An engineer simply made the world’s first USB-C AirPods | Engadget

Ken Pillonel has created some fascinating units with the world’s first iPhone with a USB-C port and the primary Android telephone with a Lightning connector. But now Pillonel is making use of his experience to a barely completely different class of machine with the world’s first USB-C AirPods.

In a new video, Pillonel describes his newest machine as a approach to fight the frustration of needing a number of kinds of cables to cost Apple units. And after taking a pair of inventory AirPods, he was in a position to efficiently change out Apple’s proprietary Lighting Connector for a USB-C port, permitting him to cost the case and earbuds with the identical plug you’d use for an iPad Pro or MacBook.

When requested in regards to the inspiration for his newest gadget hack, Pillonel advised Engadget that his reasoning was fairly easy. He stated “What Apple products do I use every day, and which ones are still stuck with a Lightning port?” However, switching out the jack on an Apple machine isn’t simple, with Pillonel saying it was really tougher to create a working AirPods case with USB-C than it was so as to add a Lightning connector to an Android telephone. He stated “It was harder because I set high standards for how the finished product needed to look.”

Another problem was determining a approach for others to duplicate his success on their very own units, with Pillonel planning on making your complete venture open supply within the close to future. “I made it so that [the port] is a brand-new replacement part for the AirPods. You just unplug the old Lightning connector, and you plug in the new USB-C circuit,” he stated.

But ultimately, it appears the troubles had been definitely worth the effort, with Pillonel saying “It is so satisfying to be able to use only one cable and one charger for all my Apple devices. It really is how it should be.” And in a approach, that’s form of the dream: Having one cable that may recharge or ship knowledge to any machine, no matter what sort of gadget it’s or who made it.

This problem is one thing the tech business and governments the world over have been grappling with for some time. However, due to a proposal final yr from the EU, it appears Europe could also be getting nearer to creating the dream a actuality. And his personal approach, Pillonel is attempting to indicate the advantages of what having a really common port would possibly seem like in the true world, saying “I believe that the iPhone will be the turning point in the switch to USB-C. If the next iPhone makes the switch, then we can expect all the other accessories to gradually lose the Lightning connector.”

However, one query that is still for Pillonel is, after efficiently including working USB-C ports to the few remaining Apple units nonetheless reliant on a Lightning connector, what’s subsequent on the docket? He famous that as a result of all iPads (other than the usual 10.2-inch mannequin) have already made the change to USB-C, it’s probably not value his time to deal with one among Apple’s tablets. He stated “I might do a few other USB-C projects, but there is definitely a long list of other modifications I want to attempt!”

In the meantime, for these in search of extra data on add USB-C to their very own AirPods, keep tuned to Pillonel’s YouTube channel for an extended, extra in-depth video coming quickly.