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Librepods: AirPods liberated

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Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#151
post #145
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

You're commenting on different Apple practices that could labeled as 'hostile'.

I'm strictly talking about Apple tacking on extra AirPods features on iOS devices that they're able to control and QA.

And fuck Zuck.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I kinda assumed apple had a magic sauce way to have higher sound quality on the iPhone rather than using the BT spec HFP, isn’t that the case?

Airpods use AAC-ELD for better microphone quality. While the codec is an open standard, activating it with Airpods is proprietary.

Interesting! It reads to me like Apple advertises AAC-ELD only for Facetime though?

And the alternative, newer "Bluetooth high quality recording" I mentioned in sibling comment is not recommended for real-time communication due to increased latency.

So the situation seems to be more complex than I thought. But I stand by my original sentiment: I dislike the prevalence of bad-sounding Airpods in meetings.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#153
post #151
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

You're commenting on different Apple practices that could labeled as 'hostile'. I'm strictly talking about Apple tacking on extra AirPods features on iOS devices that they're able to control and QA. And fuck Zuck.

Sure on first point.

However Zuck is directly addressing Apple hostility regarding Airpods, irrespective of how you feel about him/meta.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#155
post #150

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.

People mention these tools each time AirDrop comes out, and they're not at all compatible.

AirDrop allows two devices to find each other and establish a temporary network to exchange data.

LocalSend and all similar tools require that you first set up a network, have both devices join it, _and then_ handles the final portion of the exchange. The key aspect of AirDrop is that it automates all the overhead.

The open/standard equivalent for AirDrop is Wi-Fi Aware (aka: Neighbor Awareness Networking), which still lacks software support.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#156
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.

Realistically, there's not any other company selling wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with these features _and_ including documentation for folks to use those feature outside of some locked ecosystem.

E.g.: Bose, Sony, etc don't include any documentation for any non-basic features, and the only way to even enable them is via the proprietary app which run on limited environments (notably: not Linux).

I don't defend the practice at all, but no matter which hardware they picked, the practices are still the same.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#157
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

Ugreen tags work with both Google's Find network and Apple's FindMy network.

Do they work with the network or with the app?

If it's the first, that seems like they would be a vastly superior offering to AirTags, especially outside America, where people aren't so Apple-crazy.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#158

FYI android 17 fixes the bugs in the Bluetooth stack that previously required root to fix. But, this app still charges $5 for using features your air pods have. I'll be spending my afternoon forking and enabling them.

That’s why selling anything to developers is no fun, they don’t know how to value their time.

Re: Librepods: AirPods liberated

#159
post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugreen tags work with both Google's Find network and Apple's FindMy network.

Do they work with the network or with the app ? If it's the first, that seems like they would be a vastly superior offering to AirTags, especially outside America, where people aren't so Apple-crazy.

I don't know, I have an android phone. I just know it says it's compatible with the airtag network on the box, so I suspect it's the first. Ugreen doesn't even have any specific app for these, so I assume it goes through the primary setup method.
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