These headphones, my AirPods Max, just came out of the freezer because they stopped working. Turns out that if you put it in the freezer for 30 minutes, maybe an hour, sometimes it'll make it work again. My head is perfectly fine because I have a hat.But oh man, that is very cold on my ears. So, if your AirPods Max are unresponsive, even worse, if you've gotten the three amber blinks of death, what that means is when you press and hold the physical buttons for about 15 seconds, what should happen is that it ...

Core Insights - Apple's latest Vision Pro headset has made significant production adjustments, moving assembly to Vietnam while still relying on China for some components [1][2] - The shift in production reflects Apple's strategy to reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing, particularly for products aimed at the U.S. market [1][2] Production Changes - The new Vision Pro, equipped with the M5 processor, is assembled in Vietnam, contrasting with the first-generation model which was made in China and featured the M2 processor [1] - It remains unclear whether all Vision Pro units are produced in Vietnam or if some configurations are still manufactured in China [2] Broader Manufacturing Strategy - Apple is diversifying its production locations, having moved a significant portion of iPhone manufacturing to India to avoid new tariffs on Chinese goods [2] - The company is also producing a majority of AirPods and Apple Watch in Vietnam, along with some iPads and HomePods [2] - Apple has expanded production to Thailand and Malaysia for certain Mac models and has reached an agreement with Indonesia to produce components for AirPods Max [2] - Additionally, Apple is increasing its domestic production in the U.S., planning to manufacture glass covers for all iPhones and Apple Watches sold globally [2]

Product Roadmap - Apple is expected to launch AirPods Pro 3 in the second half of 2025 [1] - A more significant hardware upgrade for AirPods, featuring an IR camera, is anticipated in 2026 [1] - A lighter version of the AirPods Max is expected to enter mass production in 2027 [1] Market Expectations - AirPods may not see significant updates until 2026 [2] - The 2026 update aligns with earlier predictions that IR camera-equipped AirPods would enter mass production [1]

Group 1 - The highly anticipated AirPods Pro 3 is set to be released, featuring significant updates compared to its predecessor [1][2] - A notable potential update is the inclusion of a heart rate sensor, allowing users to monitor their heart rate while wearing the earbuds [4][6] - The heart rate monitoring feature is aimed primarily at fitness enthusiasts, as the ear is considered an ideal location for accurate heart rate detection [8][9] Group 2 - There are rumors of a low-resolution or infrared camera being integrated into the AirPods Pro, which would serve as an AI interface rather than for photography [10][11] - Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the visual data captured could enhance user interaction with other Apple devices, such as iPhones and smart glasses [12] - The camera could also improve spatial awareness for better surround sound experiences, although its implementation in the upcoming release seems unlikely [13][15] Group 3 - The AirPods Pro 3 will upgrade from the H2 chip to the H3 chip, enhancing sound quality and noise cancellation capabilities [16] - The design of the earbuds will be more ergonomic, with shorter stems for a better fit [17] - The charging case will be redesigned to resemble the AirPods 4, featuring a slimmer profile and a capacitive pairing button [18] Group 4 - The AirPods line is evolving beyond traditional headphones, becoming a platform for AI interaction and user engagement [25] - Upcoming software updates for AirPods 4 will include features like sleep audio pause and real-time translation capabilities [22][24] - The AirPods family continues to gain new functionalities, extending the product line's lifecycle and competitiveness [26] Group 5 - The AirPods Max has not seen significant updates due to its mixed market performance, with a new version not expected until 2027 [30] - Despite decent sales, the AirPods Max's high price and lack of compelling features have limited its appeal [27][29] - Future iterations may focus on weight reduction and comfort, but the priority for updates remains low compared to other AirPods models [33]

Headphone Microphone Testing - The Vergecast conducted microphone tests on over-ear headphones, including Nothing Headphone 1 ($299), Sony WH-1000XM6s ($449), AirPods Max ($549), and Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra [1][2] - Sony WH-1000XM6s were rated as the top pick for voice calls due to clear voice quality and effective background noise cancellation [2][3] - Nothing Headphone 1 was ranked second, offering good noise cancellation but with some voice compression [1][3] - AirPods Max were noted to let in more ambient noise and produced a thinner voice quality, ranking them last for voice calls [2][3] - Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra exhibited an echoey voice quality and inconsistent noise handling, placing them third [3] Strength Training App (Ladder) - Ladder aims to replicate personal training experience through programming, coaching, and accountability, making strength training accessible [3][4] - Ladder uses a matching algorithm to connect users with suitable programs and coaches based on fitness level, goals, and preferences [4] - Ladder emphasizes real coaching and proper form through movement videos and expert-designed progressive workouts [4] - Ladder's integration with Spotify and Apple Music, allowing users to listen to their own playlists, is a core value proposition [5][7] - Ladder uses AI to amplify the work of its coaches, helping them manage team chats and personalize the experience [7][16] - Ladder is exploring nutrition integration and using AI to provide personalized recommendations based on user data [16] AI Fitness Insights - AI fitness insights are seen as potentially beneficial for beginners who lack foundational fitness knowledge [19][21] - Companies offer AI summaries and chatbots, but the effectiveness varies, with some providing generic insights [22][23] - The value of AI lies in contextualizing data, but current AI fitness summaries often fall short of providing meaningful insights [28][32] - Companies acknowledge the need for AI in fitness but are still working on improving its accuracy and personalization [26][27]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant updates in Apple's iOS 18.4, highlighting the introduction of 5G-A network support and enhanced AI capabilities, particularly in the context of Chinese language support for Apple Smart features. Group 1: 5G-A Network Support - iOS 18.4 introduces support for 5G-A, also known as "5.5 G," which offers higher speeds and lower latency compared to 5G, with theoretical speeds being ten times faster [7][8] - 5G-A can support over 1 million device connections per square kilometer, improving communication in crowded areas [8] - Currently, 5G-A coverage is limited to certain urban areas in China, and not all iPhone models support it [9][10] Group 2: Apple Smart Features - The new version allows overseas models to utilize Apple Smart's Chinese language support, focusing on a writing tool for text generation and editing [12][13] - Users can interact with ChatGPT through Siri for various tasks, enhancing the AI assistant's capabilities [16] - Some features, like "Genmoji" and "图乐园," still only support English, indicating incomplete language integration [20][21] Group 3: Other Notable Updates - The control center now includes an "Ambient Music" section with playlists for different moods [24] - The Photos app has new sorting and filtering options, although these updates are considered minor [26][29] - A new "Find My" feature allows for resuming downloads of paused apps, and Safari now shows recent search history [33][35] - iOS 18.4 also introduces new emojis and specific updates for Vision Pro users [36][38] Group 4: Overall Maturity of iOS 18 - iOS 18 is described as entering a "mature phase," with future updates expected to be minor [44] - The anticipated integration of AI-enhanced Siri has been delayed, preventing the full realization of features promised at WWDC [44][45]