Introduction

         I.   History of Headphones

            We think headphones are a new invention but in reality, it has been here for ages.

In a relatively short period of time, wireless headphones have advanced significantly. Yet, they have a long history and have made some amazing advances.

An article published by “Here we go: the history of wireless headphones”, stated “Headphones weren’t originally designed for music. They were made for telephone operators who needed to physically connect everybody’s phone calls.”(Marshall, 2022), The earliest wireless headphone wasn’t anything like the ones we use today when they were first introduced in the 1880s; instead, they resembled a phone that had been divided into two and strapped to your head.

Ezra Gilliland, a friend of Thomas Edison who also built the telephone switchboard, created the first headphones, which served as a model for many others to follow. They weren’t headphones for entertainment. These were office supplies that you eagerly looked forward to ripping off at the end of the day.

The timing of the invention of headphones was perfect, as it coincided with the rise of vinyl records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which became popular due to the emergence of rock and roll and pop music. In the following decades, headphones became increasingly popular, with many renowned musicians, including Paul McCartney of The Beatles, using them to listen to and innovate music. Even though it was very popular it did not reach its key demographic until the late 70s into the early 80s.

By the 1970s, headphones had become a ubiquitous item found in most households. They were enjoyed by a broad range of people, from teenagers on the west coast listening to the distinctive sounds of Fleetwood Mac to audiophiles who appreciated the technical aspects of headphones. However, the real breakthrough came in 1979 with the introduction of the Walkman, which completely transformed the headphone industry.

The Walkman was first introduced by Sony. It was a portable cassette player that allowed users to listen to music on the go, and shortly after its release, it became a cultural juggernaut. The original Walkman had two headphone jacks, which allowed users to listen to music with a friend/loved one. The original Walkman was created from aluminum, and the later models were made from plastic. The first Walkman went on sale for $150. Originally, the Walkman wasn’t a big seller but as time passed the Walkman became one of Sony’s most successful products. Due to the Walkman’s overwhelming success, it was the predecessor of all the music formats of the past and present including “CD, Mini-Disc, MP3 and finally, streaming music (Franzen, 2014).”

Throughout the 1980s to the early 2000s, the Walkman evolved into different music formats including the CD, Mini-Disc, MP3, and finally, streaming music (Franzen, 2014).” While the Walkman was groundbreaking, the iPod remains unmatched. On October 23, 2001, the original iPod was revealed. The device was white, weighed 6.5 ounces, and was about the size of a deck of cards. It boasted 5GB of storage capacity, which was unprecedented for MP3 players of the time and allowed for approximately 1,000 songs to be stored and played. The iPod created by Apple was truly a game changer. The iPod set the idea music can be listened to digitally and can be updated regularly and can also be used as a phone.

Like the iPod, the iPhone was not the initial device of its kind. However, the iPhone repeated or echoed history, by enabling everyone to carry an iPod in their pocket. Due to intense rivalry in the smartphone industry, significant investments were made in research and development. This resulted in the production of increasingly smaller and more efficient batteries, advanced versions of Bluetooth, noise-canceling technology that is software-based, advancements in materials and manufacturing technology, and other such improvements. These enhancements would soon have an impact on various types of devices, including headphones.

In the 2010s, Bluetooth headphones experienced significant growth in popularity, particularly due to brands like Beats that targeted the mass market. Although the sound quality was not yet suitable for the audiophile market, it was moving in the correct direction.

Once again, Apple entered the market with AirPods which were not the first or the best wireless earbuds. However, they became hugely successful and dominated the earbud market by 2020. Apple had been working on them for a considerable period, with the first recognizable patent being filed in 2011. One of the reasons for their success was Apple’s decision to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in 2016, which made wired headphones inconvenient to use. Although this decision received a lot of criticism at the time, it solidified wireless headphones’ position as the current and future of mobile audio and established the standard for quality sound, easy pairing, and the ability to locate them if they were misplaced.

II. Apple’s History

Apple Computers Inc. was founded on April 1^st, 1976, by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. At that time Jobs and Wozniak were college dropouts, Jobs attended Reed College before dropping out and Wozniak attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. Both of together brought a new vision to a small computer company. A vision of the way people appreciated computers. Jobs and Wozniak wanted to create a world where computers are small enough for people to have them in their homes or offices. Jobs and Wozniak “wanted a computer that was user-friendly (Research Guides: This Month in Business History: The Founding of Apple Computers, Inc., n.d.).

            Jobs and Wozniak started to create the first Apple computer called the Apple I in Steve Jobs’s garage. Jobs and Wozniak started to sell the Apple I, they sold them without a monitor, keyboard, or casing. The Apple II took the computer industry by storm with the creation and introduction of the first-ever color graphics. This innovative add-on to the computer helped Apple to relate to the average person. With the Apple II, the company established a presence among educational institutions, contributing to its platform’s dominance of primary-school software well into the present day. With the success of Apple II sales skyrocketed from “$7.8 million in 1978 to $117 million in 1980 which was the year Apple went public” (Research Guides: This Month in Business History: The Founding of Apple Computers, Inc., n.d.).

            By the start of the 80s, the competition was growing extremely difficult due to the rise of IBM and Microsoft. Apple tried to be an innovator again by releasing the Apple III in the same year to compete with these companies in the office computing market. The Apple III wasn’t successful at all due to a design flaw. To reduce noise Jobs “insisted computers do not have fans or vents which in turn created problems due to dangerous overheating” (Faizal, 2021). With this issue, the Apple III lost to its competition to IBM and Microsoft.

Even though Apple had some troubles at the beginning of the decade they snapped back in the mid to late 80s and 90s with groundbreaking devices.  During this time, they introduced the Mac, the PowerBook, and the iPod. Even though they were back to innovating, CEO/co-founder Steve Jobs was compelled to leave the organization in 1985 due to the company’s financial difficulties. During this time John Sculley was the CEO and he helped oversee the Macintosh II which was the first to be shipped without a color display.

When Jobs rejoined Apple as CEO in 1997, he oversaw the creation of the iMac, which contributed to the company’s recovery. Apple introduced several hugely popular devices in the years that followed, such as the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air.

 Description of an AirPod

I.  Function

Apple Inc. invented the AirPod, a particular style of wireless earphone. It serves as a portable and practical method to listen to music, make calls, and communicate with Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. The ordinary AirPods and the AirPods Pros are two separate models of AirPods. Although they are nearly identical, the pros have a few extra features that the regulars don’t.

Both types of AirPods offer wireless audio, automatic pairing, touch controls, and integration with Siri. Wireless audio is enabled by Bluetooth technology, allowing for cord-free listening. Automatic pairing is designed to connect with your Apple device, such as an iPhone or MacBook as soon as you remove them from the charging case. Touch controls are incorporated into the earbuds for functions like playing/pausing, skipping tracks, and activating Siri with a single or double tap. Voice assistant integration lets you interact with Siri for hands-free device control, messaging, and calls. The AirPods Pro offers an additional feature of active noise cancellation, which uses advanced algorithms to eliminate external sounds and enhance the listening experience.

II. Parts

AirPods are made up of several components including earbuds, charging case, sensors, microphones, batteries, Bluetooth chip, and W1 chip. The earbuds are small, white, wireless earpieces that fit into your ears. They contain speakers, microphones, and touch controls. The charging case is a small, rectangular case that is used to store and charge your AirPods when they are not in use. The case contains a battery and a Lighting port for charging. Airpods contain several sensors, including optical sensors and motion accelerometers. These sensors detect when the AirPods are in your ears when you remove them. There are microphones on both AirPods, which are used for picking up your voice during phone calls and for communicating with Siri. Both the AirPods and the charging case contain batteries. The AirPods deliver an industry-leading “5 hours of listening time and now up to 3 hours of talk time all on one charge” (Apple, n.d.). Lastly, AirPods use Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly to your device, they contain Bluetooth antennas to facilitate this connection. With certain of its wireless products, such as the AirPods, Beats headphones, and several iterations of the Apple Watch, Apple built a proprietary wireless processor called the W1 chip. The W1 chip’s increased Bluetooth connection, reduced battery use, and quick device pairing are all intended to improve the wireless music experience.

Conclusion

         In conclusion, Apple Inc.’s AirPods are well-liked and practical wireless earphones. Wireless music, easy connection, touch controls, voice assistant integration, and, in the case of the AirPods Pro, active noise cancellation are just a few of the capabilities they provide. The charging case, earphones, sensors, microphones, batteries, and Bluetooth antennae are all parts of the AirPods, which are powered by Apple’s own W1 processor. AirPods are a popular option for music lovers, commuters, and anybody looking for a cord-free listening experience since they provide consumers with a smooth and high-quality wireless audio experience

References

Apple. (n.d.). AirPods (2nd generation). https://www.apple.com/airpods-2nd-generation/

Faizal, F. (2021, September 7). The History Of Apple. Feedough. https://www.feedough.com/the-history-of-apple/

Franzen, C. (2014, July 1). The history of the Walkman: 35 years of iconic music players. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/1/5861062/sony-walkman-at-35

Marshall, C. (2022, April 24). Hear we go: the history of wireless headphones. TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/hear-we-go-the-history-of-wireless-headphones

Research Guides: This Month in Business History: The Founding of Apple Computers, Inc. (n.d.). https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/april/apple-computers-founded#:~:text=and%20Photographs%20Division.-,Apple%20Computers%2C%20Inc.,in%20their%20homes%20or%20offices.

Sandomir, R. (2022, February 2). John C. Koss, Stereo Headphone Innovator, Is Dead at 91. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/business/john-koss-dead.html