Despite Apple’s launch projection of late October, its wireless headphone solution is still yet to rest in the ears of port-less iPhone users.
Information surrounding the company’s uncharacteristic miscalculation has remained relatively thin, with only the initial announcement and a recent email response from CEO Tim Cook providing us with any details about the AirPods.
And while Cook indicated the toothbrush head/earring-looking devices could still ship within December, nobody knows why exactly the delay has been so prolonged.
But a fresh report citing sources in the Wall Street Journal may have finally given us the answer.
A person who claims to be familiar with the development told the WSJ the issue related to both AirPods needing to independently connect wirelessly to a device.
The report, via 9to5Mac, notes: “…the trouble appears to stem from Apple’s effort to chart a new path for wireless headphones.
“In most other wireless headphones, only one earpiece receives a signal from the phone via wireless Bluetooth technology; it then transmits the signal to the other earpiece.
The report adds that AirPods each receive independent signals from Apple devices – but there’s still work to be done to make sure that both AirPods receive the audio simultaneously, to avoid any strange sound effects.
And the source added that Apple still needs to look into what happens if the battery dies in one AirPod, or if someone loses one.
So with it appearing highly unlikely Santa will be dropping the AirPods down your chimney in time for Christmas, it may be time to start looking at alternatives.
