Apple: EarPods

As Apple announced the launch of their newly designed earbuds (known as EarPods) together with iPhone 5 last September, I was immediately gripped by this white accessory more than the phone itself. Since I know I will not get myself a new iPhone in near future, I was also in doubt if I should buy this EarPods separately.

Doubts in my mind:

1. Everyone knows that Apple accessories do not come cheap.
2. Not sure how different it is with the previous apple earbuds.
3. Is it capable of drowning out the ambience noise?
4. How strong the bass is?

At first, I tried to dismiss all the desires of owning this accessory by convincing myself that the EarPods would not worth the money it cost. Then, when my sister got her iPhone 5, I got the chance to test the EarPods and was totally blown away by the sound quality. (There is no testing of the EarPods at the stores..*frustrated*)

Here are some pros and cons of the EarPods (based on my own experience after using the product).

PROS:

1. The bass has significantly improved compared to the previous Apple earbuds. The bass is adequately strong but do not hurt to my ears over an extended period of usage time. 
2. Its eargonomic design (pun intended) ensures that the EarPods will fit snugly&comfortably in my ears. 
3. Sound quality is better than the previous earbuds and able to drown out more surrounding noises.
4. Hard plastic is used for the outer shell of the EarPods. It shines and looks cool! The previous earbuds contain some rubbery parts which may peel off especially if you always pull it in and out of your pocket.
5. It cost at an affordable price, RM109 with acceptable sound quality.

Cons:

1. The wire may tangle up if is not kept properly.
2. Ambience noise is not muffled out completely or as effectively as the in-ear earphone.
3. The white wire may get dirty after some time. (Isn't this common to all your Apple cables?)

Pictures showing the product.

The EarPods

Old earbuds and new EarPods

It fits well in almost everyone's ears, as boasted by Apple.

My own EarPods and ugly fingers

The case it comes with when you buy it separately from the iPhone or other latest iPods. It cost RM109 here.

Back. EarPods with Remote and Mic. Sorry for not reviewing the remote and mic here. 

Overall, I love this earphone and it really makes me want to listen to music more.. LOL, which is bad, considering it might hurt the hearing if used excessively. 

PS: The EarPods also comes under one year warranty. I bought it at the Switch (Apple Premium Reseller) in Queensbay Mall, Penang.

First launch day of The New iPad in Malaysia

I totally do not expect myself to be there!

This is my second time to be there doing the same thing all over again, except that this time I waited for a few more hours compared to the previous launching of iPad 2 in Malaysia.

Oh. Don't start to get jealous or critisize me for wasting money on the new LUXURY. I must clarify that  instead queuing up for myself this time, I helped others to buy the new iPad.

So yea, Kyle and I arrived at Mid Valley at 4am, hours before the break of dawn when many people are still catching their elusively impalpable dreams in the faraway slumberland. As you all know, shops in the mall open at 10am everyday. This is no exception even for the first launch day of the New iPad by Machine (the premium authorized reseller of Apple products). So, can you know now how many hours had we waited until that damn shop opened? 6 Hours!!! ( do i have to answer my own question for such a simple mathematics question?). Yes. It is six hours. *stop rubbing your eyes, you do not read wrongly*

I did not sleep at all for the whole night. Before going out to buy the iPad, I was rushing, burning the midnight oil, to complete my assignments until my friend came knocking at my door. I am grateful that I managed to finish my assignment before I went out to do the crazy thing!

Wondering of what I had done for the whole damn-slow-snail-moving hour? Well, I took a picture of my hairy legs, of the eager fan of iPad, the empty mall....etc...I did plan to bring a book (currently reading The Magic by Rhonda Byrne), but, at the second thought that I was already worn out by the activities in daytime and my assignments, I decided to let myself to rest until the shop opens.

My hairy legs.

Empty Mid Valley megamall.

Fanatic The New iPad fans waiting impatiently to get their hands on the new toy!

They provide us water and a chocolate bread too!

Final wait. See the door of the shop has already opened?

Then, 10am finally arrived. Before that, we could see their staff lolling around nonchalantly,as if nothing BIG and extraordinary gonna happen later ( I must assure you it is BIG and EXTRAORDINARY for the fans), discussing among themselves before they opened the shop. It was a pair of Malay couple who managed to grab the first spot of the long line. Reporters were there too to snap pictures and do some interviews with some of the enthusiastic iPad buyers. You might already read about the news on TV or night paper of today 20/4. As the staff allowed the first batch of customers (sad, we were in the second batch to go in the shop although our position is 15 and 16 in the queue), those customers were showered with rapturous applause of the Machine staff.

Then the rest of the story, well, basically went on just like what you usually do when you are buying things, except that the whole transaction was taking place in an inner room ( of higher security, may be?) of the shop. Then my friends and I went back happily, tugging 4 The New iPad ( I still can't get over to call this New iPad as New iPad over and over again..lalalal).









P.s: I was zombie like when the whole above "event" happened. I was too tired to drift along the ecstasy emanated by the other customers.

My lovely iPad2. Still love him very much. It is my very useful "personal assistant".  Thank you!