Apple's Mystery Helmet Leaked in iOS 14 Code

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• Apple's Mystery Helmet Leaked in iOS 14 Code

Apple's first pair of headphones was apparently revealed, after 9to5Mac discovered icons representing rumored boxes in the iOS 14 code. Two icons, one light and one dark, represent a pair of on-ear headphones with padding on the ears. earcups and headband, and appear to show two different color options for the earcups (probably space gray and even white like AirPods). According to 9to5Mac, "These glyphs are used in iOS 14 to represent new headphones throughout the operating system, including Apple's battery and charging status widget," just like the icons you'll find in iOS 13 to represent AirPods and AirPods. Pro on the volume bar. If Apple expects the new earbuds to be part of the AirPods family, they could come with some of the best features of true wireless earbuds, like the H1 chip that enables ``Hey Siri'' and fast Bluetooth pairing. We don't know what the headphones will be called yet, but current predictions include the Apple AirPods X and Apple StudioPods. iOS 14 is expected to launch between September and November 2020, which suggests that Apple's headphones could launch around the same time. However, a report by respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who correctly predicted the launch of Apple AirPods and improved AirPods Pro in 2019, says that the wireless earbuds will launch early this year, along with a host of new products. In any case, the discovery of these iOS 14 glyphs adds credence to claims that we'll see Apple's first pair of headphones in 2020, and they're the clearest picture yet. Headphone appearance. See the glyphs for yourself below:

(Image credit: Apple / 9to5Mac)

Rumors rise

Despite the fact that Apple has not officially confirmed the existence of headphones, rumors have multiplied since the beginning of this year. More recently, an inventory listing from US store Target may have revealed the price of the long-awaited cans. YouTuber Jon Prosser posted an image on Twitter, which appeared to show the following headphones in the Target system, mysteriously listed as "Apple AirPods (Generation X)." The pictured product appears to cost $399, which works out to around $300 / AU$600 - if these are rumored to be the Apple StudioPods, then the brand is aiming for the upper end of the price range, exceeding the cost of competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. We've been hearing rumors for much longer than that, though. In June 2018, Bloomberg announced that Apple is planning "studio-quality in-ear headphones" that "will use Apple branding and be a higher-end alternative to the company's Beats line." Speaking to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said that Apple originally intended to "introduce the headphones by the end of 2018, but has faced development challenges," and that it was targeting a 2019 launch. Of course, they never materialized, making the 2020 release date all the more believable.