←back to thread

AirPods libreated from Apple's ecosystem

(github.com)
1424 points moonleay | 8 comments | 16 Nov 25 00:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.896s | source | bottom
Show context
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

replies(15): >>45943218 #>>45943230 #>>45943299 #>>45943335 #>>45943389 #>>45943452 #>>45943491 #>>45943620 #>>45943639 #>>45943933 #>>45944000 #>>45945287 #>>45945990 #>>45946884 #>>45950063 #
exitb ◴[16 Nov 25 06:36 UTC] No.45943230[source]▶
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.
replies(6): >>45943697 #>>45944080 #>>45944871 #>>45946495 #>>45947945 #>>45952870 #
xps ◴[16 Nov 25 10:44 UTC] No.45944080[source]▶
They don't report battery status to non-Apple devices. This is a pretty basic feature and without this I wouldn't consider them to perform "on par" with other Bluetooth headphones.
replies(3): >>45944228 #>>45946874 #>>45946905 #
alickz ◴[16 Nov 25 11:20 UTC] No.45944228[source]▶
Also if the README is to be believed the following are also hidden behind an Apple DID (not driver):

- Multi-device Connectivity

- Accessibility Settings and Hearing Aid

While the following are exclusive to Apple devices for market reasons:

- Receive Battery Information

- Set/Receive ANC Modes

- Set Adaptive Audio Noise settings

- Receive In-Ear detection Status

- Personalized Volume (use at your own risk - might randomly boost volume to some high level)

- Conversational Awareness

- Ear Detection

- Siri (Voice assistant on long stem press)

- Hold and Press configuration

- Head Tracking (for Spatial Audio and Head Gestures)

- Rename AirPods

https://github.com/kavishdevar/librepods/issues/20

I imagine limiting such features to Apple devices is more about incentivizing the Apple Ecosystem than quality or software concerns

replies(3): >>45945360 #>>45945981 #>>45951863 #
trollbridge ◴[16 Nov 25 14:24 UTC] No.45945360[source]▶
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 device is enrol them in AppleCare One.

replies(3): >>45945798 #>>45946238 #>>45946403 #
bloppe ◴[16 Nov 25 16:42 UTC] No.45946403[source]▶
You're commenting on a post where a random guy provides this "nightmare of supplying and supporting an app" in his spare time, except he actually has to work around Apple's malicious obfuscation and standards non-compliance, so it would actually be way easier for Apple to do it themselves.
replies(3): >>45946606 #>>45946728 #>>45947675 #
1. oofbey ◴[16 Nov 25 17:09 UTC] No.45946606[source]▶
It is in fact significantly harder for Apple. Because nobody expects random spare time GitHub project to work perfectly. Or even very well. Apple’s reputation, and trillion dollar market value, is based on the idea that their stuff works perfectly.
replies(3): >>45946777 #>>45947178 #>>45949270 #
2. nirava ◴[16 Nov 25 17:29 UTC] No.45946777[source]▶
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.

replies(1): >>45947721 #
3. encom ◴[16 Nov 25 18:21 UTC] No.45947178[source]▶
It's not so much an idea, it's more of an illusion. One that Apple marketing spends billions to maintain.
4. hluska ◴[16 Nov 25 19:32 UTC] No.45947721[source]▶
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.
replies(3): >>45948175 #>>45951615 #>>45953639 #
5. nirava ◴[16 Nov 25 20:35 UTC] No.45948175{3}[source]▶
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.

6. manmal ◴[16 Nov 25 23:05 UTC] No.45949270[source]▶
Are you aware they are maintaining multiple complete OSs, and multiple versions of each? With drivers for hundreds of components? The scope of AirPods on Android is laughable in comparison.
7. piva00 ◴[17 Nov 25 07:45 UTC] No.45951615{3}[source]▶
> acquire a controlling interest - it’s public so there’s nothing stopping you.

Except for the biggest obstacle of it all in capitalism: capital.

If that's the only way anyone can try to change companies' behaviours we are in a lot of trouble :)

8. orphea ◴[17 Nov 25 14:04 UTC] No.45953639{3}[source]▶

  > Apple is a private company
https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/aapl