Casey Liss

It's amusing to think that this quote-unquote secure exclave is a return to the spirit of the original design requirement.

It's amusing to think that this quote-unquote secure exclave is a return to the spirit of the original design requirement.

Indeed. Yeah, it's a bummer, but like you said, that's big business for you. Wayne Dixon writes with regard to AirPods 4, the base on the AirPods 4 with ANC is definitely heavier than the AirPods 3, according to Wayne. I have no personal experience, so I'll take Wayne's word on this.

Indeed. Yeah, it's a bummer, but like you said, that's big business for you. Wayne Dixon writes with regard to AirPods 4, the base on the AirPods 4 with ANC is definitely heavier than the AirPods 3, according to Wayne. I have no personal experience, so I'll take Wayne's word on this.

Wayne continues, also, the new MagSafe puck does not align itself with the AirPods 4 case either, despite being slightly smaller than the old puck.

Wayne continues, also, the new MagSafe puck does not align itself with the AirPods 4 case either, despite being slightly smaller than the old puck.

A friend of the show, Quinn Nelson, with regard to the ear sensors in AirPods 4. This is quoting from a YouTube video, which we will link in the show notes. These buds use Apple's old optical detection sensor, so anything opaque that modifies light to this spot will pause and resume music.

A friend of the show, Quinn Nelson, with regard to the ear sensors in AirPods 4. This is quoting from a YouTube video, which we will link in the show notes. These buds use Apple's old optical detection sensor, so anything opaque that modifies light to this spot will pause and resume music.

Apple does appear to be using the onboard accelerometers to prevent music from being resumed when the buds are at opposing angles, so you would think that it might be okay in your pocket, but it's not bulletproof. Placing one or both earbuds in my pocket will often resume music unexpectedly. This was a solved problem. The outgoing AirPods 3 had a sensor that only responded to capacitive skin.

Apple does appear to be using the onboard accelerometers to prevent music from being resumed when the buds are at opposing angles, so you would think that it might be okay in your pocket, but it's not bulletproof. Placing one or both earbuds in my pocket will often resume music unexpectedly. This was a solved problem. The outgoing AirPods 3 had a sensor that only responded to capacitive skin.

This is a real bummer of a downgrade and a compromise that I hope was only made for that thinner fitment comfort rather than to save a buck or to artificially segment the lineup.

This is a real bummer of a downgrade and a compromise that I hope was only made for that thinner fitment comfort rather than to save a buck or to artificially segment the lineup.

Wow. John, do you want to tell us about discoveries with regard to the A18 and A18 Pro, please?

Wow. John, do you want to tell us about discoveries with regard to the A18 and A18 Pro, please?

And in the same spirit, it turns out there is a tiny hardware difference between the two, these AirPods. So John, what's going on here?

And in the same spirit, it turns out there is a tiny hardware difference between the two, these AirPods. So John, what's going on here?

And then additionally from iFixit, if we take a look at the x-rays of the ANC version of the case, we can again see the exact same PCB, but with a speaker inside the housing. This is another component that contributes to the extra $50 you'd pay for the ANC version. As far as I can tell, those are the only two differences.

And then additionally from iFixit, if we take a look at the x-rays of the ANC version of the case, we can again see the exact same PCB, but with a speaker inside the housing. This is another component that contributes to the extra $50 you'd pay for the ANC version. As far as I can tell, those are the only two differences.

All right. And then Tom's Hardware or Tom's Guide, whatever they're calling themselves these days, did a large test of the iPhone's 16 battery life. And they have a summary table that John has been kind enough to put in the show notes for me.

All right. And then Tom's Hardware or Tom's Guide, whatever they're calling themselves these days, did a large test of the iPhone's 16 battery life. And they have a summary table that John has been kind enough to put in the show notes for me.