Isn't it weird as "tech enthusiasts" we're very forgiving of google and dismissive of apple?

[slackerinabox]

so i'm sitting here rocking my new airpod pros and am pretty annoyed that I wasted a month buying what feels like a dozen ill fitting or flawed in some other way IEMs because I kinda jumped on the anti-apple train yet again. Meaning, I assumed the airpod pros at $250 were over hyped and paying so much was drinking the apple kool-aid, but instead wasted time seeking alternatives that didn't measure up (often times costing the same). .. I notice this about a lot of things, from owning dozens of android phones (and rim. a palm pre and zune for christsake's, i tried EVERY platform) that didn't quite measure up for some reason small or big or the countless chromebooks and android tablets I have in the graveyard when I should have just gotten an ipad long ago (I *HATE* my surface too).. Is the anti-apple kool-aid insisting a $100 samsung e-series matches up to an ipad mini in any way kinda dishonest too, but we just accept this?

my biggest annoyance is with google right now - they jump ship on projects all the time or change policies - now I'm scrambling backing up all my photos because of the impending cap in 2 years that I'm WELL over because "free photo storage for life" meant I relied on it. I'm annoyed that I'll have to start pruning emails (and I have millions over the years) because 10 years ago I bought into "never delete an email again." Why do we cut google so much slack while being so hard on apple?

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I didn't know Google was responsible for making a dozen ill fitting IEM's.

 

[slackerinabox]

I didn't know Google was responsible for making a dozen ill fitting IEM's.

Im speaking of a certain tech anti bias that paints the airpod pros , as one example, as overpriced in some circles while comparing it to IEMs that are just not the same in fit and finish (even when going up to the same price point).

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Im speaking of a certain tech anti bias that paints the airpod pros , as one example, as overpriced in some circles while comparing it to IEMs that are just not the same in fit and finish (even when going up to the same price point).

I don't think very many argue against Apple having the best fit and finish. But they charge for it, boy they do. And they still don't deliver the same flexibility in choice you get with any non-Apple selection nor do they offer a comparable featureset. Not to mention despite fit and finish being fantastic, performance isn't necessarily at the same level, depending on the product.

Apple gets hate because walled garden ecosystem, perpetually behind on supporting new features and technology, and sub-par performance. Not because they don't make beautiful products.

 

[BudAshes]

I think this explains it.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I think this explains it.

Or this.

 

[MrSquished]

Im speaking of a certain tech anti bias that paints the airpod pros , as one example, as overpriced in some circles while comparing it to IEMs that are just not the same in fit and finish (even when going up to the same price point).

Airpod pros are best on Apple products, for example they don't support AptX, which can sound better on Android than AAC does, and certain features in the software only work with an iOS device, whereas take something like the Senn MTW2 whose app provides the same features to both major phone platforms. The apple walled garden approach turns off some people, and for good reason.

As far as SQ, I've been reading the head-fi forums true wireless IEM thread for a year now - a lot of these folks use iPhone's, but the airpod pros don't come up much because for SQ for music, they just aren't the best at their price point. Apple products are pricey for what they do, IN SOME CATEGORIES, of which audio is one. Simple as that. And if you discount price, because a lot of these audio enthusiasts spend insane amounts of money on audio, the airpods pro are just not the best for them either for music SQ. The head-fi community is not really tech based, as in Apple vs Google or Apple vs Windows, this is a community geared towards getting the best audio quality to enjoy music out of audio equipment, so it's not because of tech bias.

You admitted in your other thread your ear canals are a bit different, and most other IEM's are not stem-based like the airpods, so those just happen to work for you. That's great, but it has nothing to do with other IEM maker's fit and finish for the vast majority of earbud users.

Google has its own problems, they make many more things than apple if you combine software, internet and hardware stuff. Of course they will have more issues but they make plenty of mistakes.

Also you are in a tech community where a lot of people build high end computers for gaming. That's just not where Apple does well at all.

 

[BudAshes]

Or this.

hahah

 

[slackerinabox]

Airpod pros are best on Apple products, for example they don't support AptX, which can sound better on Android than AAC does, and certain features in the software only work with an iOS device, whereas take something like the Senn MTW2 whose app provides the same features to both major phone platforms. I've been reading the head-fi forums true wireless IEM thread for a year now - a lot of these folks use iPhone's, but the airpod pros don't come up much because for SQ for music, they just aren't the best at their price point. Apple products are pricey for what they do, IN SOME CATEGORIES, of which audio is one. Simple as that. The head-fi community is not really tech based, as in Apple vs Google or Apple vs Windows, this is a community geared towards getting the best audio quality to enjoy music out of audio equipment, so it's not because of tech bias.

You admitted in your other thread your ear canals are a bit different, and most other IEM's are not stem-based like the airpods, so those just happen to work for you. That's great, but it has nothing to do with other IEM maker's fit and finish for the vast majority of earbud users.

Google has its own problems, they make many more things than apple if you combine software, internet and hardware stuff. Of course they will have more issues but they make plenty of mistakes.

Also you are in a tech community where a lot of people build high end computers for gaming. That's just not where Apple does well at all.

IT's not just literal fit - it was shocking that $300 Master and Dynamic headphones dropped connections, weird that I'm not the only one reporting that $250 sennh's need to be shoved WAY in for a lot of people.. Some highly touted noise canceling headphones barely had audible NC that still managed to kill battery life. Little niggles that you'd think R&D departments would catch but the techies forgive pretty easily. I see all of my problems mentioned if you dig enough, but the initial "air pod killers!" buzz is often overwhelming for inferior products.

Keeping it to audio since it's my hobby as of late I've had a similar journey with finding a decent smart speaker - from the great sounding but glitchy sonos one (it's smart features and mic are questionable) to a massively frustrating experience with the well reviewed Echo Studio, I threw in the towel and just ordered a homepod because at least apple seems to collectively get the little details right. Hell, I was always pimping Sony as getting the basics right but now my pricey flat screen had an update that slowed it to a crawl for basic operations. My point is the differing standards, from google seemingly unable to do wrong while apple's touted as rich people toys that are more marketing experiments than products. I for one enjoy my $699 iphone more than I did my top of the line for the time galaxy note (or the s9 before it), less hassles and cheaper too

 

[slackerinabox]

Or this.

Super niche products for people with the money. I'd point to the mac mini M1 as being the only $699 device that can edit 8k video, or the entry iPhone measuring up well to the top of the line androids that cost more (though I'd love a 90mhz screen, I get that there are differences). Adding walk in retail store repairs and high resale value, I think the "overpriced" initial purchase price isn't that hard to justify

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Super niche products for people with the money. I'd point to the mac mini M1 as being the only $699 device that can edit 8k video, or the entry iPhone measuring up well to the top of the line androids that cost more (though I'd love a 90mhz screen, I get that there are differences). Adding walk in retail store repairs and high resale value, I think the "overpriced" initial purchase price isn't that hard to justify

Wheels for a computer that was designed to use them isn't a "super niche product". It's literally a first party accessory. The feet are $300 and are just t shaped pieces of metal. What do you do if one gets damaged moving the system? Guess I have to pay $300 for an entire new set of feet or $700 for an entire new set of wheels!

It's this kind of shit that makes people hate Apple. They aren't offering the "standard wheel" for a reasonable price and the "premium wheel" for $700, nor are they offering the "Standard foot" for a reasonable price and the $300 "premium foot".

 

[ponyo]

If you're in Apple ecosystem, you're going to be better off with Apple products. Same with Google and Android. I would never recommend AirPods Pros to Android user. But for Apple user, Pros are hard to beat.

Apple does give you quality but you're going to pay for it. Now that I'm older, I value simplicity and privacy over tinkering and hacking. So I switched over to Apple and am generally happy. But I still get annoyed with Apple pricing games and their ridiculous we're trying to save the environment so we're not going to include wall charger so you can pay for it separately bullshit.

I admit, Apple is the master of pricing and marketing. I'm thinking about ordering the AirPods Max even though I don't really need it, and I think it's overpriced. But I know it will work great with my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro.

 

[MrSquished]

IT's not just literal fit - it was shocking that $300 Master and Dynamic headphones dropped connections, weird that I'm not the only one reporting that $250 sennh's need to be shoved WAY in for a lot of people.. Some highly touted noise canceling headphones barely had audible NC that still managed to kill battery life. Little niggles that you'd think R&D departments would catch but the techies forgive pretty easily. I see all of my problems mentioned if you dig enough, but the initial "air pod killers!" buzz is often overwhelming for inferior products.

Keeping it to audio since it's my hobby as of late I've had a similar journey with finding a decent smart speaker - from the great sounding but glitchy sonos one (it's smart features and mic are questionable) to a massively frustrating experience with the well reviewed Echo Studio, I threw in the towel and just ordered a homepod because at least apple seems to collectively get the little details right. Hell, I was always pimping Sony as getting the basics right but now my pricey flat screen had an update that slowed it to a crawl for basic operations. My point is the differing standards, from google seemingly unable to do wrong while apple's touted as rich people toys that are more marketing experiments than products. I for one enjoy my $699 iphone more than I did my top of the line for the time galaxy note (or the s9 before it), less hassles and cheaper too

That's interesting. Before I bought the Senn MTW2 I read any forum post and review of them I could find until Google search ran out of results and fit was not an issue that came up. Haven't seen that issue on head-fi either.

Another apple thing, you need a lightning adapter or Qi wireless to charge the airpods pro. Guess what, a lot of people don't have those and don't want to add yet another type of charging tip to the mix. Also they use proprietary tips, another annoyance. Add that to what I mentioned earlier that they don't support codecs like AptX or LDAC. Certain features only work on iOS. It's a solid list of why not to buy Apple products if you don't have an iPhone or Mac already.

They are a fine product, but they have a lot of things that don't make them so great if you aren't already in Apple's walled garden. And simply put, they just don't sound as good as other products at their price point if you are into audio.

 

[IronWing]

Or this.

I've paid less for four rims and tires!

 

[IronWing]

With the latest IOS upgrade, iPads and iPhones no longer automatically convert .heic to .jpg when exporting. F' Apple on that one.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I'm sure this will be the time that finally an Apple (let alone vs Google) discussion that totally permanently resolves this decades old argument.

 

[darkswordsman17]

With the latest IOS upgrade, iPads and iPhones no longer automatically convert .heic to .jpg when exporting. F' Apple on that one.

What exactly is the issue there?

 

[IronWing]

What exactly is the issue there?

Very few Win programs read them.

 

[BudAshes]

Super niche products for people with the money. I'd point to the mac mini M1 as being the only $699 device that can edit 8k video, or the entry iPhone measuring up well to the top of the line androids that cost more (though I'd love a 90mhz screen, I get that there are differences). Adding walk in retail store repairs and high resale value, I think the "overpriced" initial purchase price isn't that hard to justify

Apple doesn't let you go outside the boundaries of what they want to allow you to do with their product.

For non-techies like yourself, architects, real estate agents, moms, etc Apple products are great.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Very few Win programs read them.

Literally yesterday I was talking to someone who didn't know what .heic was and couldn't get it to open on their laptop no matter what they tried.

Their laptop is a macbook running osx.

 

[IronWing]

Literally yesterday I was talking to someone who didn't know what .heic was and couldn't get it to open on their laptop no matter what they tried.

Their laptop is a macbook running osx.

My work computer has no software that will open one. Affinity Designer will open them in Win but Affinity Photo won't.

 

[VashHT]

I had an iphone 11 pro and went back to android (pixel 4a 5g) and am happy I did.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I think this explains it.

I still can't believe this is a thing. And the sheeple still pay for it!

For less than $300 this setup holds TWO monitors! It's not as pretty looking but not like I can see it when there's two monitors in the way.

 

[IronWing]

I still can't believe this is a thing. And the sheeple still pay for it!

Spending other people's money can be fun.

 

[slackerinabox]

I still can't believe this is a thing. And the sheeple still pay for it!

For less than $300 this setup holds TWO monitors! It's not as pretty looking but not like I can see it when there's two monitors in the way.

Well, if I were a client facing business I’d be embarrassed to have diy shit around. The thing that annoys me with these “look at these stupid expensive accessory costs!” Posts is that theres a healthy 3rd party marketplace with suitable alternatives, no ones forcing you to buy the $1000 stand that’s probably made to a higher standard with better materials than the average joe needs.

By the way to threadjack myself I just got my AirPod pro knock offs soundcores and they’re pretty excellent for the price. I’m not claiming Apple is the end alll be all, just think it’s curious that Google has been making some big missteps and flaws that I think are glossed over while Apple does a solid job throughout the ownership experience that could justify the added expense while getting dismissed as trendy by many .. my brief journey into mid end audio has been pretty frustrating across product types and apples coming off as a better value a surprising amount of times (from headphones to trying every Bluetooth speaker / smart speaker under -$300 I could get my hands). I would not think of Apple as an audio company if it weren’t for my recent ears on and you’d be surprised how many “prosumer” brands still suffer from irritating Bluetooth or wifi issues in 2021, stuff you’d think most people would have figured out by now. I have an eBay graveyard growing . Sometimes it’s tragic, otherwise pristine sounding gear that has one irksome flaw, while Apple really does a good job nailing the basics in my opinion. I don’t know why I picked on Google, I’m super pissed about their recent storage decisions , I walked into 3 pixel purchases with expectations and now I have a lot of pruning to do before moving everything over to Amazon or iCloud . They do shit like that constantly