Are These the Headphones of the Future?

With the pompous and promised-to-be groundbreaking introduction of iPhone7, specialists and everyday users started a battle over the lack of 3.5 mm headphone jack. Instead of getting the standard free wired earphones, you need to buy the AirPods wireless ones for $159. While some are happy to forget about tangled cord, others complain about making Apple devices even more exclusive. Putting the practical issues aside, there comes a question on what this really means.

Apple explains their decision of removing headphones jack with three arguments: two technical (easier phone operation and the saved space was used to make a better phone) and one theoretical: the future is wireless.

AirPods biggest innovation is how they allow to use the phone by just expressing the need vocally. Tapping them twice while they’re in the ear (infrared sensor detects touch) starts Siri, the well-known Apple AI-powered voice assistant. The list of questions which you can ask and tasks you can do with a help from Siri is quite impressive:

Of course Apple was not the first to come up with wireless headphones. A startup named Bragi succeeded in raising $3.4 million on Kickstarter in 2014 to introduce The Dash. It was "designed to live in your ear", however slow Bluetooth connection made it too weak to win the market. Another attempt was made by Doppler Labs with Here One, "the first all-in-one wireless listening system - and the last thing you’ll ever put in your ears". While Here One is still waiting for its premiere in December, Apple Airpods are already for sale - not a good starting point for Doppler Labs.

No matter which brand is going to rule the wireless headphones scene, we can be sure that we're not talking about earphones anymore. It's time to get used to have a computer in our ear that we never need to take out. Until it may grow into it someday!

Sources: Business Insider UK, Slate

Images: Getty Images, Monika Kozub (cover)