Control AirPods with gestures - how it works

Apple's AirPods master various typing gestures, but so far these have been heavily regulated. With iOS 11 that changes significantly. This practical tip shows you how to use the new gestures.

Control AirPods with gestures - that's the reason

So far, Apple has severely restricted which options can be controlled with the individual typing gestures of the AirPods.

• So it was only possible to either start Siri, answer a call, hang up the call or switch to another call.
• With this, however, Apple gave away a large part of the potential that lies in the intelligent gestures of the AirPods.
• The company from Silicon Valley should have noticed this itself, because with the iOS 11, which will be available from autumn, the setting options for the in-ears change.
• If you update to iOS 11, you can enjoy many individual gestures to control the AirPods.

Control AirPods with gestures - implementation

1. To do this, simply open the settings in iOS 11 and select the AirPods in the Bluetooth menu.
2. Under the entry "Double tap on AirPod" you can assign a special action for both left and right AirPod for the double tap.
3. There are at least five options available: Siri, play / pause playback, skip to the next or previous track and completely deactivate the function.
4. The selection of the individual double-tap options also has no influence on the functions for calls.
5. These can still be accepted by typing, and switching between two calls is still possible in the same way.

Background: That's why AirPods are the new hit

At the end of 2016, Apple launched its own wireless headphones: the AirPods. These are strongly based on the design of the EarPods, but are connected to the smartphone, iPad or Mac without a cable connection. In addition, you are in a practical transport box that looks like a package of dental floss.

• Practical: If the AirPods are in the box, they charge at the same time.
• This means that over 24 hours of battery life are possible, otherwise at least five. The connection to the smartphone is established via Bluetooth.
• If you open the transport box, iPhones automatically recognize the AirPods and establish a connection. At the same time, it detects whether there is only one or no AirPod left in the ear, as a result of which the music playback is either paused or adapted to one-sided playback.
• However, the supposed technical innovations and gimmicks also have their price: At the market launch, the AirPods cost a whole € 179 without sounding noticeably better than the EarPods or other Bluetooth headphones.

This is how the net laughs at Apple's AirPods

IOS 11 is required to use the new double-tap function for the AirPods. On the next page we will show you which other features Apple brings with the latest mobile operating system.