AirPods

Apple introduced new MacBook Pros at its October 18 'Unleashed' event, with the option to purchase with the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip. While the latest iterations of the M1 chip are impressive, Mac fans will probably be just as excited about all the new ports, the 1080P FaceTime camera, mechanical function keys in place of the Touch Bar, and the return of MagSafe to MacBooks. While the MacBook Pro was the main event, Apple also unveiled third-generation AirPods, additional color options for the HomePod mini, and a voice-only Apple Music subscription tier. Here's everything you need to know about the latest MacBooks, AirPods, and HomePod minis, including when you can get your hands on them!

Apple announced its second event of the fall with a peppy graphic and the word "Unleashed!" While we didn't get any details beyond the time and place—October 18 at 10 a.m. PDT—there are a few significant releases we've been expecting for this year that we haven't yet seen. Most predominant among these are new MacBook Pros and perhaps a new generation of AirPods. Let's take a look at everything we might see on Monday.

Apple will hold a second fall event on October 18, when we hope we'll hear news of the products we didn't see in the September event, such as AirPods 3 and possible AirPods Pro 2, plus a new MacBook and maybe even a Mac mini. Our editorial team will be watching the Apple event live stream, and we'll post our in-depth coverage of the event in our Facebook group as we publish expert reviews and reactions to the things Apple reveals during the event. We'll also record a special podcast episode after the announcement, where we’ll discuss everything just announced. Read on to learn more about how to be a part of our event coverage. 

October 18 2021 Apple Event

Apple's second fall event of 2021 will broadcast digitally Monday, October 18,

at 10 a.m. PDT. We may get confirmation of rumored new products we didn't see in the September event, such as AirPods 3 and possible AirPods Pro 2, plus a new MacBook and maybe even a Mac mini. Will this be the year to splurge on the hottest new MacBook? We'll bring you our expert analysis and reactions for everything announced at the event, so check out our Facebook page for event coverage and tune in to our post-event podcast to get the scoop!

The Apple Event California Streaming came and went on September 14 without any word on new MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, AirPods 3, or AirPods Pro 2. Might these devices and more be coming in an October or November Apple Event? We'll have to wait and see. While we wait, let's dive into rumors about what we can expect from these new devices, whenever they arrive.

Apple will hold a fall event, called California Streaming, on the 14th of September at 10:00 a.m PDT. We'll finally find out if the rumors are true about the new iPhone 13 line, as well as other devices such as the Apple Watch 7, new AirPods Pro and AirPods 3, new iPad mini and iPad ninth generation, and a possible new MacBook Pro. Our team will be watching the Apple event livestream, and we'll host a conversation in our private Facebook group as the event happens; you're invited to join in, ask questions, and share your opinions. We'll tape a special podcast episode after the announcement, where we’ll discuss everything just announced. Read on to learn more about how to be a part of our event coverage. 

Owning a late-model iPhone means that you don't have a headphone jack on your iPhone. For many people, AirPods are the solution they've chosen to get excellent audio quality with cord-free ease. These convenient Bluetooth accessories have made living without wired headphones a breeze, but did Apple make AirPods waterproof? We’re here to help you with that and provide some other important AirPod information.

Did you know that you can customize how you'd like your AirPods' controls and settings to work? Using the iPhone paired with your AirPods, you can name your AirPods and decide which functions you'd like to engage when you double tap your right or left AirPod, such as activating Siri to adjust the volume on your iPhone. Let's get started learning how to change your AirPod's settings with your iPhone! 

Whether you're a brand new Apple Airpods owner or have recently purchased a non-Apple device, the process to set up your AirPods is easy! We've already covered how to pair AirPods with Apple devices, and in this article, we'll focus on how to connect your AirPods to Android, Windows, Chromebook, and other non-Apple devices. To pair your AirPods, all you need to do is make sure your device Bluetooth is on, enable AirPods pairing mode, and select your AirPods from the Bluetooth device list. Let's get started.

You can rename your AirPods, AirPods (2nd Generation) and AirPods Pro using your iPhone. Renaming your AirPods can save you a headache if you have multiple pairs of AirPods in your household. Here's how to change the display name of your AirPods, making them quick to find if you need to do some adjustments. Note that your AirPods will need to be paired and connected to your iPhone to change their name. 

Apple's over-ear headphones have been rumored for over two years, and now, they're here. Apple announced the AirPods Max on December 8; they're currently available for pre-order and ship on December 15, just in time for Christmas. Apple calls these headphones "the ultimate personal listening experience... radically original, completely reimagined, and elaborately simple". The high-fidelity, wireless AirPods Max and offer Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and more. The catch is... the price is $549! If you're an audiophile, that price point won't make you blink but, for everyone else, it seems a bit outrageous. So, what makes the AirPods Max so expensive and, how do they compare to similar high-quality headphones from Bose, Sony, and Beats?   

One of my favorite takeaways from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is finding gadgets that have no batteries or circuitry of any kind but exist to enhance our use of electronic gadgets. One example is the JURA ANCHOR carabiner for AirPods & AirPods Pro (starting at $24.99). It's not an AirPods case but it adds a carabiner key chain through some clever magic. The carabiner has a Lightning connector that has no electronics, instead it acts as an anchor that supports up to 15 times the weight of the AirPods case. You plug the JURA into the Lightning port, again with no electronics, and the molded connector keeps it in place. Then you can use the carabiner on the other end to attach your AirPods to a backpack, keychain, etc.

If you're worried about losing your expensive AirPods you will want to connect a Bluetooth tracker to the AirPods case, but there's no practical way to do so. Fortunately, the folks at Trackeroo have developed the simple but brilliant Trackeroo AirPods Case (starting at $6.95). Trackeroo gave me a case to try, but at that price, the company probably paid more for postage sending it to me! It's truly a bargain given that it could save you $150 on a lost set of AirPods!

The current panic about the novel coronavirus causing the COVID-19 outbreak has made us all a little more conscious about bacteria, viruses, and germs in general. While you're busy house cleaning and washing your hands to prevent disease and kill germs, remember to disinfect and sanitize your Apple devices, including your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, EarPods, Mac, and even your Apple TV remote. Whether or not you ever come in contact with the coronavirus, studies have shown that our phones are downright filthy. A University of Arizona study shows that the average cell phone carries ten times more germs than a toilet. Ew. Bacteria found on iPhones include Streptococcus, MERS, and E. Coli, and viruses can linger on your smartphone as well. If this news leaves you wondering how to clean your phone and other Apple devices, this article will fill you in on all the methods to disinfect or sterilize them all without damaging them. Let's get started.

I have been a fan of Catalyst's iPhone cases for some time, in large part because the company made iPhones waterproof long before Apple attempted to. I was able to try the Waterproof Case for AirPods Pro ($29.99) when I visited the company's booth at CES. They've done it again, this time for AirPods Pro. Keep in mind that the AirPods Pro case is considered water resistant but not waterproof. This is an important distinction that you don't want to find out the hard way, given how expensive those earbuds are.

The AirPods Pro, Apple's latest wireless, Bluetooth earbuds, have more noise-canceling options than previous generations. AirPods Pro owners can decide how much noise reduction they'd like by choosing between three noise-control modes: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off. There are several ways to switch between these modes, either directly from your AirPods, or by using your paired device, whether it be your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. Let's get started learning how to turn on and switch between AirPods Pro noise-canceling settings on all your Apple devices. 

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