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Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by codq on Monday October 23, 2017 @10:07PM (#15538682)
Even on the treadmill? Even going hard?

I'm not trying to push buttons. I use Jaybird X3s and feel comfort from the corded nature of the headphones. Here on the streets of NYC, I see AirPods more as fashion statements over an actual audio solution.

The instantaneous pairing sounds lovely, but I'm concerned most concerned with audio quality, bluetooth connection in a busy city, and general practical logistics both in and out of the gym.

Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by askafriend on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @03:05AM (#15539760)
I play basketball in AirPods. That should tell you all you need to know. Running, jumping, trick shots, drills, 1:1, and they've never fallen out even once.

I used to have JayBird X2s. They were fine but they definitely fell out from time to time and I'd always have to subconsciously "manage" the cord.

AirPods are my primary gym headphones and I'm never going back. I will pay double or even triple to replace them if I had to. That's how much value they deliver in my day to day life.

Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by Bud on Monday October 23, 2017 @10:10PM (#15538696)
Yes, even going hard. I can't dislodge AirPods even if I shake my head around as hard as I can and try to dislodge them. My wife is on the treadmill almost every day with hers, running fast; she has no issues with them falling out, either. I do get that the security of a cord is preferable for some, but I've had a really great user experience. I don't wear them because they are fashionable; I think they look rather dorky, to be honest. But I love how they work.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by kalleboo on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @01:15AM (#15539389)
I tried wearing them at the gym, but I sweat too much.

I've also had one fall out when I was out shopping. I was on an escalator and managed to pick it up, but now I'm super paranoid whenever I walk near a sewer grating.

Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by schuke on Monday October 23, 2017 @10:50PM (#15538838)
I guess physiological variations are inevitable but for me I have to be a newly showered Labrador to shake it off my head.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by justinator on Monday October 23, 2017 @11:03PM (#15538881)
I fear anything involving putting on/taking off a helmet could dislodge these suckers. And any activity the helmet is used for: mountain biking/climbing/mountaineering, is not the right venue for them. Too bad, since the iPhone's water resistance would be a major upgrade over my current phone.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by Tepix on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @02:21AM (#15539633)
Wearing in-ear headphones while biking is a bad idea anyway. I've switched to bone conducting headphones for my daily commute by bicycle and they're great for listening to podcasts while still hearing the surrounding traffic.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by justinator on Thursday October 26, 2017 @12:51AM (#15556432)
> Wearing in-ear headphones while biking is a bad idea anyway.

On roads? Yes. Mountain biking? Depends on where I am.

> I've switched to bone conducting headphones for my daily commute by bicycle and they're great for listening to podcasts while still hearing the surrounding traffic.

Any brand/model you would suggest?

Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by macintux on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @12:28AM (#15539224)
You should try it if you can. Yes, helmet removal can and likely will dislodge, but it's not obvious that just the act of using them with a helmet on will cause problems.

Maybe it won't work, but worth trying.

Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by dpkonofa on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @10:35PM (#15546971)
I've worn them with a helmet and they only fell out when I tried to take the helmet off. As long as I look for them when taking the helmet off, they're no different from checking my regular headphones.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by justinator on Thursday October 26, 2017 @12:53AM (#15556441)
Most things I bring mountaineering - especially - most especially electronics are tethered in some ways. It may be too risky to buy an iPhone just to try this out, and I'm doubting anyone's gonna let me borrow a phone and a pair of these. regular earbuds are inexpensive, and if you lose/break them, it's not the end of the world. Airbuds are... $150. For something that can be easily lost.. yikes.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by AdamJacobMuller on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @12:18AM (#15539176)
I had Jaybird X3's before I had AirPods.

The X3s were not terrible, but, the AirPods are more comfortable and stay in my ears more firmly. I can wear them for hours and hours without them bothering me and I only dislodge them if I physically knock them out of my ear.

Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by davidsawyer on Monday October 23, 2017 @10:31PM (#15538770)
I own AirPods and Jaybird X3s, and the sound quality of AirPods crushes that of the Jaybirds. I completely switched over to AirPods a few months ago and have never looked back.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by jorvi on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @06:54AM (#15540661)
Then the X3s must sound really bad because AirPod sound quality is decidedly mediocre, especially for $160 in-ears.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by dpkonofa on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @10:36PM (#15546978)
I disagree completely. You either don't own a pair or you only tried a fresh pair. You gotta break those bad boys in. It took me 2 weeks before they broke in and I noticed a huge difference.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by notyourwork on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @12:02AM (#15539111)
Bluetooth audio quality is subpar to a wired port in my experience. A good example is the Q35, when paired via bluetooth the audio quality is worse than when plugged directly into the headphone port.
Re:Google's latest iPhone rival off to a rocky start by jpalomaki on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @02:53PM (#15544207)
IIRC there are multiple audio codecs in the standard (and of course different versions of standard), some of them really old. So with certain device combinations you may get better result than with others.

I once looked into these and got the impression that main goal is to make it possible to produce standard compliant devices as cheaply as possible.

Edit: I had written down some of the stuff I found: http://juhap.iki.fi/misc/qc35-windows-bluetooth-audio/