Maybe if they figure out a way to bring a stylus into the equation...
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Apple Researching AirPods Case With Built-in Interactive Touchscreen
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Technically speaking you could plug in the 1st generation Apple Pencil into the AirPods charging case...
First thought that entered my head. Nobody needs this .. next song, should I say it, watch, or phone.. and now case that’s somewhere in my backpack?
They sue other companies for copying them but they copy android in some way every year e.g. JBL, literally a company owned by Samsung
Apple has designs on a future AirPods case featuring a built-in touchscreen display that would enable users to control audio sources and interact with apps associated with the connected device, according to a newly published patent.
Filed by Apple in September 2021 and published last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, "Devices, Methods, and Graphical User Interface Interactions with a Headphones Case" clearly depicts various embodiments for such a design, complete with images of AirPods and a touchscreen on the case's front.
"Audio output device cases are commonly passive devices used to charge audio output devices," reads the patent. "The utility of a headphone case can be enhanced, and user control over a user's wireless headphones can be improved, by configuring a headphone case with an interactive user interface to enable user control of operations associated with the wireless headphones." The patent continues:
In one embodiment, Apple envisions controlling Apple Music via the case through the use of a capacitive touchscreen with a GUI that also provides tactile feedback, allowing the user to control audio playback, adjust volume, favorite songs, and interact with their music in other ways without necessarily looking at the case to do so.
In another embodiment, the case responds to specific gestures such as taps and swipes to navigate onscreen content and invoke Siri. In one scenario, Apple describes how squeezing the case could even be a way to change the listening mode of the AirPods – likely referring to Noise Cancelation and Transparency.
Apple suggests that the case could include additional processors and memory modules that would allow it to carry out specific instructions that are traditionally associated with smartphones, computers, and other connected devices. For instance, some embodiments show the case's touchscreen providing interactive access to iPhone apps including Phone, Mail, Messages, Camera, Calendar, Weather, Maps, and more.
By integrating an interactive touchscreen display in such a way, the patent argues, "deficiencies associated with user control of wireless headphones are reduced or eliminated."
As with any filed patent, the technology it describes is unlikely to appear in a product anytime soon, if at all, but it does offer an interesting look at how Apple is exploring ways to make an AirPods case more of a functional intermediary between the AirPods themselves and the connected audio source.
Since the first AirPods launched in 2016, Apple has worked to enhance the functionality of the AirPods Case for different models. The AirPods Pro case in particular has benefited from the addition of MagSafe wireless charging, a U1 Ultra Wideband chip that supports Precision Tracking with Find My, a lanyard loop, a built-in speaker for locating and status updates, and increased battery life.
(Via Patently Apple.)
Article Link: Apple Researching AirPods Case With Built-in Interactive Touchscreen
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That would be awesome! But I doubt it would be under any reasonable price range. Only thing is that since iPhone is already and always in your hand to control the music, when would we not use iPhone and use the case as controller, I'm bit unsure.
Thank you. And I do mean thank you for reimagining the return of the iPod!
Make it black it it wouldn’t look so odd
Apple has designs on a future AirPods case featuring a built-in touchscreen display that would enable users to control audio sources and interact with apps associated with the connected device, according to a newly published patent.
Filed by Apple in September 2021 and published last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, "Devices, Methods, and Graphical User Interface Interactions with a Headphones Case" clearly depicts various embodiments for such a design, complete with images of AirPods and a touchscreen on the case's front.
"Audio output device cases are commonly passive devices used to charge audio output devices," reads the patent. "The utility of a headphone case can be enhanced, and user control over a user's wireless headphones can be improved, by configuring a headphone case with an interactive user interface to enable user control of operations associated with the wireless headphones." The patent continues:
In one embodiment, Apple envisions controlling Apple Music via the case through the use of a capacitive touchscreen with a GUI that also provides tactile feedback, allowing the user to control audio playback, adjust volume, favorite songs, and interact with their music in other ways without necessarily looking at the case to do so.
In another embodiment, the case responds to specific gestures such as taps and swipes to navigate onscreen content and invoke Siri. In one scenario, Apple describes how squeezing the case could even be a way to change the listening mode of the AirPods – likely referring to Noise Cancelation and Transparency.
Apple suggests that the case could include additional processors and memory modules that would allow it to carry out specific instructions that are traditionally associated with smartphones, computers, and other connected devices. For instance, some embodiments show the case's touchscreen providing interactive access to iPhone apps including Phone, Mail, Messages, Camera, Calendar, Weather, Maps, and more.
By integrating an interactive touchscreen display in such a way, the patent argues, "deficiencies associated with user control of wireless headphones are reduced or eliminated."
As with any filed patent, the technology it describes is unlikely to appear in a product anytime soon, if at all, but it does offer an interesting look at how Apple is exploring ways to make an AirPods case more of a functional intermediary between the AirPods themselves and the connected audio source.
Since the first AirPods launched in 2016, Apple has worked to enhance the functionality of the AirPods Case for different models. The AirPods Pro case in particular has benefited from the addition of MagSafe wireless charging, a U1 Ultra Wideband chip that supports Precision Tracking with Find My, a lanyard loop, a built-in speaker for locating and status updates, and increased battery life.
(Via Patently Apple.)
Article Link: Apple Researching AirPods Case With Built-in Interactive Touchscreen
If you could save and store music from your phone or Spotify playlist off-line (yeah right *homepod support) directly to the case I would get it… but this shows you have to be connected to a device. How is it more convenient to pull this out instead of your phone?
Interesting ideas. But don’t think we will see such designs in AirPods case anytime soon.
Then add 32 GB of storage and make it a "new" iPod. The Apple Watch has 32GB storage nowadays, and thus it's possible to fit that inside the AirPod case. Some headsets have a built-in MP3 player as well as Bluetooth connectivity; one example is the OpenEar Wave.
Sony Ericsson HBM-30, 2003.
MP3 Player and recorder with Bluetooth pairing with phone for calls and wired headphones.
Still works.
MP3 Player and recorder with Bluetooth pairing with phone for calls and wired headphones.
Still works.
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Apple: "We're adding an external screen on the AirPods case so you could control your media player without looking at your phone....."
People: "Wow, cool, that's the most useful thing ever (after, of course, controlling your media player from your iPhone lock screen and Apple watch)"
Apple: "....It would be compatible with the following media players: iTunes, Apple Music...."
People: "and what else?"
Apple: "No, that's it"
People: "Wow, cool, that's the most useful thing ever (after, of course, controlling your media player from your iPhone lock screen and Apple watch)"
Apple: "....It would be compatible with the following media players: iTunes, Apple Music...."
People: "and what else?"
Apple: "No, that's it"
Hey, serving time in jail. Don’t worry we’ve designed the perfect device to smuggle in if you’re missing your Apple tech!
And maybe some speakers so you can still listen to music while your airpods are charging
