Whoever makes the first AirPods strap is going to get rich. Or, in Apple’s case, even richer.
The concept is simple. All it needs to be is a neoprene Croakie (think ’80s sunglasses) with a small hole in the tube into which you slide your AirPods, so the AirPods’ beamforming microphones can be exposed. The strap goes around your neck as it would with tethered Bluetooth earphones and, voila, there goes any concern over lost AirPods.
Perhaps Apple’s thinking they’re leaving this avenue open to third-parties, but, hey, that’s never stopped them before.
That Apple doesn’t have this ready to ship right alongside their AirPods feels like a missed opportunity to us. US$19 for 20-cent pieces of sewed colored neoprene (or simple colored straps with rubber loops at each end) seems like a no-brainer business opportunity to us. Think Apple Watch Bands, but for potentially millions more devices (we expect AirPods would outsell Apple Watches).
Imagine the straps below holding AirPods instead of sunglasses:
Here’s a Croakie:
Here’s a Chums:
Or something like this (Chums Slip Fit 3mm Rope Eyewear Retainer):
Or, maybe the best yet (ONME Universal Fit Rope Eyewear Retainer):
Once you’ve got your AirPods strapped together, they’ll be just like our current JayBirds – just let ’em hang around your neck when you’re not using them or if one falls out it won’t get dropped, stepped on, lost, etc.
Jaybird – Freedom F5 In-Ear Wireless Headphones
MacDailyNews Take: Now, get to work!
What I want is for someone to make a lightning to 3.5mm aux cable with a remote near the 3.5mm end.
This would be great for people that have headphones with interchangeable cables…
Yup. Would be nice for my beats mixr’s.
Or this
Not an adapter, the cable. Some Beats have plug-in cables.
What we need now is a combination 3.5mm plug and lightning connector for those that want to use both the 3.5mm plug and charge at the same time.
Electronic shrink tape and a tether of your choice. Super easy, would look as good as the tether you choose, and less than $2. Will someone make money, maybe, but a DYI would be better.
The Air Pods look ridiculous. Better if they were made in 3 different skin tones. Adding a rubber band to them will make them look as stupid as Googles dead-in-the water Glassholes.
Has anyone ever paid attention to the ridiculous looking hardware people are wearing now to get wireless connectivity for phone calls and listening to music? These airpods are a marvel of beauty and engineering in comparison. How do they look any more stupid than walking around with a full set of over the ear headphones on? Glassholes? Really?
There are nice looking solutions. The JayBird for example. I like Apples air pods but I have to admit they are kinda weird too.
Not to mention that the on-size-fits-few design is stupid. I can’t get the current wired Apple earphones to stay in my ears, and my kids can’t either. At least they are attached to me by the cable when they inevitably fall out. I much prefer aftermarket designs with different size rubber tips to fit to your ear.
Get a pair of Sprng clips. $10.
http://www.sprngclip.com
These are small pieces of soft rubber that clip onto the ear bud and holds it in your ear. It works well. They say that they don’t fit the new AirPods but I guess they’ll come out with them soon.
Just use an “eyewear retainer cord” to hold onto them.
You mean you won’t be lining up for the $300 Hermes AirPod strap?
Apple is lost.
Forget the hardware route, Apple should develop a “Find My Air Pod” app. Much more elegant solution.
I think if they came in maybe 5 different skin tones, it would be amazing… They would be near invisible and not so ugly…
Yeah upon first seeing the airpods you knew the inevitability of the strap. Why Apple decided to focus on them strapless? It must have been a calculated decision. Like how to you then deal with the strap with the cute little charging case? Let a third party figure it out?
It’s a curious decision though.
2 things. 1 I can’t believe they took out the headphone jack but dont include the air pods with it do they include the old headphones?
$150 for headphones? a bit high especially if they have no better sound quality then the stock EarPods because they do not have great sound.
2. What THE HECK was with that weirdo performance or freak show or whatever you call it. that was just scary and about as stupid as i have ever seen. What happened to having real artists and not these weirdos? Id like to see some actual people on stage not some unknown crap. IM like ok that was just a waste of everyone in that rooms time.
Yes. The earpods come with the iPhone 7. They’re a lightning connected unit.
Right on ilovemymac. That horror show at the end was the worst decision for a keynote from Apple in recent memory. Hey, get happy customers, buy our products, then… piles of bodies, smeared rainbow tears, horror flick clown girl, terrible song. Just fire whoever made that selection, I don’t care if it’s Tim Cook, the person who thought to do that is messed up in the head.
Look up the music top ten charts for Sia. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean others won’t.
Look up the music top ten charts for Sia. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean others won’t.
1. They are stereo so will definitely sound better than 3.5mm. The Lightning wired earbuds come with the phone.
2. I totally agree.
Our BudStraps (patented tech) already work for linking earbuds with a strap. Stay tuned on our development of a solution here.
PodStraps are live and ready to order at BudStraps.com. Charcoal and Yellow. Each comes with an Airpod Carry pouch, too.
When I envision truly wireless earphones, I don’t imagine it connected to a strap like the Jaybirds or the ones that hang around your neck.
Apple’s vision of their new AirPods are what I think of. Anyone who has ever watched a spy movie, 24, and even the show, ‘Fringe’ (when they had the alternate universe, will remember where they can listen into someone speaking to them and no one else the wiser. Now imagine that with earphones.
While the new AirPods are not that yet, they are going in the right direction and someone has to try otherwise we’ll be stuck with what we have now.
I’m sure Apple within a few years will learn how to make them even smaller and be able to fit into everyone’s ears.
Minaturization is impressive, but I think the tradeoffs of wireless technology remain unattractive for most people.
First, it is an impossible goal to make one or even a handful of earbuds that fit in everyone’s ears. It is undeniable that there are more choices of great-sounding and great-fitting phones with a cord than without. The fact that Apple releases $159 earrings with no silicone sizing sleeves shows that they aren’t in the ergonomics business, they are more than ever led by fashionistas pushing what Ive thinks is cool. Second, price is a huge hurdle. Perhaps the snobs who rush out to buy the latest Apple gizmos won’t miss the $159 from their pockets, but the average family isn’t there. Can you imagine the average household (<$54k income per year) justifying the expense of wireless earbuds when equivalent quality analog ones with wires are $20? Finally, logistics is just not on Apple's side. Airpod loss and charging is a complication nobody likes. Good on Apple for offering a glamorous new product, but I don't think it'll sell much better than the gold Apple Watch.
So it can’t cover the end tips unless you don’t care about losing the microphone, also you won’t be able to store it in the case, you’ll have with you so you’ll have to put in on/off every single time.
I just use a tiny drop of Crazy Glue in each ear and it lasts the entire day or more. I am still trying to figure out how to charge them when they run low on power if they are glued in my ears.
Already done! Here: https://AirPodStrap.co
Try here as well http://www.airpodretainers.com
uhhh, APPLE (heard of them?) already invented it, was announced same day, coming in October:
goo.gl/iZiH6D
or maybe your prefer black and hoopie…?
goo.gl/HAebj9