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Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

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Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#321

Post by sizzle »

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…

Disable Apple Watch unlock for other Mac devices, a 4 digit pin on your watch really lowers the bar for security.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#322

Post by sizzle »

highwaylights wrote: post #266
cj wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Problem is I like Apple Watch unlocking. But not randomly when I’m downstairs cooking dinner!

I don’t really trust it. The sports bands (which I find most comfortable) are especially vulnerable to being “scooped” off the wrist with two fingers in a single motion without interrupting the presence detection.

Wow this is wild, didn’t even consider this scenario and my band easily fits 2 fingers underneath to pop off the watch!

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#323

Post by Reptur »

Gigachad wrote: post #307
Reptur wrote: post #144

Should just be a hardware switch you can flip. We should be able to decide whether the webcam or mic is physically connected.

That creates a worse product for the user. It adds an extra switch to the design which complicates it, and it leads to situations where the mic isn’t on but the user doesn’t know why. What Apple came up with works perfect as it adds some privacy while affecting the user in no way. This is also combined with permission dialogs for mic access and an indicator light showing the mic is in use.

> It adds an extra switch to the design which complicates it, and it leads to situations where the mic isn’t on but the user doesn’t know why.

This could be solved with a simple dialog box telling the use to check the switch.

> What Apple came up with works perfect as it adds some privacy while affecting the user in no way.

Far from perfect. Anything except physical disconnect switches can be overridden with software, and companies like Apple can be compelled to cooperate with creating back-doors. Which opens up those same back-doors to bad actors figuring out how to use them.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#324

Post by rrauenza »

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?

Isn't this also how thieves know there is a MacBook in a car? They scan for telltale signals?

https://www.wired.com/story/bluetooth-scanner-car-thefts/

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#325

Post by kop316 »

Gigachad wrote: post #307
Reptur wrote: post #144

Should just be a hardware switch you can flip. We should be able to decide whether the webcam or mic is physically connected.

That creates a worse product for the user. It adds an extra switch to the design which complicates it, and it leads to situations where the mic isn’t on but the user doesn’t know why. What Apple came up with works perfect as it adds some privacy while affecting the user in no way. This is also combined with permission dialogs for mic access and an indicator light showing the mic is in use.

> situations where the mic isn’t on but the user doesn’t know why.

When I disable the Mic/Camera on my Librem 5, I have a notification on the screen that shows they are disabled. Same with my laptop. When I disable wifi, if I go to the notification area, it says "Disabled by hardware switch". So....there are ways to do this.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#326

Post by macshome »

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…

Your watch really shouldn’t be able to do that. The pairing uses p2p latency as a way to determine if you are actually close enough to your Mac to want to unlock it.

I’ve used it for years now with a variety of watches and Macs and I’ve always had to be right next to the computer with a fairly clear line of sight between them. Even putting my watch on the other side of my body is normally enough to make it tell me that the WiFi signal isn’t strong enough to unlock it.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#327

Post by macshome »

sizzle wrote: post #321
cj wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Disable Apple Watch unlock for other Mac devices, a 4 digit pin on your watch really lowers the bar for security.

Which is why you shouldn’t have a 4 digit PIN. By default Apple devices have wanted a 6 digit PIN for a while now. I have an 8 digit one on my watch, but use a passphrase on my iPhone.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#328

Post by mrtksn »

iLoveOncall wrote: post #309
mrtksn wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess this fits the situation: https://xkcd.com/1172/ It probably wouldn't work well due to the obstruction anyway.

No it doesn't. The sound plays just fine when the computer is closed, why would the microphone stop? You are able to use an external monitor with your laptop closed, it's not an edge case to want to use the computer's mic in that case.

It's not just fine, it's degraded quality because these are directional beam forming microphones.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#329

Post by makeitdouble »

georgelyon wrote: post #145
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.

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.

What you’re requesting seem pretty complex, or at least resource intensive to me.

It means the airPods keep X active connections with any device that says it could emit sound at any time, while also harmonizing sound levels as the devices don’t have the same settings, and mixing it all at the end.

That feels like a lot to ask for tiny devices with limited battery. Now that could be a nice idea for a separate device that keeps all these bluetooth connection alive and deals with all the mess to deliver a single stream to your earbuds (albeit with double the latency)

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#330

Post by sneak »

edgartaor wrote: post #294
Reptur wrote: post #144

Should just be a hardware switch you can flip. We should be able to decide whether the webcam or mic is physically connected.

Exactly. Its like companies are allergic to phisical switches.

There is a physical switch. It's the lid. It's not even a soft switch, the article clearly specifies that it's done in non-reprogrammable hardware logic, which is immune to tampering even by Apple who has bootloader signing keys.
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