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0 pointsgnicholas4y ago0 comments

Automatic device switching is hell. These two anecdotes happened since I read this article 10 minutes ago:

I was listening to a podcast using AirPods and my iPhone. Someone reacted to a message I’d sent, which paused the podcast. When I tried to resume a second later, my AirPods had magically connected to my computer instead of my phone. WTF!

Still listening to the podcast and setting up a FaceTime call for my kid on an iPad. Before starting the call, I turned off Bluetooth, so my iPad wouldn’t connect to my AirPods. Regardless, it connected to them anyway.

Did no one at Apple test this ‘feature’?

0 comments

barkerja4y ago

If device switching is more of an annoyance/issue than it is a pleasing feature, you can configure it. And it's configurable per-device.

When AirPods are connected, go into the bluetooth preferences, select "Options" next to the connected AirPods. Change the value for "Connect to This Mac"

gnicholasOP4y ago

I've actually tried this out, and it does not work. For example, when my Mac is set to connect only when it was the 'last connected to this Mac' it still hijacks my AirPods when I'm listening to podcasts.

I'm sure if I completely unpair the AirPods from my Mac that will stop happening, but then I would need to re-pair them in order to use them at all with my computer. It is crazy that a preference this simple (last connected to this Mac) does not work as described.

skinnymuch4y ago

That’s one configuration. Not configuring in general. There’s no priority list. Then for harder configs to do, there’s no priority list or white list of apps on specific devices for overriding.

Maybe this is me not looking into stuff enough. Is there a way without using your device to quickly switch back to the last used device?

Spivak4y ago

This is a bad end-user experience but I can kinda see the flow.

You're listening on your iPhone but using your computer. Device switching then says "okay since they're using their computer if any sound comes from the computer they should hear it" and then iMessage made a sound.

Had the thing you did been playing a YouTube video or Spotify then it would be weird if your AirPods didn't switch. I think it makes sense for notification sounds to not trigger switching by default but IDK what they currently do isn't totally unreasonable.

biot4y ago

It's even worse when you're on an active phone call (the standard iPhone phone functionality, not third party meeting/voip app) talking to another human being and an alert sound plays on the computer, stealing the audio from your phone call and you can no longer hear or speak with the other person. I can't think of a better example where "don't steal the audio" is more applicable.

gnicholasOP4y ago

Another similar annoyance: I'm on my phone using my AirPods and I wander in range (but still rooms away from) my Beats, which happen to be turned on. Even though I haven't taken my AirPods out of my ears, my phone switches over to my Beats. Why?

Surely the AirPods know they're still inserted and should be able to override any external switching cue. Also, the AirPods are still much closer to my phone than the Beats, so the signal should be stronger. Lastly, it's not like I just turned on the Beats, and they sent some sort of startup/activation signal. I literally just get home from a walk and my phone migrates to a different audio output. Maddening.

gnicholasOP4y ago

This would make sense if I had been using my computer. But I was in the kitchen and hadn’t played any media on my computer all day.

Also, the distance from the devices should have been a giveaway: 3 feet from the phone and 25 feet from the computer.

vanviegen4y ago

I strongly disagree. These kinds of annoyances are not acceptable, as the no-nonsense alternative (switching manually) is just great in comparison.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

barkerja4y ago

If device switching is more of an annoyance/issue than it is a pleasing feature, you can configure it. And it's configurable per-device.

When AirPods are connected, go into the bluetooth preferences, select "Options" next to the connected AirPods. Change the value for "Connect to This Mac"

gnicholasOP4y ago

skinnymuch4y ago

That’s one configuration. Not configuring in general. There’s no priority list. Then for harder configs to do, there’s no priority list or white list of apps on specific devices for overriding.

Maybe this is me not looking into stuff enough. Is there a way without using your device to quickly switch back to the last used device?

Spivak4y ago

This is a bad end-user experience but I can kinda see the flow.

biot4y ago

gnicholasOP4y ago

This would make sense if I had been using my computer. But I was in the kitchen and hadn’t played any media on my computer all day.

Also, the distance from the devices should have been a giveaway: 3 feet from the phone and 25 feet from the computer.

vanviegen4y ago

I strongly disagree. These kinds of annoyances are not acceptable, as the no-nonsense alternative (switching manually) is just great in comparison.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse