Apple patent applications show earbud designs that use sensors to make automatic adjustments

No sooner does Apple purchase high-end headphone manufacturer Beats Audio, than a couple of patent applications made by the tech giant related to earbuds are released by the USPTO. The two patents, titled "Ear Presence Detection in Noise Cancelling Earphones" and "Electronic Devices and Accessories with Media Streaming Control Features," revolve around earbuds that use sensors to turn features on and off automatically.



With noise-cancelling technology a major gobbler of battery life, the first patent shows how the technology can be turned off if the sensors inside the earbuds determine that ...