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Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

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Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#121

Post by felurx »

ikeboy wrote: post #104
JLCarveth wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly my linux desktop (Ubuntu 22.04) is where I run into the fewest issues regarding my bluetooth headphones. I've never had an issue connecting to them.

I've had issues where every other time I connect my Sony XM5 to Ubuntu 22.04, it decides to use HFP instead of A2DP which has significantly worse audio quality for music. I need to reset Bluetooth to fix it. None of the solutions online for disabling this "helpful" feature work.

This was quite an annoyance for me too. I discovered/noticed two things, but I'm on Manjaro, so YMMV: Whether A2DP or HFP is used can be controlled by changing the profile (or whatever it's called) of the audio device, in the audio settings. Take a look in the settings where you can change volume per app and all that good stuff, and try to see if there's some dropdown that lets you pick between Headset and Headphone, and all that.

Second thing: The actual default behaviour seems to be to use the profile that was used last time. But for me, whenever MS Teams is running, it decides that the correct thing is to switch it to Headset mode, because Microsoft knows what you want better than you do, and you want the option that produces shitty sound quality, but bidirectional audio.

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#122

Post by madacol »

blibble wrote: post #89
systemvoltage wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same with USB consortium. Gotta pay like $10k to get a USB vendor ID. What the fuck were these people thinking to rally up behind this draconian standard? There is a limit to how many vendors they can have, iirc 10k. But for all the issues with it, usb seems to work on devices without Bluetooth-like issues. Standards should be open and free for common public and only have to pay once you reach certain company size. T…

vendor id is 16-bit so should be enough for 65535 of them

Maybe in next versions they should choose 256 bits (or 160, like bitcoin) which would be the hash of a public key, an any vendor that provides a valid signature, can claim that 160 bit vendor ID. No more need for a central authority

I'm probably overengineering it, just pointing out it is technically possible

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#123

Post by asdff »

Honestly the 3.5mm jack is better technology.

- connecting does nothing confusing, just changes default output speaker for most software

- pairing multiple devices just needs a splitter then it works the same as pairing one device in terms of ux

- can connect multiple headsets to one device

- can connect multiple devices to one headset

- can purchase replacement 3.5mm cables cheaply at any convenience store around the world

- can repair this equipment yourself with soldering or even just a wire stripper and tape

- doesn't need charging or any external power supply, everything from the connection to even the output speaker in the case of headphones is powered by the device which makes ux easier (just one thing to keep charged)

- can use brand new equipment or decades old equipment all the same. my headphones are 10 years old and will last decades longer easily

I have no reason to let go of my 3.5mm cables and adopt this inferior system.

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#125

Post by asdff »

prmoustache wrote: post #88
tehjoker wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i just thread the wire under my shirt, it's pretty similar and you can take the earbuds off and they just hang there

When I am on a videocall with my coworkers and want to fill my glass with water, I like being able to go to the kitchen without having to undock and drag my laptop all over the house. Same if I need to find something in a shelf. That is pretty much the only reason I use bt headset.

I'm surprised your bluetooth headphones don't just cut out when you do that. My experience is blutooth has a range of like 30 feet and that quickly diminishes when you introduce walls into the equation.

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#126

Post by asdff »

The_Colonel wrote: post #101
bornfreddy wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree 99% - the exception being the mouse. Since it is meant to be moved around, any obstacle (such as cable) really changes how it handles. I didn't believe it until I went to wireless and then (for a short time) back. Otherwise agree for keyboard, network, headphones,... Wires work.

Well, head moves quite a lot as well. Out of all wireless things, the headphones have been the biggest revolution for me.

That's been the biggest step back for me. I have plenty of wire length on my headphones, never felt like I couldn't turn my head or was in any way hindered. Having to keep them charged up and buy replacement batteries every few years seems a lot more annoying.

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#127

Post by asdff »

drstewart wrote: post #34
cronix wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And it's really fun buying a new pair every x years purely because the battery has degraded and not really replaceable. I quit buying them purely because they fairly rapidly (compared to wired headphones) become e-waste, for the slight conveniences you mentioned. All those things including swimming were done with wired headphones too, with maybe the exception of walking into the other room to get your tea.

That's funny, because I've had to buy more pairs of wired cables because they frayed than I ever did wireless headphones because the battery died.

Buy junk get junk. I have a 10 year old set of sony wired headphones. Reference tier sound still. For blutooth, how many of these devices allow the users to replace batteries to make it to 10 years and ongoing as I have done with my headphones? Bang and Oulfson afaik is it but you have to shell out half a grand for one of their headphone sets, plus the battery is proprietary so if the company gets some MBA holders at the helm they will change it slightly between generations and not sell older replacements, to force you to buy new and not leave money on the table.

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#128

Post by asdff »

jhbadger wrote: post #117
mixmastamyk wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Never happened, three feet is perfect for head to waist pocket. With cable inside shirt it is impossible for this to happen, perhaps you did it differently.

People are different heights, and it isn't only differences in leg length. Maybe for you three feet is the perfect length for head to waist, but that's not universal.

If you are shorter than 3 feet you can just wrap the cable around the device or shove it in the pocket with the device. If you are longer than 3 feet on the torso you are quite a human specimen anyway and are probably buying a lot of custom things for living your life.

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#129

Post by asdff »

duped wrote: post #17

Have you ever bought a product because "the Bluetooth integration is so good?" I'm sure a few people have. But it's not like you choose a car or phone because of it.

I've otoh bought products specifically because they have non wireless fallbacks or are wired only (even better, no batteries).

Re: Ask HN: Bluetooth kinda sucks. Why don't we have something better?

#130

Post by colinmhayes »

asdff wrote: post #128
jhbadger wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are different heights, and it isn't only differences in leg length. Maybe for you three feet is the perfect length for head to waist, but that's not universal.

If you are shorter than 3 feet you can just wrap the cable around the device or shove it in the pocket with the device. If you are longer than 3 feet on the torso you are quite a human specimen anyway and are probably buying a lot of custom things for living your life.

Or... you could just get a wireless device and not deal with wrapping and shoving cables every time you want to listen to something. I put airpods in my ear and the music starts playing. It's just a much better experience than wired headphones were. No reaching through my shirt. No getting the cable caught anyway. No pulling my device around when I get up but forget to unplug.
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