❤ How to Use AirPods with Android

 

 

If you have AirPods and an Android device, you might be interested in knowing that you can use AirPods with Android phones and tablets too. Connecting AirPods to an Android device is pretty straight forward (thought not as seamlessly simple as the iOS setup) and once the two are connected and paired you’ll be able to use them as the wonderfully convenient wireless headphones that they are.

Requirements before beginning: be sure that the AirPods and AirPods charging case are sufficiently charged, that AirPods are inserted into the AirPods Case, and also be sure that Bluetooth is turned on and active on the Android device.

 

How to Connect AirPods to Android

 

1. Close the AirPods in the AirPods Case if you haven’t done so already
2. Now on Android, go to the “Settings” menu on the Android device
3. Go to “Bluetooth”
4. Now open the AirPods charging case lid
5. Press and hold on the button on the back of the AirPods Case until you see the light flash white
6. Back on Android, wait a moment for AirPods to appear on the list of devices in Android Bluetooth settings and then choose to “Pair”
7. Exit Settings on Android, AirPods will now be synced and connected to the Android

You can confirm everything is working by playing music, podcasts, or any audio from Android, and the sound will come through the AirPods headphones as expected.

As long as AirPods are connected and paired with the Android phone or tablet, the AirPods will be the wireless headphones used by the Android for audio output.

 

 

From the AirPods side of things, getting them working with Android is basically the same way as you would connect AirPods to a Windows PC (and yes they work with Windows too!) or connect AirPods to a Mac (of course they work on a Mac, setup is even easier on Mac if they’re already configured on an iPhone with the same Apple ID too), meaning you open the devices Bluetooth settings and pair them manually. Simple, straightforward, and largely like any other Bluetooth accessory or speaker.

Note that if you use AirPods with an iPhone, iPad, Mac, AND and Android, you will probably need to disconnect the AirPods from the Android or iOS device (but not remove) before the other OS platform will see the AirPods. If you accidentally removed them from any of the Apple hardware Bluetooth settings, you can setup AirPods with iOS again, and same with the Mac.

 

Troubleshooting AirPods & Android

If you’re having difficulty pairing AirPods and Android, you might need to reset the AirPods.

You can also try rebooting the Android device.

Ensuring that Bluetooth is enabled on Android and that AirPods and AirPods Case are sufficiently charged is also recommended as troubleshooting steps.

 

Some AirPods features don’t work with Android

If you plan on using AirPods with Android, you’ll want to know that not all AirPods features will be available on Android.

For example, no Siri feature will work with AirPods and Android, because Android does not have Siri. Additionally, features like AirPods auto-pausing will not work.

That doesn’t mean the two don’t work well together though, and so even if you’re missing out on Siri assistance it’s still a great experience. – https://is.gd/28I5D5

❤ New AirPods with “Hey Siri” Capability Released

Apple has released an updated version of their AirPods wireless headphones today.

 

 

The new AirPods include performance improvements for faster connect times and longer talk time. Additionally, the new AirPods support “Hey Siri” for hands-free voice initiated interaction with Siri.

The new AirPods also are available with an optional wireless charging case, which allow for using a Qi-based charger to charge their battery.

The AirPods with Wireless Charging Case cost $199, while the standard wired charging AirPods cost $159. The Wireless Charging Case can also be purchased separately for $79.

Orders for the new AirPods start today on apple.com and will deliver towards the end of the month.

 

 

 

 

Setting up AirPods is incredibly easy with an iPhone or iPad, and they work seamlessly with the Mac, Apple Watch, and because they’re Bluetooth they even work with Android or Windows hardware too.

 

 

 

 

The quiet release of new AirPods comes during the same week that Apple has also quietly released updated iPad Air 10.5″ and iPad mini 7.9″ and updated iMac hardware too. It’s possible that Apple will release yet another new product or updated hardware on the remaining days of the week, with various rumors circulating about the eventual release of the much anticipated AirPower wireless charging mat (which presumably would go well with the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case), a possible update to iPod touch, and updates to the 12″ MacBook.

Apple is set for a media event on March 25 where the company will apparently unveil a TV show effort to compete with Netflix and other similar streaming video providers. – https://is.gd/PGiLrG

❤ How to Change AirPods Name from iPhone or iPad

 

 

Want to change the name of your AirPods? You can quickly change AirPods name from the Settings app of the synced iPhone or iPad.

Note this is just a simple name change of AirPods, it does not require resetting AirPods nor does it require setting them up again. You simply open the pertinent iOS settings, rename the AirPods, and that’s about it.

How to Rename AirPods

Here is how you can easily rename AirPods, right from iOS:

• Open the “Settings” app on the iPhone or iPad that AirPods are connected to
• Go to “Bluetooth”
• Find the AirPods in the Bluetooth device list then tap on the (i) button next to the AirPods
• In AirPods settings, tap on “Name”

 

 

 

 

 

• Enter the new name you’d like to change AirPods name to, then tap the back “<” button to confirm the AirPods name change

 

 

 

• Exit out of Settings as usual

 

Now AirPods will have whatever name you chose, and that name will be visible anywhere that you can see or access AirPods, including in Bluetooth settings, when you check their battery level, and anywhere else you might see the AirPods from iOS.

You name AirPods whatever you want, whether that’s simply calling them “AirPods” or “Paul’s AirPods” or giving them some other customized name, the choice is yours. You can easily change their name again at any time by simply returning to the settings as covered above.

In a similar manner, you can also easily change the name of iPhone, iPad, or an iPod touchby going to the appropriate Settings in iOS.

This obviously covers iOS, but you can also change the name of AirPods from a Mac, assuming the AirPods are connected to that same Mac anyway, by going to Bluetooth settings in MacOS.

As always, if you have any particularly helpful advice, tips, tricks, suggestions, or general input about renaming AirPods, share with us in the comments below! – https://is.gd/YI63Kr

❤ How to Reset AirPods

 

 

Resetting AirPods returns AirPods to factory default settings, this procedure can be helpful for troubleshooting various problems with AirPods, but it can also be necessary if you plan on giving used AirPods to someone else, or even to sync and connect the AirPods to another compatible device. Essentially this will be resetting AirPods to factory settings, as if they were brand new.

Some common reasons to reset AirPods for troubleshooting reasons are if the airPods are suddenly not showing up as available, if the AirPods case is not charging the AirPods out of the blue, if there are curious battery issues with the AirPods, amongst other issues that could be experienced. Usually a quick reset to factory settings fixes these type of AirPods issues quickly.

1. Make sure the AirPods and the charging case all have a battery charge available
2. Place both AirPods into the charging case if you haven’t done so already, close the lid for 15 seconds
3. Open the lid of the AirPods case, keeping the AirPods secured in place
4. Turn the AirPods Case around and look for the small button on the back, press and hold the case button until the light flashes orange a few times, and then flashes white – this indicates the AirPods have been reset

Now that the AirPods have been reset, if you open the AirPods case near an iPhone or iPad, the the setup for AirPods process will begin automatically again.

 

 

 

 

If you are still experiencing issues with the AirPods, the first thing you should do is charge the AirPods longer in their case, aim for at least 20 minutes or longer of charging. Then you can also try to select them from the iPhone or iPad Settings app and either forget the Bluetooth device or even disconnect the Bluetooth device from iOS and then start the AirPods reset process over again.

It can also be a good idea to check for and update AirPods firmware software if there are updates available.

 

 

 

 

Resetting devices to factory defaults can be a common troubleshooting approach to figuring out and resolving a variety of software issues, and not just for AirPods. You can also reset iPhone to factory settings, reset and erase iPad and iPad Pro, reset Mac to factory settings, and even reset Windows 10 to factory default settings too. For resetting AirPods to factory settings there is no concern for data loss, whereas for resetting other devices it is important to have a backup available before you reset the device, otherwise you may permanently lose data from an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC. – https://is.gd/m6AdfR

❤ How to use iOS 12’s Live Listen feature with AirPods

AirPods plus iOS 12 equals Live Listen.

 

 

Back in 1979, the original Sony Walkman had an odd feature. If you pressed an orange button on the end, a built-in mic would connect to the user’s headphones, letting them hear what was going on in the outside world. This may be the first case of technology being used to mitigate the bad manners surrounding personal audio.

Now, in iOS 12, this type of feature is back — and way more useful than it was in music’s greatest-ever decade. Live Listen is a new iOS 12 feature that pipes live audio from the iPhone’s mic directly to your AirPods. Why? Well, it’s an accessibility feature, but it can be used for much more.

Live Listen requires iOS 12, and also a set of AirPods. I tried to use it with a pair of regular Bluetooth headphones, and it just doesn’t work. However, if you have the required hardware and software, Live Listen is dead easy to use.

 

Live Listen turns AirPods into hearing aids (sort of)

 

Before we get to that, what can Live Listen be used for?

 

 

Live Listen is there in the bottom row.

 

 

The first case is as a kind of magnifying glass for sound. You can switch on Live Listen and use it to zoom in on audio, perhaps audio that is too quiet, or that is lost in a noisy room — a restaurant, say.

You can also use this feature as Sony intended in the 1980s, to have a conversation with a human without having to remove your headphones, although that’s still pretty rude.

Because Live Listen works with wireless AirPods, though, you can also use it as a remote monitor. You could drop the iPhone in your sleeping baby/dog’s room when on vacation, for example, and keep a bud in your ear. That’s a pretty poor use-case, though, as you have to leave your iPhone behind, and keep an earbud in your ear.

However you use it, Live Listen is very good at picking up audio from your iPhone or iPad mic. I tested it with an iPad, and it picked up on my breathing quite clearly, even though there’s construction work going on outside the office. Not bad. There’s a very slight delay, which manifests as an echo, but it’s not distracting.

 

How to use Live Listen in iOS 12

 

Using Live Listen is simple and straightforward. First, head to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls. Then, tap on Hearing to add the Live Listen widget to your Control Center.

 

 

Enable the Live Listen widget here.

 

 

Then, when you switch to Control Center, you will see the new Live Listen icon. Tap it, and the Live Listen panel will appear.

 

 

 

This is where you interact with Live Listen.

 

 

 

Make sure your AirPods are connected, usually just by putting them in your ears, and then tap this panel to enable Live Listen. The iPhone or iPad’s own volume control sets the volume of the audio.

That’s it! You are now listening live. On the iPad, Live Listen uses the microphone in the side, just above the volume buttons. I haven’t yet tested it on an iPhone.

 

Live Listen limitations

 

Live Listen can be used when you have other audio playing on your iPhone or iPad. In this case, the music will be switched to mono to match the Live Listen stream. Also, when Live Listen is active, the tap shortcuts on the AirPods are disabled. You cannot play/pause, or skip, or anything else. Instead, you must use the on-screen audio controls.

Live Listen is a pretty great accessibility feature, and the best part is that it’s so well integrated into iOS 12. Once you add it to the Control Center, this audio “zoom” is available with just a couple of taps. Another accessibility home run from Apple. – https://is.gd/9dIndH

Apple is backing up AirPods with American jobs

Siri, why is Apple buying Shazam?

 

 

Apple is pouring $390 million into an American company that helps power AirPods and FaceID — an investment that will create 500 jobs in Texas.

The money will come from a $1 billion fund that Apple established earlier this year to boost U.S. manufacturing jobs.

Apple says the cash will help Finisar, a chip maker, restart a 700,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Sherman, Texas, by the second half of next year. The new plant will create 500 “high-skill” jobs.

Finisar produces “vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers” (VCSELs), which power some Apple’s newest features, including Face ID, Animoji, Portrait mode selfies and AirPods.

The investment will go toward rebooting a previously closed 700,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Sherman, Texas. The new plant, which will create 500 jobs, is expected to open in the second half of next year.

“VCSELs power some of the most sophisticated technology we’ve ever developed and we’re thrilled to partner with Finisar over the next several years to push the boundaries of VCSEL technology and the applications they enable,” Apple COO Jeff Williams said in a statement.

AirPods are wireless earbuds introduced in 2016 as an untethered way to listen to music, take phone calls and use the Siri voice assistant. Its arrival caused backlash for being easy to lose, but experts said it could be the future of headphones.

Meanwhile, Face ID — which debuted on the iPhone X this year — is touted as a more secure way of unlocking your phone. Considered difficult to hack than other systems, other smartphone companies could take Apple’s lead and launch similar features in the future.

Related: Tim Cook: Apple creating $1B fund to bring manufacturing jobs to the U.S.

Finisar is the second company to receive an investment from Apple’s U.S. manufacturing fund. In May, Apple (AAPL) pledged $200 million to glass manufacturer Corning. The company makes Gorilla Glass displays for smartphones and tablets, including for Apple products.

At the time, CEO Tim Cook teased Apple could add more money to the fund, calling the $1 billion an “initial” donation.

President Trump has been pushing Apple to move its manufacturing efforts from China to the U.S. On the campaign trial, Trump said: “We’re going to get Apple to build their damn computers and things in this country instead of in other countries.”

In July, Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook has “promised” to build “three big plants, beautiful plants” in the U.S.

It’s unclear where those facilities would be located or how many workers would be employed.

“If we can create many manufacturing jobs, those manufacturing jobs create more jobs around them because you have a service industry that builds up around them,” Cook said of the fund on CNBC earlier this year.

The tech giant already relies on some domestic manufacturing. For example, the Mac Pro is assembled in Austin, Texas, and so are its Samsung processors. Other iPhone parts, such as cell and Wi-Fi radios, as well as its Corning displays, are made in the U.S.

Apple isn’t the only tech company adding more jobs to the U.S.

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn has pledged to invest $10 billion to build a factory that makes LCD screens in Wisconsin. The facility is expected to create between 3,000 and 13,000 new jobs and should be open by 2020.

 

 

– https://goo.gl/ieSLvi