Apple Airpods Pro 2
Upgrading to AirPods Pro 2 resolved my fit issues and enhanced my experience with features like extra-small ear tips and Conversation Awareness.
I bought the AirPods Pro 2 in March. I'd been resisting the purchase because I had the original AirPods Pro. I also need to be strategic with my spending because I ain't a rich man.
I had some issues with the original AirPods Pro. My right ear canal is tiny. My antihelix was damaged while I was wrestling in high school; the parochial term for my injury is “cauliflower ear.”
The original AirPods Pro only have ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes. I would have to stuff the damned ear tip into my right ear canal after pulling my right ear's helix upward, and the fit always seemed to become painful after a few hours. My experience, as you might imagine, wasn’t comfortable.
The other issue? I loved the noise cancellation feature of the original AirPods Pro, but it became a latent issue whenever anybody tried to talk to me. The idea of removing my AirPods and reinserting them into my ears was annoying.
AirPods Pro 2 has solved those issues. They have an extra-small ear tip. In my case, I use a small ear tip in my left ear and an extra-small ear tip in my right ear.
The AirPods 2 also includes an adaptive mode that pauses active noise cancellation whenever I start talking. This isn’t ideal when I’m belting out the lyrics to my favorite songs, but it's great when I’m trying not to be rude. Apple calls the feature "Conversation Awareness." I’ll have to learn to tweak the settings to start singing without feeling interrupted, but this feature is a game-changer.
I suffer from tinnitus. I haven’t tried using my AirPods 2 for tinnitus treatment, but I may. This isn’t to say that AirPods Pro 2 will cure your tinnitus; they won’t.
I don't have hearing loss, but AirPods 2 also have a hearing aid feature, which is a fantastic option for people like my mother-in-law.
I should also mention that the AirPods 2 are significantly faster than the original.
I am an Apple fanboy, and AirPods 2 are, without a doubt, a big leap forward for its ecosystem.
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Satechi R1 Multi-Angle Foldable Tablet Stand
After years of cheap collapsible stands, the Satechi R1 finally nailed it—solid, adjustable, and built like it actually wants to hold your iPhone without falling apart.
Here's my first affiliate marketing blog post. I've got an Amazon Associates account set up, and I'm ready to go. I'm in the big time.
I've picked the Satechi R1 Multi-Angle Foldable Tablet Stand as my first product because it's sitting right in front of me. I bought my stand back in 2021, directly from Apple. I still use it almost every day.
I've been through so many iPhone stands over the years. They never seemed to be "perfect". They tended to be flimsy or poorly designed.
The R1 is solid. It's got two folding arms for multiple angles and some rubber backing, which helps to keep my iPhone or my iPad in place. I rarely use the stand with my iPad, but I'll let my kids prop my iPad on the stand when I'm in a pinch.
The stand is more expensive than most, but I've been using it for more than three years now without any issues.
The R1 is currently Amazon's Choice, and it's also my choice.
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