Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

support.apple.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 405 posts

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#161

Post by mrinterweb »

tagyro wrote: post #77
lovehashbrowns wrote: post #62

They have this feature but closing the lid on a MacBook or even putting it to sleep allows Bluetooth devices to stay connected. Heck, a MacBook even while in sleep mode will connect to Bluetooth devices. As far as I can see, this requires a third-party app to fix. Can an application still use the microphone on a Bluetooth device that’s connected?

That is actually meant to keep the connection to a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse when using the computer in clamshell mode.

It would be great if certain types of bluetooth devices could remain connected. Physical input devices only would likely be a good default. There is little reason, IMO, for speaker connections to be active. In clamshell mode, I would expect all bluetooth connections to be active, but while suspended, please drop nonessential connections. Being able to override the default disconnect rules per device would be ideal.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#162

Post by hamburglar »

dvirsky wrote: post #67
lovehashbrowns wrote: post #62

They have this feature but closing the lid on a MacBook or even putting it to sleep allows Bluetooth devices to stay connected. Heck, a MacBook even while in sleep mode will connect to Bluetooth devices. As far as I can see, this requires a third-party app to fix. Can an application still use the microphone on a Bluetooth device that’s connected?

This has to be the most annoying thing in MacOS. My laptop, soundly sleeping in my backpack, takes over my bluetooth headphones all the time.

This comment section is a sheer delight to anyone who’s ever said they prefer wired headphones because of the flakiness of Bluetooth and had a chorus of people respond that they must be doing something wrong because Bluetooth “just works.”

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#163

Post by ademup »

dheera wrote: post #53
janniks wrote: post #2

I was recently trying to figure out whether the microphone is usable when using my notebook in clamshell-mode. Turns out Apple added a privacy/safety feature to all Apple silicon-based Mac notebooks and Intel-based Mac notebooks with the Apple T2 Security Chip. It will hardware disconnect the microphone when the lid is closed, based on the lid sensors. Pretty cool safety feature!! Even though I'm sad I can't use my m…

And how are we supposed to trust Apple that this is in fact what's happening? With a Framework laptop I have a hardware physical switch and I can actually open it up and see the PCB trace and verify that it disconnects the microphone.

I would really like to know why this comment was down voted. It is a perfectly valid question with a rational explanation. Indeed, I was surprised to have needed to scroll down so far to find it, as it was the very first question that popped into my head as well.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#164

Post by 0cVlTeIATBs »

jbj wrote: post #86
supermdguy wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate that this isn't configurable by default, but bluesnooze solved this for me: https://github.com/odlp/bluesnooze

this comments reminds me about owning a mac and installing a github repo to allow mouse scrolling direction to not be tied to touch pad scrolling [edit] just following up, it was UnnaturalScrollWheels, which have been notarized: https://github.com/ther0n/UnnaturalScrollWheels/releases/tag...

I was surprised by needing to do this when switch to MacOS. So many things don't "just work" despite all that I've heard about it.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#165

Post by thomaslkjeldsen »

cj wrote: post #96
dvirsky wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This has to be the most annoying thing in MacOS. My laptop, soundly sleeping in my backpack, takes over my bluetooth headphones all the time.

Similarly, whenever I'm working at my kitchen table I always "lose" my mouse as if there's another monitor connected. I realized a couple weeks later MacOS display continuity (or "sidecar"?) was connecting to my Mac Mini located directly upstairs using it as a 2nd monitor while I'm downstairs. My apple watch also regularly unlocks my Mac Mini when I'm downstairs (Mac Mini in a bedroom upstairs). All of these features…

> There really should be a "Travel Mode" for MacOS that disables features like these.

Have you tried macOS Lockdown Mode?

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#166

Post by leipert »

mgkimsal wrote: post #158
georgelyon wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've long desired form my AirPods to operate in a "play any sound from any of my devices" mode. This seems like a no-brainer and such phantom connections would as a result have no user-visible impact and you could do things like listen to music coming from your phone while hearing sounds from your MacBook.

Unsure if I would love or hate that, but it might be more natural than the iphone/airpods/mac "incoming call" fiasco I face regularly. Airpods/MacOS - listening to background music. Phone call comes in... VERY LOUD facetime 'ring' announces on mac that I'm getting a phone call. Pick up phone to answer it... holy tamole - it's minimum 8 seconds between clicking 'answer' and... eventually airpods switching over to phon…

Honest question: Why don’t you answer the call from the Mac? Or do you have that continuity feature disabled?

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#167

Post by sixothree »

janniks wrote: post #2

I was recently trying to figure out whether the microphone is usable when using my notebook in clamshell-mode. Turns out Apple added a privacy/safety feature to all Apple silicon-based Mac notebooks and Intel-based Mac notebooks with the Apple T2 Security Chip. It will hardware disconnect the microphone when the lid is closed, based on the lid sensors. Pretty cool safety feature!! Even though I'm sad I can't use my m…

I assume clamshell mode would affect heat dissipation through the keyboard.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#168

Post by meatmanek »

O__________O wrote: post #93

Anyone have an explanation of how Apple actually decides what merits security and what does not? (For example, it’s my understanding that turning turn off a iPhone, it’s bluetooth, etc — does not actually completely turn them off. Also appears hardware/OS specs vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; for example, it is my understanding China limits a number of iPhone’s hardware/OS specs for domestic iPhones.)

When you bring up the option to turn off your phone, there's a toggle to let you turn off "Find my iPhone", with a decent description:

"iPhone Findable After Power Off >"

> iPhone Remains Findable After Power Off > Find My helps you locate this iPhone when it is lost or stolen, even in power reserve mode or after power off. > > The location is visible in Find My on your other devices, and to people in Family Sharing you share location with. > > You can temporarily turn off Find My network and it will resume when this iPhone is powered on again. > > OK > Temporarily Turn Off Finding

If you click Temporarily Turn Off Finding, you need to enter your passcode. This is to prevent phone thieves from just turning off your phone to make it untraceable.

My expectation is that if you Temporarily Turn Off Finding, the bluetooth radio is fully off.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#169

Post by sixothree »

ademup wrote: post #163
dheera wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And how are we supposed to trust Apple that this is in fact what's happening? With a Framework laptop I have a hardware physical switch and I can actually open it up and see the PCB trace and verify that it disconnects the microphone.

I would really like to know why this comment was down voted. It is a perfectly valid question with a rational explanation. Indeed, I was surprised to have needed to scroll down so far to find it, as it was the very first question that popped into my head as well.

People are willing to put their love of Apple products over their values for open and verifiable hardware.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#170

Post by cscharenberg »

alin23 wrote: post #47
janniks wrote: post #2

I was recently trying to figure out whether the microphone is usable when using my notebook in clamshell-mode. Turns out Apple added a privacy/safety feature to all Apple silicon-based Mac notebooks and Intel-based Mac notebooks with the Apple T2 Security Chip. It will hardware disconnect the microphone when the lid is closed, based on the lid sensors. Pretty cool safety feature!! Even though I'm sad I can't use my m…

In case you or anyone else needs to disable the MacBook screen and still use the mic, camera, keyboard, trackpad etc. I added a feature called BlackOut in my Lunar app that can do that ( https://lunar.fyi/#blackout ). This allows "clamshell mode" without closing the lid. (although some people might want to close the lid for desk aesthetics, this feature is not for them) On Apple Silicon with macOS Ventura the feature…

This is incredible software. Thank you for linking to it. It has features I've long wished for in a laptop!
Post reply on HN