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!
