San Francisco Suspect Arrested After Molotov Cocktail Attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's Home 
U.S. Disrupts Russian Military Hackers' Global DNS Hijacking Network 
Alibaba Shares Slide as Jefferies Slashes Price Target Over AI Spending and Business Losses 
OpenAI Addresses Security Vulnerability in macOS App Certification Process 
Samsung Electronics Posts Eightfold Profit Surge Driven by AI Chip Demand 
Lumentum Holdings Rides AI Wave With Order Book Filled Through 2028 
Britain Courts Anthropic Amid US Defense Department Dispute 
Elon Musk Ties SpaceX IPO Access to Mandatory Grok AI Subscriptions 
TSMC Japan's Second Fab to Produce 3nm Chips by 2028 
China's Push to Steal Taiwan's Chip Technology and Talent Raises Security Alarms 
Annie Altman Amends Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman 
Rubio Directs U.S. Diplomats to Use X and Military Psyops to Counter Foreign Propaganda 
TSMC Posts Strong Q1 2025 Revenue, Riding AI Chip Demand Wave 
Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s Sparks Global Movement 
It might take a while before Apple launches the AirPods 3 but that would be worth it, especially for cyclists. A newly granted Apple patent suggests a safety-oriented feature could be added in the next-generation truly wireless earbuds.
AirPods 3 may be a gadget essential for cyclists
A patent granted to Apple earlier this week describes a more advanced system that could be introduced in the future. The technology referred to as the contextual audio system primarily depends on a variety of data allowing upcoming wearable devices (like the AirPods 3) to automatically adjust audio output.
The patent (10,743,095) explains that the contextual audio system will mainly use “positional data” to work. It may include the real-time location of the user or the device, speed, acceleration, spatial location, GPS positioning, the direction that the user is facing, posture, and distance within objects along the road, among others.
Using these pieces of information, the AirPods 3 would be able to automatically lower the volume, pause music playback, or even mute one side of the earbuds so the user can hear their surroundings better. Through a set of data, the contextual audio system might even be able to determine if the earbuds user is cycling and which side of the road they are positioned.
“A user's speed may suggest he or she is traveling on a bicycle and audio to the user's ear may be paused, stopped, muted, or changed in volume,” the patent further explains. “When the user stops, unadjusted audio playback may resume.” While the potential impacts on road safety of the contextual audio system are very promising, a granted patent does not guarantee it becoming a feature of AirPods 3. It is also possible that a feature as advanced as this one might be offered exclusively on the AirPods Pro 2, and not the next entry-level truly wireless earbuds.
AirPods 3 release date rumors suggest launch in 2021
It is starting to look unlikely for Apple to include the AirPods 3 in the lineup of new hardware products it is going to introduce this year, especially with reports that the iPhone 12 series would be delayed. The wait for the next-generation entry-level AirPods could be extended to next year.
TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said in a research note (via MacRumors) that the AirPods 3 could be launched within the first half of 2021. Aside from new features and upgrades, the wearable audio device is also anticipated to feature a similar design as AirPods Pro.
