Apple iPhone and related items (cont.)

[skyscraper101]

The beats x headphones which will have air pod tech built in actually look like a lot better alternative to the apple air pods. A lot less likely to be lost, a lot less likely to be a mugging target, cheaper, black, and they claim you can get 8 hours of use, and 2 hours of use from a 5 minute charge.

Beats X - beats-UK

If I was going to by any wireless headphones it would be something more like those.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Because everyone loves to have to drag an adapter about. Great move!

lol.

 

[editor]

lol.

You'll be LOLing even more when you settle in for a long journey and find you're adaptorless. LOL.

Fuck earphones that need charging every 5 hours. That's not a step forward.

 

[wurlycurly]

Everyone wants more things to charge and more things to run out of juice and more things that use precious energy and more things that can be easily lost and more things that need adaptors. Thank you Apple. This will change everything!

Surely the cutting-edge 720p display more than compensates for all the pissing about.

 

[sim667]

Only if the sensor has that increased latitude in the first place. In this case, it probably does have some, but nothing like a DSLR's extension of capability beyond its normal JPEG outputs.

By definition of it being a raw over a jpeg there will be more latitude because a raw won't dispose of information in the way a jpeg does when its written to the memory.

But this is really quite a pedantic point

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

You'll be LOLing even more when you settle in for a long journey and find you're adaptorless. LOL.

For long journeys I plug my ipod in to my car, AFAIK it's illegal to listen through headphones whilst driving anyway

 

[mauvais]

By definition of it being a raw over a jpeg there will be more latitude because a raw won't dispose of information in the way a jpeg does when its written to the memory.

But this is really quite a pedantic point

Not really. Technically, what you describe is true - JPEG is a lossy format that throws away data. But whether RAW provides any tangible benefit (and I'm sure you could save as lossless formats like TIFF already) depends on the sensor. You could have a shit sensor, like early cameraphones, that didn't even utilise the extents of the JPG format. Or you could have one that captures a very wide gamut, only a small section of which makes into the standard rendered image.

DSLRs have had RAW formats since the beginning but what you can extract from them (e.g. bringing back blown highlights) depends on the camera - and is steadily improving over time.

It's a technical point, I know, but it influences whether phone camera RAW is really useful at this stage. We'll have to see I guess.

 

[skyscraper101]

IMO, Apple have compromised on battery for style on air pods. But the style isn't practical for me. I'd lose them in a heartbeat.

Beats x however is a much better design, has the same tech, and 8 hours of charge which I could probably live with especially as they have such a short charging up time. Powerbeats3 have 12 hours of charge which is also very reasonable.

 

[mauvais]

For long journeys I plug my ipod in to my car, AFAIK it's illegal to listen through headphones whilst driving anyway

It's not illegal per se. You might get done for DWDCA.

 

[sim667]

Not really. Technically, what you describe is true - JPEG is a lossy format that throws away data. But whether RAW provides any tangible benefit (and I'm sure you could save as lossless formats like TIFF already) depends on the sensor. You could have a shit sensor, like early cameraphones, that didn't even utilise the extents of the JPG format. Or you could have one that captures a very wide gamut, only a small section of which makes into the standard rendered image.

DSLRs have had RAW formats since the beginning but what you can extract from them (e.g. bringing back blown highlights) depends on the camera - and is steadily improving over time.

It's a technical point, I know, but it influences whether phone camera RAW is really useful at this stage. We'll have to see I guess.

In the context of the iPhone however it only offers raw vs jpeg. When you shoot a jpeg and its written it will discard data, when you edit the jpeg and its rewritten, it will discard data.

This won't happen with raw, so its latitude for the scope of editing will be preserved over time.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter, the point is raw is better quality than jpeg, doesn't degrade with each write but has much bigger file sizes which is what the poster I was originally replying to needs to know.

 

[Cid]

The beats x headphones which will have air pod tech built in actually look like a lot better alternative to the apple air pods. A lot less likely to be lost, a lot less likely to be a mugging target, cheaper, black, and they claim you can get 8 hours of use, and 2 hours of use from a 5 minute charge.

Beats X - beats-UK

If I was going to by any wireless headphones it would be something more like those.

Fine, but £130 is a fairly high price for in-ear phones; that's Shure SE315s, decent Sennheiser or Bose stuff. But obviously they would be wired. I'm not averse to a move toward wireless phones, and those look vastly more sensible than the Apple ones. But it does mean more batteries, more chargers... Depends on compatibility with other stuff as well.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

It's not illegal per se. You might get done for DWDCA.

It's not illegal to down 8 pints of Stella and get behind the wheel, per se

 

[skyscraper101]

Fine, but £130 is a fairly high price for in-ear phones; that's Shure SE315s, decent Sennheiser or Bose stuff. But obviously they would be wired. I'm not averse to a move toward wireless phones, and those look vastly more sensible than the Apple ones. But it does mean more batteries, more chargers... Depends on compatibility with other stuff as well.

Of course. I don't disagree with any of that. They're all very expensive for what they are. And I can't even comment on the sound quality because I haven't tried them. I'm just saying that if I did go wireless, I'd be more inclined to those ones because they're better designed to my needs.

 

[mauvais]

It's not illegal to down 8 pints of Stella and get behind the wheel, per se

Not if you do it evenly over the course of a week, no.

More seriously, lots of things are explicitly illegal in the RTA, like phone use, and that isn't one.

 

[Cid]

Of course. I don't disagree with any of that. They're all very expensive for what they are. And I can't even comment on the sound quality because I haven't tried them. I'm just saying that if I did go wireless, I'd be more inclined to those ones because they're better designed to my needs.

I find the Apple ones bizarre - They could have used it as an interesting opportunity to design something that wraps around the ear, or a trendy white neckband or something. But no. Let's make them look like they've had the cable snipped off.

 

[Crispy]

What, just like dropping the floppy disk? Or optical drives? etc etc

Those were replaced by things that were objectively better at the job. Faster, more capacity, more convenient. The headphone socket already transmits sound information perfectly. It doesn't actually need replacing.

As for the "space for battery" argument it's just bollocks. The volume of a 3.5mm socket is about 5x5x15mm = 375mm³ which when spread over the entire back of the battery (dims source) equals 0.1mm extra thickness.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Fuck earphones that need charging every 5 hours. That's not a step forward.

That's the key point for me - I don't mind shelling out for kit that makes things better/easier/more useable. Airpods fail that test.

They are easier to lose, they require constant charging, they add to the amount of shit you need to lug about.

Also, the cost is a disgrace considering anyone wearing them is going to a) look like a knob b) be easy mugger pickings and c) is going to spend loads of money replacing lost Air Pods.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Those were replaced by things that were objectively better at the job. Faster, more capacity, more convenient. The headphone socket already transmits sound information perfectly. It doesn't actually need replacing.

Exactly.

 

[bi0boy]

I loathe cables. When I am using headphones on my phone, if I bend down the cable will inevitably get caught on something and rip the headphones out of my ears as I stand up. Not to mention entanglements, dodgy cables etc.

Wireless headphones should be the norm, like optical mice replaced ball mice. This move by Apple should spur more innovation in the third party wireless headphone segment so before long there will hopefully be wireless headphones that satisfy everyone bar a handful of weirdos.

 

[Cid]

I loathe cables. When I am using headphones on my phone, if I bend down the cable will inevitably get caught on something and rip the headphones out of my ears as I stand up. Not to mention entanglements, dodgy cables etc.

Wireless headphones should be the norm, like optical mice replaced ball mice. This move by Apple should spur more innovation in the third party wireless headphone segment so before long there will hopefully be wireless headphones that satisfy everyone bar a handful of weirdos.

Optical mice may be the norm, but wireless mice aren't. On account of being more expensive and needing charging exactly when you don't want them to.

 

[skyscraper101]

As for the "space for battery" argument it's just bollocks. The volume of a 3.5mm socket is about 5x5x15mm = 375mm³ which when spread over the entire back of the battery (dims source) equals 0.1mm extra thickness.

I don't think they were saying that the space saving was about the battery capacity though IIRC. It was just space generally. And when the lightning port can do the same job and more, it was an inevitable move IMO.

Also I've had nuff devices with 3.5mm jack inputs that start to fail after a while, and the jack needs twisting about to get stereo to come out. My current iphone 5s is already doing this. They're imperfect connections and I won't miss it TBH.

 

[sim667]

That's the key point for me - I don't mind shelling out for kit that makes things better/easier/more useable. Airpods fail that test.

They are easier to lose, they require constant charging, they add to the amount of shit you need to lug about.

Also, the cost is a disgrace considering anyone wearing them is going to a) look like a knob b) be easy mugger pickings and c) is going to spend loads of money replacing lost Air Pods.

And apple headphones historically have been universally shit.

 

[bi0boy]

Optical mice may be the norm, but wireless mice aren't. On account of being more expensive and needing charging exactly when you don't want them to.

There is not really a need for wireless mice as they tend to be used on desks and not on the move. Only if you have a really messy desk do they have any purpose. The proportion of wired mice users who report frustrations with the mice cable must be very low, but it sure is very high with headphone users.

The charging capacity will obviously be sorted in time.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

And apple headphones historically have been universally shit.

I would be interested to learn how good they are for the money, given that they look exactly like the crap ones they put in the box with phone minus the wire.

 

[sim667]

I would be interested to learn how good they are for the money, given that they look exactly like the crap ones they put in the box with phone minus the wire.

They'll be the same ones, but wireless...

I.e. shit.

 

[Cid]

There is not really a need for wireless mice as they tend to be used on desks and not on the move. Only if you have a really messy desk do they have any purpose. The proportion of wired mice users who report frustrations with the mice cable must be very low, but it sure is very high with headphone users.

The charging capacity will obviously be sorted in time.

Why obviously? Battery technology has been stalled for ages now, or at least is only improving incrementally. Potential new technologies, but they all seem to be '5-10 years'.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

And apple headphones historically have been universally shit.

The current crop of earpod style ones aren't that bad. I see an awful lot of people complaining about them (usually about the lack of bass) when they've put them in wrong. They don't go in flat against your ear, you're meant to push the pointy bit down into your ear. Not everyone seems to get this. Of course there's better things out there, but for an awful lot of users they're more than fine.

The original iPod/phone ones however, were rubbish

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Those were replaced by things that were objectively better at the job. Faster, more capacity, more convenient. The headphone socket already transmits sound information perfectly. It doesn't actually need replacing.

Wireless can also transit the sound perfectly, with the advantage of, errr, being wireless.

This is just like a lot of other Apple stuff, the line in the sand that becomes the norm in a couple of years time. 12 months from now nobody will give a shit.

 

[skyscraper101]

The current crop of earpod style ones aren't that bad. I see an awful lot of people complaining about them (usually about the lack of bass) when they've put them in wrong. They don't go in flat against your ear, you're meant to push the pointy bit down into your ear. Not everyone seems to get this. Of course there's better things out there, but for an awful lot of users they're more than fine.

The original iPod/phone ones however, were rubbish

True I don't actually mind the current ones. They're much better than the old ipod ones, the bass is fine for general listening, and they're a comfortable design.

And I'm very picky about earbud style earphones. Most of them are either uncomfortable or they block the ear up so much they make you lose spatial awareness and you hear yourself breathing. I think Apple have largely got it right on both counts.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

This is just like a lot of other Apple stuff, the line in the sand that becomes the norm in a couple of years time. 12 months from now nobody will give a shit.

Have you seen them? No way are they going mass market in 12 months.

a) people will recognise that they look like knob heads
b) the requirement to charge them will mean they will lie flat and unused in bags as people root around for their old ones and the adapter