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Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

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Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#91

Post by gorbypark »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #59
kitsunesoba wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I have never seen this in my 2015 13in MacBook Air.

I got the marks all the time on my 2016 13" MacBook Pro, too. I even had the keyboard (and by extension battery) replaced in that machine, and Apple "professionally cleaned" the screen. There were still some permanent keyboard marks on the screen after the cleaning. It's not just oil, but permanent abrasion marks after a while.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#92

Post by tagyro »

porbelm wrote: post #88
tagyro wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

...and they could make it so it stays on only of there's an external display connected, but then communication could be disabled by the person who stole your laptop. So Find My would not be able to find and more importantly report a location.

> ...and they could make it so it stays on only of there's an external display connected

Not always, my monitor goes to sleep and turns off. At this point, macOS should turn Bluetooth off? How would I wake the computer then? I would have to open it.

> Find My would not be able to find and more importantly report a location.

That might be another reason why Bluetooth stays on. On a laptop, I'd rather have Find My working in clamshell mode (given the theft risk).

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#93

Post by O__________O »

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.)

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#94

Post by dheera »

zamnos wrote: post #65
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.

At the point that you're opening up the laptop and chasing traces, you can do the same thing with Apple devices (with a bit more difficulty). It's not like they're made with rainbows and moonbeams. If you're at that level of paranoia (no judgement if it's justified or not) and have the skill to, just open up the Apple device and chase PCB traces. If you go down that route, iFixit's a good resource with lots of helpfu…

If it's in-chip, it won't be with PCB traces, it would be solid state inside the chip and you wouldn't be able to verify without inspecting the wafer, which is way outside my area of expertise. It doesn't sound like there's a mechanical relay that they are using for this.

There's also that if it's inside the chip, there is a risk that malicious software or buggy firmware can still enable it against your permission.

With a Framework laptop you can peel back the bezel and it's right there in plain sight. If the switch is in the off position it's a hard physical break to the microphone circuit. There is no possible software that can enable the microphone.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#95

Post by ryanianian »

Waterluvian wrote: post #3

On the topic of closing and opening your MacBook, has anyone else had an issue where with an M1 any time they open it from sleep the cursor moves at like 20hz until you close it and open it again? It’s been driving me mad and I can’t find anything about it online.

My M1 often wakes from sleep only to beachball and 20hz-screen-refresh for 120-150 seconds. I think it's a thing with the memory-management. I have to restart the machine to fix it or it will happen every time I close the lid.

Oh, and the machine forgets its audio settings when this happens, too. Always tries to revert to built-in speakers while it's closed despite having a CalTech hub with speakers I've selected dozens of times.

I don't understand why laptops continue to have such weird power-management problems. I thought we fixed this stuff ages ago.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#96

Post by cj »

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.

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 pose serious security issues if your physical location isn't secure/trusted.

There really should be a "Travel Mode" for MacOS that disables features like these. No one wants airport security to open a laptop and have the apple watch immediately unlock it for them while standing 20 feet away (or in another room).

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#97

Post by rob-olmos »

Another annoying mic feature was older macbooks (before T2 I think) didn't have any built-in way to plug in the 3.5mm jack for a mic, and the usual sound output still be the internal speakers. Or an easy way to set the mic to monitor mode like in Windows.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#98

Post by asveikau »

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?

I think you should be able to play music while the lid is closed. That seems like a reasonable use case.

Set computer up on a table, pair Bluetooth speaker, put on your favorite streaming service, close the lid and walk away, the music filling the room. Totally reasonable.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#99

Post by cortesoft »

tbarbugli wrote: post #75
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 had the same, switching to Airpods “fixed” this problem. I doubt Apple will ever do something about this, bt audio works fine as long as you use iPhone, Macbook and Apple pods

I have AirPods, but the experience still sucks with multiple devices.

I have my phone, my laptop, my iPad, and two iPads for my kids, all on my account. I literally am unable to make my kid’s iPads forget my AirPods, because it is tied to the apple account. If I have the iPads forget them, it forgets them on all my devices. It is annoying as hell, I have to leave Bluetooth off on my kids iPads.

Re: Hardware microphone disconnect (2021)

#100

Post by weberer »

samstave wrote: post #66
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…

>> "Apple silicon-based Mac" What does "silicon-based" - mean? What other computer is not 'silicon-based'? -- Is there a way to mechanize the HW detachment of microphone connections at will while using the machine open? That would be great - if you had a physical switch on the side of machine, which physicall moves the mic wire a mm away from the contact. --- Weird thing - I put tape over my webcam at all times, unle…

"Apple Silicon" is the brand of processors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_silicon

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