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They work great!
AirPods as hearing aids work well, with one major caveat.
Leander Kahney
October 21, 2024
Have you seen those viral videos of babies getting fitted with eyeglasses for the first time? At first, the babies resist the unfamiliar glasses being put on their heads, but then their faces turn to absolute delight when they see the world in crisp detail for the first time.
That’s how I felt when I got my first hearing aids.
I knew I had mild hearing loss because I couldn’t hear conversations very well in noisy places, like bars or restaurants.
But I had no idea how much I was missing.
It only became clear to me when I wore my new hearing aids for the first time. Suddenly, I could hear sand crunching beneath my feet as I walked, and the leaves rustling in the trees.
It was wonderful, and it nearly moved me to tears.
Next week, if you own a pair of AirPods Pro, you might be able to experience the same thing for yourself.
With the launch of an iOS 18.1 release candidate today, the software to turn your AirPods into medical-grade hearing aids will likely be released in a week.
However, some reviewers got early access, and they’re reporting very positive results — although there’s one major drawback.
When it becomes public, I highly recommend taking the built-in hearing test to see if you have undiagnosed hearing loss.
If you do, try to look on the bright side: Your new hearing aids are already in your ears.
Also in today’s newsletter:
Release candidates for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 are out, which means we’ll likely see the final public versions in about a week. One major Apple OS is missing however.
Rumors suggest new M4 MacBooks, iMac and Mac mini will be launched November 1. Here are details on what to expect.
In a wide-ranging interview, Tim Cook reveals his favorite beverage, why Apple is doing AI right, and the one way Vision Pro is actually a smashing success (and I think he’s absolutely right). More here.
If your desk is like mine — a disorganized nest of cables and other desktop detritus — just take a look at what’s achievable in today’s featured setup.
Cult of Mac writer D Griffin Jones doesn’t just work in his Vision Pro headset — it’s also central to his media diet.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
A message from Cult of Mac Deals team
A message from Cult of Mac Deals team
Tweets of the day
This infographic breaks down the key chip suppliers for $AAPL's iPhone 15 Pro – the majority of which are publicly traded.
Looking at an iPhone, we think of it as purely an Apple product. Although, peeking inside, we find chip companies from around the globe working together.… x.com/i/web/status/1…
— Quartr (@Quartr_App)
3:21 PM • Oct 21, 2024
Removed an iPod Mini's shell and mounted it to the inside of a clear carrying case (Contour iSee).
— NekoMichi (@NekoMichiUBC)
4:33 PM • Oct 20, 2024
Wallpaper of the day
📂New wallpaper 🌕
— @Mosaico 𝕏 (@XMossaico)
11:11 AM • Oct 21, 2024
One more thing ...
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.
Today’s poll
Which new OS are you most looking forward to next week? |
Results from last Friday’s poll: Do you use Focus modes?
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