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AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

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Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or Apple just doesn't want to bother with the nightmare of supplying and supporting an app to do all those things on other platforms, and in particular, there are regulatory approvals around the "hearing aid" feature that would pretty much require a specific device. They have a basic app for some of their other devices like the Beats line. One other thing you simply can't do without pairing AirPods with an Apple devi…

You're responding in a sub-thread where others have specifically called out the fact that you can't get battery status from AirPods on non-Apple platforms. This is, to my knowledge, a feature that is supported natively by the Bluetooth stacks on every mainstream OS and requires no "apps" at all. For example, I can connect my Bluetooth mouse to my Linux machine and it happily reports the state of the battery. Care to…

The Bluetooth spec only supports one battery status. AirPods have three batteries. Is 1 On the subject of the multi-trillion-dollar behemoth, Apple is a private company. If you have the capital, you can acquire a controlling interest and then they’ll work on whatever you like. Until then, you’re out of luck.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not entirely sure if the distinction you're making exists. Let's say I'm Samsung and I want to make a phone that works with the Apple Watch. Isn't the Apple Watch locking me out? Apple is preventing third party devices from working with the Apple Watch.

I’m saying it’s fine for Apple to make first party tech that only works either their other tech. Samsung not being able to make a phone to work with Apples first party accessory isn’t the problem. The problem is Samsung can’t make a watch that functions on par with the Apple Watch on iPhones. Having first party, integrated accessories is fine. Locking out third party accessories is the issue. Whatever Apple makes fir…

I think the line between accessory and non-accessory is really slippery. When the iPhone was released, I think it would have been correct to call it an accessory for your computer. When did that change, exactly?

Heck, I don't really think of my Apple Watch as an accessory. Mine has its own LTE connection; it does need to be connected to an iPhone during initial setup, but after that I don't think there's anything stopping me from giving my phone away and using the watch by itself. Many of the children I teach have an Apple Watch but don't own a phone yet.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Incorrect. AirPods noise cancellation can be controlled by holding the AirPod stalk. And that’s not an excuse or a workaround: That’s how I always do it. I’ve never bothered doing it through software on my iDevices, because that’s much more cumbersome.

The ANC doesn't work on non iOS or macOS/iPadOS devices, though. Holding the stalk won't work

This is misinformation. I change anc modes using the air pod while connected to my non root android device. The anc works identically when connected to an Apple device

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Especially blocking hearing aids features for people who need those should be criminal

Hearing aids are highly regulated in many markets, as they are medical devices. Not building and getting certification / approval doe software to support every operating system is far from ”criminal”

I think the point is that selling a medical device that also requires you to use that vendors mobile device or lose access to them is just a little scummy. My motivation to keep using an iPhone shouldn't be that I'd need to buy new hearing aids if I left. Apple knows how this works, they don't deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#356
post #113

From a bit further down the page > Bluetooth DID (Device Identification) Hook > Turns out, if you change the manufacturerid to that of Apple, you get access to several special features! I hope Apple gets slammed hard by some regulatory body. Apparently there's absolutely zero magic reasons why their airpods are unable to connect to non-Apple devices; pretend you're an iPhone and you're in. EDIT: read "unable to conne…

AirPods can connect to any device and perform on par with other Bluetooth headphones. This is about availability of special features which require a dedicated driver non-Apple devices are not expected to have.

Actually even within Apple ecosystem not all devices are made equal. MacBooks lack some features available for AirPods Pro on iPhones, e.g. seal check, translation, everything in the "accessibility" category: button press duration settings, single-airpod noise-cancelling, etc.

Android obviously is out of the game totally for AirPods - no spacial audio, no changes of ANC, no battery level, but at least ANC modes can be changed on AirPods directly, and button press works to answer calls, and pause/play audio, and also volume control works.

I'm three-generation Airpods Pro (around 5 years) user on Android and Macbook (no iPhone at all). In first and second generation there was a "bug" (or intentional feature) that even when connected to Android, and not being connected to my Mac, the latter was showing the charge level on both Airpods, but at some point it was removed.

In first and second generation I had an issue with one AirPod making strange noises, in both cases even Apple Support at the Genius Bar didn't know what to make out of it that I don't use AirPods with iPhone, but only with a Mac (and Android).

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems the the right answer shouldn't be "none of them" though.

So which one should it be?

Whatever is reported to iPhones. It's not an excuse to block non Apple devices from reading battery level

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#358
post #269

From a bit further down the page > Bluetooth DID (Device Identification) Hook > Turns out, if you change the manufacturerid to that of Apple, you get access to several special features! I hope Apple gets slammed hard by some regulatory body. Apparently there's absolutely zero magic reasons why their airpods are unable to connect to non-Apple devices; pretend you're an iPhone and you're in. EDIT: read "unable to conne…

>> I hope Apple gets slammed hard by some regulatory body. They should be slammed by Bluetooth body and forbidden to use bluetooth technology for hurting interoperability.

The Bluetooth body should be nuked from orbit for how much they’ve stalled wireless progress.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#360
post #350
post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

good god man, just accept that this is objectively an EXTREMELY easy thing to do for anyone. Yes theoretically there are things that are easier for OSS devs than large companies, THIS AIN'T ONE OF THEM. Ugh, trillion dollar market value doesn't mean they are incapable of making a basic android app. Check their move to ios app if you have any doubts.

It doesn’t matter how frustrated you get or how many times you write capital letters, Apple is a private company and can do exactly what they want to do. If you would like Apple to do your bidding, acquire a controlling interest - it’s public so there’s nothing stopping you.

Welcome to this argument which is about how easy/hard it might be for a company to implement this particular feature.

The argument about whether they ought to is in some other thread I imagine, you might have lost your way. I don't own their airpods so in this particular instance, IDC about the outcome.

Caps for emphasis, not frustration.

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