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Librepods: AirPods liberated

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Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#141

Post by Epa095 »

culi wrote: post #106
Springtime wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assumed, like Apple's Airtags (which use Bluetooth LE), that they used some proprietary pairing that's incompatible with non-Apple devices.

Airtags can be scanned with your non-Apple smartphone's NFC reader which gives you contact info for the owner. Beyond that, all tracker devices are proprietary. The Tile/Chipolo network only works with Tile/Chipolo; Samsung's SmartTag only works with the SmartThings app which is exclusive to Samsung phones; etc. I just don't think the comparison is apt

But its still what he thought...

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#142

Post by lloeki »

usef- wrote: post #107
culi wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Airtags can be scanned with your non-Apple smartphone's NFC reader which gives you contact info for the owner. Beyond that, all tracker devices are proprietary. The Tile/Chipolo network only works with Tile/Chipolo; Samsung's SmartTag only works with the SmartThings app which is exclusive to Samsung phones; etc. I just don't think the comparison is apt

New chipolos work in both Apple Find My and Android Find Hub. Most third-party tags seem to support multiple platforms now.

Warning: many don't support both at the same time (setting up for one disables the other until reset)

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#143

Post by dainank »

HerbManic wrote: post #120
vlod wrote: post #38

I respect the work/hack involved. However why support a company (by buying airpods) that is this hostile. i.e. I wouldn't be surprised to see a patch to stop this.

This is my big conundrum with Apple. Their hardware is absolutely brilliant, but their combative nature against the users freedom on their hardware means I will never use it. Even if you can hack around it, it is the culture that treats the users as someone to be controlled and coddled that bothers me.

Out of curiosity, what makes their hardware 'brilliant'? I often hear this but never actually looked into why. What is your take on that?

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#144

Post by tclancy »

ctippett wrote: post #52

I've owned several pairs of AirPods over the years and this is the first I'm learning about some of their features. I almost found myself wanting there to be a third column for indicating Apple support (of course I'm being facetious).

Yes, I recently upgraded to the Pro 3 and it’s a sign of how old I am getting: I disabled a lot of the defaults (the head gestures to control music playback were awful when doing any serious yard work) promising myself I would investigate all the features in time. A few months later, I have a rough idea of how to play, pause and adjust volume with the weird (to me) stalk massaging.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#145

Post by vlod »

jorisw wrote: post #129
vlod wrote: post #38

I respect the work/hack involved. However why support a company (by buying airpods) that is this hostile. i.e. I wouldn't be surprised to see a patch to stop this.

What's so hostile about it? They can't _add_ features on top of regular Bluetooth connectivity, that they choose to only offer on platforms they're able to fully control and QA ? Is even just making a feature exclusive really that 'hostile'? A company can't offer benefits for going with several of their products? Or you mean they _are_ hostile because you're _assuming_ they will try to patch this?

In regards to Apple hostility. There's obviously the whole app store shenanigans where devs often feel that they have arbitrary rules. DHH has talked about it as has Tim Sweeney.

I listened to Mark Zuck on Rogan about his experience with Apple connecting his Ray Bands to the AirPods. [0]

In that interview, he suggests they won't help with the integration (for stupid reasons) and that he expects that'll come out with a competing product.

I think being a dev and working with the Apple eco (outside of 'normal') is a pita. Yes it's subjective. I'm hesitant to even purchase Apple's excellent hardware for this reason.

[0]: https://youtu.be/7k1ehaE0bdU?si=HB-ZcXNRtB1ox6dx&t=8463

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#146

Post by vlod »

dainank wrote: post #143
HerbManic wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is my big conundrum with Apple. Their hardware is absolutely brilliant, but their combative nature against the users freedom on their hardware means I will never use it. Even if you can hack around it, it is the culture that treats the users as someone to be controlled and coddled that bothers me.

Out of curiosity, what makes their hardware 'brilliant'? I often hear this but never actually looked into why. What is your take on that?

Not parent.

I believe (I don't own their new M-5) their Macbook Pro are very well regarded in terms of trackpad, battery and screen as one (if not the) best out there.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#147

Post by bookofjoe »

leokennis wrote: post #132
stasomatic wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not why one buys the AirPods. These things go with me from the iPhone to Apple TV, to my MBP, to the Mini. There is better sound available for less, but the sound is the least of the story.

Unfortunately, somehow AirPods also at random go from my wife's iPhone to my iPad. And then when she "steals" them back switch to my Mac a minute later. Doesn't matter that they are linked to her iCloud account/Apple ID and my devices are linked to mine. Apple "it just works" smarts are very nice, until it doesn't just work anymore and you have no way to disable them. It's the reason I switched to JBL earbuds with a…

I disable Bluetooth on iPhone when I'm ready to go running using Apple Watch with AirPods Pro. Otherwise it's a big pain in the butt with the phone insisting of me doing stuff when all I wanted to do was check AirPods Pro battery level....

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#148

Post by bookofjoe »

walrus01 wrote: post #66
Aurornis wrote: post #30

To clarify because this is confusing: The AirPods work as regular old BlueTooth earbuds on other devices already. This is an implementation of some of the extra features and interfaces that are integrated into Apple products.

If I remember right, there have been several Android applications that show the battery level of AirPods since at least 2021. For essential features in addition to being connected as an ordinary Bluetooth audio output and audio input device.

I've wondered since inception why AirPods case doesn't at least show a color indicator — red/yellow/green — for AirPods battery level.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#149

Post by jtbayly »

marysol5 wrote: post #137
ruszki wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even that is a lie. It allows other OSs, but they know quite well, that without drivers, it’s an empty promise. I can’t run anything else on my Mini for example.

This is the same Apple that sued people making "Hackintosh" machines...

Which is completely the opposite—running Apple software on non-Apple hardware—so they make no money whatsoever off such users.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#150

Post by rkn7 »

taimurshasan wrote: post #85

This project is great. Hopefully one day AirDrop is liberated too. https://github.com/seemoo-lab/opendrop looked promising, but it seems stale. maybe one day.

If you don't mind installing an app for it, LocalSend or LANDrop are great for this.
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