New Beats Pill Speaker Listed on Apple's Regulatory Website as Launch Approaches

[steve09090]

Maybe. Pairing and unpairing Bluetooth devices that aren’t made by Apple really isn’t that difficult or time consuming.

But it just works with Apple. Every time. It’s seriously almost magical.
However (and it’s an important however), I think the benefit is best for portability such as with iPad v iPhone with AirPods/headphones etc. not so much with speakers. I use an Anker version with Bluetooth and it’s fine, but using my Sony XM4’s is rubbish compared to my Powerbeats Pro.

 

[Surf Monkey]

But it just works with Apple. Every time. It’s seriously almost magical.

No it doesn’t. Plus AirPods Pro are especially prone to random connection drops.

 

[steve09090]

No it doesn’t. Plus AirPods Pro are especially prone to random connection drops.

Stop trying to make something out of nothing. ALL Bluetooth devices have connection drops, they’re not especially prone. Thats BS. I’m talking about the way they connect between devices. I guess if you don’t know, you don’t know.

 

[svish]

Expecting it to launch any day now

 

[cicalinarrot]

That’s why it’s frustrating. They market it as a fashion accessory. They could spend a little effort and make it actually sound better than the competition and be a fashion accessory but instead they cut costs on the transducers and tuning, “fix” the shortcomings in software and hype it as a cool accessory that comes in a lot of colors.

Dislike.

These things usually work well enough for people who buy them. They're usually not audiophiles, they just want some bass from the sound and the thing to look cool. Which is exactly how most of us choose clothes (many people I know never check the inner tag of a sweater to check how much synthetic materials it's made of).
And a higher-than-usual price tag is not a bad thing for them. It makes it exclusive and even cooler to have.
Again, I don't like these kind of logic but I totally understand it and it's almost impossible to escape. And since I fall for it in many other ways, I'd call myself a hypocrite if I felt superior to people who buy Beats or stuff like that.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Actually, that is exactly wasted money.

But, of course... People can do what they want.

"Wasted" means that it has no purpose. Well, this use of money has a very clear purpose: making you feel comfortable and cooler when you're seen around with their products. And it totally works. I don't think that can be called a waste, it clearly has value for some humans.

 

[mk313]

I own dozens of sets of IEMs and a bunch of full sized over-ear cans. Some are active and wireless, some are passive and wired. So at least in my case it isn’t a matter of being blind to anything but my own unique use case.

In my opinion Apple over processes AirPods sound. If they sounded better I’d probably wear them more. But the software “features” don’t represent a significant enough advantage to overcome the vastly superior sound available on other wireless sets and especially on wired ones.

As to a boom box, there’s no active noise canceling on them. So Apple’s software integration would be limited to what? Battery level, continuity switching, Siri integration? Maybe adding “smart Siri” to it would make it worth considering. But the other features are not enough to make it compete with the many superior speakers on the market now.

i guess time will tell. Seems like lots of people enjoy their AirPods despite what you perceive to be their limitations. Apple/ Beats have a pretty good (but not perfect) track record. The original question was ‘what unique feature does this speaker bring to the market‘. It wasn’t ’is this going to be the best speaker on the market’ I provided my thoughts and you’ve shared yours. Perhaps someone who doesn’t care for the sound output of AirPods isn’t the target market for this speaker. I guess we’ll find out soon enough if Apple/Beats created a unique selling proposition or not.

 

[Surf Monkey]

i guess time will tell. Seems like lots of people enjoy their AirPods despite what you perceive to be their limitations. Apple/ Beats have a pretty good (but not perfect) track record. The original question was ‘what unique feature does this speaker bring to the market‘. It wasn’t ’is this going to be the best speaker on the market’ I provided my thoughts and you’ve shared yours. Perhaps someone who doesn’t care for the sound output of AirPods isn’t the target market for this speaker. I guess we’ll find out soon enough if Apple/Beats created a unique selling proposition or not.

AirPods Pro II are objectively worse sounding than virtually every set in its price range.

On the speaker, my stand on it hasn’t changed. I see no particular differentiator that makes this more attractive than the dozens of other speakers on the market.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Stop trying to make something out of nothing. ALL Bluetooth devices have connection drops, they’re not especially prone. Thats BS. I’m talking about the way they connect between devices. I guess if you don’t know, you don’t know.

How many Bluetooth products have you tried? I’ve used dozens of different Bluetooth headsets and dongles from many different companies. Apple’s implementation is not up to the competition. AptX is far better at remaining connected but Apple won’t support it. Just one example. But I’m sure this all seems alien to someone who doesn’t have much experience outside of the Apple ecosystem.

 

[cateye]

making you feel comfortable and cooler when you're seen around with their products. And it totally works. I don't think that can be called a waste, it clearly has value for some humans.

Fools and their money.

 

[mk313]

AirPods Pro II are objectively worse sounding than virtually every set in its price range.

On the speaker, my stand on it hasn’t changed. I see no particular differentiator that makes this more attractive than the dozens of other speakers on the market.

And yet the AirPods Pro’s sell like crazy.

Perhaps the same forces that drive people to buy what you view as an inferior set or earphones will come into play in the speaker market.

Just because you don’t like them, or even if they aren’t good (subjectively or objectively), doens’t mean there isn’t a market for them.

 

[mk313]

How many Bluetooth products have you tried? I’ve used dozens of different Bluetooth headsets and dongles from many different companies. Apple’s implementation is not up to the competition. AptX is far better at remaining connected but Apple won’t support it. Just one example. But I’m sure this all seems alien to someone who doesn’t have much experience outside of the Apple ecosystem.

I’m not sure that most users have an issue with their AirPods disconnecting from their phones or whatever. If Apple’s solution fits the needs of a large enough group of customers, then they probably don’t see the need to switch to something else.

As long as my headphones work well with my devices, then I don’t really care if it uses a certain protocol to connect or not. I’d venture to guess that a large group of consumers fall into that same group. Not everyone has the time or interest to delve into the best connection protocol for wireless headsets. Many people buy a pair, and it works well for their needs, so they move on to other things that are of more interest to them. Nothing wrong with either direction.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Fools and their money.

That's one way to see it. But, again, I put myself and most people in that category in many ways.
Technically, we could all wear old washed out pants with darning and patches, for free. They'd 100% perform their practical functions. They wouldn't make us look as cool as we want though, so we spend money to achieve that too. Which makes it a relevant function, just as much as keeping us warm and covering our pee-pees.

 

[Surf Monkey]

And yet the AirPods Pro’s sell like crazy.

So what? Not my point.

Perhaps the same forces that drive people to buy what you view as an inferior set or earphones will come into play in the speaker market.

Just because you don’t like them, or even if they aren’t good (subjectively or objectively), doens’t mean there isn’t a market for them.

Oh, brother. Again, not my point.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I’m not sure that most users have an issue with their AirPods disconnecting from their phones or whatever. If Apple’s solution fits the needs of a large enough group of customers, then they probably don’t see the need to switch to something else.

As long as my headphones work well with my devices, then I don’t really care if it uses a certain protocol to connect or not. I’d venture to guess that a large group of consumers fall into that same group. Not everyone has the time or interest to delve into the best connection protocol for wireless headsets. Many people buy a pair, and it works well for their needs, so they move on to other things that are of more interest to them. Nothing wrong with either direction.

So your strategy is to just intentionally deny reality? Okay then.

 

[mk313]

So your strategy is to just intentionally deny reality? Okay then.

Not really sure what reality I'm denying? If my phone works with my headphones well enough for my uses, then I don't feel that I need any 'better' wireless connection protocol. It works well enough for my needs. If that were not the case, then I would look at alternatives, but that's not the case.

I'm not disagreeing with your claim that apple uses a sub-optimal connection protocol. I have no idea if that is correct or not, but the one they are using works well enough for me, so I don't feel any desire too demand a better one.

 

[steve09090]

I’m not sure that most users have an issue with their AirPods disconnecting from their phones or whatever. If Apple’s solution fits the needs of a large enough group of customers, then they probably don’t see the need to switch to something else.

Most people don’t. A few have, but that’s inherent to all Bluetooth devices. This 'thing' about AirPods or Apple being worse is totally made up. There’s no argument their except by people who want to manufacturer one. Apple have generally been at the forefront of connections, and have only fallen down (the same as everyone else) when trying to fit to a 'standard'.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

When is this thing gonna launch? I keep checking each morning waiting for the "New Beats Pill launches with USB-C Port for $199"

Maybe this is gearing up to be the big WWDC24 Headliner. LeBron will be there.

 

[bwhitta]

Will the lanyard be included or a $20 accessory?

 

[steve09090]

Will the lanyard be included or a $20 accessory?

Doubtful. That’s certainly not something that Apple has ever done so why start now. 🤷‍♂️