The first time I encountered someone listening to their phone out loud in public, it was on a city bus and I was taken aback for two reasons. First, the volume level on the phone wasn\u2019t just audible to the person sitting next to them; our entire section of the bus could hear it. Second, it was a FaceTime call, and neither the person on the bus, nor their caller seemed to be the slightest bit hesitant to carry on their conversation in public. In fact, they appeared completely oblivious.<\/p>\n
That was a few years ago. Since then, the problem of listening out loud has gotten much worse. I\u2019ve encountered it in grocery stores, airport lounges, coffee shops, and even when just walking on the sidewalk. And it\u2019s not just phone calls\/FaceTime. Music, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram \u2014 you name it. If it\u2019s got an audio track, I\u2019ve heard it blaring from the speaker of someone\u2019s phone. During a recent episode of the New York Times\u2019 excellent tech podcast, Hard Fork<\/em>, a listener referred to the problem as an epidemic<\/a>, and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s hyperbole.<\/p>\n We all know the solution: just use a set of wired or wireless headphones<\/a> or earbuds. It\u2019s that simple. Except, maybe it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll give these folks the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they\u2019ve fallen victim to misinformation \u2014 myths about headphones and earbuds \u2014 and that\u2019s the reason they do what they do.<\/p>\n With that in mind, allow me to dispel a few of the more common misunderstandings about headphones and earbuds.<\/p>\n In 2016, when Apple launched the first-gen AirPods, wireless earbuds<\/a> were indeed pricey gadgets. That was almost a decade ago, and since then, the market for wireless earbuds and headphones has become heavily commoditized. Yes, the biggest brands still sell their best products for hundreds of dollars, but there\u2019s also an ocean of less expensive alternatives that can be had for as little as $20.<\/p>\nThey\u2019re too expensive<\/h2>\n
The affordable products aren\u2019t worth buying<\/h2>\n
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