Beats

Testing the operating range of AirPods and Beats Solo3 vs non-W1 Beats headphones

Much has been said about the virtues of the W1 chip Apple started baking into their latest wireless Beats line-up and of course the AirPods. By now we know for sure that W1 facilitates a much faster pairing process, as do we know that the chip significantly amplifies both battery life and conservation techniques. What’s less prominently talked about - at least from official sides - is the operating range of these wireless headphones and the presumed effect the W1 chip addition has had on that benchmark.

For I felt information on the internet was just a bit too murky to count on, I decided to take it upon myself and conduct a little experiment: I packed my rucksack with four headphones (two of which boast the new W1 chip) and headed to a nearby park in order to pit them against each other. Pairing them one after another and then slowly making a bee-line for the opposite direction, one thing quickly became clear: the results for the maximum distance obtainable aren’t surprising in terms of order, but they definitely are in their clarity.

Apple delays W1-equipped BeatsX earphones until February 2017

While Apple's online store this morning began accepting orders for $159 AirPods ahead of their Christmas delivery, another pair of earphones from Apple that use W1 chip just got delayed.

Announced at the iPhone 7 event in September and originally listed as arriving in late-2016, Beats X Wireless Earphones won't be available before February 2017, according to Apple's online store.

New BeatsX earphones with Apple W1 chip may not ship for at least 2-3 months

It's not just AirPods—according to an alleged email Apple sent to an authorized reseller, the new $149.95 BeatsX earphones rocking an in-house designed Apple W1 wireless chip may not start shipping for at least 2-3 months. As reported on by MacRumors, authorized reseller B&H Photo Video told a customer Apple's informed them that the new earphones will miss the company's self-proclaimed fall 2016 launch and are unlikely to start shipping before February or March 2017.

Twelve South’s Fermata charging stand keeps your wireless headphones organized

With the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to predict that many people will be moving to wireless Bluetooth headphones instead of wired ones.

Twelve South’s new Fermata charging stand for wireless headphones is a great accessory to have if you’re one of those people. It’ll keep your headphones out of your way on your desk while they charge, and it looks great too!

New Apple ad highlights Beats Solo3 Wireless 40-hour battery & on-ear controls

During the official iPhone 7 unveiling last month, Apple announced one brand new and two improved Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, all of which utilize the new Apple W1 wireless chip: Powerbeats3 Wireless, Solo3 Wireless and the upcoming BeatsX earphones. A new ad Apple posted Monday, featuring Karlie Kloss, Young M.A., Brunas Schmitz and Justine Skye, highlights some of the Solo3 Wireless features enabled by the W1 chip, like touch controls and a longer lasting 40-hour battery.

Apple Stores start selling Will.i.am’s i.am+ Buttons wireless headphones

Opening their doors this Wednesday morning, Apple Stores across the US will be stocking a new pair of wireless earphones named i.am+ Buttons, conceived by musician and part-time tech enthusiast Will.i.am. The full product name of the earphones is i.am+ Buttons and they will reportedly be offered in four colors, matching Apple's black, silver, gold and rose gold iPhone range.

While the timing of the i.am+ launch could not have been more savory with the AirPods suffering heavy delays, it remains to be seen if will.i.am's product will be able to capitalize on the door left wide open by Apple. Until now, most i.am+ products have largely been frowned upon for putting fashion center stage. They also come at a hefty $229 price point.

Powerbeats3 Wireless earphones with W1 chip & 12-hour battery available to preorder

Powerbeats3 Wireless earphones, a successor to the Powerbeats2 Wireless edition, are now available to buy from Apple.com in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, China and elsewhere. The accessory is available in White, Shock Yellow, Flash Blue, Black and Siren Red.

Listings for the $199.95 Bluetooth earphones on local Apple.com websites display delivery estimates ranging from 2-3 days to 1-2 weeks.

Beats 1 Radio now has official Facebook page

Apple has created the official Facebook page for Beats 1, its 24/7 radio station that broadcasts in more than a hundred countries via the Internet. The new Facebook page is in addition to the service's presence on other social media channels, like Twitter. Before today, Beats 1 Radio posts were published through Apple Music's own Facebook page.

What we’re expecting from Apple’s September 7 event

Apple is hosting a special media event on September 7 at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium at 10am PT. As always, we'll be covering the latest in Apple's big fall refresh thoroughly here at iDB. Of course, the iPhone 7 will be the event's biggest story, but we're also hoping to see other hardware refreshes, accessories and related products come into full view next Wednesday.

Here's everything we think Apple could introduce come September 7, plus some of the things we'd like them to announce but they probably won't (yet).

New Beats products to be unveiled at iPhone event next week

Beats emailed French media earlier this morning to inform them that “a selection of new Beats by Dre products will be unveiled” at the iPhone 7 event on September 7. However, it would seem that Beats' public relations department sent the email prematurely as at least one French outlet, iGen.fr, was contacted by Beats PR and asked to take down the screenshot from the email, which they did.

Beats 1 hosts are permitted to play whatever they want, DJ Zane Lowe reveals

In an interview yesterday with Vice's music channel Noisey, Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe said that Apple permits Beats 1 hosts to play whatever they want in their designated slot.

Apple's official policy, Lowe said, doesn't call for any restrictions pertaining to shows by Beats 1 hosts such as Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Major Lazer, and other hip-hop artists who have regular shows on the service.

A native of New Zealand's Auckland, Lowe revealed how Apple executive and former Beats 1 founder Jimmy Iovine gave him an important career advice, talked life in Los Angeles, having his own show on Beats 1 and more.