WWDC 2023: Apple Announced AirPods Upgrades
Apple has announced a beta firmware update for its AirPods line-up that’s set to bring powerful new features and capabilities this fall. The updates primarily focus on transforming the personal audio experience with three standout features: Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness.
The Adaptive Audio feature is designed to enhance the listening experience of AirPods Pro (2nd generation) users. It dynamically blends Transparency mode and Active Noise Cancellation based on the user’s environmental conditions, thus providing the best listening experience at the moment. This feature aims to seamlessly adjust the noise control experience as users transition between different environments and interactions throughout the day.
To further refine the personal audio experience, the Personalized Volume feature will employ machine learning to understand users’ environmental conditions and listening preferences over time. This allows for the automatic fine-tuning of the media experience to align with individual users’ preferences.
The Conversation Awareness feature offers an innovative way to engage with people nearby while wearing AirPods Pro (2nd generation). When users start speaking, this feature lowers the volume and enhances the voices in front of the user, all while reducing background noise, thus making conversations more clear and more focused.
Apart from these, the update brings improvements to the Automatic Switching feature, which eases the transition between Apple devices when using AirPods. The connection time between Apple devices is now faster and more reliable, streamlining the switch from listening to a podcast on an iPhone to taking a work call on a Mac.
In addition to these major enhancements, the update also introduces a new Mute or Unmute feature for AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generations), AirPods (3rd generation), and AirPods Max. This feature allows users to quickly mute or unmute themselves during calls by pressing the stem or the Digital Crown on AirPods Max, facilitating effortless multitasking.
The beta version of this firmware update is currently available for members of the Apple Developer Program. The full version of the update is expected to be available for all users this fall as a free firmware update.
