AirPods don't “just work”

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by krferriter on Wednesday January 26, 2022 @02:39PM (#30090588)

I think part of the problems you describe is the failings of the bluetooth stack in MacOS, not the Airpods themselves. I have had bluetooth device issues in MacOS on a brand new Macbook, and of course MacOS offers no advanced control options or access to underlying defaults it plugs into device and connection configurations, and there are forum posts about issues going back many years with no acknowledgement by Apple and seemingly no plans for a fix.

My main problem with Airpods is the physical design, which simply refuses to stay in my ears at all, rendering them totally useless, even if I'm just sitting relatively stationary at a desk.

My Samsung Galaxy Buds have been doing pretty well, though I just started having a problem where the left earbud is extremely quiet.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by pjerem on Wednesday January 26, 2022 @03:54PM (#30091670)

I have to reassure you, the Windows BT stack is actually a pile of garbage. And I’m talking about things like the whole audio system crashing when trying to use my XM4 on any videoconférence software, my Xbox controller randomly disconnecting for several seconds while in game (I play at a <1m distance) or my keyboard suddenly disconnecting while I work.

At this point I’m starting to believe that even Linux has a better Bluetooth stack than windows and OS X.

iOS is okayish but I have random issues with my AirPods. Generally they just stop being recognized and I have to reset them and to setup then again. Boring.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by smoldesu on Wednesday January 26, 2022 @05:06PM (#30092692)

> At this point I’m starting to believe that even Linux has a better Bluetooth stack than windows and OS X.

With Pipewire, this seems to have come true in it's entirety. Connecting multipoint Bluetooth headsets to multiple Linux devices works astonishingly well, and I don't think I've ever had a connection drop or encountered a real "bug" with it. The only annoyance is that if you have one device playing audio and another starts playing, it will cut out for a fraction of a second while the headset negotiates it's connection. Besides that it's almost scarily flawless.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by orhmeh09 on Wednesday January 26, 2022 @05:09PM (#30092749)

I have found for years that Linux offers the best Bluetooth experience. Does Android use their BT stack or do they have their own?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by gligorot on Thursday January 27, 2022 @03:39AM (#30097846)

IIRC it’s a custom one. And it was rewritten quite recently, like 4-5 years ago.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by fomine3 on Wednesday January 26, 2022 @07:27PM (#30094270)

Agree. Linux BT audio is relatively stable. Also it's the only desktop OS that supports LDAC codec.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by krferriter on Thursday January 27, 2022 @01:18PM (#30104045)

Oh I fully agree. The Windows bluetooth experience is terrible as well. I truly believe the Linux bluetooth experience, through desktops like GNOME or KDE or really any of the bigger ones I've used, is objectively superior.

There's a whole tangent of complaints I could make about the unified "modern" settings application Windows introduced I think in Windows 10 (maybe 8.1).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AirPods don't “just work” by supercheetah on Thursday January 27, 2022 @07:18AM (#30099613)

Are the Galaxy Buds still under warranty? I've had mine for about three years now, and my biggest issue is that the right bud drains now faster than the left, and so after a few hours, I'll only get audio from the left.

[ Parent | on HN ]