The Apple event that took place yesterday was dominated by the iPhone 5 announcement and the new generation iPods. Let’s not forget that a brand new set of earphones was revealed and a new 9 pin connector dubbed “Lightning.”
The “EarPods” are available on the apple website standalone for $29, but will be included with the purchase of the iPhone 5 or new iPod Touch.
The new earphones feature sound ports built into the stem, as well as the sides. The vents on the side of each EarPod “allows air inside the stem, which acts as an acoustic chamber, to flow out,” according to Apple. “So you hear deeper, richer bass tones.”
To get the fit right, Apple notes in a video posted to its website that it 3D-scanned hundreds of ears and looked for commonality to fit a form for a broad range of ears.
“They rest comfortably in your ears, but they don’t create a seal the way in-ear headphones do,” the video said.
The new dock connector helped allow Apple to make the new iPhone 5 the thinnest smartphone on the market. The Lightning connection will be quickly supported by a number of third-party accessory makers highlighted by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller, including Bose, JBL, and B&W. The Lightning cable is available on the Apple website for $20, and a 30 pin adapter is priced at $30.
Schiller also promised “a bunch of accessories” that will allow users to utilize their legacy accessories that rely on the nearly 10-year-old 30-pin dock connector.
The new 9-pin connector boasts:
- All-Digital, 8-Signal design
- Adaptive Interface
- Improved Durability
- Reversible, easier to use
