18
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by NokkR6@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

Hey guys! I'm looking for a new earphone and i just discovered that they collect A LOT of data actually. There is any TWS airpod that don't collect a lot of data? How can i have more privacy with airpods? EDIT: I just realized that airpods are Iphones thing so i just changed to the correct name.

all 28 comments
sorted by: hot top new old
[-] SelfHigh5@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

This and temporary poverty is why so many young people I see walking around with wired earbuds (Norway).

[-] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 35 points 6 days ago

Do you mean generic wireless ear buds? Airpods are only made by Apple.

[-] basiclemmon98@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 6 days ago

Updoot. It's pedantic, but idk why everyone started calling non apple earbuds "earpods". Y'all, we didn't have to make apple the default earbud brand too!

(Side note, I don't blame you OP. You are but a symptom of the issue.)

[-] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 5 points 6 days ago

Is it pedantic, though? I was honestly confused. If someone was asking "What's an iPhone that doesn't run iOS?" it would be fair to ask clarification.

[-] Pika@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 days ago

I agree its not pedantic, I'm also pretty sure that Apple owns the trademark for Earpods which means other companies can't legally use the term anyway, so why are we calling it?

[-] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 days ago

It makes even less sense when Airpods are one of the most expensive buds on a crowded market and they only work on iPhones. It's not a Kleenex situation.

[-] NokkR6@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Damn! Thank you! Didn't know that airpods are a Iphone thing. But yeah, its the other ones.

[-] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 29 points 6 days ago

Im a bit confused. How do you think they collect data? Its just a bluetooth device with no internet connection. Your phone might collect data, but how would your headphones?

[-] SomeoneSomewhere 15 points 6 days ago

Installing a manufacturer-specific app would give them access to a lot of data.

[-] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 6 days ago

I mean you can just not install that app and they will usually work just fine. You can also install the app once to configure the headphones and then uninstall it again. I have never heard of commercially available wireless headphones with an open source app for them, so either just get ones that dont require an app or do what i mentioned previously. Unless you are willing to reverse engineer the app i guess :D I have moondrop in-ears and those come with a sus chinese app, but you can just configure them once and then you never need the app again.

[-] noseatbelt@piefed.ca 2 points 6 days ago

There is an open source app for controlling Anker Soundcore products but it's not made by them and depending on which product you have, it might not support all features.

[-] JustPlainDave@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago

I've had a bunch of generic earbuds and have never even been offered an app. Which ones did you get?

Lots of wireless in-ears these days have configurable touch controls or even custom onboard parametric EQ. For that kind of stuff you need an app.

[-] als@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 6 days ago
[-] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 6 days ago

Maaaaaaaaaaaaan everyone switching to that Apple style "pod with stick" format. The old format looked better imo.

[-] thisbenzingring@lemmy.today 8 points 6 days ago

The ones available to the US market are different https://us.fairphone.com/fairbuds

[-] NGram@piefed.ca 8 points 6 days ago

That's the old format (first generation)

[-] basiclemmon98@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

It really did! But if all companies didn't try to replicate the biggest in market, we may have, gasps, product diversity!
WE CANT HAVE DEI PRODUCTS! /s (obviously)

[-] programmerlexi@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 days ago

It has technical advantages, it allows for a better antenna (afaik) and a (slightly) bigger battery. But aesthetically I don't like the design either.

[-] Malica@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 days ago
[-] 18107@aussie.zone 15 points 6 days ago

Can you provide a source for them collecting data? I've never heard of it happening, and can't see how it's even possible.

[-] scytale@piefed.zip 5 points 6 days ago

Possibly Apple pushing their AI and integrating airpods with it, so it’s always listening. You’ll probably still be able to disable it by turning of Siri learning from it, but Apple makes it frustratingly hard to turn off their AI features.

[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 6 days ago

Bluetooth broadcasts all sorts of device specs to everyone interested

[-] hansolo@lemmy.today 6 points 6 days ago

Wired headphones are the only solution here.

[-] SelfHigh5@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Bose used to make the best wired buds, they had a little extension that went into your ear to keep them in place. I went through like 6 sets over time before the phones stopped putting ports in.

[-] solrize@lemmy.ml 3 points 6 days ago

I managed to find out that TWS stands for "true wireless stereo", meaning two separate buds each with its own battery and radio, that go into a charging case with its own battery. So 3 more batteries to fail in addition to the privacy invasions. Gack.

Tired: TWS. Wired: as it says, wired, as in wired earbuds.

[-] lenhaas2001@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 days ago

Choose ones with Bluetooth 6

this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2026
18 points (78.1% liked)

Ask Lemmy

42074 readers
1320 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, toxicity and dog-whistling are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !uspolitics@lemmy.world


7) No Hit-and-Run questions.
Please don't delete your post for no apparent reason. If you plan on deleting a question later, say so in the post, or if you feel that you have a good reason to remove it, message a mod beforehand. It's not fair to the ones who took their time to answer, and it's not in the spirit of the community.


8) No Bots.
Posts or comments from bots, LLM's, AIs, Neural Networks, Transformers, or Marvin the Paranoid Android are not welcome in AskLemmy. Real humans only please.


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS