Hardware prototyping consultant Ken Pilonell has added wires and a USB-C connector to the AirPods lineup, bypassing the need for their charging case.
repair site iFixit Giving all versions of AirPods and AirPods Pro a score of zero out of 10 for repairability. It is not designed to be serviced or repaired because no internal components can be accessed without damaging the device, making it a disposable item, especially since its three batteries degrade over time.
Pillonel’s latest project to add wires to AirPods is designed to raise awareness of these repair issues, and encourage consumers to consider more simply buying a non-expendable pair of wired earbuds than Apple’s wireless offering.
Last year, Pillonel carried out a similar project to highlight fixability issues with Apple’s lightning connector by adding one to the Samsung Galaxy A51. He’s also responsible for several other innovative projects that have captured the attention of the Apple community in recent years, including adding USB-C ports to AirPods, AirPods Pro, and iPhone X.
popular stories
Apple announces that WWDC 2023 will take place from June 5-9
Apple today announced that its 34th annual Worldwide Developers Conference will be held from Monday, June 5 to Friday, June 9. Like WWDC 2020, 2021, and 2022, WWDC 2023 will be a mostly online event, open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple will provide online sessions and labs, which will allow …
General Motors is phasing out Apple CarPlay starting this year in its EV transition
General Motors (GM) will phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its cars starting this year, and switch to an integrated infotainment system co-developed with Google (via Reuters). General Motors owns Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC in the United States. It will stop offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, which goes on sale this summer. The company plans…
The iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to feature a multifunctional action button instead of a mute switch
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models are rumored to have a customizable action button like the Apple Watch Ultra, according to a MacRumors forum member who leaked minute details about the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models last year. The source claimed that the action button will replace the Ring/Silent switch that has been included with every iPhone model since 2007. They didn’t…
iOS 16.4 is now available for your iPhone with these 8 new features
After six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 was released to the public this week. The software update includes a few new features and changes for iPhone 8 and later. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the onscreen instructions. Below, we’ve summarized eight new features and changes added with iOS 16.4,…
Three new iOS features coming to your iPhone after the Apple Music Classical
With the Apple Music Classical app and the Apple Pay Later early access program now available, the list of previously announced and yet-to-be-launched iOS features is starting to shrink. However, there are still some features that we are waiting for. Below, we’ve summarized three more iOS features expected to launch in 2023, including an Apple Card savings account for Daily Cash,…
Kuo: Apple’s mixed reality headset may not show up at WWDC because mass production is down again
Apple has once again pushed back on mass production of its mixed reality headset, and the device may not appear at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Apple Headphone Concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane In a tweet, Kuo explained that Apple is “not very optimistic” about whether the headset will be able to create an “iPhone moment.” as a result of,…
“Writer. Friendly troublemaker. Lifelong food junkie. Professional beer evangelist.”