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AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

(github.com)
1424 points moonleay | 9 comments | 16 Nov 25 00:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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isoprophlex ◴[16 Nov 25 06:17 UTC] No.45943174[source]▶
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 connect" => "unable to expose advanced functionality", ofc they connect just fine

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1. zozbot234 ◴[16 Nov 25 08:44 UTC] No.45943639[source]▶
This should indeed be reported as illegal product tying to regulators (U.S. FTC/EU Competition commission/others?) so that Apple is legally deterred from breaking this interoperability effort with future AirPods updates.
replies(2): >>45943670 #>>45943687 #
2. mgh95 ◴[16 Nov 25 08:51 UTC] No.45943670[source]▶
Worse, now device manufacturers can now make their devices identify as "apple" out of the box and advertise it as "compatibility with Apple AirPods features X, Y, X" and be legally permissible.

It's basically the consequence Google v. Oracle and the cases leading to it.

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3. mytailorisrich ◴[16 Nov 25 08:56 UTC] No.45943687[source]▶
What makes this illegal product tying under specific laws?
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4. montagg ◴[16 Nov 25 09:14 UTC] No.45943746[source]▶
It’s, hilariously, the opposite: the exposure of this idea makes every other product better and Apple can’t change it (until they do).

Product tying is not a thing you can bypass.

This is idea is independent of whether Apple’s strategy is good or bad, legal or not. Product tying can’t be undermined, or it’s not actually a problem.

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5. BoredPositron ◴[16 Nov 25 10:55 UTC] No.45944127{3}[source]▶
I still don't see the illegal part. I am in VFX and have three dongles connected to use specific software packages...
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6. acka ◴[16 Nov 25 15:42 UTC] No.45945897{4}[source]▶
Dongle-based license management or DRM isn't the same as product tying; each dongle just validates the license for the use of a piece of software. But forcing customers to only use ink cartridges from a specific brand, deliberately rejecting or invalidating third-party refill options? That is a form of product tying, and it is being deemed illegal in more and more countries.
replies(1): >>45946430 #
7. mytailorisrich ◴[16 Nov 25 16:46 UTC] No.45946430{5}[source]▶
How is Apple forcing anything with AirPods and how is it illegal?
8. monocasa ◴[16 Nov 25 18:17 UTC] No.45947149[source]▶
I think that's against the Bluetooth spec, and if you do that you won't be certified.
9. russianGuy83829 ◴[16 Nov 25 18:21 UTC] No.45947185[source]▶
like every browser identifying as Mozilla in the user agent