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In the case of the air pods, why couldn't they just have a cylindrical compartment for the battery that can be opened - like any other device? It just seems sil

In the case of the air pods, why couldn't they just have a cylindrical compartment for the battery that can be opened - like any other device? It just seems silly.

t-writescode 6y ago
I'll take a stab at this one: opening compartments require more space. Any place that has a compartment needs to have that area waterproofed off of the rest of the device. When it's a thing that can be removed, it may not provide as much structural rigidity, so it can't be trusted in as part of the foundation of the device. If the same form factor was to be maintained, then, since you need a compartment to store the battery, that takes up extra space that can't be used for more battery, so battery life would suffer, too.
- jgalentine007 6y ago
  How much space could a plastic or rubber end piece plug take up though, really? That would probably provide enough moisture resistance, why would headphones need to be waterproof?? I think it's just planned obsolescence.
  - sigstoat 6y ago
    > why would headphones need to be waterproof because of consumers and it makes them last longer > I think it's just planned obsolescence. you're blaming them for planned obsolescence (which is a wildly overplayed card on HN), while being willing to discard water resistance, which has ended god only knows how many consumer electronic devices. please consider the possibility that you lack the information to understand the trade offs being made.
    - jgalentine007 6y ago
      But Airpods aren't waterproof. So there's that. Galaxy buds look pretty small and have a replaceable battery. Apple with all their genius could make it work.
systemvoltage 6y ago
You'll need to provide space for seals and gaskets, either reducing battery capacity or increasing size. I think if anything else, we shouldn't be attacking Airpods for their construction. There is bigger fish to fry like Macbooks, and often quoted along with Apple - John Deere and their tractors.

In the case of the air pods, why couldn't they just have a cylindrical compartment for the battery that can be opened - like any other device? It just seems silly.

t-writescode 6y ago

I'll take a stab at this one: opening compartments require more space. Any place that has a compartment needs to have that area waterproofed off of the rest of the device. When it's a thing that can be removed, it may not provide as much structural rigidity, so it can't be trusted in as part of the foundation of the device. If the same form factor was to be maintained, then, since you need a compartment to store the battery, that takes up extra space that can't be used for more battery, so battery life would suffer, too.

jgalentine007 6y ago
How much space could a plastic or rubber end piece plug take up though, really? That would probably provide enough moisture resistance, why would headphones need to be waterproof?? I think it's just planned obsolescence.
- sigstoat 6y ago
  > why would headphones need to be waterproof because of consumers and it makes them last longer > I think it's just planned obsolescence. you're blaming them for planned obsolescence (which is a wildly overplayed card on HN), while being willing to discard water resistance, which has ended god only knows how many consumer electronic devices. please consider the possibility that you lack the information to understand the trade offs being made.
  - jgalentine007 6y ago
    But Airpods aren't waterproof. So there's that. Galaxy buds look pretty small and have a replaceable battery. Apple with all their genius could make it work.

systemvoltage 6y ago

You'll need to provide space for seals and gaskets, either reducing battery capacity or increasing size. I think if anything else, we shouldn't be attacking Airpods for their construction. There is bigger fish to fry like Macbooks, and often quoted along with Apple - John Deere and their tractors.