Competitive audio products removed from the Apple Store
It could have something to do with the expected release of the AirPods Studio, Apple’s own headphones. According to rumors there would also be a new one HomePod are on the way. Bose is the market leader in noise canceling headphones. If you search the online Apple Store for suitable headphones such as the Bose 700, you will see a list of your own products. In September all products were still available. This not only concerns headphones, but also speakers from the aforementioned companies. A search for Bose yields nothing in the Netherlands, while a customer who needs a speaker ends up with the somewhat dated Beats Pill +. Sometimes you can still find traces of products that were previously available. For example, the Dutch Apple Store sells a charging dock for the Ultimate Ears speakers, but the speakers themselves can no longer be found.
Visit the section ‘Headphones and speakers’ in the online Apple Store, then you will only find your own products from the AirPods and Powerbeats Pro to the BeatsX and the urBeats. Apple employees in the stores were instructed to remove the headphones and speakers from the shelves and from the displays. Fortunately, Apple still has enough to display with its own brand Beats, but the choice has become a lot less.
Evil removed before
Bose and Logitech have confirmed that their audio products are indeed no longer available for purchase through the Apple Store. The Bose products disappeared By the way, already out of the store earlier, namely in October 2014. At that time there seemed to be a connection with the takeover of Beats. At the time, Bose and Beats were involved in a lawsuit accusing Beats of stealing multiple noise canceling patents from Bose. During the same period, athletes in the American NFL (American Football) were no longer allowed to wear Beats headphones because Bose was the title sponsor. In December 2014 returned the Bose products.
The question is how big the blow is for Bose. You can often find the same products cheaper at various retail chains. Sonos has now built up a considerable dealer network and can be found in most electronics stores. Also with Sonos you are often better off if you our iCulture Deals and not the suggested retail price through Apple pays. Logitech is a different story: the Apple Store is still home to the brand’s keyboards, webcams and security cameras. But the audio products have disappeared from Logitech too.
Rumors have it that Apple is going on October 13 a hardware event to organize. Not only the new iPhone 12 models are expected, but so is the AirPods Studio. The introduction of its own headphones may mean that Apple will permanently stop selling other brands of audio products.