The benefits of owning Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 earbuds, AirPods (2019) or the original AirPods Pro are many, but music that is incredibly easy to wear and transport is at the top of the list for most people.
The negatives? Remember that meme where, upon flipping open an AirPods case, one earpiece was noticeably absent from the nest — and music seemed to emanate from the midsection of the AirPods owner’s dog? That. Those little earbuds are easy to lose, right?
You also can’t currently make calls with them while they’re charging, as they’re stuck in a case. But that could all change, as Apple has recently granted a patent for a “Wireless Headphone Accessory” intended to solve these problems.
And the Cupertino giant’s main solution? A chunky glow-stick style necklace that snaps around your neck with the ears on each end, near the clasp.
The patent reads: “Although some portable electronic devices can be carried in a pocket or purse, some activities do not allow the use of pockets or purses to store an electronic device. For example, some portable electronic devices are commonly used to listen to music while a user of the portable electronic device is jogging or otherwise exercising.”
All very true, but the most important thing to us is this: “Thus, improvements and enhancements to electronic device accessories may be desirable to reliably keep the electronic device in a convenient form factor while providing other desirable functions.”
There’s artwork in the patent that looks like a D-lock for your bike, as well as the suggestion of a chain, but there’s also a smaller carbine-like idea, to clip over a bag strap or part of a backpack, adding to a keychain or possibly even hanging on your wrist – all simple, new ways to know your AirPods are charging and securely attached to your person.
Apple’s patent also explores possible functions within the idea, including one that reveals lights to indicate charge level (so very glow-stick!) music or call handling – presumably while your AirPods are still charging.
Opinion: Making AirPods harder to lose (and even useable while charging) is an open goal for Apple
“By producing or amplifying directional sound, as shown, the accessory allows the user to hear the sound while other people, even those directly next to the user, may not be able to hear the sound,” Apple’s filing reads. “For example, a user can continue a phone call through earbuds when the earbuds are in the accessory and still maintain a desired level of privacy.”
These kinds of accessories would be a no-brainer win for Apple. As a dancer who often struggles to keep earbuds securely in their intended shell-like shape when throwing shapes, that’s music to my ears.
It’s important not to get too excited; since 2019, Apple has been granted more than 4,000 patents each year (thanks, Insights) and a quick search of our Apple patent coverage proves that we’re still waiting for much of the proposed wizardry to work its way into our technology.
That said, Apple’s AirPods are certainly some of the best noise-canceling earbuds (and if you’re interested, we’ve gone to great lengths to explain why the AirPods Pro 2’s noise-canceling is so good in a dedicated feature) and the inaugural 2016 Apple AirPods categorically changed the game as they burst onto the scene spawning countless copycat products.
I predict that if Apple goes ahead with this jewelry/carabiners charging plan, it will have a smash hit on its hands – and not just because I remember the dance music and rave scene of the 1990s.