Ahead of Apple's "Gather Round" event, rumors suggested the company would introduce updated AirPods with an improved wireless chip and support for hands-free "Hey Siri" functionality.
There was no mention of updated AirPods on stage when the new Apple Watch and iPhone models were unveiled, but Apple's event intro featured a video where "Hey Siri" support for AirPods is clearly demonstrated as a feature.
The "Hey Siri" moment happens at about 40 seconds into the video In the Mission Impossible parody video that kicked off the event, an Apple employee racing across the Apple Park campus to deliver an item to Tim Cook uses "Hey Siri" with the AirPods to ask for the fastest route to the Steve Jobs Theater.
The "Hey Siri" hint suggests that this functionality is indeed coming to the AirPods at some point in the future, so it's possible that Apple is still planning to unveil updated AirPods later in the year.
At the current time, summoning Siri requires a double-tap on the side of one of the AirPods, which is much less convenient than the hands-free option.
If new AirPods are still on the horizon, that may also mean that Apple still intends to unveil the AirPower at some point in 2018. There was no mention of the AirPower at today's event and the device has essentially been scrubbed from Apple's website, so it's not entirely clear if and when it's going to launch.
Along with the AirPower, Apple is meant to be introducing a new wireless Charging Case for the AirPods, which is simply listed as "Unavailable" on Apple's website.
Apple could be planning to unveil AirPods with "Hey Siri" support, a wireless AirPods Charging Case, and the AirPower all at the same time later in 2018, but the company's plans are still very much unknown at this point.
There was no mention of updated AirPods on stage when the new Apple Watch and iPhone models were unveiled, but Apple's event intro featured a video where "Hey Siri" support for AirPods is clearly demonstrated as a feature.
The "Hey Siri" moment happens at about 40 seconds into the video
The "Hey Siri" hint suggests that this functionality is indeed coming to the AirPods at some point in the future, so it's possible that Apple is still planning to unveil updated AirPods later in the year.
At the current time, summoning Siri requires a double-tap on the side of one of the AirPods, which is much less convenient than the hands-free option.
If new AirPods are still on the horizon, that may also mean that Apple still intends to unveil the AirPower at some point in 2018. There was no mention of the AirPower at today's event and the device has essentially been scrubbed from Apple's website, so it's not entirely clear if and when it's going to launch.
Along with the AirPower, Apple is meant to be introducing a new wireless Charging Case for the AirPods, which is simply listed as "Unavailable" on Apple's website.
Apple could be planning to unveil AirPods with "Hey Siri" support, a wireless AirPods Charging Case, and the AirPower all at the same time later in 2018, but the company's plans are still very much unknown at this point.
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