"Apple has run out of innovation"
Comments update: has Apple lost its touch? Dezeen readers are unconvinced by the tech giant's latest product announcements and feel the company has lost its way. This special edition of our regular comments update looks at reactions to its controversial new wireless headphones (pictured), updated Apple Watch and the iPhone 7.
Headmoan: Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed a host of updates during a presentation in San Fransisco yesterday, and the company's new AirPod headphones are already proving controversial with commenters.
They connect to Apple devices via the company's first wireless chip, but readers are describing their design – which hasn't changed much from the ubiquitous EarPods, apart from the omission of the wires – as lazy and impractical.
"Only Apple can release a product that's been on the market for years, and act as if they've reinvented the wheel," wrote Pablo Pedro.
"I really want expensive headphones that fall out of my ear every two seconds," said Sarah Thomas sarcastically. "The least they could do is utilise some form of silicone or memory foam ear tips," agreed Errik Wong.
"My favourite part of this is that their 'Bluetooth' is Apple-only so you're forced to buy these headphones that are begging to get lost," wrote Aaron Rogers. "It's interesting how masochistic Apple consumers seem to be."
What do you think of the AirPod headphones? Let us know in the comments section »
Lucky number 7? Apple's big reveal yesterday was the hotly anticipated iPhone 7, but some readers felt uninspired by the latest update.
"Apple has run out of innovation," wrote regular commenter Archi-Nerd. "Now for something completely the same!" said Bobby D.
"Removing the headphone jack is innovation at its finest," countered Joel K.
Others wondered if Apple had fixed the age-old issue of breakable screens. "Really curious to see if the phone will be any tougher than its predecessors!" wrote James Brillon. "Phones are inherently droppable, and it would be exciting to see a major player such as Apple address this."
"I love how slippery these are," said a user called Fug. "Ever watched people hand a call over to their friend? It's like they are handling a delicate ancient artefact." Read the comments on this story »
Watch out: targeted at swimmers, the second Apple Watch has been "re-engineered" to withstand water depths of up to 50 metres. But were the new features enough to woo critics of the divisive product?
"I see those changes as an admission that this watch is rather useless for everyday activities," said a guest user called Tracker.
"The main problem is it looks the same, and most people wouldn't wear it for that reason," wrote Tom. "One way to make it look worse is to put that Hermès strap on it."
"The leather strap appears to require more effort putting it on than necessary," added Errik Wong. "Then again, if you can afford the whole package, you can surely afford a butler to dress you as well." Read the comments on this story »