View Full Version : Airpods wifi headphones on a/c
compressor stall
9th Sep 2016, 10:07
So to date wifi / bluetooth headphones have been available, but just about every device has a 2.5mm jack for the normal wired headphones.
Now the biggest in the mobile game has ditched the 2.5mm jack and is selling the earbuds that automatically wirelessly link to the device.
I feel that there are going to be some pretty grumpy people who have loaded their iPhone up with music or movies intending to listen to them on a long flight on their wireless earphones being told they cannot.
Have any airlines come out yet and stated they are no problem? I would be interested to see what studies A and B do on these, like the iPads. The difference here, obviously is that they are transmitting.
Skornogr4phy
9th Sep 2016, 11:03
The number of times I've forgotten to turn my phone off and not exploded, you wouldn't believe. Our airline only requires it for LVP conditions.
Apple Airpods are just bluetooth headphones. I have used bluetooth headphones on flights for 2 years now with no issues.
The new iphone comes with a set of headphones that plug into the lightning port instead, but if you want to use a standard 3.5mm jack headphone set, then the new phone comes with a 3.5mm to lightning adaptor in the box.
What headphones does the iPhone 7 come with? - Pocket-lint (http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/138770-what-headphones-does-the-iphone-7-come-with)
No problem.
Capn Bloggs
10th Sep 2016, 04:53
Found in the Interweb re Bluetooth:
Hearing aids/devices that use Bluetooth are permitted to be used at all times onboard A330, A380, B737 and QantasLink aircraft. On B747 aircraft, hearing aids/devices that use Bluetooth must be switched off during taxi, takeoff and landing, therefore passengers with Bluetooth hearing aids/devices are not permitted to be seated in exit rows on B747 aircraft.
compressor stall
10th Sep 2016, 11:49
Ah interesting. I was not aware of Bluetooth being permitted already by some. I'd assumed that it was a transmitting device.
Curiosity has me asking about wh y not in the 747? Has the manufacturer not done a study, or have they and there is interference?
Thanks.
msbbarratt
15th Sep 2016, 23:18
Interesting that they're permitted on some aircraft types, but not others. That suggests that some actual genuine thinking has been done on the matter, which is reassuring!
As an aside, the new wireless ear buds from Apple aren't Bluetooth, they've spun their own chip (and, presumably, their own radio standard) for the purpose. I can't see that as transmitting more power than Bluetooth, most likely less so it's probably even less likely to cause problems than Bluetooth. But because it's an unknown, presumably it'll have to be treated warily until further notice...
But who'd want wireless ear buds on a plane? Drop one and lose it and it's a miserable rest of the flight. Not due to the flight as such, more down to the thought of having to shell out another £150. for replacements..
ExSp33db1rd
16th Sep 2016, 05:04
.........the thought of having to shell out another £150. for replacements..
Just bought a new pair of in-the-ear-earphones, joined together with a length of cable, and ending in the old 3.5 plug, from the local clone of Walmart, for $6.oo.
QED.
Denti
16th Sep 2016, 06:00
Apple has spun their own chip, as usual, but the transmisssion is via bluetooth, although apple doesn't advertise that fact. They actually do work with Android devices as well, just not all the nice zo have "special" features.
Derfred
16th Sep 2016, 06:43
Just bought a new pair of in-the-ear-earphones, joined together with a length of cable, and ending in the old 3.5 plug, from the local clone of Walmart, for $6.oo.
QED.
You really should try a quality pair of headphones one day. There is a difference.
msbbarratt
16th Sep 2016, 07:31
Apple has spun their own chip, as usual, but the transmisssion is via bluetooth, although apple doesn't advertise that fact. They actually do work with Android devices as well, just not all the nice zo have "special" features.
Really?! Well I never. They're certainly keeping quiet about that. Looks like Engadget have paired them with a Samsung Galaxy, so it's certainly Bluetooth.
The keeping quiet is interesting. I wonder if they've added things to the Bluetooth standard to make the extra features work. In which case it's no longer vanilla Bluetooth, so using the word "Bluetooth" wouldn't be a good idea. Also it'd be more like a derivative work. Getting patent licensing in order would be necessary.
andytug
16th Sep 2016, 17:23
Apple's version of Bluetooth is different to most, some things don't work as you would expect. This will probably be the same. If the quality of the ear buds is anything like Beats then they're at least 400% over priced.
Ian W
16th Sep 2016, 17:36
Apple's version of Bluetooth is different to most, some things don't work as you would expect. This will probably be the same. If the quality of the ear buds is anything like Beats then they're at least 400% over priced.
As are most Apple products
giggitygiggity
18th Sep 2016, 13:57
I can't see any big deal. I have left my phone on by mistake before, nothing happened. The worst case scenario is either you'll have a flat battery, or you'll end up with a massive bill when flying to less enlightened parts of the world.
We have a LIDO/Panasonic Toughpad EFB solution at my airline and the plan was to connect these two devices either side of the cockpit by Bluetooth so the PNF can ping the ground charts (etc.) to the PF when appropriate. This hadn't been taken up due to the standard legislative delays but as I understand, it is a feature that has been designed into the LIDO system.