Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors, Wireless
Apple Wireless Earbuds?
We're not really quite sure what this means, but it could be a clue as to what Jobs and Co. have up their sleeves for
MacWorld Expo in two weeks. A TUAW reader visited the Apple Store in Japan recently and found the employees all wearing
maroon T-shirts with the slogan, "Luck is in the Air". On the computers in the store was a screensaver
displaying the same theme with a picture of an iPod as the middle of a flower and earbuds floating away from the
center, as a flower releases pollen.
There are six more screens, some with Japanse on them that I am unable to read (if any Japanese-reading readers would like to translate for us; send me an email and I'll share the screensaver images with you).
So, what does this mean? It might be an early indicator of an Apple-created iPod-compatible wireless earbud system, or it might mean Apple has figured out a way to include Bluetooth or wireless sharing of music between iPods. It's something "different" that Apple might introduce to keep the iPod and iTunes ahead of their competitors.
Of course, it might also just be an advertising campaign unique to Japan.
Update: Reader Steve Forrest has translated the text for us and it seems perhaps that this is just an advertising campaign for Apple Japan. No idea why the images are what they are, or what they mean. The Japanese text on the other images tranlates to:
1. Luck is in the air
2. Enjoy the Apple Store your way
3. Advice just right for you
Enjoy your Mac even more
The best place to enjoy music
4. In the New Year free workshops for kids
Accessories to make your iPod rejoice
However, wireless functionality in our iPods is still a pretty interesting idea and possibly something we may see soon, particularly with earbuds.
There are six more screens, some with Japanse on them that I am unable to read (if any Japanese-reading readers would like to translate for us; send me an email and I'll share the screensaver images with you).
So, what does this mean? It might be an early indicator of an Apple-created iPod-compatible wireless earbud system, or it might mean Apple has figured out a way to include Bluetooth or wireless sharing of music between iPods. It's something "different" that Apple might introduce to keep the iPod and iTunes ahead of their competitors.
Of course, it might also just be an advertising campaign unique to Japan.
Update: Reader Steve Forrest has translated the text for us and it seems perhaps that this is just an advertising campaign for Apple Japan. No idea why the images are what they are, or what they mean. The Japanese text on the other images tranlates to:
1. Luck is in the air
2. Enjoy the Apple Store your way
3. Advice just right for you
Enjoy your Mac even more
The best place to enjoy music
4. In the New Year free workshops for kids
Accessories to make your iPod rejoice
However, wireless functionality in our iPods is still a pretty interesting idea and possibly something we may see soon, particularly with earbuds.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Steve Forrest said 12:14PM on 12-27-2005
I read Japanese -- send me the images and I'll translate (using Comments because I can't find your email address anywhere, Barret-san)
Reply
Brett Edwards said 12:17PM on 12-27-2005
I'm not one to get into the whole Apple speculating-on-what's-next thing, but if they do release an iPod with bluetooth capabilities, count me in. That's about the only new feature that could get me to buy another iPod, since a new one seems to appear every few months or so.
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janiero said 12:34PM on 12-27-2005
it has something to do with their new years promotion in japan: http://www.apple.com/jp/retail/newyearspecial/
why not post the other pics?
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ジェイソン said 12:41PM on 12-27-2005
"Lucky Bags" are a popular promotional tool for retailers in Japan during New Year. I read Japanese and had a look at the Apple page below, this is all it is - a promotion for lucky bags.
http://www.apple.com/jp/retail/newyearspecial/
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umijin said 1:16PM on 12-27-2005
Yup - Lucky Bags. I failed to get there early enough last year. My wife will kill me if I blow $400 on one this year though.
Woah! Now this page is gone - not there. And I can't access it from the usual Apple Japan links. Perhaps it was prematurely posted.
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Greenline said 1:25PM on 12-27-2005
No matter what they mean they are awesome!
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narco said 1:43PM on 12-27-2005
Does this remind anyone else of sperm and the egg?
Fishes,
narco.
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Scaevola said 2:09PM on 12-27-2005
Not that this has a whole lot to do with the post, but as long as we're speculating about wireless functionality and bluetooth in future iPods, here's an idea: is it possible iPods could be made to wirelessly network with one another over short range, similar to the Nintendo DS, and then allowed to share music for listening only, a la the sharing features from the newer iTunes releases? I don't know if this falls under any legal issues, but there may be other practical problems with such a device, like battery life. It would be great for us city/college iPod owners, though!
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Wes said 2:16PM on 12-27-2005
Yes it does look like sperm and egg.
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dalton said 2:19PM on 12-27-2005
There's not a chance that Apple would release marketing materials even *hinting* at the big surprise just weeks before an announcement. Anyone at Apple who let something like that slip would be fired instantly.
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Funky said 2:36PM on 12-27-2005
I agree, looks like some lucky sperm! Haha.
I want a shirt of this.
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CamonZ said 3:05PM on 12-27-2005
hi, nice story :->, why don't you post the rest of the tshirt images, i'd like to have the pics
thanks
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Michael Buckingham said 3:14PM on 12-27-2005
Wireless ear buds? Good idea on paper but I think it would be difficult in practice because they'd be so easy to lose. I have a hard time as it is keeping track of my wired ones. Though maybe the buds would come with an industrial adhesive applicator to keep 'em in there...
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Jason Golden said 3:23PM on 12-27-2005
"Luck" or "Lucky" is a very common advertising slogan used in Japan, always in English characters. Believe it or not, many teenagers view it less as the true meaning (fortune, etc), and more a catch phrase that rings off the ear and simulates cuteness.
It is very common in Japanese video games for this same reason. Oddly enough, one that comes to mind is Japanese version of Mario Golf - when you hit the ball perfectly, "luc-ky!" is what you hear.
But beyond all this, these slogans all reek of Confuscionist good fortune and tidings, a basis of Japanese belief in good happenings for over 1000 years.
Ah, Japanese marketing, it's a wonder anyone buys anything :)
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Shaaheen said 3:37PM on 12-27-2005
This pic shows these earphones all connected through wires! I find it a typical Japanese advertisement type, with such flower, not a wireless ad!
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Brady J. Frey said 3:56PM on 12-27-2005
Common Japanese design, very good as a matter of fact, looks great as a small desktop.
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Brady J. Frey said 3:58PM on 12-27-2005
Come on you guys, allow advanced links atleast, don't strip out the a tag:
http://www.dotfive.com/bf/dandelion.jpg
http://www.dotfive.com/bf/dandelion2.jpg
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XIV said 3:58PM on 12-27-2005
Logitech and iCombi have made some bluetooth headphone for the ipod.
- http://www.compusmart.com/Product/Default.aspx?SetLanguage=En&SupplierPartNo=112124&eSectionID=814&SetSite=2
- http://www.compusmart.com/Product/Default.aspx?SetLanguage=En&SupplierPartNo=335005&eSectionID=814&SetSite=2
I also thought it would be indeed a great idea to have some wireless headphones. Although, like a previous poster, I also notice how easy it would be to loose them, if they were simple little headphone. That's why in my two previous links, it's some neck-around headphones which would be less easy to loose. In any-case, maybe we could have some "James Bond" headphones, you know those in-ear skin colors one. Maybe they would stick in our ears without getting out.
In any case, I would love to have some wireless headphone.
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Kirtan said 4:11PM on 12-27-2005
Easy: You'll be able to go the the apple store and buy music to juice up your iPod.
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jakej720 said 5:20PM on 12-27-2005
Please post the other screens! They would make awesome desktops! :)
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