products continue to release as technology advances, Apple has done a decent job keeping the price within the same range as the original AirPods by still offering the latest generation and newest features. The AirPods 3 can also be found discounted at retailers such as Best Buy and Target.
Another feature that wasn’t the best when the original AirPods launched was the microphone quality. This was noticeable when users would use AirPods on phone calls and FaceTime calls. An article pointed out this critique by saying “you would not use them for recording an interview. (MacintoshHowTo). I can personally relate to this type of experience when courses for Drexel were moved to remote and we used Zoom for live classes. It was noticeable when students would be using first generation AirPods on these live calls because when they participated, their microphone quality wasn’t as good as users who were using the newer model of Airpods. Apple fixed this critique by improving the microphone quality on the latest models of AirPods.
In closing, there are always going to be a few things that are unpreventable with a ubiquitous device such as AirPods. These problems are mostly caused by user error but at the same time they are caused by the design of the product. AirPods are notoriously known for being small and easily lost. Although Apple does sell replacement earphones in the case a user does lose them, they will cost the user a premium price.
AirPods have come a long way as they continue to improve and fix their critiques with every new generation. Whether it’s the design of them or the features offered, they are continuing to evolve and improve. They are able to offer users a ubiquitous experience with the newest features and seamlessly blending into their life.
