From almost any, even minimal update in the product line, Apple strives to make a revolution. What can we say about headphones, the design of which has remained unchanged since 2001? No, of course, Apple In-Ear based on “reinforcement” emitters was introduced back in 2008 - but at a price of $79, apparently, they did not gain much popularity - there are no updates, and Apple somehow forgot about them. That's the feeling, anyway.
There were two on our site Apple review In-Ear, if you are interested, I recommend checking it out. By the way, the price of these headphones in Russia is from 3 to 4 thousand rubles, you should beware of fakes, there are a lot of them on the market.
Today we'll talk about Apple's new headphones called EarPods. The company presents them as a mini-revolution, in some ways this is true, in others it is not. But first things first.
Packaging and accessories
The headphones were kindly provided to me from the package of the new iPhone 5, so I suppose there shouldn’t be a question of originality. On the other hand, there is not much to talk about packaging - there is only a hard carrying case.
The packaging for EarPods sold separately looks like this:
Since these headphones are only $29 (plus tax), there's really nothing negative to say. Beautiful, minimalistic – as usual with Apple. The case, frankly speaking, is inconvenient - the headphones look impressive in it, but only a very resistant person will regularly take out and put away the EarPods in the included case.
I had an idea to record a video, but then I found a very good unboxing on YouTube, I recommend checking it out:
Appearance and ease of use
EarPods look unusual, to say the least; you can come up with a variety of associations with their appearance. The body is made of milky plastic, the assembly is excellent, the parts fit perfectly - at first you don’t even notice that there is a seam between the headphone body and the bell-shaped “overlay”, this is visible only upon closer inspection.
The bell is the company’s know-how, although similar solutions have already been used more than once in the form of rubber attachments for liners. A plastic nozzle with a metal mesh is also used here. The company says it conducted extensive research using computer simulations - into virtual ears (scanned from real people) virtual headphones are being inserted, and EarPods should be more comfortable than ever before.
Well. Compared to regular earbuds, EarPods are definitely a step forward. But, alas, plastic case does not allow the headphones to fit properly in the ear - if they were rubberized, everything would be fine, but they do not stay in place like ordinary earplugs. It should be noted that my “earbuds” (as opposed to “plugs”) barely stay in my ears. If you are generally satisfied with the fit of the earbuds, you will like the EarPods. In short, there is no revolution, and we should expect rubber pads, attachments and other things - unlikely from Apple, but rather from third-party manufacturers.
No magic happened with noise insulation; the acoustic windows on the headphones let noise through quite well. That is, for home, work, the street, maybe even a bus – it’s normal. For the metro - not worth it, take care of your ears.
The remote control is standard for Apple, there is player control, volume control, and a microphone (very high quality). The cable is of high quality, soft, with a slight microphone effect. There is a slider for connecting wires after the separator, it is of little use.
Sound
The headphones were tested with the Hifiman HM-801 (with Game Card amplifier) and iBasso DX100 players. The test disk used was Prime Test CD1.
I would like to approach the evaluation of the sound of EarPods with all rigor - I read that they were compared with very expensive headphones. Apparently this is due to some Apple magic that doesn't work on me, and here's why.
Low frequencies are well defined, there is minimal hum, you quickly get used to it. There is no need to talk about any high detail, it’s more about the amount of bass - this is the “feature” of EarPods. The bell, I believe, acts as a resonator - hence the large number of low frequencies. On simple tracks this is a plus; on difficult tracks the EarPods stumble. I don’t want to mislead you – there’s not that much bass, but I would like it to be less.
The mids are a bit flat for my taste, the vocals lack naturalness and are pushed into the background. On the other hand, there is no sharpness, sibilance, or whistles.
There are not many high frequencies, but the headphones manage not to become dull (rather, a little dull), and the advantages are obvious - again, there is no harshness.
The stereo panorama is not very wide, with virtually no three-dimensionality. The placement of instruments is in C grade.
The attack is good if we are not talking about the low-frequency segment.
As a result, the headphones can be called universal, since there are no genres that would sound very bad or, on the contrary, great on them. Let me remind you that we are talking about headphones that come with a phone, albeit a flagship one, and they are sold separately for $30.
Compatibility
Of course, with Apple iPhone 4 (as well as 5) EarPods play perfectly, there is a decent volume reserve (about half the scale), the microphone and remote control work perfectly.
Competitors
For $30, I believe there are simply no competitors - after all, sometimes people just need earbuds, and EarPods are the question new level in this segment. In the end, it’s not advisable to purchase YUIN for 100-200 dollars - now you can safely offer EarPods. But it is worth noting that while the price for them in Russia is about 2.5 thousand rubles, it is expensive. For 1.5 thousand rubles they are worth buying, but for 2.5 thousand I would look towards the “plugs”. In the end, for 3 thousand you can already find In-Ear.
Comparison with Apple Earphones
I'll start with external changes. In addition to the design of the earbuds themselves, the design of the cambrics has changed slightly - they have become a tighter fit to the cable, which, in my opinion, should improve the durability of the headphones. Also, cambrics were added around the remote control, and the remote control itself became larger, while losing the hole for the microphone.
The noise insulation of EarPods is better than that of Apple Earphones, the fit is also better - but not as noticeable as if you switched to “plugs”, the same In-Ear.
The internal changes are worth looking at on the well-known iFixIt; not everyone is interested in them, so I’m giving a link.
Now - about the sound. If EarPods flaunt low frequencies, then Earphones – on the contrary, stick out the middle and top. As a result, the sound is brighter, louder and sometimes dirtier, and you have to forget about the bass. Earphones are ordinary earbuds, with no claims to high sound quality. Due to the brightened high frequencies, the stage is wider than that of the EarPods, and the detail seems to be higher.
Generally speaking, I seriously don't understand how you can listen to music on Apple Earphones. On EarPods - it is possible, and even necessary.
Conclusion
For $30, the EarPods are a great choice among earbuds. But now, in the wake of the hype, you can buy these headphones at prices ranging from 1.5 (if you order on eBay) to 2.5 thousand rubles (if you buy in Russia). For 1.5 - if you can’t stomach the “plugs” - take it, I think the wait for a price drop won’t be that long.
For bundled headphones for a player or phone - everything is fine, I believe many people will remain with EarPods, and maybe even more than those using the previous Apple Earphones.
The editors thank the iCases.ru store for providing them for testing apple headphones EarPods.
Ilya Tarakanov ()
The AirPods package includes headphones in a case, a set of instructions and a Lightning cable.
Case
The case has rounded edges, fits well in the hand and fits in any pocket. Opening and closing the lid is a special pleasure, turning the headphone case into an alternative to anti-stress toys.
On the reverse side there is a button for connecting to Android devices and pairing with iOS devices, and on the bottom side there is a charging socket.
Over time, a dark coating forms under the lid, which has to be cleaned. It is not clear where it comes from: the case is always closed, no one touches it with dirty hands. Judging by the reviews, many AirPods owners periodically clean their cases. What can you do, the costs of design in white colors.
Another nuance is the play of the lid when moving it from side to side (not in the direction of opening). There are no scenarios in which it would be necessary to move the lid in this way, but such roughness in Apple technology is frustrating, at least due to the fact that they rarely occur.
There are magnets hidden inside the case, with the help of which the headphones literally fly into the case. The lid is also magnetized when closed, so AirPods can be safely thrown into the bottom of the bag - the headphones will not fall out or get lost.
Headphones
At first glance, wireless earbuds seem to be the same as EarPods, but without wires and with slightly thicker legs. If you don’t take into account the techno-mince hidden in these legs, then these are EarPods. And that's cool. It's not even a matter of skeuomorphism and continuity. It's just a really very comfortable and fairly versatile form of headphones.
If your doubts before purchasing AirPods are related to the fear of losing a dropped earphone, then we hasten to dispel them: the earbuds are held securely. The main reason for EarPods falling out is the wires that constantly pull the headphones down. There are none here.
The real danger lies in the habit, cultivated over the years, of removing one of the headphones during a conversation and letting it go. The EarPods would remain dangling from the wire, and the wireless earbud would simply fall to the ground. However, you can change your mind in a couple of days, and for the unlucky ones, there are special silicone laces on sale that connect the headphones together.
Sound
Sound performance is the most important aspect of any headphone review, but it's definitely the most boring when it comes to AirPods. As in the case of its wired predecessor, here we get a not particularly ambitious, smooth and slightly tinted in the mids and high frequencies sound.
For those who like precise specifications, we borrowed the frequency response graph from the French portal Les Numeriques.
This is a good result for urban in-ear headphones that do not pretend to be an audiophile device. After all, AirPods are not loved at all for their sound, although they cope well with the needs of the average user.
Exploitation
It's very easy to create a pair of AirPods with an Apple device. The W1 chip, specially designed for headphones, is responsible for fast synchronization. Just open the cover and your iPhone will automatically recognize your AirPods.
You confirm pairing by pressing the only button on the headphone case - and that’s it, the pair has been created and has already been scattered to all synchronized devices. From now on, you won’t even need to press a button - the broadcast will be automatically transferred to AirPods if they are inserted into your ears.
There are no buttons on the headphones. The only possible control gesture is double tapping. The best thing I came up with was play and pause on the right earbud, calling Siri on the left. Another way to pause playback is to remove one of the headphones.
TO new system navigation is difficult to get used to. In this regard, EarPods are still more convenient. One or two buttons to control playback are not enough, and Siri is not a panacea. For example, I am still embarrassed to use it in public places.
To answer a call, you also need to double-tap the earpiece. The quality of the outgoing sound is excellent: the active noise reduction system has an effect. Therefore, with AirPods you can talk with friends or call Siri even in a crowded and relatively noisy place.
If you bring the open case to the iPhone, the charge data for the case and headphones will appear on the screen. In addition, in the “Batteries” widget you can see the charge of each earbud. The fact is that they are identical in terms of filling; each can be used as a headset. In this case, the sound will be broadcast in mono, and the time battery life AirPods will double in size.
AirPods can also work in conjunction with all iOS devices running iOS 10 and above. Apple Watch with watchOS 3 and above, and computers with macOS 10.12 and above. In addition, the headphones can be used with any device that supports the Bluetooth 4.0 standard. In this case, the “magic” promised by the developers will disappear, but, as users of Android smartphones assure, wearing AirPods with their devices is quite comfortable. True, there is no Siri, but using third-party software you can make Google Assistant respond to tapping.
Battery
Fully charged earbuds and case can last for 24 hours of listening time and 11 hours of talk time. Without a case, the headphones will work for five hours. Moreover, they charge very quickly: in 15 minutes they gain enough charge to play music for another three hours.
This means that the device’s discharge will never take you by surprise. All you have to do is charge the case with headphones once every 3-4 days and not listen to music for five hours.
Verdict
- you are already fully stocked with Apple and want to add another utilitarian device to your collection;
- you are tired of the interrupting EarPods cables, but you are completely satisfied with the headphones themselves;
- Are you looking for wireless headphones that won't take up much space in your bag?
- you constantly lose everything;
- you live in a less developed region, where an exotic gadget may cause unwanted attention;
- you are an audiophile for whom frequency response, SOI and other obscure abbreviations are more important than anything else.
And most importantly: do not forget that the choice of headphones is always purely individual. If you like some Sennheiser or Koss better than EarPods, then purchasing a wireless version of your unloved headphones for 12 thousand rubles is not the best idea.
But if you want to get the most out of Apple technology, are accustomed to the ergonomics and sound of EarPods, and like to experience aesthetic and tactile pleasure from gadgets, then you will definitely like AirPods.
The Apple EarPods headset is an excellent addition to the iPhone; it is characterized by normal music playback, fairly comfortable controls and successful voice transmission through the microphone. It can be connected not only to Apple devices, but also used on phones of other platforms. But the owners of the headphones claim that they are not particularly superior to other wired headsets; rather, they are devices with average musical qualities.
Appearance, completeness, ergonomics
Laconic, minimalist white headphones are included in the package Apple smartphones, for example, iPhone 5S. They are also available for free sale. They are supplied in a standard box with a plastic pad on which the wires are wound, the heads and the remote control are placed in special sockets.
Ergodynamic design is one of the advantages of the device. The first thing users note is that the headphones fit their ears perfectly. The head body follows the shape of the cavity of the auricle, which ensures a tight fit of the sound guide to the ear canal.
The headphones do not irritate the ear with their presence, do not rub, and can be used for a long period of time. But sometimes there are complaints that the headset heads pop out of the ears.
The reason for the problem is that the heads are not made different sizes, only the standard version is available for purchase, selected to suit the “average” parameters of most people.
The same headphones come with the phone. Owners of the headset note that it is equipped with a very convenient remote control. It is embossed, the “+” and “-” buttons are slightly raised, and the main button is located at the bottom. This allows you to select the desired key by touch, change the track or reduce the volume.
There are symmetrical wires going to the heads, they look quite dense, but not tight, they twist easily. The main wire ends in a straight plug with a gold-plated surface. Owners have a lot of complaints about the wires. They are white, easily soiled, and gradually lose their presentable appearance.
Moreover, at the junction with the heads and plug, the cable often breaks, and thin wires inside are damaged. It is quite difficult to restore the device; you have to purchase a new one.
From Apple EarPods (3.5 mm), the Apple EarPods (Lightning) headphone model has only a Micro-USB input through which they connect to the iPhone. You cannot use the device directly with other devices, only using a special adapter with a plug.
Functionality
The manufacturer announced 11 functions available when controlling the headset. For control, a standard remote control is used, which has only three keys.
But each of them is assigned several tasks at once:
- one press in the middle – pause, turn on music, answer an incoming call while playing melodies, answer a second incoming call;
- double pressing – switches to the next track, if you hold after pressing – rewinds;
- triple press – switch to the previous melody, if held – rewind;
- press and hold the key - call Siri, hang up the incoming call, answer the second incoming call and hang up the first;
- increase/decrease volume using the “+” and “-” keys.
The standard volume keys are also programmed with other functions. For example, by long pressing the “+” key, you can open the camera on your phone and take a photo of the desired object without unlocking your smartphone.
With Android smartphones, the number of functions is significantly reduced. You can answer the call, pause the music and start playing again. You can also adjust the volume using the side keys. In principle, these functions are sufficient for ordinary headphones, but not for a device costing 2,500 rubles.
Playing music
The headphone heads are made so that two acoustic outputs direct sound into the ear canal. This allows you to achieve optimal concentration of bass that does not hit your ears, but does not blur, despite the fact that the heads do not have silicone ear pads that increase sound insulation.
- “Have equally clean lows, highs and mids that don’t really stand out. Therefore, even at high volumes, the melodies retain their purity and brightness.”
- “They do not provide complete sound insulation, but, nevertheless, they reproduce classical melodies, rock compositions, and electronic music well. The frequency response is well balanced. You can’t make out individual instruments, but there’s no muttering either, everything is clean.”
- “The lows are tight, the mids are good, the highs are not overwhelmed. Not exactly the ideal of melody, but they sound pretty good. Compared with Samsung Galaxy 3 Mini are generally ideal, there is no that squealing and hammering bass.”
- “Compared with Meizu ep2x. The Apple headphones don't have enough bass, I would like more volume, otherwise the sound feels flattened. I listened to it both on the Meizu 5 note and on the iPhone, there is not much difference.”
You can improve the quality of the music you listen to if you buy various gadgets for headsets: silicone ear tips, a volume amplifier, ear hooks or ear pads. But you should remember that initially the headphones are still intended for use with Apple devices.
This is why we have to artificially improve the sound on phones and Android tablets using an equalizer or choosing better music.
Headset operation
The microphone is located on the remote control. The level of its operation also depends on what transmitting device the device is used with. On iPhone microphone simply perfectly conveys the caller's speech. There is no noise or hum, the sounds of the surrounding world are qualitatively cut off.
Since the remote control is located symmetrically in the middle, sometimes you have to bring it to your mouth so that the interlocutor can better hear what is being said to him. Or use a clothespin for these purposes, which will have to be purchased separately.
Users using headphones paired with Android complain that voice transmission is not perfect. Sometimes callers do not quite understand the words spoken into the microphone. You have to pronounce sentences clearly and loudly.
conclusions
The chic functionality of Apple EarPods is simply ideal for owners of Apple gadgets. Music lovers appreciate the most comprehensive control from the remote control, ergonomic headphone heads, good reproduction music.
But, unfortunately, high-quality control is completely unavailable to users using smartphones on other platforms. If you don’t have other iOS devices, it’s better to give preference to more “simple” headsets – Sony, Beats or Sennheiser. They cost a little less, but will please the owners budget phones higher quality music.
Thematic materials:
10 Best Headphones for Iphone 
12 Best Headphones for Music 
, 17 best vacuum headphones 
5 Best Headphones for iPad 
6 Best Wireless Headphones for iPhone , 6 Best Lightning Headphones (Lightning Headphones)
A pleasant but expensive gift for connoisseurs of apple products
Simultaneously with new iPhones Apple company announced another interesting device: AirPods wireless headphones. This is the first time Apple has released Bluetooth headphones, but this decision was self-evident - in new iPhones There is no 3.5 mm headset jack, so iPhone 7/7 Plus owners have to either use an adapter or carry branded headphones with a Lightning connector.
And in general, the wires don’t really fit into Apple’s aesthetics, especially those like those on headphones - fragile, constantly breaking down, getting tangled in unimaginable knots in your pocket. Anyone who has used Apple smartphones or players for a long time knows that headphones (for all their beauty and, admittedly, good sound) are practically consumables.
So the release of AirPods was overdue and turned out to be completely logical. True, fans of the company could be disappointed by two facts: firstly, AirPods are not included with the smartphone, they must be purchased separately, and secondly, Apple did not have time to release headphones at the same time as the iPhone 7/7 Plus.
Equipment
Let's say right away: AirPods are a product in which, despite its apparent simplicity, you can feel the magic of Apple. And this magic begins with the box: square, white, but with a convex glossy image of the headphones.
When we open the box, we get a new wave of pleasant emotions: inside there is a traditional envelope with leaflets/manuals, and under it there is a Lightning cable and a rectangular box made of white glossy plastic, but with strongly rounded sides. It contains the headphones themselves.
We open the lid of the box (it is magnetized, so to lift it, you need to apply a little effort - and this is a separate pleasure). And we see two headphones. Each of them is again held in place by a magnet, so you have to overcome some resistance to pull them out.
Now - the most interesting part: this white plastic box is not just packaging. This is a docking station. When the headphones are in it, they are charged, as evidenced by the color LED indicator. When the headphones are charging, it flashes red, and when they are fully charged, it glows green.
Additionally, the LED indicator may turn white when you press the flat white button on the back of the dock. It is needed to connect headphones to Apple devices that are not signed in to iCloud. We will tell you more about connecting AirPods to different gadgets below.
Of course, the docking station itself also needs to be charged, and for this there is a Lightning connector at the bottom of it. So, you can use the same cable for this as you use to charge your iPhone.
Design
Externally, AirPods look very similar to traditional EarPods, except, of course, for the lack of wires. The shape of the “droplets” themselves is almost identical. And, it should be noted, this is a good decision, since the shape of the Apple headphones is truly optimal.
However, a closer comparison of AirPods and EarPods reveals a number of differences that are quite significant in terms of functionality. Firstly, the leg of AirPods is longer and thicker than that of EarPods, which is quite logical: after all, the Apple W1 processor, accelerometer, battery, and Bluetooth module are located there. Secondly, next to the miniature speaker grille, we see proximity sensors on the AirPods on the front and back (the EarPods don’t have them). AirPods know when you put them in your ears and when you take them out!
And the third difference: AirPods have more holes for microphones, including one located at the bottom of the stem. And this is understandable, because one of the main scenarios for their use is as a Bluetooth headset and at the same time a Siri call device.
An interesting solution (no longer related to functionality, but to the appearance of the product) is the metal edging of the lower part. It may seem alien (although we don’t think so), but at the same time it creates a complete image.
Note that the AirPods fit well in the ears and do not fall out with sudden movements of the head. However, we cannot guarantee that on the street, for example, when running, they will not jump out at the most inopportune moment. This is perhaps the most risky moment.
Regarding subjective assessment appearance, then, in our opinion, it is beautiful in itself. But there is a nuance: a person with these headphones looks rather strange. From the outside it may seem that these are some strange jewelry in the ears, a hearing aid or something else. Everyone has long been accustomed to the sight of Bluetooth headsets, regular headphones- even more so, but here is something else.
This fact, as well as the hypothetical probability of losing an earphone (at least one), stops you from getting AirPods and using them outdoors. However, we admit that this is a matter of habit.
Connecting and interacting with iPhone
The magic continues when we decide that it’s enough to admire and it’s time to connect the headphones to the iPhone and start using them for their intended purpose. So, having internally prepared for the need to press some buttons, go into bluetooth settings on a smartphone, making connection attempts one after another, we open the lid of the docking station, placing the iPhone next to it - and immediately we see a window appear on it with an image of headphones and a proposal to connect them.
Once connected, this window will display the charge of both the headphones themselves and the docking station. Well, in order to get started, you just need to insert the headphones into your ears and hear sound signal and play music on iPhone.
If you remove one earbud from your ear while music is playing, it will automatically pause. If you remove both headphones, playback will be completed.
Calling Siri is implemented in an equally simple way. All you have to do is tap your finger twice on any earphone and Siri will be activated.
As for incoming and outgoing calls, in the first case they are automatically sent to the headphones, and in the second - when dialing a number on the iPhone, we can choose whether the sound will go to the headphones or to the smartphone speakers.
Connecting to Apple Watch
One of the most interesting features of AirPods is collaboration with smart watch Apple Watch. Starting with watchOS 3.0, the watch can be used as music player without communication with the iPhone, that is, play music stored directly in the Apple Watch memory. But, of course, this requires wireless headphones. AirPods are ideal for this task.
True, the connection diagram here is a little more complicated than in the case of the iPhone. First, you need to download music to your watch - to do this, you need to go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, open the “Music” section and synchronize it with the watch. It is important that music can only sync with the watch when it is connected to charger(even if the watch is already charged).
After the music is synced with the Apple Watch, you need to launch the Music application on the watch and select the watch from two playback sources. After that, go to “Settings” on the watch, select Bluetooth and click on AirPods (although they may be automatically connected).
That's it, after that you can play music directly from the watch, transferring it to the headphones without an intermediary in the form of an iPhone. This means that, for example, you don’t have to take your smartphone with you to the gym or for a run.
The sound quality when playing music from the watch is no different from that when using a smartphone. But we will talk about this issue in more detail later.
Connecting to other devices
To use AirPods, it is recommended to have a device running macOS Sierra, iOS 10, or watchOS 3. We've talked about how to connect AirPods to iPhone and Apple Watch, and here we'll explain how synchronization with iPad and MacBook or iMac occurs.
On a computer running macOS Sierra, click on the volume speaker in the top menu bar and select AirPods in the “Output Device” section. On the iPad, the scheme is the same as in the case of the iPhone, but if you are not logged in there iCloud account or automatic connection does not work for some other reason, open the docking station with headphones, press and hold the button on the docking station - and wait until the headphones window appears.
The same scheme works with devices from other manufacturers. Many sites (including discussions on the official Apple website) report that headphones are incompatible with smartphones, tablets and laptops running other OSes. However, we tested AirPods with a OnePlus 3 smartphone and found that they connect to it in the same way and work quite well.
True, there are two nuances. Firstly, before you start playing music, the headphones make a slight background noise (hissing) and every few seconds an unpleasant click sounds - as if a connection or some kind of switching is happening. Secondly, during music playback this background noise, although barely noticeable, still remains. Let us emphasize that all this does not concern Apple devices from the list of officially supported ones. But we'll talk about this in the next section.
Sound quality and battery life
Even before our “face-to-face” acquaintance, our main concern was the sound quality. Bluetooth headphones are notorious for background noise and serious sound deterioration, and this often applies even to expensive models. But Apple would not be itself if it had not achieved a sound that is almost indistinguishable from wired EarPods.
As for the operating time on a single charge, the headphones can provide about five hours of sound. That is, this is about five albums. Worthy result! And considering that to recharge them you just need to put them in the docking station (literally for 15 minutes - this will provide about three more hours of sound), the problem of “the headphones run out at the most inopportune moment” is unlikely to arise.
conclusions
There is a lot to love about AirPods: beautiful design, the most convenient docking station, maximum intuitiveness, excellent sound quality, but most importantly - that very Apple magic, which is felt most clearly in this product. Every moment of interaction with AirPods is a pleasure; many details of both software and hardware delight and delight like a child’s toy.
Is this joy worth almost 13,000? Here everyone can decide for themselves, depending on their income and the threshold for a spontaneous purchase. This is definitely not the most necessary thing, in some ways even controversial from the point of view of practical use (we are talking about wearing them on the street), but it is very pleasant. An ideal gift for Apple lovers.
Apple AirPods deserve our Original Design award for their original designs that combine ease of use, functionality and great looks.
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