Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet for the last show of the year to look at Apple’s response to the worn out iPhone battery controversy, plus they share some favorite iPhone accessories.
AirPods
tvOS: Use AirPods With Apple TV Much Faster With This Trick
This should also work with other Apple headphones as long as it has a W1 chip.
AirPods Sold Out Until Early January 2018
If you’re planning on giving someone AirPods as a holiday present, you better already have them because Apple is sold out into January.
Apple Doubles Down on Proximity Sensing Tech with $390M Finisar Investment
Apple has big plans for proximity sensing technology in its products because it just invested US$390 million in VCSEL laser maker Finisar.
Apple Taps Sam Smith in 'Sway' Holiday Commercial for AirPods
Apple has a new holiday commercial out called Sway. The spot channels the feeling of Christmas without overtly mentioning that specific holiday, with a sound track by Sam Smith (“Palace”). It’s a subtle promotion of AirPods featuring two young dancers who meet and metaphorically fall in love. She gives him one of her AirPods, and they then dance and sway through the snow sharing the same song. The tag line is “move someone this holiday.” What do you think?
Want AirPods Today? Swing by Your Apple Store
If you’ve been pining for AirPods but haven’t felt like waiting weeks for delivery after ordering, head on over to your local Apple retail store because there’s a good chance you’ll find them on the shelf.
You Can Use AirPods on Airplanes
Want to use your AirPods on your next flight? Go ahead, because the FAA says it’s OK to use them—along with other Bluetooth headphones—on airplanes.
iOS 11: How to Customize Taps for Each of Your AirPods
Today’s Quick Tip is about using your AirPods with iOS 11—you can now customize what each individual AirPod does when you double-tap it! We think this is a pretty cool addition to the new version of iOS.
AirPods Wireless Charging Case May Ship in December
Apple’s AirPower and Qi-compatible wireless charging case for AirPods may ship this December.
Apple Intros AirPower Charging Mat, Wireless Charging AirPods Case
Apple’s surprise products at its “Let’s meet at our place” event were a large wireless charging plate for its new products, and an AirPods wireless charging case.
Apple Store Offline Ahead of iPhone X Launch Event
Apple’s online store was replaced with the familiar “We’ve got something special in store for you” sign early Tuesday morning ahead of today’s “Let’s meet at our place” media event.
iOS 10: Change Your AirPods' Behavior
If you’ve got some of Apple’s awesome little AirPods, you should know that you can change how they work; you could adjust what happens when you double-tap them, for example. That’s the subject of today’s Quick Tip!
AirVinyl Designs Skins for AirPods Case Video Review
AirVinyl Designs Skins are an easy an inexpensive way to customize your AirPods charging case, and Abhi Sirothia lets you know if they’re worth your time in this video review.
Curios Aren’t Just for Breakfast Anymore – Mac Geek Gab 662
Alternative AirPlay Receivers, iMac Upgrades, Troubleshooting in Console, and AirPods controls are just the first four things your two favorite geeks discuss today. Then it’s on to solving the issue of stale Contacts on your iPhone, MailDrop woes, and the Preppers approach to backups. All this and more in this week’s Mac Geek Gab podcast. You’re guaranteed to learn at least four new things.
5 Less Expensive Wireless Alternatives to AirPods
Last week Dr. Mac said he thought AirPods were too expensive… For those looking for decent-sounding, comfortable wireless headsets to use primarily with a single Apple device—an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac—he says he knows many models that will serve your needs and cost you less than AirPods.
Don't Count on AirPods in iPhone 8 Box
Apple may bundle AirPods with this fall’s iPhone 8, according to an analyst report from JPMorgan. As great as that would be, at least for some iPhone fans, it’s not going to happen.
Follow The Dots...to Mac Geek Gab 656
Cool Stuff Found and Quick Tips in the same episode? You bet! John F. Braun and Dave Hamilton aim to deliver for you each and every week. And since the goal is to learn at least four new things each week, some options might include keeping your Mac awaken only when you like, managing Siri’s holidays when set for a foreign voice, yet another replacement for DeskConnect, and a segment one listener calls “follow the dots.” You’ll just have to listen to see what that is all about. Press play and enjoy, folks!
Apple Watch, AirPods, Beats Sales Hit Fortune 500 Level
Apple Watch sales, along with AirPods and Beats headphones have hit Fortune 500 level, which means they’re bringing in over US$5 billion to Apple’s “other products” category. Company CEO Tim Cook shared that detail during the company’s second fiscal quarter earnings report on Tuesday.
Is Your Wi-Fi Security Worth Its Salt? – Mac Geek Gab 655
Splitting the check, making your EarPods or AirPods fit better, and pen-based note-taking are just the Cool Stuff Found segment. Then your two favorite geeks talk you through fixing Wi-Fi connection issues on both your iPhone and your Mac, and also help you choose the right speed plan from your ISP. That’s not all, though, and you’ll hear much more when you press play (just do it!).
8 Ways to See the Charge Level of Your AirPods
If you’ve got a pair of Apple’s bluetooth headphones, dubbed “AirPods,” then it’s good to know that there are tons of ways to check their battery levels. Considering that the AirPods don’t have a physical indicator of how much charge they’ve got, that’s a good thing! In today’s Quick Tip, Melissa Holt’s gonna go over a number of methods for finding out how much more listenin’ you can do.
Air Vinyl Lets You Decorate Your AirPod Case
Check out Air Vinyl Design‘s self titled product, Air Vinyl. They’re simple vinyl decorations for your plain white AirPods case. Sure, a lot of people would never sully their pristine Apple design, but a lot of people love to decorate their Apple devices. Since the AirPods case is something you need to use all the time, I can definitely see folks wanting to personalize them. Especially if you want a way to quickly identify your case from everyone else’s. Air Vinyls are made of vinyl, and they’re designed to be removable. There are currently eight designs, as shown, but the designer told me he has ones coming for San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago, and when I suggested Cupertino, he thought it a splendid idea. They’re being sold in sets: Los Angeles, CA; Music Mixer; and Rorschach Drops, as grouped below. Each set is $5.99.
iOS 10.3: Using "Find My AirPods"
This Quick Tip is about the new “Find My AirPods” feature that’s available now with iOS 10.3. If you’ve lost one of those tiny white headphones somewhere in your house, this’ll help you locate it, and Melissa Holt’s gonna tell you how!
Airpod Skins Add a Splash of Colorful Protection to Apple AirPods
Check out Airpod Skins, which the company described to me as “minimal color protectors for apple AirPods.” I’m sure there are folks who would be interested in helping to protect the finish of their AirPods, but I thought they simply look great. They’re a simple wrap available in a dozen colors, with some of those colors involving a fade from top to bottom. They’re priced at A$8.25 and are available now. Each order includes two sets, too.
Black AirPods Exist Thanks To BlackPods
A company called BlackPods is offering custom painted AirPods, but as the name suggests they only offer them in black. Matte black, to be specific. You can buy a pair directly from the company, or send in your own pair and pay to have them coated using a custom process.