Apart from the iOS and iPadOS updates, Apple has also revealed significant feature updates for its AirPods and AirPods Pro. With an upcoming software update, switching between multiple Apple devices will be so much easier.
Automatic Switching
If you thought the one-click setup and instant pairing were impressive, Apple has announced Automatic Switching that will be coming soon to your AirPods. For those that own an iPhone, iPad and a MacBook, the feature will allow you to seamlessly move between devices without the need of switching manually.
For example, if you’re listening to music on your iPhone, it will automatically switch to your iPad when you pick it up to watch a video. And when you move to your MacBook for video calls, it will also seamlessly witch the audio to your laptop.
If suddenly there’s an incoming call, it will also intelligently switch the AirPods audio back to your iPhone. Essentially, the new update will allow your AirPods to automatically switch to your active device which is pretty impressive.
Spatial audio
For its more premium AirPods Pro, Apple is adding spatial audio support for a more immersive surround experience. Although the AirPods Pro only has left and right channels, the feature plays around with directional audio filters and adjusting frequencies for each ear, in order to place sounds in various directions.
The spatial sound feature also takes into account your current real-world situation. It uses the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope within the AirPods Pro to track your head motions while keeping track of the motion of your iPhone or iPad. This ensures that you’ll continue to enjoy an immersive experience even when you’re sitting in a moving vehicle.
According to Apple, the Spatial Audio feature is compatible with content encoded in 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos. So far there’s no mention of its availability but it is likely to be pushed out around the same time as iOS 14 and iPadOS 14.
