Beats

Apple to add after-sales service for Beats headphones and speakers

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 14, 2014

Apple mays start providing after-sales service for Beats headphones and speakers soon, according to a report from Greek technology blog TechInGreek.com [Google Translate] which dug up an internal document showing that Apple Service Providers in the country are gearing up to provide service for Beats Electronics gear.

If authorized Service Providers are going to be adding Beats after-sales service, Apple should follow suit.

Indeed, “in the near future, Apple will be responsible for providing service to customers with Beats Electronics products and accessories,” reads the memo Apple sent out to its Service Providers.

Bose and Beats settle noise-canceling patent infringement suit

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Premium audio company Bose Corp. and the now Apple-owned Beats Electronics have settled their patent infringement suit, reports Bloomberg. The two companies a U.S. court in Delaware they’ve settled their claims, and asked the International Trade Commission to cease its investigation.

Bose originally filed the complaint against Beats in July, claiming that Beats Studio and Studio Wireless headphones, which both feature "adaptive noise cancelation," infringe on five of its noise-canceling patents. Clearly a settlement was reached here, but terms of the deal were not disclosed.

New Bose-NFL deal bars players from wearing Beats headphones on camera

Cody Lee ∙ October 4, 2014

The NFL has signed a new marketing deal with Bose Corporation, which could spell trouble for Apple's Beats. According to Recode, the new partnership has the National Football League banning its players from wearing Beats headphones while on TV.

The ban encompasses all other non-Bose headphone brands, not just Beats, and includes TV interviews conducted during pre-season training camps, practice and on game day—starting before kickoff and not expiring until 90 minutes after the play ends.

Apple Stores shave 10 percent off Beats by Dr. Dre headphones until Saturday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Apple's short-term strategy regarding the $3 billion buy of Beats Electronics and Beats Music is starting to take shape with each passing day.

Not only is it actively advertising and selling Beats products through its brick-and-mortar locations and online retail stores, but now the California firm has shaved a cool 10 percent off all Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and assorted accessories.

This is virtually an unheard-of move — the company rarely discounts its own products by more than a meager few percents.

I'd say that it's kinda interesting seeing the maker of overpriced gadgets — as haters usually diss Apple — actually bring the overpriced Beats by Dr. Dre headphones to more bearable levels...

Beats by Dr. Dre products get featured on Online Apple Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

After officially welcoming Beats to the family last week, Apple has now given the Beats by Dr. Dre range its own dedicated section on the Online Apple Store.

Found under the new 'Beats by Dr. Dre' section found under the Accessories link, the Beats sub-section has even gotten a prominent placement on the navigation bar at the top, joining other sections such as 'All Accessories,' 'Apple Accessories,' 'Exclusives,' 'Now Trending,' and 'Gift Cards'.

The online store seems to be carrying the complete range of the popular Beats by Dr. Dre line of accessories and headphones...

Apple introduces MFi specifications for Lightning cable headphones

Cody Lee ∙ June 4, 2014

According to a report tonight from 9to5Mac, Apple has quietly introduced a new specification for accessory manufacturers in its MFi program. The spec allows them to create headphones that connect to devices using a Lightning cable instead of 3.5mm.

The change will allow for a new breed of headphones that are capable of handling lossless stereo 48 kHz digital audio output, and have access to headphone remote controls. And Apple plans to activate support in newer iOS devices in a future update...

Beats releases improved Solo2 on-ear headphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Less than 24 hours into Apple's announcement that it is buying Beats for $3 billion, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre's startup has announced a refreshed version of its best-selling headphones model, the Solo². Of course, this has nothing to do with Apple as the accessory has been in the making for months.

The new on-ear headphones offer a more dynamic, wider range of sound and a clarity that will "bring you closer to what the artist intended". The design has been revised for a better custom-fit feeling...

Steve Jobs biographer: Apple’s supposed Beats buy about video, not headphones and music

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 16, 2016

By now, everyone has already chimed in with their two cents on what Apple's rumored Beats buy might mean for Apple's reputation in music - even our own Cody Lee has summarized the more popular theories floating around out there.

It's commonly accepted that Beats Electronic, LCC. co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine will be taking on senior roles at Apple after Beats buyout, with their grand introductions as Apple executives apparently set to take place at WWDC.

Bloomberg thinks Apple will keep Beats as a separate brand and improve its headphones design and another source speculated that the deal could lead to high-resolution music on iTunes.

But according to Steve Jobs's biographer Walter Isaacson, none of this is true as the deal is actually about video, not about headphones or streaming music...

Bloomberg: Apple to keep Beats as a separate brand, improve headphones design

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 12, 2014

A report last Thursday by The Financial Times on Apple's alleged $3.2 billion purchase of Beats Electronics, LCC. - potentially Apple's most pricey acquisition to date - has taken the technology industry by surprise.

And as pundits continue to assess the rationale behind Apple's purported move, Bloomberg on Monday ran a revealing story explaining that the two firms share more commonalities than meets the eye, despite a world of difference in terms of corporate culture.

Moreover, Apple apparently intends to keep Beats hardware around while improving upon the design of the startup's pricey headphones...