Beats Studio Buds Releasing On June 24

Apple has announced the Beats Studio Buds. The wireless headphones retail for $149.99. They will officially arrive on June 24. You can select from one of three color options—black, white, or red. Just like Apple’s AirPods Pro and Max, the wireless earbuds feature Active Noise Cancellation and a Transparency mode. There are three ear-tip sizes to help you find the best possible fit. You can use the earbuds for up to eight hours of listening. That goes up to 24 hours using the charging case. A quick 5-minute charge can provide up to an hour of playback. Compatible with both Android and iOS device, the earbuds are IPX4 sweat and water resistant. With Apple devices, you can use the same one-touch pairing familiar to any AirPods owner. You can also activate Siri hands free by just saying “Hey Siri.” The case charges via a USB-C cable. 

Beats Releases Powerbeats Pro

Apple, has introduced Powerbeats Pro, wireless earphones that provide a “deep integration” between Beats and Apple engineering. 

According to Luke Wood, president of Beats, the earphones boast an upgraded linear piston driver that leverages an efficient, pressurized airflow to create a powerful acoustic response in a small package. To achieve the best possible fit on the widest array of ears, over 20 configurations were electronically modeled and physically tested, he adds. It comes with four sizes of ear tips and a redesigned, adjustable earhook.

Powerbeats Pro is 23% smaller than its predecessor and 17% lighter. The lightweight design is also sweat- and water-resistant. Powerbeats Pro can handle phone calls. A first for Beats, a speech-detecting accelerometer in each earbud and two beam-forming microphones per side target your voice and filter out external sounds such as wind and ambient noise. 

Each earbud has up to nine hours of listening time and more than 24 hours of combined playback with the magnetic closure case. With “Fast Fuel,” you get 1.5 hours of playback after just five minutes of charging and up to 4.5 hours after 15 minutes of charging.

Powerbeats Pro earphones, compatible with both iOS and Android devices, power on when taken out of the case and power off (and charge) when placed inside. Motion accelerometers detect when the earphones are idle and not in use, automatically entering them into sleep mode.

Each earbud independently connects to your device via Bluetooth, so you can choose to use one or both. Pairing is done via the Powerbeats Pro case—simply opening the lid for the first time prompts pairing mode. Powerbeats Pro is automatically paired with any of your supported devices that are signed in to your iCloud account.

You can simply say “Hey Siri” for voice-activated assistance without having to reach for your iPhone. The Powerbeats Pro is powered by the new Apple H1 chip, which is also in the latest AirPods.

Powerbeats Pro will come in black, ivory, moss, and navy for $249.95 Availability will begin in May from apple.com and Apple Stores in the US and more than 20 additional countries and regions, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Additional countries and regions coming later this summer/fall.

BeatsX Wireless Headphones Available This Friday

After being announced alongside the iPhone 7 last September, The BeatsX wireless headphones will be available for purchase this Friday, February 10. The BeatsX headphones have been highly anticipated, as they not only use the W1 chip found in Apple's own AirPods, but also use in-ear earbuds rather than the "EarPod-like" design of the AirPods. Those who use headphones while exercising may also find that the design of the BeatsX headphones, which use a cable to connect the two earbuds, are less prone to falling out or being lost than the AirPods. At launch, black and white color options will be available, with blue and grey versions coming at a later time. The W1 chip enables simple pairing of the headphones with Apple devices, shares pairing information via iCloud, and provides longer range wireless connections that standard Bluetooth. 

Apple’s BeatsX Wireless Headphones Delayed Until February

Besides announcing that the AirPods are now available to order, Apple has also updated the BeatsX product page to note that the set of wireless in-ear headphones won't ship until February. The other 2 Beats models that Apple announced back in September, the on-ear Solo3 and workout-focused PowerBeats3, are already available for $300 and $200, respectively. BeatsX was originally supposed to ship back in the fall. When the headphones do arrive next year, they'll be available in either black and white and charge via an included Lightning cable for $150.

Bluetooth Headphone Sales Are Up Due To The Rumored iPhone 7

Bluetooth headphones sales for the U.S. have overtook other kind of headphones for the first time in June, with the market led by Apple's Beats division, according to NPD retail data published on Thursday. During the first 6 months of 2016, Bluetooth models accounted for 54% of dollar sales and 17% of unit sales. NPD linked the growth of the Bluetooth market to promotions and new products, as well as a lower average sales price, down 5%. 30% of headphones sold cost $50 or less, versus just 16% in 2015. The segment will probably do to the rumors of Apple dropping the 3.5mm headphone jacks from this year's iPhones. Without the headphone jack, owners will be forced to use either Lightning or Bluetooth connections for external audio. 

Apple Announces Apple Music

Apple today announced Apple Music, an all in one app for discovering, listening to music and sharing music. Apple Music is both a streaming music service and a 24 hour live radio station, in addition to a platform for artists to share with there fans through social media. Apple Music's streaming music service enables users to search and stream the millions of songs from iTunes, with human made playlists from music experts for personalization over algorithmically created playlists. Apple's new 24-hour global radio station called Beats 1 will be broadcast live in over 100 countries, headlined by former BBC radio DJ Zane Lowe alongside other famous DJs from Los Angeles, New York and London such as Ebro Darden and Julie Adenuga. 

Beats 1 will offer exclusive interviews, guest hosts and keep tabs on what is going on in the music world. Apple Music Connect is the social platform built into Apple Music that allows users to connect with artists and share their favorite songs and albums through Facebook, Twitter and iMessage. Apple hopes that Apple Music Connect will help not only major artists, but ones that are indie or unknown artist, more easily promote their music and engage with their fans. Apple Music will be available on June 30 for iPhone and iPad on iOS 8.4 and Mac and PC through iTunes for $9.99 per month, with a three-month free trial and $14.99 per month family plan for up to 6 people available. Apple Music for Apple TV and Android will be available this fall. Beats 1 ad supported stations can be listened to for free without a subscription.

New Beats Solo 2 Have The Same Colors As The iPhone

Beats Electronics has announced new colors for its popular Solo2 wireless headphone line. The 3 new colors are Gold, Silver, and Space Gray, which are the same colors as iPhones, iPads and the new MacBook. While Solo2s already came in a variety of colors, these new options will allow customers to buy headphones to match their favorite Apple devices. The Bluetooth Solo2 headphones were the first product Beats launched following its $3 billion acquisition by Apple last summer. The headphones sell for $299. 

Target’s Pre-Black Friday Deals For Apple and Beats Products

Starting this Wednesday, Target guests can get a head start (both online and in retail stores) and enjoy early Black Friday deals on select must-have items, including the first generation iPad Air and Beats by Dre Solo HD headphones. iPad Air 16GB Wi-Fi, $399.99, and a free $100 TargetGiftCard, Regularly for $399.99, iPad mini 3 16GB Wi-Fi, $399.99, and a free $100 TargetGiftCard, Regularly for $399.99, Beats by Dre Solo HD Headphones, $97.00, Regularly for $169.99. Earlier this month, Target announced Black Friday deal Promotions include receiving a free $140 gift card with the purchase of a $499 16GB iPad Air 2, or receiving a free $100 gift card with the purchase of a $399 16GB iPad Air.

Is Beats Music Going To Be Apart Of iOS Soon ?

As Apple has recently acquired Beats Music streaming service, the company plans to bundle Beats directly into iOS. This report notes that Beats will continue to be a paid service and will likely be live under iTunes. The move could come alongside the launch of the Apple Watch, with users able to push Beats music from their iPhones to the wearable device. Apple has struggled with streaming music with the ad supported iTunes Radio. The service is still available only in the United States and Australia. The service has reportedly underperformed Apple's goals of driving listeners to purchase tracks from the iTunes Store. This could be Apple’s solution to satisfy music listeners.

Beats Reveal Solo2 Wireless Headphones

Beats announced the new Solo2 Wireless on ear headphones, which is the first product release since Apple's acquisition of Beats. The new Solo2 Wireless headphones, which are available in red, black, white, and blue, will be available through Apple and other retailers later this month at a retail price of $299.95. Alongside the launch of the Solo2 Wireless headphones, Beats is also announcing new "Royal Edition" color options for the wired version of Solo2. The Royal Edition includes a "satin, iridescent finish" in Stone Grey, Hunter Green, Imperial Violet, Blush Rose, or Sapphire Blue, available later this month at the same $199.95 pricing as the original Solo2 headphones.