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Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

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Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#41

Post by kitsunesoba »

gorbypark wrote: post #37
kitsunesoba wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

YMMV, but in my experience this happens mainly when the MacBook has been sitting under something else or packed tightly in a bag. I never see it if the laptop has been closed with nothing applying pressure on the lid. Not that this isn’t a design oversight, but it might be mitigable until Apple makes design tweaks to fix it.

It's been a thing for 10+ years, I don't think Apple has any interest in design tweaks. I have seen the marks on my new MBA M2 after just closing the laptop and carrying it in my hand for 2 minutes. I wasn't gripping it tightly or anything, just carrying it like a normal human would carry it.

Interesting. I wonder if maybe the smaller models (Air, 13" and maybe 14" Pro) are more prone to this? I've had very little trouble with it on 15" models from 2015 onward or with the 16" M1 Pro.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#42

Post by 54bg45b45b »

So nice of them to give more privacy features when closing the laptop.

Here is a fun thing that happens if you keep your laptop on to play some music or maybe run a light server with the lid closed.

The backlight of the LCD turns off, but the LCD does not turn off.

This causes screen burn in. There is no way to turn the screen off when you shut certain model mac laptops.

So on one hand, we have a company offering neat privacy gimmicks and on the other, deploying anti-consumer practices at every corner of their product.

Privacy is the bait that will trap you into their money sucking ecosystem. Manage it yourself or companies will always find a way to use it to exploit you. Even when they are not busy actively violating your privacy.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#43

Post by pb7 »

behnamoh wrote: post #24

I wish Apple would think about MacBook screens when the lid is closed. Too many times I've had to wipe clean the display after opening because the keys leave shapes on the monitor.

I'm curious, what do you propose here? The keys leave imprints because the screen flexes from pressure applied presumably in your bag or similar. MacBooks already have some of the most rigid screens on the market. This is pure physics at play and the imprints come from your oily fingers. What's your suggestion?

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#44

Post by Maxburn »

kitsunesoba wrote: post #32
behnamoh wrote: post #24

I wish Apple would think about MacBook screens when the lid is closed. Too many times I've had to wipe clean the display after opening because the keys leave shapes on the monitor.

YMMV, but in my experience this happens mainly when the MacBook has been sitting under something else or packed tightly in a bag. I never see it if the laptop has been closed with nothing applying pressure on the lid. Not that this isn’t a design oversight, but it might be mitigable until Apple makes design tweaks to fix it.

I don't think there is anything to tweak. It's probably designed to have less than 1mm when closed normally and the pressure of being in a book bag will easily flex the aluminum that much, if not bend it. As other said leave the original packing cloth in it and use a hard shell carrying case that won't put pressure on the laptop.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#45

Post by j45 »

alin23 wrote: post #36
behnamoh wrote: post #24

I wish Apple would think about MacBook screens when the lid is closed. Too many times I've had to wipe clean the display after opening because the keys leave shapes on the monitor.

I've gone back to using a thin waxed paper (like the ones you find in shoe boxes) between the keyboard and the screen when closing the lid. It's a bit annoying, but I'm sick of getting delamination after 1 year. I got this M1 Max with the thought that it will be relevant for app development for at least 5 years, and I still want to be able to work outside in the sun until then.

Wax paper is a much better idea than some of the keyboard covers I’ve used in the past, they can dig into the lcd in other ways but are convenient too

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#46

Post by j45 »

kitsunesoba wrote: post #32
behnamoh wrote: post #24

I wish Apple would think about MacBook screens when the lid is closed. Too many times I've had to wipe clean the display after opening because the keys leave shapes on the monitor.

YMMV, but in my experience this happens mainly when the MacBook has been sitting under something else or packed tightly in a bag. I never see it if the laptop has been closed with nothing applying pressure on the lid. Not that this isn’t a design oversight, but it might be mitigable until Apple makes design tweaks to fix it.

Maybe Apple wants it this way to ensure their machines are handled gingerly and reduce warranty claims

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#47

Post by alin23 »

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 can really disconnect the screen by Command-clicking the power button: https://shots.panaitiu.com/x52NJxpR

There's also a write-up on how I reverse engineered this feature: https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/turn-off-macbook-display-clams...

On older systems, BlackOut mimics a disconnect by setting the screen to 0 brightness and mirroring it to avoid windows getting trapped there.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#48

Post by fsflover »

victor106 wrote: post #38
kube-system wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When it comes to privacy, for the vast majority of users, sane defaults are better than requiring the user to take manual action.

Exactly!!! This might seem like I am an Apple fanboy but I am not, I have plenty issues with Apple products but when it comes to Privacy Apple is the only company amongst the big tech we can trust. Microsoft, Google, Facebook are all anti-privacy and just about using dar patterns to steal users info. It’s disgusting.

> when it comes to Privacy Apple is the only company amongst the big tech we can trust

No, it's not: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34299433, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26644216.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#50

Post by fsflover »

dymk wrote: post #9
fsflover wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The correct solution would be to have a hardware kill switch for the microphone (and camera). This is exactly what Purism laptops offer.

This is a hardware kill switch, in the form of a (set of) transistors

Can it be reprogrammed?
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