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AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

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Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#411

Post by monerozcash »

formerly_proven wrote: post #232
monerozcash wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this is about lightning, what connector do you think apple should have used? USB-C came out long after lightning.

> USB-C [Aug 2014] came out long after lightning [Sep 2012]. 1 year 11 months :) The old 30-pin connector before Lightning came from 2003. Meanwhile it took until 2023 for iPhones to use USB-C. 30-pin 2003 - 2012 (2014) Lighting 2012 - 2023 (2025) USB-C AAPL utter mess - iPhone 2023 - USB-C RoW 2014 -

Yeah, I don't think the connector criticism of Apple really stands up to any scrutiny. 30-pin was strictly better than USB-based solutions when it came out, as was Lightning. They supported both of those for a very long time and kept tons of iDevice accessories around the world functioning.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#412

Post by dabinat »

raw_anon_1111 wrote: post #405
dabinat wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It reminds me of the USB keyboard extender that came with old Macs. There’s a little notch in the socket so you can only use it with Apple keyboards. At the time I thought it was a petty way of preventing you from using it with any other device, but apparently the reason they didn’t want you to use it with other devices is because the cable didn’t comply with the USB spec. Some pictures here: https://www.reddit.com/r…

Did you even bother about reading the comments on your own citation?

Yes, I did actually. I genuinely don’t know what you’re referring to?

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#413

Post by exe34 »

smileybarry wrote: post #399
freedomben wrote: post #383

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're only using one, it seems fine to have only one battery level report. I don't see the problem

No, in that case they'd want both to be reported separately so they could use the AirPod with the higher charge.

whichever one you're using will be reporting its battery level. if you want to know the other one, swap them around.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#414

Post by raw_anon_1111 »

Zetaphor wrote: post #407
raw_anon_1111 wrote: post #403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So show me in the spec where one BT device as seen by the host can report the battery of three different battery levels - ie the case and two ear pieces.

The obvious solution would be to report the lowest number, as multiple replies to you have already proposed, but you again chose to ignore because it doesn't serve your agenda. This entire thread started with you claiming Apple was somehow trying to prevent issues by hiding these features, and you've twice tried to move the goalposts to irrelevant points when given evidence to the contrary. If you can't even defend y…

“the lowest number” would be completely useless. What would that tell me? Do I need to charge the case? So I need to put my left pod in the fully charged case? The right one?

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#415

Post by 4dm1r4lg3n3r4l »

thewebguyd wrote: post #339
intrasight wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"only works with their own products" == "lock-out" Or am I missing something that distinguishes between these two in your view?

Only works with their own products is lock-in. Lock-out is Apple preventing third parties from making accessories that can match the first party ones in feature parity and seamlessness. Apple Watch only working with iPhones=lock-in No third party watch being allowed to use the same APIs the Apple Watch does or not being allowed to access iMessage, Apple Pay, etc = lock-out.

By locking their products "in", they're also locking third parties "out". How on earth would they be able to "lock-in" the Apple Watch to the iPhone while at the same time NOT "locking-out" third parties?

It's the same thing.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#416

Post by dwaite »

Zetaphor wrote: post #407
raw_anon_1111 wrote: post #403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So show me in the spec where one BT device as seen by the host can report the battery of three different battery levels - ie the case and two ear pieces.

The obvious solution would be to report the lowest number, as multiple replies to you have already proposed, but you again chose to ignore because it doesn't serve your agenda. This entire thread started with you claiming Apple was somehow trying to prevent issues by hiding these features, and you've twice tried to move the goalposts to irrelevant points when given evidence to the contrary. If you can't even defend y…

The lowest level of the three is not a useful number. The case serves as a battery pack to recharge the headphones (something I did earlier today while on an international flight).

The reality is the sort of compatibility being talked about is a new feature with design choices, not just unwired functionality.

I'd rather them work on features to report charging time or expected playback time on iOS, or write their own app for Android, than try to arbitrarily increase their bluetooth profile compatibility checklist.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#417

Post by dwaite »

dabinat wrote: post #165
Aurornis wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why use Bluetooth at all if they don't actually use it properly? Because they needed a way to get audio to the AirPods wirelessly and to work with their devices? That’s a pretty good reason to use Bluetooth. I doubt they got together and tried to scheme a way to break Bluetooth in this one tiny little way for vendor lock in. You can use the basic AirPod features with other Bluetooth devices. It’s just these extende…

It reminds me of the USB keyboard extender that came with old Macs. There’s a little notch in the socket so you can only use it with Apple keyboards. At the time I thought it was a petty way of preventing you from using it with any other device, but apparently the reason they didn’t want you to use it with other devices is because the cable didn’t comply with the USB spec. Some pictures here: https://www.reddit.com/r…

Yes, USB extenders are not spec-legal (because the device isn't built expecting to be extended).

But you can have an extension cord which accepts USB on one end but doesn't accept USB on the other.

So the keyboard has a superset connector so that it can go in regular USB and notched USB, because it is verified to work right when using the extension cord.

This design also means you can't plug one extension cord into another to get an even longer distance (which the keyboard wouldn't expect). Pretty clever solution.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#418

Post by tass »

TylerE wrote: post #336
thayne wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple, like every other vendor, does not have a choice but to implement this as a proprietary characteristic. Pre-BLE, other vendors copied Apple's de-facto `HFP They could publish the details, and not block other manufacturer details, so that it is easier for other platforms to develop drivers for them. Or develop a new standard that works for their earbuds.

Or… just report whichever one is lower, which is the value 99% of people care about 99% of The time.

I use mine in meetings and often end up in a situation where I need to remove and charge the one which is about to go flat for a few minutes.

I need to know individual levels to do that

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#419

Post by dotancohen »

jesprenj wrote: post #369
dotancohen wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any idea how much latency there is between the beginning of audio being played in an app, and it then coming out the headset? I use wired headphones to study with Anki (AnkiDroid) because I've found most (inexpensive) Bluetooth headphones require a second or two to begin playing. As I'm dealing with short audio clips, this use case necessitates restarting the "audio playing" situation every few seconds. Maybe the app…

That's probably some sort of gate on your headphones that silences audio (by killing power to the amplifier circuitry) if it's below a threshold loudness level, to prevent users from hearing a hissing sound the cheap circuitry produces that is otherwise masked by other louder sounds. When gate opens again, it takes 1-2 seconds for the amplifier to power up completely.

Thank you. I've noticed this with multiple headphones, but they have all been inexpensive models.

Re: AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

#420

Post by Yizahi »

exitb wrote: post #113
isoprophlex wrote: post #105

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.

Not always. My first gen airpods are unable to pair with Samsung phone. It just doesn't see them, regardless of whatever magic combinations of holds and presses I do. Thankfully they do work with my old iPhone, so they are not completely useless, but this is the last Apple branded periphery I will ever buy.
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