Apple AirPods 2 undergoes Bluetooth certification

We may or may not be seeing the second iteration of Apple’s AirPods soon. The accessory is currently undergoing certification by the Bluetooth SIG, according to a declaration form published online. It’ll reportedly come with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and is listed under model numbers A2031 and A2032. With this certification process happening, it’s usually a sign that the device launch is upon us. Other trademark filings have also unveiled possible new features of the AirPods 2. Filings in Europe and Hong Kong suggest we’re going to get things like its own health tracking sensor. According to MySmartPrice, “It also covers monitors, speakers and displays of measuring, displaying, tracking, reporting, monitoring, storing, and transmitting biometric data, heart rate, body movement, and calories burned." We won’t be surprised though if the AirPods 2 gets these feature. With Apple honing in on its health- and fitness-related features, it makes sense it brings these to more of its devices.

New Apple AirPods might launch ‘as soon as this year’

Review: Apple AirPods

The next iteration of the Apple AirPods might come sooner than we think. A new report from Bloomberg claims the company might release the next version of these in-ear wireless headphones “as soon as this year.” The next AirPods will reportedly have upgraded wireless chip designed by Apple to keep its Bluetooth connection. This version will also supposedly be able to rouse Siri just by saying the keywords “Hey, Siri.” You no longer need to physically tap on the AirPods to do so.

On top of this, a water-resistant version might come out as early as 2019. But like the new iPhones, these won’t be built for complete submersion. Instead they’ll be able to handle splashes of water and rain. We might also expect a wireless AirPods charging case soon, as Apple has previously said.

Source: CNET

Apple tests out ‘Find My AirPods’ feature on iOS

Now it’s becoming clear why Apple banned a certain app built to help find its wireless earbuds. Apple is building the feature into iOS. The latest beta version of the mobile operating system now has the “Find My AirPods” feature. It’ll help you locate the misplaced AirPods in a few ways: it’ll either ping them via Bluetooth, within a range of around five to 10 feet, to a device connected to the same iCloud account the AirPods are registered; or show you a map where the AirPods were last connected via Bluetooth; or the app can make the AirPods play a sound. If you’re using the beta version of iOS, you should have access to this feature and hopefully won’t ever lose your AirPods again.

Source: Quartz

Apple bans app for looking for missing AirPods

If you tend to misplace things, losing an AirPod earpiece won’t come as a surprise. That’s why an app designed specifically to help look for said earpiece is useful. But Apple doesn’t seem to think so. Deucks Pty’s Finder for Airpods has been taken down from the App Store and Raajit Sharm, one of the Deucks Pty’s developers says it isn’t coming back. In an email to Fortune, Sharm says: “Apple determined the ‘concept’ of people finding their AirPods with the app was deemed ‘not appropriate for the App Store.’”

This US$3.99 app makes use of the AirPods Bluetooth signal to help you track the earpiece and lets users know if they’re closer or farther to finding the AirPods based on how strong or weak the signal is. It’s not the most effective way to locate the accessory but it’s better than nothing. We can’t quite say what makes this inappropriate for the App Store. But Apple hasn’t released a statement yet about this. What Apple wants you to do when you lose these AirPods is pay US$69 each for a lost earpiece.